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My opinion is that we should have a National Profession Lottery and every year about ten professions would be drawn froo to the people in those professions They should have best-seller lists, receive fan letters, have autographing parties, and have soifts

See? There I go again with a story Give me a keyboard and I can’t stop

However, about these ten professions to be chosen, I want to make it clear that there is one “profession” that is too evil to be included in this lottery Book reviewers Specifically, romance book reviewers

Maybe I should tell you right now so, if you are offended, you can stop reading this book I write romances

There, I’ve said it It’s out in the open

For all the joy of my life, there

is one aspect of it that is really and truly quite awful Shockingly awful And that is the way the world looks at romance novels, at romance readers, and above all, at romance writers!

Isn’t the world a weird place? I saw a hter several tier tells the world he/she has done every drug known and hurt or driven away most of the people in their lives

And how are all these people greeted? With love, that’s how With love and understanding and sympathy

But here I am and what do I do? I write funny little romantic stories about men and wo they do isanyone and doing heaven only knohat else to the clever ways to kill someone I just invent stories about e all drea someone to love who loves us in return

You’d think that the very thought of a ro a shter Kissing

But no, the world is upside down as far as I can see, and roenerally spat upon

And for what reasons? One of etto rescue the to this theory, women are so stupid that they can’t tell a story from reality Is anyone worried that the hbors with an auto that Nor do I re about murder mysteries or science fiction It just seehtful, giving hunk is going to rescue them

Honey, if any wo to rescue her, ro industry

Anyway, back to the reviewers These s on soazine of intellectual er has stars in his eyes decides to teach the young whippersnapper a lesson about life so he gives this child the lowest job in all the industry: reviewing romance novels!

Guess who bears the brunt of the newly graduated person’s rage? Eighty grand spent on education and they are given a book to read that has a nursing mother cover (so called because of the size of the you-knohats and the obviously about-to-be-lowered bodice [Quiz: do you think a man or a woman invented these covers?])

Anyway, this person takes her/his rage out on me, the romance writer The lowest creature on earth A houseith a bank account

Rule nu a romance novel: compare the book to the best book you’ve ever read If it does not live up to Jane Austen, then use about sixty grand of your education to cut this writer down in the nastiest way possible If, however, you shouldthe book, write that “Readers of Hayden Lane should like this one” Whatever you do, don’t stick your neck out and actually say you liked the book If you allow anyone to think you like roood” books