Love in the Time of Self-Publishing: How Romance Writers Changed the Rules of Writing and Success

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Christine M. Larson

Love in the Time of Self-Publishing

Name: Love in the Time of Self-Publishing
Price: 34.99 AUD
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ISBN: 9780691217413

How Romance Writers Changed the Rules of Writing and Success

Christine M. Larson

$34.99

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English

Princeton University Press
02 January 2026

Romance; Cultural studies; Media studies; Sociology: work & labour; Publishing industry

Lessons in creative labor, solidarity, and inclusion under precarious economic conditions

As writers, musicians, online content creators, and other independent workers fight for better labor terms, romance authors offer a powerful example-and a cautionary tale-about self-organization and mutual aid in the digital economy. In Love in the Time of Self-Publishing, Christine Larson traces the forty-year history of Romancelandia, a sprawling network of romance authors, readers, editors, and others, who formed a unique community based on openness and collective support. Empowered by solidarity, American romance writers-once disparaged literary outcasts-became digital publishing's most innovative and successful authors. Meanwhile, a new surge of social media activism called attention to Romancelandia's historic exclusion of romance authors of color and LGBTQ+ writers, forcing a long-overdue cultural reckoning.

Drawing on the largest-known survey of any literary genre as well as interviews and archival research, Larson shows how romance writers became the only authors in America to make money from the rise of ebooks-increasing their median income by 73 percent while other authors' plunged by 40 percent. The success of romance writers, Larson argues, demonstrates the power of alternative forms of organizing influenced by gendered working patterns. It also shows how networks of relationships can amplify-or mute-certain voices.

Romancelandia's experience, Larson says, offers crucial lessons about solidarity for creators and other isolated workers in an increasingly risky employment world. Romancelandia's rise and near-meltdown shows that gaining fair treatment from platforms depends on creator solidarity-but creator solidarity, in turn, depends on fair treatment of all members.

By: Christine M. Larson
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9780691217413
ISBN 10: 0691217416
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 02 January 2026
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , General/trade , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Christine Larson is assistant professor of journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her writing has appeared frequently in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other national outlets, as well as in such scholarly journals as Information Communication and Society and Media, Culture & Society. She is the coauthor of Influence: How Women's Economic Power Will Change Our World for the Better.

Reviews for Love in the Time of Self-Publishing: How Romance Writers Changed the Rules of Writing and Success

""A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"" ""A rigorously researched history of the industry, Larson’s book explores the rise of [the Romance Writers of America] and of a sprawling network of editors, writers, readers and fans that helped make romance one of the book industry’s most popular and lucrative genres.""---Robert Ito, New York Times ""Eye-opening. . . . A rewarding deep dive into an influential corner of the publishing industry."" * Publishers Weekly * ""An intriguing study of how the staggering success of romance e-books has turned the publishing industry on its head. . . . An important story of how new trails can be blazed with persistence and imagination."" * Kirkus Reviews * ""An insightful work of literary criticism, Love in the Time of Self-Publishing shows how an informal labor network of romance writers impacted the greater literary and publishing world."" * Foreword Reviews * ""Eminently readable and impossibly well researched, Larson's book is at once an efficiently written investigation into the history and current state of romance publishing and a perceptive and balanced assessment of the potentials and pitfalls of the gig economy and creative labor. . . . Refreshingly, Larson avoids tired, elitist concerns about the quality of the literature and instead focuses on what kinds of communities, opportunities, and voices this female-dominated, billion-dollar industry fosters, and how corrections can be made to promote broader inclusivity. A must read for anyone interested in contemporary publishing and gig labor."" * Choice Reviews * ""There is much to like in this approachable, almost cheerful exploration.""---Kate Cuthbert, Publishing Research Quarterly ""Engaging . . . [Love in the Time of Self-Publishing] should be read by anyone interested in the social history of writing and publishing.""---Jessica Taylor, Public Books ""A deeply researched history of ‘Romancelandia’. . . . Larson masterfully uses vignettes—such as the stories of Brenna Aubrey and Vivian Stephens—to illustrate how cooperative networks developed and the challenges they faced. . . . Love in the Time of Self-Publishing makes a compelling case for the necessity of solidarity, built on fairness and inclusivity, as the foundation for future success.""---Aruna Ranganathan, American Journal of Sociology ""Larson, a self-described 'sucker for a happy ending,' is not cynical or jaded even when tackling topics of inequality, commerce, and neoliberalism. This makes a refreshing and inspiring read, without pulling the punches of real issues such as internal contradictions and racism.""---Giuliana Piccione, Journal of Popular Culture