Romance Facts

From the RWA® Website

(source: Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2010)

Romance fiction generated $1.36 billion in sales in 2009.

9,089 new romance titles were released in 2009.

In 2009, romance was the second top-performing category on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists, beat only by the movie tie-in category.

Romance fiction sales are estimated at $1.358 billion for 2010.

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

Links of Interest

Romance Writers of America®
This national organization is the primary voice for professional romance writers. Support offered by the RWA includes a monthly magazine, hundreds of local and sub-genre specialty chapters, and tons of online resources. Mid-Willamette Valley RWA is proud to be a chapter of the Romance Writers of America®.

Salem Public Library
A fine local library. Mid-Willamette Valley RWA meets in one of the upstairs meeting rooms.

Local Writing Organizations

Field’s End
A writers’ community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, offering writing classes taught by award-winning authors. (Recommended by Susan Wiggs.)

Oregon Writers Colony
OWC is a nonprofit organization representing and nurturing both professional and novice writers. Their oceanside "Colonyhouse" is used for conferences, workshops and retreats.

Pacific Northwest Writers Association

Rose City Romance Writers
Portland area chapter of the Romance Writers of America®. They sponsor workshops and the Golden Rose Contest. Several of our Mid-Wilamette Valley chapter members are also members of the Rose City chapter.

Willamette Writers
Portland-based organization provides scholarships, contests and other Oregon writers’ resources.