ROMANCE FACTS

  

 

 

We are all about the Happy Ending.  

 

All romances have a central love story and an emotionally satisfying ending. Beyond that, however, romance novels may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time, and have varying levels of sensuality—ranging from sweet to extremely hot. Romance fiction may be classified into various subgenres depending on setting and plot elements. These subgenres include: contemporary romances; historical romances including medieval and Regencies;  inspirational romances including Amish romances; paranormal romances including time travel, vampires, sci fi, fantasy; romantic suspense; and young adult romance (YA).

 

Romances are sold in two formats: (1) Series or “category” romance books are issued under a common imprint and are numbered like those published by Harlequin/Silhouette, and  (2) Single-title romances which are usually longer and are not numbered. These can be paperbacks or hard covers.

 

 

ROMANCE SALES

 

 

·     Romance fiction generated $1.438 billion in sales in 2012.

 

·     Romance was the top-performing category on the best-seller lists in 2012 (across the NYT, USA Today, and PW best-seller lists).

 

·     74.8 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008. (source: RWA Reader Survey)

 

 

The Romance Book Buyer

 

·     Women make up 91 percent of romance book buyers, and men make up 9 percent.

 

·     The U.S. romance book buyer is most likely to be aged between 30 and 54 years.

 

·     Forty-four percent of romance book buyers consider themselves "frequent readers" (read quite a few romances); 31 percent are "avid readers" (almost always reading a romance novel); and 25 percent are "occasional readers" (on and off, like when on vacation).

 

·     Readers have been reading romance for a long time: 41 percent of romance book buyers have been reading romance for 20 years or more.

 

 

THE NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER

 

·         RWA/NYC is 27-years old.

 

·         Membership is shy of 100 members, both published, unpublished and self-published.

 

·         Our members have won the highest awards in the romance industry – the RITAs and Golden Heart Awards.  Plus, they regularly make the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Goodreads bestsellers lists.

 

·         We honor the leaders of the Romance Industry every year at our Golden Apple Awards.

 

·         The Kathryn Hayes’ We Need A Hero Contest had a record number of entries this past year, but unfortunately, there can only be one winner.

 

 

For more information about the Romance Writers of America/New York City Chapter, visit www.rwanyc.com, and visit our national organization at www.rwa.org.