Is it just me, or are there three Regency Spy Historicals to be released next year whose plots hinge upon the heroine rescuing the hero from prison?
Take a look and draw your own conclusions…
Edited to add: Connie Mason’s latest release has her heroine rescuing the hero from prison…uncanny!
Edited again: Joanna Bourne’s January ST debut, The Spymaster’s Lady, features a similar predicament.
3 comments November 30, 2007
The bodies of both young women have been found, but once again, the disappearance of the young black woman was ignored for the more palatable and marketable story of a missing white woman. What I do find interesting is the lack of response to Miss Sander’s newly acquired job as an internet porn star. I theorize that if Latesha had led that “double life”, the old “Jezebel” and “Sapphire” stereotypes would have been pulled to insult and degrade her in order to find a “reason” for her kidnapping and subsequent murder.
What makes Latesha’s death even more tragic are the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of NFL star Sean Taylor. Both deaths were preceded by threats and warnings that the police didn’t investigate too seriously, and now, two lives have been cut short.
Regardless of the racial implications of the news coverage, it’s troubling that young, college age women are being kidnapped and murdered in droves.
3 comments November 29, 2007
Romance Literature Statistics: Overview
Explore the results of Romance Writers of America’s market research study on romance reader demographics and the romance fiction industry. These statistics offer insights to help you share in this billion-dollar-a-year industry.
Romance Sales
* Romance fiction generated $1.37 billion in sales in 2006.
* Approximately 6,400 romance titles were released in 2006.
Market Share of Romance Fiction
* Romance fiction outsold every market category in 2006, with the exception of religion/inspirational.
* 26.4% of all books sold are romance.
Romance Market Share Compared to Other Genres
(source: Simba Information estimates)
* Romance fiction: $1.37 billion in estimated revenue for 2006
Religion/inspirational: $1.68 billion
Science fiction/fantasy: $495 million
Classic literary fiction: $448
Mystery: $422 million
Graphic novels: $128 million
* Of those who read books last year, one in five read romance novels. (AP-Ipsos Poll)
Romance Fiction Breakdown by Subgenre
(source: Romance Writers of America, 2006 Romance Releases)
* Category/series romance: 40 percent
* Historical romance: 17 percent
* Contemporary romance: 16 percent
* Paranormal romance: 9 percent
* Romantic suspense: 7 percent
* Inspirational romance: 6 percent
* Other (includes young adult, erotic romance, chick-lit, and women’s fiction): 5 percent
Romance Fiction in 2006
The overall decline in the publishing industry was not evident in romance fiction, as sales remained steady in 2006 with $1.37 billion in estimated revenue and approximately 6,400 new titles published. Romance fiction was a strong seller—overcome only by the religion/inspirational category.
* Romance: $1.37 billion
* Religion/inspirational: $1.68 billion
* Science fiction/fantasy: $495 million
* Classic literary fiction: $448 million
* Mystery: $422 million
* Graphic novels: $128 million
(as per Simba Information estimates)
With these revenue numbers, romance fiction was a 26.4 percent share of all market categories in 2006. What accounts for the strong sales? Variety. Consumers of romance read it how, when, and where they wish. Readers have proven to be consumers of romance in a variety of formats, from traditional to digital.
Readers who want to listen to a romance in the car, bus, or train on the commute to work can purchase an audiobook on CD or download it onto an MP3 player. While audiobook sales as a whole were down 11.7 percent in 2006, Brilliance Audio increased its revenue with “the gain driven by continued success with suspense and romance audiobooks” (Agostino 2007, 12). Similarly, Audible’s revenue was up 20 percent, and Director of Communications Jonathan Korzen “said that romance…titles have done especially well” (Agostino 2007, 13).
Romance titles have “done especially well” in the electronic book format, too. According to the New York Times, “As the readers and the devices become more common, e-book publishers are noticing a shift in tastes.The early best-seller lists were dominated by science fiction novels and other titles favored by men….But lately, the lists are led by romance and women’s fiction”(Wayner 2007). The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDF) reported sales of trade e-books for 2006 at around $24 million, which is double the amount of sales for 2005. In what could be a breakthrough for the industry, the IDPF voted on an official e-book standard. “The IDPF adoption of OPS 2.0 along with the ‘.epub’ file format that goes with it…means that publishers can now create one digital book file instead of the 6 to 10 formats previously required” (Reid 2007). With the new e-book file format, debut of the Sony Reader, and new software from eBook Technologies, Mobipocket, eReader.com and others, sales will continue to rise.
Romance fiction sales should continue to benefit from these technologies, as new (and existing) readers embrace audiobook and e-book romance titles in addition to traditional print books.
The Readers
So, who are the readers? According to an Associated Press–Ipsos poll, among those who said they read books in the past year:
* One in five read romance novels,
* People from the South read slightly more, mostly religious books and romance novels,
* More women than men read every major category of books,
* Women read nine books per year, while men read five.
Best-Selling Authors and Publishers
The best-seller lists were awash with romance novels in 2006, as “there were 304 editions of 288 romance titles on the best-seller lists, up 24 percent over 2005, and the strongest level in five years” (Agostino 2007, 192). One hundred sixty-one authors, representing fifty-seven imprints, made the lists, with the top spaces going to Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Catherine Coulter, Debbie Macomber, and Jayne Anne Krentz. The leading romance subgenres were suspense, history, and fantasy.
Who sold the most romance fiction? The top five romance book publishers of 2006 (as per Simba Information estimates) were:
1. Harlequin ($418 million)
2. Random House ($81 million)
3. Penguin Group ($71 million)
4. HarperCollins (64.8 million)
5. Kensington ($37 million)
The solid sales for romance publishers may be attributed to the increasing popularity of niche markets/subgenres such as erotic romance and paranormal romance, innovative partnerships, on-line marketing, and contests. Major New York publishers recognized the popularity of erotic romance and, in 2006, released their first erotic romances through imprints such as Aphrodisia, Avon Red, Spice, and Berkley Heat.
Harlequin signed a licensing agreement with NASCAR to publish women’s fiction titles in an effort to reach the approximately 30 million female NASCAR fans.
Avon sponsored a FanLit contest where the readers and writers collaborated on a novella, which was published as the e-book These Wicked Games.
The willingness of publishers to explore new avenues within romance fiction is good news for the future of the industry.
2007 Estimates
Sales of romance fiction are predicted to hold steady for 2007, with $1.375 billion in projected revenue. Overall, the U.S. trade book sales are expected to rise 2.6 percent in 2007, thanks to a new Harry Potter novel, to $6.47 billion. The popularity of romance audiobooks and e-books, publisher involvement in on-line communities and contests, and the expansion of subgenres spell a strong future for romance fiction.
Romance Literature Statistics: Readership Statistics
Number of Romance Readers
64.6 million Americans read at least one romance novel in the past year.
2002: 51.1 million readers in America
1998: 41 million readers in America
Geography of Romance Readers
29% of the Southern population reads romance
27% of the Western population reads romance
26% of the Midwest population reads romance
12.6% of the Northeast population reads romance
Gender of Romance Readers
78% of romance readers are female
22% of romance readers are male (a significant increase from the 2002 survey that showed only 7% of readers were male.)
Marital Status of Romance Readers
50% of romance readers are married
37 % of romance readers are single
8% of romance readers are widowed
4% of romance readers are divorced
1% of romance readers are separated
Age of Romance Readers
22% are between the ages of 35-44
19% are between the ages of 25-34
18% are between the ages of 45-54
11% are between the ages of 55-64
9% are between the ages of 18-24
8% are 75 and older
6% are between the ages of 14-17
6% are between the ages of 65-74
1% are 13 or younger
Education Level of Romance Readers
42% have a bachelor’s degree or higher …
27% have college degrees
15% have post-graduate work or degrees
7% have associate degrees
17% have attended a trade school or have some college
23% have high school diplomas
Number of Romance Novels Read By Romance Readers in the Past Year
54% have read between 1 and 5 books
17% have read between 6 and 10 books
14% have read between 11 and 20 books
8% have read between 21 and 50 books
2% have read between 51 and 100 books
How Romance Readers Obtained the Last Romance Novel They Read
36 % bought their book new
25% checked their book out from a library
16% borrowed their book from a friend
13% received their book as a gift
5% bought their book used
4% got their book in other ways
1% traded another book for a new book
The Percentage of Romance Novels That Are Bought New
54% buy 20% or fewer books new
32% don’t buy any new books
15% always buy new books
Where Readers Purchased Their Books
Mass merchandisers such as Target or Wal-Mart have become the most popular place for readers to buy their books.
31% bought their books from a mass merchandiser
22% bought their books from a mall bookstore
16% bought their books from a free-standing bookstore
8% bought their books from a mail order
6% bought their books from another outlet
5% bought their books from a book club
5% bought their books from a grocery store
4% bought their books from the internet
2% bought their books from an airport bookstore
1% bought their books from a drug store
Settings or Subgenres Romance Readers Enjoy
Romance readers ranked the following setting or plot elements for romance novels in order of most enjoyable:
1) Mystery, Thriller, Action plots preferred by 48% of readers
2) Exotic Settings preferred by 36% of readers
3) Contemporary themes preferred by 33% of readers
4) Inspirational romances with a spiritual sub-plot preferred by 31% of readers
5) Colonial American settings preferred by 27% of readers
6) American West settings preferred by 25 % of readers
7) Historical romance set in England preferred by 24% of readers 
Scottish-set historical romances preferred by 21% of readers
9) Medieval set romances preferred by 21% of readers
10) Paranormal romances preferred by 18% of readers
11) Futuristic romance preferred by 14% of readers
Types of Covers Preferred By Readers
53% of readers prefer covers that are either abstract or romantic
35% of readers prefer sedate and abstract covers
12% of readers prefer romantic covers
Source: RWA National
1 comment November 17, 2007
INDUSTRY STATISTICS
Romance Sales
Romance fiction generated $1.2 billion in sales in 2004.
2,285 romance titles were released in 2004.
Market Share of Romance Fiction
54.9% of paperback sales in 2004 were romance fiction—which is almost half of all paperback fiction sold.
39.3% of all fiction sold is romance.
Romance Market Share Compared to Other Genres
39.3% Romance
29.6% Mystery/Thriller
12.9% General Fiction
11.8% Other Fiction Sales
6.4% Science Fiction Sales
Romance Fiction Dormats
8.3% of hardcover fiction was romance.
10.5% of trade paperback fiction was romance.
54.9% of paperback fiction was romance.
Romance Fiction Breakdown by Sub Genre
1,468 Contemporaries
477 Historicals
167 Inspirationals
173 Paranormals
2,285 Total Titles
READER STATISTICS
Number of Romance Readers
64.6 million Americans read at least one romance novel in the past year.
2002: 51.1 million readers in America
1998: 41 million readers in America
Geography of Romance Readers
29% of the Southern population reads romance
27% of the Western population reads romance
26% of the Midwest population reads romance
12.6% of the Northeast population reads romance
Gender of Romance Readers
78% of romance readers are female
22% of romance readers are male (a significant increase from the 2002 survey that showed only 7% of readers were male.)
Martial Status of Romance Readers
50% of romance readers are married
37 % of romance readers are single
8% of romance readers are widowed
4% of romance readers are divorced
1% of romance readers are separated
Age of Romance Readers
22% are between the ages of 35-44
19% are between the ages of 25-34
18% are between the ages of 45-54
11% are between the ages of 55-64
9% are between the ages of 18-24
8% are 75 and older
6% are between the ages of 14-17
6% are between the ages of 65-74
1% are 13 or younger
Education Level of Romance Readers
42% have a bachelor’s degree or higher …
27% have college degrees
15% have post-graduate work or degrees
7% have associate degrees
17% have attended a trade school or have some college
23% have high school diplomas
Number of Romance Novels Read By Romance Readers in the Past Year
54% have read between 1 and 5 books
17% have read between 6 and 10 books
14% have read between 11 and 20 books
8% have read between 21 and 50 books
2% have read between 51 and 100 books
How Romance Readers Obtained the Last Romance Novel They Read
36 % bought their book new
25% checked their book out from a library
16% borrowed their book from a friend
13% received their book as a gift
5% bought their book used
4% got their book in other ways
1% traded another book for a new book
The Percentage of Romance Novels That Are Bought New
54% buy 20% or fewer books new
32% don’t buy any new books
15% always buy new books
Where Readers Purchased Their Books
Mass merchandisers such as Target or Wal-Mart have become the most popular place for readers to buy their books.
31% bought their books from a mass merchandiser
22% bought their books from a mall bookstore
16% bought their books from a free-standing bookstore
8% bought their books from a mail order
6% bought their books from another outlet
5% bought their books from a book club
5% bought their books from a grocery store
4% bought their books from the internet
2% bought their books from an airport bookstore
1% bought their books from a drug store
Settings or Sub-Genres Romance Readers Enjoy
Romance readers ranked the following setting or plot elements for romance novels in order of most enjoyable:
1) Mystery, Thriller, Action plots preferred by 48% of readers
2) Exotic Settings preferred by 36% of readers.
3) Contemporary themes preferred by 33% of readers.
4) Inspirational romances with a spiritual sub-plot preferred by 31% of readers.
5) Colonial American settings preferred by 27% of readers.
6) American West settings preferred by 25 % of readers.
7) Historical romance set in England preferred by 24% of readers. Scottish-set historical romances preferred by 21% of readers
9) Medieval set romances preferred by 21% of readers.
10) Paranormal romances preferred by 18% of readers
11) Futuristic romance preferred by 14% of readers.
Types of Covers Preferred By Readers
53% of readers prefer covers that are either abstract or romantic
35% of readers prefer sedate and abstract covers.
12% of readers prefer romantic covers.
GROWING THE MARKET — FUTURE ROMANCE
65% of non-romance readers have read one romance novel in the past.
Of these non-readers, three out of ten people might read a romance in the coming year.
Readers from 18-34 are more likely to read a romance than other age groups.
RWA’s statistics are the result of two studies commissioned by the association. One study, on the sales of romance fiction, is tabulated by mathematician Olivia Hall, who draws data from mass-market book distributors’ yearly release information; from figures released by the American Bookseller Association; and from reports by Ipsos-NPD reports, an independent market research firm that studies book trends. This study is updated yearly. Another study focuses on reader demographics, book content, and book-buying habits. It is conducted via telephone survey and in-person focus groups by Corona Research, a market research firm in Denver, Colorado.
Source: RWA Story for You
Add comment November 17, 2007
2004
(As of October 2003)
These statistics were compiled by RWA from Book Industry Study Group and American Bookseller Association reports, and from tallies in Ingram�s catalogue of all book releases.
To compare:
–listed in alphabetical order:
| Publisher | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| Avalon | 32 | 33 | 36 |
| *Avon/HarperCollins | 104 | 100 | 108 |
| Bertlesmann (Ballantine, Bantam, Dell, Delacorte, Doubleday, Fawcett, Ivy, Waterbrook) |
110 | 107 | 139 |
| BET | 62 | 60 | 59 |
| Bethany | 19 | 21 | 10 |
| Dorchester | 113 | 111 | 116 |
| Kensington (Kensington, Pinnacle, Bouquet, Precious Gems, Zebra) | 219 | 204 | 274 |
| Pearson (Berkley, NAL, Dutton, Jove, Onyx, Putnam, Signet, Topaz, Viking) |
153 | 138 | 161 |
| 46 | 56 | 57 | |
| Questar Multnomah | <20 | 13 | NA |
| St. Martin’s | 49 | 54 | 30 |
| Torstar (Harlequin, Mills & Boon, MIRA, Silhouette, Steeple Hill) |
1,113 | 1,067 | 982 |
| Warner | 23 | 25 | 15 |
Other houses published one-to-nine romance titles, such as Genesis Press/Indigo, Tor/Forge, Five Star.
*Avon Books and Harper Publishing merged in 2000
II. Writer Statistics
–compiled from RWA member information
51.1 million Americans read romance novels; this is up by ten million readers since RWA’s 1998 study, when results reported 41 million readers . . . .
2002: 51.1 million readers in America
1998: 41 million readers in America
The number of readers who only read series romance jumped from 10% to 18% from 1998 to 2002 . . . .
37% of romance readers read only single-title romances
(43% of romance readers read only single titles in 199
45% of romance readers read single-title and series romances
(47% of romance readers read both series and single titles in 199
18% of romance readers read only series romance
(only 10% of romance readers read only series in 199
A series romance is a shorter paperback romance novel that is released as part of a numbered series and typically published by Harlequin/Silhouette, the largest publisher of series romance. A number indicating the place each book lands in the series appears on the cover of each series book. Series romances are released in numbered order, and shelved monthly like a periodical with the previous month’s titles being replaced by the next month’s titles every several weeks.
A single-title romance is a longer romance not released as part of a series. It is packaged and shelved like any mass-market paperback or hardback fiction book.
A small majority of romance readers live in the Midwest . . . .
32% of the reading population in the Midwest reads romance
fiction (17.6 million readers)
26% of the reading population in the West read romance fiction
(13.2 million readers)
20% of the reading population in the South reads romance fiction
(16.8 million readers)
16% of the reading population in the Northeast reads romance
fiction (7.4 million readers)
The readership of romance fiction is primarily female . . . .
93% of all romance readers are women One in five women have read a
romance novel in 2002
7% of romance readers are men One in 50 men have read a romance
novel in 2002
In the 1998 study, 91% of romance readers were female, and 9% of romance
readers were male.
MARITAL STATUS OF ROMANCE READERS
Half of all romance readers are married . . . .
49.5% of romance readers are married
(56% in 199
33.3% of romance readers are single
(23% in 199
10.7% of romance readers are divorced
(7% in 199
6% of romance readers are widowed
(13% in 199
0.5% of romance readers are separated
(1% in 199
AGE OF ROMANCE READERS Romance readers are all ages, with the highest percentage of readers being around 39 years old . . . .
25% of romance readers are between the ages of 35-44
21% of romance readers are between the ages of 25-34
17% of romance readers are between the ages of 45-54
10% of romance readers are between the ages of 55-64
8% of romance readers are between the ages of 20-24
8% of romance readers are between the ages of 65-74
4% of romance readers are between the ages of 17-19
3% of romance readers are between the ages of 14-16
3% of romance readers are between the ages of 75-plus
1% of romance readers are between the ages of under 14
Romance readers appear to be reading younger . . . .
In the 1998 study, the 35-44 age group also led, but the second-most-likely and
third-most-likely age groups reading romance were reversed. Readers aged 45
to 34 were the second-most-likely readers in 1998, and followed by 25- to
34-year-old readers.
AGE ROMANCE READERS FIRST READ ROMANCE
Seventy-one percent (71%) of romance readers say they read their first romance at age 16 or younger.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of romance readers have attended college . . . .
32% of romance readers are high-school graduates
22% of romance readers have attended vocational school or
some college
21% of romance readers are college graduates
10% of romance readers have attended post-graduate
programs
10% of romance readers have associates degrees
5% of romance readers have some high school or less
Romance readers are 75% white . . .
75% of romance readers are White
11% of romance readers are African American
11% of romance readers are Hispanic
2.5% of romance readers are Asian or Native American
0.5% of romance readers classify their race as Other
The number of Hispanic romance readers continues to grow . . . .
In 1998 12% of romance readers were African American, and 9% of romance readers were Hispanic.
Forty-four percent (44%) of romance novels are bought at bookstores that sell only new books and merchandise . . . .
44% of romance readers buy their novels at bookstores that only sell new
books and merchandise
18% of romance readers borrow their novels from others
14% of romance readers check out their novels from a library
13% of romance readers buy their novels at stores that sell
new-and-used books
8% of romance readers receive their novels as gifts
3% of romance readers trade other books for their novels
One-third (33%) of romance readers buy their novels at a mall bookstore . . . .
Mall bookstores are the sites of 33% of romance reader book purchases.
Mass merchandisers (such as Target or Wal-Mart) are the sites of 20% of
romance reader book purchases.
Grocery stores are the sites of 18% of romance reader book purchases.
Book clubs are the way 9% of romance readers buy books.
Streetfront or stand-alone bookstores (such as Barnes & Noble) are the sites of
7% of romance reader book purchases.
Internet bookstores are the sites of 4% of romance readers book purchases.
Mail ordering is the method by which 3% of romance readers buy their novels.
Airport bookshops are the sites of 2% of romance reader book purchases.
Drugstores are the sites of 2% of romance reader book purchases.
Other outlets are the sites of the final 2% of romance reader book purchases.
These shopping factors were ranked in order of importance by romance readers:
Most important: selection of books
2nd most important: overall convenience of/in bookstore
3rd most important: price
4th most important: help or recommendations from bookstore staff
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of romance readers read between one and five romances per year.
| Reading between one and five romances each year: | 57% of readers |
| Reading between six and ten romances each year: | 17% of readers |
| Reading between 21-50 romances per year: | 12% of readers |
| Reading between 11-20 romances per year: | 8% of readers |
| Reading between 51-100 romances per year: | 4% of readers |
| Reading more than 100 romances per year: | 2% of readers |
Eighty percent (80%) of book buyers buy other bookstore merchandise when they�re in-store buying romance novels.
Other fiction is bought by 66% of romance readers when they’re in a bookstore
buying romance.
Nonfiction books are bought by 47% of romance readers when they’re in a
bookstore buying romance.
Magazines are bought by 40% of romance readers when they’re in a bookstore
buying romance.
Stationary or greeting cards are bought by 39% of romance readers when
they’re in a bookstore buying romance.
Children’s books are bought by 27% of romance readers when they’re in a
bookstore buying romance.
Novelty book items are bought by 22% of romance readers when they’re in a
bookstore buying romance.
Software is bought by 17% of romance readers when they’re in a bookstore
buying romance.
Coffee or cafe items are bought by 15% of romance readers when they’re in a
bookstore buying romance.
Two out of every three romance readers do not plan to buy a romance novel when they enter a retail outlet, and instead add novels to their purchase as they see them on display.
A description of the book on the back cover is the most important selling point in deciding which book to buy . . . .
Most important selling point when considering which book to buy: description
on back cover
2nd most important selling point: personal flip through the book
3rd most important selling point: word-of-mouth recommendation
4th most important selling point: author
5th most important selling point: price
Between 9% and 11% of romance readers reported that each of the following selling points advertising for a book, awards won by a book, or staff recommendations for a book — influenced their decision to buy.
The top three character traits that romance readers like to see in the heroines about which they read are (in order):
1.) Intelligence
2.) Strength of character
3.) Attractiveness
In 1998, readers ranked favorite heroine characteristics as:
1.) Intelligence
2.) Beauty
3.) Strength of character
The top three character traits that romance readers like to see in the heroes about which they read are (in order):
1.) Muscle bound
2.) Handsomeness
3.) Intelligence
In 1998, readers ranked favorite hero characteristics as:
1.) Handsomeness
2.) Kindness
3.) Intelligence
Romance readers rank the following settings for romance novels in order of most enjoyable to least interesting (in order):
1.) Romantic suspense (91% of readers interested)
2.) Contemporary romance (80% of readers interested)
3.) Romance novels set in exotic locations, such as the tropics (78% of readers
interested)
4.) Historical romance set in Colonial America (65% of readers interested)
5.) Historical romance set in the American West (64% of readers interested)
6.) Inspirational romance with a spiritual sub-plot (61% of readers interested)
7.) Historicals set in England (56% of readers interested)
8.) Historicals set in Scotland (53% of readers interested)
9.) Medieval-set romances (49% of readers interested)
10.) Futuristic or time-travel romances (39% of readers interested)
11.) Paranormal romances (37% of readers interested)
44% of romance readers like both romance novels and women’s fiction novels
equally
31% of romance readers said they currently prefer women’s fiction
25% of romance readers said they currently prefer romance fiction
Note: A romance novel is a book in which a love story is the central focus of the book, and that has an emotionally satisfying ending that results from a positive resolution to the central love story.
A women’s fiction novel focuses on relationships– but not necessarily that of a love-story relationships. It may center on, for example, family relationships, or friendships, or a love relationship–or all three. A women’s fiction novel does not have to have an emotionally satisfying ending resulting from of a positive resolution to a central love story. It may have a happy ending based on events unrelated to a love story, a bittersweet ending, or even a tragic ending.
Source: RWA’s Story For You
Add comment November 17, 2007
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