When it comes to romance novels, you might be a proud and avid reader, you might hide a dozen titles on your eReader, or…well, you might just love gawking at the covers that have statuesque men making huge-bosomed women swoon into their arms. No matter your reaction to the prolific genre, you've undoubtedly wondered who spins those romantic tales (and okay, who comes up with a million and one euphemisms for certain pieces of anatomy—it's seriously a special skill).
We were curious, too, so we hunted down a few of the romance writers behind some of the hottest (literally) novels on the market today. And they might not be who you thought they were.
1. Kylie Scott
When it comes to romance, best-selling author Kylie Scott doesn't stick with just one sub-genre. On her book list, you'll find not only rocker-infused contemporary romances (like her most recent book, Lead), but also science fiction and even post-zombie apocalypse love stories. Yep, zombies. "The romance genre is a vast and beautiful thing," she says. "It’s been denigrated over the years, but that’s just sexist nonsense. It’s an industry predominantly for women and run by women and should be respected for that reason."
2. Lorraine Heath
A lover of research, history, and a guaranteed happy ending, Lorraine Heath has written more than 60—60!—historical and contemporary romance novels with the help of her psychology degree, which plays a huge part in crafting her characters. Her newest book, The Duke and the Lady in Red, is coming in April. "My stories usually revolve around a tortured hero. I want him to have something to overcome, something that requires he be a better person than he ever thought it possible to be in order to be worthy of the heroine’s love."
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3. M.L. Buchman
A self-described "total mush," M.L. Buchman got his start in writing science fiction. But after a friend brought him along to the Romance Writers of America national conference (where he was one of only six guys among thousands of women), he got totally hooked on romance—and has been writing it ever since. "I'm paid to sit in my corner and spend the day thinking about women," he says. "How cool a job is that?" His latest book, Bring on The Dusk (The Night Stalkers), comes out in March.
4. Kathleen Harrington
Historical romance writer Kathleen Harrington has been writing since 1989 (her most recent novel, Black Raven's Lady, hit shelves in November) and has found sensuality in a wide range of time periods, from the American west to regency England to medieval Scotland. No matter the time period, though, you can count on her swoon-worthy heroes having a strong sense of integrity, honor, and dedication to his family. "Historical fiction is a step into the past where we can enjoy manners and chivalry that just don't exist in modern times anymore," she says.
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5. Sarah MacLean
Bestseller Sarah MacLean wrote her first romance novel after her friend dared her to while they were getting drinks—and she started it that night when she was still tipsy enough to think that it was a good idea. Since then, she's fallen in love with writing the genre, especially when it includes strong intellectual matches and a good serving of dirty talk. "Sex scenes are the hardest to write," she says. "I'm not putting on the sexy music and candles. When I get to those scenes, it's about craft and pacing, and it is in no way sexy. My husband will come home and ask how things are going, and I'll be there like, 'Ugh, I'm still writing sex.'" Check out her newest, Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover: The Fourth Rule of Scoundrels.
6. Sandra Hill
Though she got her start as a reporter, Sandra Hill, author of Vampire in Paradise, has been writing books for over 20 years now, featuring love interests from vampire angels to Vikings to Navy seals. And while her writing always has sizzle, her favorite, unexpected ingredient is humor—because laughter is just as important to romance as sex, she says. "In the early days, I thought, 'What will my sons think if they read this?'" she says. "But now I know that it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I write about one man and one woman with the promise of a happy ending, and that's not a bad thing. If there's some explicit sex in there, then maybe they'll learn something about what women want."
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