Something cool happened today to Penny Reid, which is me… but not really me. Penny Reid is you.
Allow me to explain (but feel free to skip if this doesn’t interest you).
Penny Reid was told by over 100 agents and publishers that romance readers don’t read Penny’s kind of books. The words are too big. The concepts are too complicated. There are too many characters to keep track of, all with complex personalities and too many flaws.
So Penny self-published.
And the publishers kept telling her they loved her voice, but wanted her to “tone it down.” Simplify it. Lessen the reading level. Remove all the challenging bits.
Fast forward to now.
‘Beard Science’ is arguably my strangest book, with the “biggest words”, and the most complex/flawed protagonists, with a giant cast of characters.
It just hit the USA Today at #43. That means, out of all the millions of books sold in the USA, it was #43.
Currently, it has a 4.65 rating on Goodreads and a 4.9 rating on Amazon.
Guess what, publishers? Guess. What.
Forget it, I’ll tell you.
READERS OF ROMANCE ARE FUCKING BRILLIANT!
They are smart and clever and want to be challenged. They want empowered female characters. They want flaws. They want complex. They want unique and novel and different. I have proof!
So, something cool happened today to Penny Reid. And by Penny Reid, I mean all of you. Something cool happened to all of you. Because you– my smart, clever, strong, brilliant readers– just proved everyone wrong. <3
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Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
You don’t know how right you are! Two weeks before Truth or Beard was published two of my favorite ‘one-click’ authors published books. Both books were utter disappointments…they were dumbed down, formulaic and boring. I actually went back to Amazon to make sure I bought books from my favorite authors and not someone with the same name. They were nothing like their regular writing, not even close. I gave it some thought and thought about things you and authors like Kristen Ashley say about publishers and I thought to myself “I bet they signed a big contract, were told to dumb down their books, and now I won’t be buying from them anymore”. So disappointed because I really loved them! But not like you and Kristen Ashley! Anyways, I was a bit weary heading into Truth or Beard. You did not disappoint, you did not dumb it down. You gave me the intelligent, smart, insightful, laugh out loud book I was hoping for! Thanks for not selling out Penny!
Sincerely from Canada!
So very true. I actually am an English teacher in honours English degree and read all the classics and I think if you refer to well most of the things he referred to in your books. I had a serious brain injury seven years ago and I couldn’t read anything much it wasn’t simple with few details I try to read some classics and read before, pride and prejudice for example, and couldn’t handle even a few pages just got very depressed. About three years ago I started reading some fanfiction for a series I was watching and that led to me starting to read some free romance books when I got a kobo. I’ve read a lot of romance books and found a few others that I like but what’s happened over the last couple of years as my reading has gradually improved and my ability to take in more characters more detail has improved. I haven’t yet tried to read the literature books I would’ve read before, but reading your books that in the city series and now the first two books of the Winston brothers. Why, because they are more complex and they have bigger words. I was become very bored with all the romance stories they were just that some people have said to dumb down. And it’s a shame there’s some great storylines and ideas out there in the self publish marke why, because they are more complex and they have bigger words. I was become very bored with all the romance stories they were just that some people have said to dumb down. And it’s a shame there’s some great storylines and ideas out there in the Romance market. I never in my life and read a Harlequin romance or anything like it or any real books in this kind of genre except a game classics. I probably was a bit of a reading snob and someways. Anyway I’ve loved reading your books and I think it’s a shame to know what you’re saying about good riders as they get bigger or hook up with publishers being pushed dumb things down. Keep writing and stay true to your beliefs and keep things interesting and challenging For smart interested women readers,
Wendy’sThoughts
I think your talent has said it all and in my review for Beard Science
I said exactly how readers feel when reading Reid:
Penny Reid takes her readers to a place and plops them fully into a mindset where they are in whichever location, with whomever is there and feeling all of the intricate emotions and nuances of whatever is happening with these characters.
It is an experience like none other for me because when reading Reid, my antenna automatically is raised higher of its own volition to capture all of the accompanying life lessons Reid inserts while weaving an easy to read and follow tale. It never ceases to amaze me the way she is able to do this.
Why am I not surprised you were turned down only to prove you were right on track to Never Underestimate the Readers…Thank you for the hours of enjoyment, education through your stories and being fearless to go forward when others told you no.
<333
Hi Penny!
I think you are the most Awesome Writer and Awesome Person I have ever had the pleasure to know!! From Neanderthal to Cletus, I love them all!!!
What YOU said. Some “tried” to put this in the Chick Lit category on Goodreads. I think NOT. Aww sweet and building romance.
You read my review (thanks again for the LIKE). Because of you and authors like Pamela Clare & others, I’ve started a couple of “book shelves” One is “For your edification” (keep the big words coming, I mean it!) I love the inside jokes WINK WINK. and the other book shelf is: “Sure Thing Authors”. You got it gurllll & I’m elated that you’re sharing it with US!!!
Amen girl
Love Hacked made me laugh out loud multiple times. Also I had to look up a few words or phrases and I liked that too!
Well done !
i was here – looking for a way to contact you to tell you that i love ALL your books, but i really love BEARD SCIENCE – so funny, so touching, so real, so SMART, so perfectly cletus – and then – i came across this cool thing that happened to all of us. and now – i’m a bit verklempt. and, so you know, you are the standard by which all other authors are ranked by me – now that i know what’s possible. thank you for writing. to quote a few of your characters “please don’t stop.”
Dearest Penny, this very reason was why you are now one of my favorite authors. I only have 3 and one is Jane Austin…I have very high author standards. When I first read my first Reid romance (NMH), I was so excited because the characters were quirky, and smart, and I loved that! You have created a world where it’s ok to be different, because let’s face it, most of us aren’t all that “normal” if we’re honest. Thank goodness you didn’t listen to those crazies who said to dumb things down. Life just wouldn’t be the same
Your writing is everything. I think you’re doing so much for this genre, de-stigmatizing the “basic” romance level and really creating an actual story with characters that are deep and relatable. Your inclusion of intelligent, witty and confident female characters is also a huge holler to my feminist side. And you have a great talent to develop swoon-worthy male characters that are more than just blessed in genetics.
I read through each of your Winston books within the day and have suffered many days sleepy at work for lack of sleep—every page is worth it. Of course there are days when we all want to read something short and sweet, but I find myself gravitating towards the “smart” books of romance; you get to build a stronger visualization and understanding of the story and its characters.
Funny thing is, I find myself just going back to parts of your book and re-reading bookmarked pages if I want a short, light read. A few chapters in the Winston series is vastly better than the entirety of other short romance novels. It’s so refreshing to see authors like you investing in “toning up” the audience’s perception of what can be a great romance novel. Cannot wait for the next in the Winston series and anything else you publish!
P.S. Ashley Winston is one of my favorites.
Before discovering your books I didn’t/wouldn’t read Romance Novels (occasionally I ready them by mistake). Thanks to your books and your reading list i have discovered lots of romance books to read that are smart and aren’t dumb and fun. I still stumble upon some dumb ones but I just don’t bother to read any more of those authors books. What do publishers know…. go the indie writer.
Heroes & Heartbreakers put me onto Beard Science and I loved it so much I’m now reading all your books. I’m so glad you ignored what you were told and self-pubbed!
I have all your books, and love them all for all the things those annoyingly short sighted publishers wanted you to change. Just re-read the “chemistry ” series, and enjoyed it all over again.
My favourites are the Winton siblings/brothers … “sigh!” … just fabulous! Can’t wait for the next Beard!
May you be blessed with a never ending flow of words, especially “big” ones, for us, your fans, to devour!
I must say I was not sure about your books but decided to try your freebie on Amazon. After I read NEANDERTHAL VERSES HUMAN I was hooked. I have laughed out loud many times while reading your books and shed a few tears. I am currently reading BEARD SCIENCE and I don’t want to do any else but sit and read. Please keep your books coming and thank you for standing tall.
Just finished reading Neanderthal Seeks Human and I just had to thank you! I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time. Found your book by accident and the intelligence, humorous, deceptive, and down right entertaining way you wrote this book was to me like a bubbling brook of cold water, in a barren and dry desert of cookie cutter books of this genre. I really look forward to reading more of your books!
Thank god for your perservance and determination! I’ve just finished Beard Science and am having withdrawal symptoms! Can’t wait for your new book in Feb 2017!
I freaking love you, this comment almost brought tears to my eyes b/c it’s so true! It’s so hard to find romance that can add complexity and intrigue, outside of just the usual fluff!! I love you Penny Reid, keep being you!!!!
Cletus and Jenn are my new favourite couple! I only just discovered Penny Reid books. I am now lamenting the hit to my bank account to stock up on your back list! Thank you so much for your awesome books.
I have laughed out loud so many times over the past few months while reading your books. Your writing is so clever and funny and I LOVE all of your complex characters! Thank you for self publishing and not changing a thing. I am anxiously awaiting your next book! Xo
Me gustaría escribir esta respuesta en inglés, pero me temo que las palabras no me harían justicia. Así que lo voy a decir en español aunque no sepas lo que estoy diciendo. He leído todos excepto un libro de los que has publicado, los he amado todos. Algunos personajes me han marcado más que otros, pero los he amado a todos. Creo firmemente que las personas somos increíblemente complejas y estamos marcadas por experiencias grandes y pequeñas que nos hace ser quien somos y me alegra que tus personajes sean así, que los compartas y que sean tan perfectamente imperfectos que parecen personas reales, que me hacen desear que fueran personas reales y poderlos conocer y hacerlos parte de mi vida, mas allá de los libros. Te felicito por no darte por vencida, por no creer que los amantes de las historias de romance son un puñado de gente sin cerebro, yo por mi parte creo que es como muchas cosas, una gran mentira, es lo que quieren hacer de nosotros, no lo que realmente somos, por lo que me alegra encontrar mujeres con tanto talento y tantas ganas de contarle al mundo sus historias que no se dan por vencidas. Espero seguir leyendo más libros igual de maravillosos y ojala algún día tenga el gusto de decirte esto frente a frente. Mientras tanto Felicidades! disfruta tu éxito que es bien merecido.
Gracias por sus amables palabras. ¡Te aprecio!
I love your books! They are clever, entertaining, laughing out loud-funny, keep me on the page and not skipping (yep, I do that when “normal” romance novels get too normal = boring). I love how the characters evolve and the reader get to see WHY they evolve. They grow, even though they’re not particularly stupid to begin with 😉 They just grow because they learn from experience. I hate stupid books. Yours are not and I love them <3
Wow, I cant belive publishers told you that your books had “big words” for romance readers… I TOTALY loved Cletus and Jen, I think they are my favourite couple so far =) I like that they are clever, I feel like today boks sometimes are too simple or all the same I end up skipping most of the pages or dont finish them, but your books never cease to amaze me, every time I read a new one it becomes my favourite one.
Definetly keep doing your thing!!