Tilda Booth

As I begin the publication process, I often wonder about whether or not I'm going to be satisfied writing romantic fiction. Let's face it, romance novels don't get a lot of respect, which is completely unfair. There are some wonderful, literate romance writers, and as a writer, I'm much more drawn to straightforward, exciting storytelling and compelling characters than a masterful turn of phrase or the ability to capture the pathos of a tranquil setting in 6000 words.

And sometimes I just want a happy ending. It's that simple. There's a place for endings that are sad, the ironic, the unexpected and I find myself writing plenty of those for my own enjoyment, but while I like them, the only type of ending that I find myself craving are the kind where the hero and the heroine end together, gazing soulfully at each other.

But I have moments of doubt, it's true. Will other writers look down on me because I'm writing romance? I have friends doing great, important things - doctors and social workers and teachers, scientists and charity workers - and here I am, writing my silly stories.

I have to tell remind myself that I love my silly little stories. They make me happy, and hopefully, they'll make the people who read them a little happier too. Or at least entertain them for a moment. And if that's all I do, then that's enough.