Writing romance

How refreshing that the logo chosen by Google for Feb 14th shows an elderly couple tripping off into the sunset, the message presumably being that love is for the young at heart. I’d post it here, but fear the wrath of Google’s copyright division who sound pretty scary. Elsewhere in the media love is bursting out all over with Radio 4’s Today featuring the film  Brief Encounter while yesterday’s Telegraph article on what women want from a romantic novel was a celebration of the output of Mills & Boon. As a ‘junior’ member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association I know how hard these writers work and the exacting standards set by editors. It’s great to see them acknowledged without the derision so often served up by ‘literary’ critics.

And finally, the RNA have come up with a great idea. They ran a poll of members’ top romantic heroes, the results of which are published today, and if you were thinking literary heroes, think again! These are full on flesh and blood men who must be ‘gorgeous, deliciously sexy, intensely masculine and have a commanding presence’.
I’ll drink to that! Nor can I argue with those who made the top ten (though I may have put them in a different order!) Here they are for your delectation, with one or two clues as to where my own allegiance might lie.

1. Johnny Depp
2. Daniel Craig (!)
3. Sean Bean
4. Richard Armitage (!)
5. Hugh Jackman
6. Colin Firth (!)
7. Alan Rickman
8. Pierce Brosnan
9. George Clooney
10. David Tennant (!)

(Picture from Richard Armitage Online)

Enjoy!