For the reader of Bewildered Heart, the name Trish Wylie recalls the title One Night with the Rebel Billionaire and the enjoyment of said novel and the further enjoyment of critiquing it, a review that can probably be found trawling through the archives. Or scrolling downwards. As with nearly all Harlequin authors Trish has her own website, her own series of romance fiction writing guides, her own weblog and her own Twitter account. On her blog, Writing & Other Assorted Forms of Insanity (a title of great offence to a writer, for numerous reasons) Wylie took time from her hectic schedule of writing in various forms to write a retort to an article that appeared online over at the Irish Independent, written by Patricia Casey and concerning the detrimental effects Mills & Boon has had on modern culture and Feminism. Oh no, she didn't! But oh yes, she did. In fact, she didn't, but Wylie couldn't resist needlessly defending her publisher and as a weblog who has read a handful of Mills & Boon books Bewildered Heart feels itself in a position of authority to wade into the debate. We read the books and therefore we get to make fun of how terrible they are.
Wylie's beef with Casey stems from the journalist's lack of first-hand experience with the material. Immediately you must be thinking there's an innocent journalist, an arrogant and knowledgeable author with years of romance under her notched belt, a classic misunderstanding and now a heated disagreement filled with tension, longing looks and unspoken desires. We're only two hundred pages of stubborn idiocy away from true love! You're foolish to be thinking that. Let's begin with the Casey article written for the Alternative Health section of her website. “The hero is tall and handsome with a thick mop of hair; the heroine has a sylph-like attractiveness, and is never overweight. She is often vulnerable and fragile. The hero may be a doctor, pilot or a billionaire while the heroine is a nurse, air hostess or poverty-stricken beauty. He saves lives through his psychological prowess and is always considerate and insightful. She, on the other hand, is gentle and supportive,” writes Casey, cryptically.
Isn't considerate and insightful the same as gentle and supportive? It is obvious that while Casey has never read a Mills & Boon her evidence comes from reading other articles about the same subject. She is merely recycling facts. And it is these recycled facts that Wylie takes issue with. Casey publishes statistics of the upsurge on electronic downloads proving that the digital era has facilitated the prosperity of the download and online markets. Amazon.com was really struggling before the internet was invented, dontchaknow? Never mind that though, because we covered this months ago. The idea that electronic downloads means young people can read erotic romance without having anyone see the book cover isn't Casey's thought, but Wylie shoots back sarcastically that Harlequin's success has, “Nothing at all to do with an increased need for escapism from real life due to the economic climate and the pressures people are facing on a daily basis. The same upsurge wasn't seen in the 1920's, was it?”
As Casey remarks, “In a complex and capricious world, a storyline that predictably culminates in a happy ending provides a degree of insulation against harsh reality and reassures the reader that good things can happen.” Trish Wylie can trash Patricia Casey all she likes about the lack of research in the offending article, but had Wylie actually read Casey's argument she would have found herself in agreement. After all, they are saying the same thing. This wouldn't be such a palaver had Wylie not rallied against Casey's ignorance for three thousand two hundred and twenty-nine words. “The handsome men and exotic locations capture the imagination and give a glimpse of what life could be like, although most women also accept their escapist value.” Casey ends her piece with such a shocking and hurtful statement it is no wonder Wylie was so upset. Her response to Casey pointing out how successful romance books are? Publishing figures showing how successful romance books are. That'll show her, Trish.
When Casey suggests sometimes books take place in exotic locations Wylie angrily points her to the Mills & Boon website where we are told the stories are, 'Set against a backdrop of luxury, wealth and international locations.' How dare she rephrase that poorly-written and grammatically incorrect tag-line! Then Wylie reveals the full force of her ire: “Was this after he saved her from an oncoming train by untying her from the railway tracks with 'psychological prowess'? In my seven years of writing romance, I can honestly say I've never had a hero kiss a heroine 'fulsomely on the lips'. Can't remember ever reading that description either. The heroine 'reluctantly submits' to her 'previously denied attraction to this tower of masculinity'? Hasn't been a whole heap of denying going on in my Modern Heat books. Or reluctant submission for that matter. And heaven forbid a woman should be happy the man she loves, loves her too! What woman could possibly want THAT?”
OK. You're misguided and your blog needed updating. We understand that, but you're nitpicking when you say you've never used the word “fulsomely”. As for the heroine's reluctant submission to a kiss from the hero? Bewildered Heart has only reviewed one of Trish Wylie's books, One Night with the Rebel Billionaire, and that is exactly what happens. The girl, Roane, isn't fond of the man, Adam, but then he surprises her with an enforced kiss, which she relents to after a brief struggle. So maddening was the scene part of the passage became a post's title. The anger never subsides, but there is one final disagreement worth mentioning and that, of course, is the fertile topic of Feminism. Casey makes a valid point, “Feminists have castigated these books for stereotyping women into particular roles. They claim that although there has been some evolution in the female characters over time, the constant portrayal of women as passive and submissive is unacceptable.” While these are Casey's words, she indirectly quotes from writers such as Julie Burchill, who wrote Mills & Boon books were 'rape fantasies', "Man chases woman, woman resists, and finally, woman submits in a blaze of passion."
Wylie, “Constant portrayal. Wouldn't that be another sweeping generalization? Considering this article is chock-a-block with the same uninformed, patronizing tone I've read before from the kind of feminists who haven't - and wouldn't be seen DEAD - reading a Mills & Boon, I'm finding it a tad hard to care what they think any more than they care what I think (unless it matches up with what they think, I should think). I always thought a huge part of the feminist movement was a woman's right to freedom of choice. As a modern, independent woman I'm no more going to have my reading preferences dictated to me by a card-carrying feminist, uninformed journalist or a literary snob, than I am anyone - be it female or male.” Maybe feminists could download Mills & Boon so no one would know what they're reading? But yes, to hell with feminists always forcing women what to do. Gawd, they're worse than men. From a feminist standpoint the idea of a passive and submissive heroine might be upsetting, but it is equally upsetting from a literary position. It's sexist, perhaps, but really it is lousy writing. Wylie is probably correct in doubting feminists care about Mills & Boon. No one should care about romantic fiction enough to write a lengthy riposte on their blog about it. The only person who cares the right amount seems to be Patricia Casey, who couldn't even be bothered to source her information.
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