Romantic novels move into new era

They stroll beaches in Saint Tropez, take a gondola ride in Venice in the moonlight, and sip champagne under the stars in Nice. The hero is always tall, dark and brooding, the heroine, smart, sexy and sweet. They may have their ups and downs, face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but there’s no doubt that in the end… they will live together and happily ever after.

This has perhaps been the formula of the Mills and Boon for years and women have devoured them with relish. For those few exquisite hours, lost in the romance of the story, many women are swept into another world, an exotic locale a dreamy partner, a roller coaster relationship and finally, a perfect marriage.

In an attempt to take a fresh look at romance writing and to launch a new initiative among readers, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd held a panel discussion in the city recently. Over the afternoon, women professionals who’ve loved Mills and Boon books all their lives, spoke about the genre at length. A nationwide initiative was also launched called ‘Friends for Life’, which invites readers to share their experiences and thoughts on how and why Mills and Boon has been their friend through the journey of life.

Manish Singh, country manager, Harlequin Mills & Boon, says on an average, there are around four Mills and Boon books sold every second in the world. “We have also launched different categories of Mills & Boon and each caters to a different mood,” he adds.
It is also clear from the company’s research that readers now want cultural changes in the books and different kinds of heroes and heroines. The whole genre of romance writing is changing to keep up with the times.

Anshu Vyas Seetharaman, a yoga trainer and fitness expert, explained how she can never forget the very first Mills & Boon she ever read. “It was called The Chateau of Flowers and it is very special to me because it made me view life so differently after that,”  she says.

Other panellists spoke of how they had read their first Mills & Boon books secretly because their parents forbade them to read romantic novels during exam-time or because they were far too young to be reading them.

However, times are very different now, they conceded. Youngsters now read what they want to and would never read anything secretly. Milan Vohra, author of the first India-based Mills & Boon, The Love Asana, says: “Today, readers are not dictated by others’ opinions. They don’t mind trying out varied works and do not mind being seen reading anything.”

And so, Mills & Boon books are also changing to cater to new tastes. Gone is the heroine who loves being bossed around by the domineering hero. “The plots and situations have to be contemporary to be appreciated. Earlier, readers were satisfied if the hero had a Lear jet. Now, they want to know if he has a compassionate heart too. The heroes, therefore, have changed; they have a social conscience, they’re caring and charitable and they listen to the women in their lives,” says Vohra.

The Mills & Boon stories are also being categorised according to the storyline. The most popular is ‘Modern’, which focuses on bringing ‘sophisticated’ protagonists together in a passionate romance.

Other categories include Intrigue, (romantic suspense), Desire, (provocative storylines), historical, medical romances and many more. The new category to be launched shortly is Paranormal Romance. Women are looking for new experiences each year and romance writers are trying to cater to this need. There is also the misconception that women who are not very bright read romance books, but that is myth that needs to be dispelled. “Professionals from all walks of life read romances,” adds Vohra. For most women, these books are a way to get away from the reality of life.

Geetanjali Kapoor, artist and one of the panellists, says: “Women enjoy romances because these books help them escape from their mundane lives and they get to enjoy a fantasy world. When you are feeling low, this is the best kind of book to pick up.”
Another interesting change in romance books is the heroine.

Panellist Kinnary Patel, a HR consultant, says: “Women have become more independent and this has to be reflected in romantic books now. They are not bound by social taboos.”

“In earlier books, the hero was the boss, but now there are so many women bosses. Things have come full circle and often the woman calls the shots,” adds Kapoor.

Romance as a genre will always enjoy widespread popularity among women, but the books are changing almost every year. However, the basic love formula would always hold a special appeal.

As Kapoor puts it: “Between the covers of these books, there exists a world where the endings are always happy and love always triumphs in the end.”