Once relegated to supermarket aisles, romance books are now mainstream. And authors, an often-maligned group within publishing, have found greater commercial success than many writers in other genres. On today's episode of <a href="http://npr.org/love">Love Week</a>, our series on the business of romance, we find out how romance novelists rode the e-book wave and networked with each other to achieve their happily-for-now status in the industry. Read more by <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691217406/love-in-the-time-of-self-publishing">Christine Larson</a>, <a href="https://www.prisoliveras.com/">Priscilla Oliveras</a> and <a href="https://nataliecana.com/">Natalie Caña</a>. Thanks to <a href="https://www.grantleephillips.com/">Grant-Lee Phillips</a> for our theme song and <a href="https://www.kaitlinbrito.com/">Kaitlin Brito</a> for artwork. Related listening: It's Love Week! How the TV holiday rom-com got so successful (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-indicator-from-planet-money/id1320118593?i=1000673858847">Apple</a> / <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3licbT4ojwIvxfv8j4DEIp?si=07492230be944689">Spotify</a>) <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/08/20/1196982068/nprs-book-of-the-day-olympics-rufaro-faith-mazarura-let-the-games-begin">Rufaro Faith's 'Let the Games Begin' is a rom-com set in the Olympic village</a> Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why the publishing industry is hot (and bothered) for romance

A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less.