The last thing we needed was four men gracing this week’s red carpet at the Met Gala in flowing skirts in a world of man cakes and declining sperm counts. But like it or not, this is our society. How do I create likeable characters that tomorrow’s adult readers want to root for as a traditional publisher of romantic comic books?
I can do it and think I have, but have I lost contact with today’s traditions? Is there anyone left who also wants to read about two seemingly ordinary possible fans who are thrown into amusing or intriguing situations? My goal is to make entertaining stories that do n’t deviate from my core beliefs. Similar to trying to sell an arson an extinguisher during a BLM riot, trying to sell a fire hose to a traditional author in the romance genre is pointless.
An artist who aims for accomplishment never dares to portray the main personality as a typical, grounded, and masculine man. That wo n’t fly in today’s leftist publishing world. I am aware of this fact enough to realize that I did n’t spend any time looking for a traditional publisher for my most recent book. Traditional publishers do occur, but they are few and far between. They typically post fiction books by influential figures in fields like politics and culture.
The female characters are frequently emasculated or demonized in romantic books. Very often, in this communist book world, the one- geometric male character’s only evident traits are those needed to successfully abuse, demean, and degrade the lead feminine character. This is amazing, especially considering that more than 80 % of visitors of love or romantic comedies are white women who purchase books from mostly white liberal women. So much for the joyous matriarchy.
The bestselling relationship book of all time is not Pride and Prejudice, it’s Five Shades of Grey. It has sold more than 150 million copies, and its primary appeal is servitude, depravity, and sadism. Nothing else will make me want to jump off the ledge of a tall stack of books if that does n’t.
I made the mistaken assumption that visitors want figures they root for and like. Figures who overcome challenges in order to reach a happy ending through engaging and playful cases.
A book featuring a female character for admiring today amounts to renunciation of patriarchy. That’s not what yesterday’s adult audience wants. No by a long shot.
Only a few themes are being promoted by the aristocracy producers. And in those few worn-out storylines, there are generally two different kinds of men. If you think the most well-known female personality type is a handsome man with traditional values who has charm and wit to win her over, you’re mistaken.
Today’s leading female personality fits into one of two groups.
The first class features the female character appearing on the cover of many books as the naked, ripped, bristly- chinned male hunk ( he’s never actually a muscular man, he’s an unkempt boy with too much testosterone ). He frequently acts as the cranky boss or billionaire jerk who treats the feminine character with contempt.
What is the origin of this concept? The majority of businessmen resemble Bill Gates. Nobody wants to see him stowing his clothing out. Regardless, the female figure typically dislikes and denigrates the female lead. She hates him that, after all, she’s a democratic person.
However, something about being treated like garbage is simply too seductive for tomorrow’s educated woman. She may include him. Yes. She’ll get him over and transform him. The male slab may treat other women badly, but no her. She’s the image of his passion. Charming.
In our society, men watch sex, and ladies often get their sexuality through books. Many of the bestseller romantic publications are nothing more than a collection of explicit sexual scenes pieced together by slender plot lines.
If that’s not troubling much, the newest craze is mental and physical abuse. One of yesterday’s bestsellers tantalizes adult audience by giving them the tragic story of a poor boy who is so amazing she marries him despite her scars. It’s Fifty Shades of Grey redux, but the real torture is no longer playacting. Gee. Another big step for feminism.
The best pal is the second female personality type. He leans metrosexual and wo n’t confess his feelings until the very end of the book. The readers spends the majority of the book imagining if he is queer because he is too cowardly to make a move. He’s never a take-charge person, and he’s probably not the one who takes the lead on the dance floor.
In my new book, Retraining Him, I tread in unsafe waters. My female figure owns a major sporting goods shop, loves heavy- sea fishing, and enjoys hunting. These activities may soon be prohibited in blue states. The female lead encounters a well-known woke psychologist who persuades her that the male species is the source of all evil and that she must retrain the beloved. That’s the inciting incident.
If I had stopped there with the storyline, I would’ve had a book a New York City publisher might have considered. But I have to live with myself. The female character needs to understand that the differences between men and women contribute to a successful marriage.
So I ask myself, do I persevere as a writer in this genre? It seems like 15 minutes ago” You’ve Got Mail” was an acceptable romantic comedy for Americans. But those days are gone. Long gone.
My other option is to be a sellout. A grumpy billionaire male hunk who abuses his woke lover until she persuades him to lose his masculinity will likely appear in my next plot. Only then, within the confines of their open marriage, will they reach enlightenment and freely explore their proclivity for dangerous, unconventional sex— which I’ll describe in explicit, delicious detail.
And of course, they’ll surround themselves with like- minded friends with diverse skin colors and undefinable “genders”. The male character will soon realize that the matriarchy is all that matters and fittingly leap from one of the big five book publishers’ NYC corner office to say goodbye. My book will be entitled A 2024 Love Story.
Hey, New York Times bestseller list, here I come.
Kammie C. Rose is the author of five romantic comedy books and lives in San Clemente, California.
