LAFF 2015: LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS

A scene from Love Between the Covers.

Inquiring minds want to know

By Miranda Inganni

Romance writers are often described derogatorily as silly women writing silly books for silly readers. Yet those authors, and the multi-billion dollar industry they create for, are paying the bills for the publishing world.

Laurie Khan’s documentary Love between the Covers focuses on individual authors and the tightknit community that envelopes the romance industry.

While romance authors may write about different subjects (AKA subgenres) -- from Amish Romance to Paranormal Romance and nearly everything imaginable in between -- the one consistent factor about the romance writing industry is the authors’ (and publishers’) desire to give the readers what they want. In particular, happily ever after tropes are a must.

In return, readers are loyal and voracious. So many of the writers are avid readers and many readers are filled with the hope of publishing their own novels. And the women -- both those supplying the product and those consuming it -- are extremely supportive of one another.

Realizing that the infrastructure didn’t already exist in a way that made sense for them, some authors, such as Len Barot (aka Radclyffe) created their own publishing houses. Others, such as Beverly Jenkins, could not find the kind of romance novel she wanted to read (in this case, historical African-American narratives), so she began writing them. Superstar romance writers Mary Bly and Nora Roberts are featured heavily as well.

Presented without great depth and emphasized by goofy graphics, Love Between the Covers almost feel like a few friends got together to chat about their naughty books over a glass of white wine. (In truth, there is nothing wrong with that.) It’s interesting, but the documentary feels aimed more at the existing folks who partake in this particular indulgence than convincing bystanders, let alone detractors, to read about the love between the covers.

 

 

Love Between the Covers screens again at LAFF: June 16, 5:25 p.m., Regal Cinemas. For more information: LBTC.