Exploding Those Preconceptions

Hi all,

After the flurry of excitement that was my RNA weekend in Wales, it’s back to Romance HQ for me. Whilst the student accommodation and the free Green & Black’s chocolate in our goody bags are but a distant memory (especially the chocolate, which barely lasted the first talk I attended), the fascinating conference feedback has really got me thinking.

There was an overwhelmingly positive attitude towards Mills & Boon, which is always good to see, and some very well-informed aspiring authors – even better! It’s clear, however, that there are still a few lingering preconceptions about the brand – what it offers and what the editors are looking for. So, this week ‘Behind the Scenes’ is getting confrontational – let’s explode some of the more persistent M&B myths!

Myth: Mills & Boon don’t welcome humour in their romances.

Truth: YES WE DO! We honestly can’t emphasise this enough – there is no embargo on laugh-out-loud moments! To be fair, we’re not advising slapstick routines here (nothing more unappealing than a barrage of jokes that fall flat, especially from a hero...!), or elaborate comedy set pieces. Instead, it’s about drawing out the humour that’s intrinsic to your characters. After all, what could be sexier than a charismatic Alpha hero whose sardonic, witty asides can make you laugh? As in life, so in fiction – characters with a sense of humour tend to be both more realistic, and waaay more attractive.

Myth: Mediterranean men and sheikhs only please.

Truth: We Romance HQ girls aren’t picky - we welcome heroes from any nationality! If you feel that some nationalities are under-represented, take it as a creative challenge – we’re waiting with baited breath for you to write us the most dazzling (insert nationality of choice) hero we’ve ever seen! As long as he taps into the universal Alpha male fantasy, that’s all that matters. (We obviously love heroines from anywhere too, but I tend to get more distracted thinking about the heroes…)

Myth: There’s only one way to be Alpha – and it involves being very rich.

Truth: A hero’s ability to sweep the heroine (and the reader) off her feet doesn’t stem from his financial portfolio – it’s all about his irresistible personality! Super-rich does not an Alpha make – it’s more about how he’s tackled the challenges life has thrown at him to rise to the top, whatever his chosen profession. If your hero is a landscape gardener, let’s see that he’s the best damn gardener we’ve ever read and in full command of his environment – that will keep him far more droolworthy than pots of cash!

These are the top myths we felt needed urgent debunking, but are there any other fixed ideas you come up against often, and want to get our take on? Or let us know if there’s a particular topic/ theme you want to read about – we’re really happy to recommend books! 

Love Flo x