Romance as a Business

Fiorella heard a very good talk at her local Romance Writers of America meeting last night, but it was also disturbing.  The speaker was charming, likable. organized, and knew what she was talking about, which was how to pound out book after book and sell, sell, sell.  The answer, of course, is IT--information technology--and the speaker knew her programs backward and forwards, totally unlike the traditional image of the romance writer whose husband discovers her the next day, asleep at the card table she's set up in the kitchen, with her pages sprawled in front of her.

And totally unlike Fiorella, who angsts it out on the couch in the den or upstairs in her supposed office with her computer balanced in her lap, who writes and rewrites, who strives for originality, who has messages of hope and strength she's trying to get out.

Whatever happened to the romance of romance writing?   Whatever happened to the story?

The Latest in Electronic News, New, News

Fiorella was trying to move desktop icons around yestrday afternoon and accidentally lost her blog icon.  She can still create a new blog, but she can't look at the posted versions of her older ones. Nothing to do but throw herself on the mercy of someone with an IT degree. Here birdie, birdie, birdie . . . .
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On the other hand, Fio has learned how to check sales rankings on WHAT THE HEART WANTS, which have been going up lately.  Hoping, hoping, hoping . . . .
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Oh, and Friend Claire shared her book back-up method with Fio: after she finishes for the day, she emails a copy of her manuscript to herself.  Copy, copy, copy . . . .

Easter Bunny List

Fiorella expects Peeps, marshmallow eggs, and LOTSA chocolate for Easter, but she's also taping another list to the handle of her pink and purple basket.

Fio wants a maid to keep the house clean and in order, preferably once a week,  And she wants a yardman, ditto.  And an accountant to handle the taxes and take care of the bills.  She also wants a driver, on call at all times, because she herself is erratic behind the wheel.  Oh, and an IT person who could nip her frequent computer problems in the bud.

All of whom would work gratis of course, for the sheer pleasure of Fiorella's company.