Bonnet Fiction: Hottest Selling Romance Novels

[3113]

Looking for a genre that will make you an instant best seller? Something that can be a steamy romance and yet not require you to do all that work creating a sex scene?

How about "Bonnet Fiction"?

Why can’t we all be a little more like the Amish? This question lies at the heart of the Amish romance novels, churned out now with such regularity—and with such -success—that publishers are beginning to worry that the market is saturated. “We’re seeing Amish fiction splintering into everything imaginable: Shakers, Puritans,” says Steve Oates, marketing vice president for Bethany House, the Christian publisher whose author Beverly Lewis is the biggest name in Amish fiction. “We call it ‘bonnet fiction.’ You slap a bonnet on the cover and double the sales.” The Thorn, Lewis’s most recent book, has sold 280,000 copies since its publication in September. Lewis herself has sold more than 13 million books in all.

Nathaniel Hawthorne knew what he was doing, baby! Check out this suggestive cover:

http://www.newsweek.com/content/newsweek/2010/12/02/books-amish-romance-novels/_jcr_content/body/inlineimage.img.jpg/1291254087766.jpg

 

[sr71plt]

Yeah, I'd heard those were selling well.

 

[Handley_Page]

There's a firm in the UK called Mills & Boom who cater for this sort of thing; usually medical, legal or historical.

 

[oggbashan]

There's a firm in the UK called Mills & Boom who cater for this sort of thing; usually medical, legal or historical.

They also have a more salacious imprint in which the couples actually have sex.

I used to have a standing bulk order for Mills and Boon from one of the local Old People's Homes, supplying them with about 50 books a week.

One week I made a mistake and sent half of the 50 from the sex-included imprint. After that they wanted the whole 50 to be the raunchy versions.

The staff used to read the books when on night duty and the resident ladies read them during the day. Once I had started supplying the sexy ones there was a queue for the delivery and complaints if I had duplicated some I had sent earlier.

I was worried that some of the residents might have had heart attacks from the unexpected excitement. I needn't have worried. The staff reported that most of the resident readers had a increased interest in their lives from reading raunchy Mills and Boon.

Og

 

[Handley_Page]

Don't M&B also do text books ?

 

[amicus]

Interesting...thank you for the link and the Thread.

I also saw, 'Witness', with Kelly Mcgillis & Harrison Ford, a poignant, 'almost' love story...and a film with an Amish girl who was pregnant, and another with a modern woman gaining custody of a handful of Amish children...

I also, several months ago, noticed three Amish girls with, 'Bonnets', in a local variety store...one of whom actually made eye contact, although the other two did not....and it did inspire a story line which I have not completed.

The themes of Amish culture fits in well with my concepts of relationships and sexual encounters as being more valuable than they are perceived to be in modern culture and it comes as no surprise to me that the genre is becoming popular....again....as it used to be...chastity, virginity, innocence, and more selective choices among young people as they embark upon life's journey.

Nothing remains the same...and perhaps the literature of promiscuity and recreational sex is waning and something else is in the offing.



Amicus

 

[oggbashan]

Don't M&B also do text books ?

I don't think so: Mills and Boon

They are one of the few imprints that encourage new authors who write according to their house rules. However very few men, even with female nom-de-plumes, have become successful Mills and Boon authors.

Og

 

[rgraham666]

I can understand the interest. Nothing sexier than leading the pur and innocent into 'sin'.

 

[amicus]

That seems to reflect the garish and cynical perception of the most wonderful relationships between male and female. I don't doubt for an instant the you percieve it as you express it...but all the romance poets in the history of literature see innocence and virtue as a valus to be cherished.

You are one sick person...but then...you already know that.

Amicus

 

[Guest]

*deleted*

 

[Guest]

*deleted*

 

[sr71plt]

Interesting...thank you for the link and the Thread.

I also saw, 'Witness', with Kelly Mcgillis & Harrison Ford, a poignant, 'almost' love story...and a film with an Amish girl who was pregnant, and another with a modern woman gaining custody of a handful of Amish children...

I also, several months ago, noticed three Amish girls with, 'Bonnets', in a local variety store...one of whom actually made eye contact, although the other two did not....and it did inspire a story line which I have not completed.

The themes of Amish culture fits in well with my concepts of relationships and sexual encounters as being more valuable than they are perceived to be in modern culture and it comes as no surprise to me that the genre is becoming popular....again....as it used to be...chastity, virginity, innocence, and more selective choices among young people as they embark upon life's journey.

Nothing remains the same...and perhaps the literature of promiscuity and recreational sex is waning and something else is in the offing.



Amicus

Oh good, another one of those Amicus litanies of every encounter he's ever had with a stereotype. This one was girls with bonnets on.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, Ami.

You're the one who likes little girls. Kind of silly of you to pretend Rob shares that kink.

Yeah. That was good for a laugh late on a Sunday night.

 

[amicus]

It is the clumsy, clubfooted and usually ad hominem attacks on anyone on the Right, that continues to amuse me, and others, I suspect, that opens avenues of discussion. Thank you.

I call your attention to the 'Hollywood Whores', otherwise known as writers, and actors who prostitute their skills for fame and fortune.

As just one venue, browse through the 'movie' offerings, in my case, Dish Network, with all the available movie channels.

Most Americans are not drug addicts or homosexuals, yet it seems that every second synopsis deals with those issues. In the liberal quest for 'equality', everywhere and in every thing, now, one must not only supplicate the feminists and the ethnic crowd, but one must cater to the 'gay' community, and write such a character into their stories. Oh, yes, also essential is the bad guy, corporate criminal, big business greed and amorality in every shade and aspect.

This being a writing community of sorts, the Author's Hangout, may I suggest to all you budding new writers, that you need not pay heed to the transitory, Bohemian trendy fashions that seem to dominate the entertainment world of today.

I cannot instruct you on how to dispell the amoral cynicism of the elite left in your stories, but I can, and do, attempt to focus your attention on the moral aspects of your writings.

Be old fashioned: adhere to a happy ending and a contrast and conflict between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral. 'Stroke' stories are fine, as far as they go, but when you begin to hunger for more, 'meat' in your literature, write more about real people and real emotions rather than the shallow aspect of drug and sex addicts.

Amicus

 

[sr71plt]

You really do like to write posts to hear your head rattle, don't you? Have no idea what this has to do with the topic of the thread--but then I got bored before I'd read too far into it. Wouldn't have bothered at all except it's a slow night on the forums and I need a couple of breaks from what I'm working on.

You have this fixation about the left and the right. I don't think of you as either--just as well past your throwaway date.

 

[DeeZire]

It is the clumsy, clubfooted and usually ad hominem attacks on anyone on the Right, that continues to amuse me, and others, I suspect, that opens avenues of discussion. Thank you.

I call your attention to the 'Hollywood Whores', otherwise known as writers, and actors who prostitute their skills for fame and fortune.

Amicus

Following a complaint about ad hominem attacks on the right with an ad hominem attack on liberal writers and actors who make their living in Hollywood? Plus an ad hominem attack on Rob? That's really clever Amicus. You get two gold stars for hypocrisy.

 

[amicus]

You illustrate so well the method of pesonal attack that I really need not amplify, but...what the hell.

Assuming, for the moment, that you are a least aware that ad hominem means a personal attack on an individual, you might re-read where I critiqued Pure & RGraham as Canadians, not as individuals separately.

I consistently attack the heart and soul of the Left, their agnostic amorality concerning all things, that is plural, mind you, not individual, alth0ugh you may take personal umbrage at my opinions, they are not specifically addressed to you.



Amicus Veritas

 

[sr71plt]

Your opinions are soooo 19th century that I only laugh at them, Ami. They are as irrelevant as most of your wordy posts are to the topic of the thread. The only thing they all have in common is that they are all about you and your small world of some fantasy past.

 

[3113]

Oh good, another one of those Amicus litanies of every encounter he's ever had with a stereotype. This one was girls with bonnets on.

Well, he's been spouting this stuff since bonnets were actually in style--back in the covered wagon days

Even then his fanciful lies and litanies were out of date.

 

[JackLuis]

Question, I'd hate to change the subject but, is "Bonnet Fiction" a branch of taboo?

Is it an attempt to tell the story about how modest women deal with their sexuality in a more structured society?

Is it an attempt to show the self control that appears to be vanishing from modern life?

Is it that in this cloistered group women are still as romantic as any other woman?

 

[sr71plt]

Question, I'd hate to change the subject but, is "Bonnet Fiction" a branch of taboo?

Is it an attempt to tell the story about how modest women deal with their sexuality in a more structured society?

Is it an attempt to show the self control that appears to be vanishing from modern life?

Is it that in this cloistered group women are still as romantic as any other woman?

Yeah, if it was placed in a Lit. category, I'd guess that was where it would go--if it included sex scenes.

 

[JackLuis]

Yeah, if it was placed in a Lit. category, I'd guess that was where it would go--if it included sex scenes.

But wouldn't the author show the modesty implied by the subject and just:

"Rebbecca paused and looked at James, sweating in the barnyard. She smiled as she thought of his strong muscles, working under his shirt and felt the aching need again. Oh, how could she convince him to take a break and fill her need now, instead of waiting for the sun to go down?

Rebbecca took a deep breath and tried to think of something else, Mary was due to have her baby soon and Rebbecca wanted one too. James had promised her he would give her a baby, but she wanted more, she wanted to feel his, his... She couldn't think the word, it was forbidden, she sighed as James finished what he was doing and looked back up at the house. He was smiling as Rebbecca felt the pernicious need throb again.
He's coming to the house, Rebbecca wiped her hands and took off her apron. Maybe she could convince him to just do it here in the kitchen?"

James came to the back porch and washed his hands, took off his shirt and washed the sweat off his chest and thought about his Rebbecca. How demure she was and how he wanted to feel her warm soft womanhood holding him in her soft hot... He couldn't think any longer, he needed her.

He turned to reach for a towel and saw Rebbecca at the door smiling at him. He smiled and said, "Rebbecca, you look so beautiful, so warm and sweet, may I kiss you?"

Rebbecca came to him and began to dry his chest and soon she was in his arms and his lips were on her neck, she shivered and felt the throb again, her hand stroked his firm, eh thingy, and she said, "You promised me a baby James. I want it now," and she kissed his chest, not able to look at him.

James held her and felt the joy that Rebbecca loved him and wanted his... He decided to give it to her. His fingers reached up and untied the bow on her bonnet, he carefully laid it aside and pulled the pins from her hair, allowing the slick auburn waves to fall."

 

[3113]

Opposite of taboo!

Question, I'd hate to change the subject but, is "Bonnet Fiction" a branch of taboo?

Is it an attempt to tell the story about how modest women deal with their sexuality in a more structured society?

Is it an attempt to show the self control that appears to be vanishing from modern life?

Is it that in this cloistered group women are still as romantic as any other woman?

It's the easy way out of all the above, actually--the opposite of taboo. In the story's structured society, the modest woman doesn't need to deal very much with her sexuality--god has laid out for her what is right and it's not hard to keep to that given that she's surrounded by like-minded, god-loving folk. Likewise, she doesn't have to worry about self-control, as, again, the society makes it easy for her to be self-controlled. Even the men the heroine falls for, after all, are part of this society that glorifies modesty and self-control, and presumably agree that the women should be that way. So even they, the ones likely to urge her to lose control, won't.

It's rather like a romance about alcoholics at a rehab clinic in the middle of nowhere. How hard is it for them to keep sober when there's no liquor in sight, no where they can go to get it, and everyone around them is urging them to stay sober and working hard to keep them sober?

I think the readers of these books feel like they're constantly tempted and bombarded by the modern world to give in and surrender their modesty/self-control or godly morals/values. These books appeal because they offer a world where all of that pressure and temptation is minimal if not gone. Every thing is geared to supporting them in maintaining the simple, god-loving, modest, controlled life they yearn to live.

This is romantic religious fiction. It gives the reader the fantasy of romance totally approved of and supported by friends, family, society and god. I can't think of anything that sidesteps taboo more.

 

[JackLuis]

It's the easy way out of all the above-

I think the readers of these books feel like they're constantly tempted and bombarded by the modern world to give in and surrender their modesty/self-control or godly morals/values. These books appeal because they offer a world where all of that pressure and temptation is minimal if not gone. Every thing is geared to supporting them in maintaining the simple, god-loving, modest, controlled life they yearn to live.

This is romantic religious fiction. It gives the reader the fantasy of romance totally approved of and supported by friends, family, society and god. I can't think of anything that sidesteps taboo more.

I was thinking of the married woman, who is provided a loving(hopefully) mate through a gift from God. She is commanded to "go forth and multiply," now she is married, she has only her husband to convince that "Doggy style is God's plan for Motherhood." Should she take joy in her helpmate and fulfill God's commandment, or be chaste in her spinstership?

 

[3113]

I was thinking of the married woman, who is provided a loving(hopefully) mate through a gift from God. She is commanded to "go forth and multiply," now she is married, she has only her husband to convince that "Doggy style is God's plan for Motherhood." Should she take joy in her helpmate and fulfill God's commandment, or be chaste in her spinstership?

Are we talking a "bonnet" story here on this forum or actual bonnet fiction? Because the actual bonnet fiction doesn't have married women as heroines. It has chaste maidens being romanced by possible husbands.

From what the article said, it sounds like we're pretty much in Jane Austen territory with these books. Romance involves barn dances, conversations, running into each other at church services. And the society supports the heroine in her wish to NOT go any further than that till she's married--which means it's unlikely that even married women discuss their sex life with her. I would guess, as well, that, like a Jane Austen book, it ends on the wedding day (day, not night!).

As for what the married woman would do, as you pointed out in your passage, it's perfectly find to give into sexual desires if you're making a baby. No taboo breaking in sight if you're married and making babies--not unless you're a Shaker. And women who read these books, from what the article says, dream of big, Christian families of well-behaved children who do their chores, obey and respect their parents, say their prayers and don't know anything about television or computer games.

In other words, the women who read these books are very Christian and that probably means that they believe that sex is for making babies. That it's a pleasure is a perk of the act, not it's purpose.

I have not, however, read one of these books and so I can't say for sure. However, I very much doubt the kind of scene you wrote would show up in one of them. That's a scene for THIS forum ...not actual bonnet fiction.