Laura Vivanco
@lauravivanco.bsky.social
Independent scholar of popular romance fiction https://www.vivanco.me.uk/ On the Editorial Board of the Journal of Popular Romance Studies https://www.jprstudies.org/
My database of scholarship about romances: https://rsdb.vivanco.me.uk
Can't access chat
My database of scholarship about romances: https://rsdb.vivanco.me.uk
Can't access chat
Pinned
Laura Vivanco
@lauravivanco.bsky.social
· Sep 24
I thought I'd try out making a starter pack. So here's one of romance scholars. Please let me know if you've spotted an omission.
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
Question for any romance novel history people out there: does anyone know who might have been the first romance author to write/publish strict dual POV, ie: in equally distributed, alternating chapters? (Or, first-ish, I know tracking firstness in literature is complicated)
Feel free to RT/boost
Feel free to RT/boost
November 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Question for any romance novel history people out there: does anyone know who might have been the first romance author to write/publish strict dual POV, ie: in equally distributed, alternating chapters? (Or, first-ish, I know tracking firstness in literature is complicated)
Feel free to RT/boost
Feel free to RT/boost
Just got an email from Habitat, which made me think of romance heroines and a recent article about sex in f/m romance and how it could maybe do with deviating a bit more from the standard heterosexual script doi.org/10.1080/2326...
November 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Just got an email from Habitat, which made me think of romance heroines and a recent article about sex in f/m romance and how it could maybe do with deviating a bit more from the standard heterosexual script doi.org/10.1080/2326...
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
Bringing this back, bc it's worthwhile & probably the closest thing to genuine #romance scholarship from the #pulp era: Hortense McRaven's "The Love-Pulp Heroine Steps Out," from THE AUTHOR & JOURNALIST, Aug. 1935. (McRaven, coincidentally, studied literature for 3 years in college.) #romancelandia
Vintage Article: “The Love-Pulp Heroine Steps Out”
It’s time for another vintage article, this time by fave pulp author Hortense McRaven, originally published in the August 1935 issue of The Author & Journalist. (I do actually have a real revi…
lucynka.wordpress.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Bringing this back, bc it's worthwhile & probably the closest thing to genuine #romance scholarship from the #pulp era: Hortense McRaven's "The Love-Pulp Heroine Steps Out," from THE AUTHOR & JOURNALIST, Aug. 1935. (McRaven, coincidentally, studied literature for 3 years in college.) #romancelandia
From Georgia Nicholl's "Between the sheets: physiological sex acts in the contemporary romance novel"
Note: as far as I can tell, this article only looks at novels with heterosexual, cis protagonists.
Note: as far as I can tell, this article only looks at novels with heterosexual, cis protagonists.
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
From Georgia Nicholl's "Between the sheets: physiological sex acts in the contemporary romance novel"
Note: as far as I can tell, this article only looks at novels with heterosexual, cis protagonists.
Note: as far as I can tell, this article only looks at novels with heterosexual, cis protagonists.
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
Some may remember me posting about the obscure, short-lived (Nov. 1931 - Apr. 1933) LOVE MIRROR a couple months ago—welp, I've now written a whole post about it!
In short, it's the feminist, leftist, Depression-era romance magazine you never knew you wanted. #pulp #romance #romancelandia
In short, it's the feminist, leftist, Depression-era romance magazine you never knew you wanted. #pulp #romance #romancelandia
Love Mirror: The feminist, leftist, Depression-era romance magazine you never knew you wanted.
Mixing it up with a post less about a specific story and more about a magazine at large (you may notice that my little-used “Author Spotlight” category has now turned into “Author/Magazine Spotligh…
lucynka.wordpress.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Some may remember me posting about the obscure, short-lived (Nov. 1931 - Apr. 1933) LOVE MIRROR a couple months ago—welp, I've now written a whole post about it!
In short, it's the feminist, leftist, Depression-era romance magazine you never knew you wanted. #pulp #romance #romancelandia
In short, it's the feminist, leftist, Depression-era romance magazine you never knew you wanted. #pulp #romance #romancelandia
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
New #CFP International #WomensWriting online conference
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
New #CFP International #WomensWriting online conference
I just realised that the modern equivalent of the breathy ... pauses that ... Cartland heroines ... indulged in... is blurbs written in extremely short sentences and paragraphs. Here's one which looks ridiculously like a poem because of how short the sentences and paragraphs are.
November 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I just realised that the modern equivalent of the breathy ... pauses that ... Cartland heroines ... indulged in... is blurbs written in extremely short sentences and paragraphs. Here's one which looks ridiculously like a poem because of how short the sentences and paragraphs are.
Feel like this might be a niche opportunity for an early career romance scholar. Bit of a long shot, but anyone working on London in Regencies or K J Charles, for example?
The Worshipful Company of Curriers essay prize on London for early career scholars, in association with The London Journal Trust and the Institute of Historical Research.
The author of the winning submission will receive £1,000, and publication, subject to peer review, in The London Journal.
The author of the winning submission will receive £1,000, and publication, subject to peer review, in The London Journal.
Curriers' Essay Prize | The London Journal
The author of the winning submission will receive £1,000, and publication, subject to peer review, in The London Journal. Other promising entries may also be considered for publication.
www.thelondonjournal.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Feel like this might be a niche opportunity for an early career romance scholar. Bit of a long shot, but anyone working on London in Regencies or K J Charles, for example?
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
Hi DH friends, join us on Nov 10, 10-11 am CT, for “New Book History Research with Internet Data”, a hybrid panel sponsored by SHAR, to explore challenges and opportunities of using Internet data and digital methods for book history research. More info in the poster attached and comments :)
November 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Hi DH friends, join us on Nov 10, 10-11 am CT, for “New Book History Research with Internet Data”, a hybrid panel sponsored by SHAR, to explore challenges and opportunities of using Internet data and digital methods for book history research. More info in the poster attached and comments :)
Joseph Crawford 's written an open access essay which addresses ethical issues he's considered while teaching a course about romantic fiction.
‘I'm Alright, It's Just so Horrible’: Teaching Romance Fictions, Pre‐ and Post‐#MeToo
This article discusses the author’s experiences of teaching the history of romance fiction to undergraduate students from 2013 to 2024, with a particular emphasis on changing approaches to teaching r...
compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Joseph Crawford 's written an open access essay which addresses ethical issues he's considered while teaching a course about romantic fiction.
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
Come and study with me! Call for doctoral proposals in the field of Romance and/or Erotica at Falmouth University: www.falmouth.ac.uk/research/phd...
Romance and/or Erotica
This Research & Knowledge Exchange Doctoral Project brief summarises our priority areas of research interest under the heading of: Romance and/or Erotica
www.falmouth.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Come and study with me! Call for doctoral proposals in the field of Romance and/or Erotica at Falmouth University: www.falmouth.ac.uk/research/phd...
I'm sure you know about this already @romgothsam.bsky.social but I thought you might like the photo.
Did you know Mary Shelley once had to correct Sir Walter Scott for crediting her novel, Frankenstein, to her husband? 🔍
For one day only, see this story on paper at the National Library:
➡️ Mary Shelley's letter to Sir Walter Scott
➡️ Rare early editions & items from our archives
➡️ and more!
For one day only, see this story on paper at the National Library:
➡️ Mary Shelley's letter to Sir Walter Scott
➡️ Rare early editions & items from our archives
➡️ and more!
November 4, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I'm sure you know about this already @romgothsam.bsky.social but I thought you might like the photo.
😭 I tried to verify my age so I could see a DM that had arrived for me, but the system didn't like my card and told me to provide another one, or use a different method.
So, still no DMs for me!
So, still no DMs for me!
October 30, 2025 at 10:27 PM
😭 I tried to verify my age so I could see a DM that had arrived for me, but the system didn't like my card and told me to provide another one, or use a different method.
So, still no DMs for me!
So, still no DMs for me!
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
"But read looking backward, having seen all that came later, the nurse novels come to look like more than a curiosity."
Fanny Howe Found Her Voice in the Romance Novel
In nurse romances written under a pseudonym, Howe began working through the questions that would sustain and bewilder her.
newrepublic.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:50 AM
"But read looking backward, having seen all that came later, the nurse novels come to look like more than a curiosity."
From Chloe Camara's "Threading the Narrative: A Critical Discourse Analysis of LGBTQ+ Resistance to Heteronormativity Through Textile Arts":
Aaron McIntosh's "The Couch" 2010 "is a colonial-revival couch upholstered with quilted digital textile prints of romance novels and gay erotica."
Aaron McIntosh's "The Couch" 2010 "is a colonial-revival couch upholstered with quilted digital textile prints of romance novels and gay erotica."
October 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
From Chloe Camara's "Threading the Narrative: A Critical Discourse Analysis of LGBTQ+ Resistance to Heteronormativity Through Textile Arts":
Aaron McIntosh's "The Couch" 2010 "is a colonial-revival couch upholstered with quilted digital textile prints of romance novels and gay erotica."
Aaron McIntosh's "The Couch" 2010 "is a colonial-revival couch upholstered with quilted digital textile prints of romance novels and gay erotica."
As part of a book review in which "an interdisciplinary panel of historians and scholars of literature discuss important works of historical fiction" Julie-Marie Strange, Professor of Modern British History, wonders "maybe I am taking it too seriously, and perhaps it is just a romance".
October 19, 2025 at 12:09 PM
As part of a book review in which "an interdisciplinary panel of historians and scholars of literature discuss important works of historical fiction" Julie-Marie Strange, Professor of Modern British History, wonders "maybe I am taking it too seriously, and perhaps it is just a romance".
Clothing choices hold meanings and are therefore important to analyse and understand. [To bring things back to romance, some critics said linked romances to the trivial because they describe clothing so much and no, that can also have meaning, as I discussed here: www.vivanco.me.uk/popular-roma... ]
The not-so secret language of fascist fashion
Today’s rightwingers want their message to go mainstream, so it’s coming to a store near you
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Clothing choices hold meanings and are therefore important to analyse and understand. [To bring things back to romance, some critics said linked romances to the trivial because they describe clothing so much and no, that can also have meaning, as I discussed here: www.vivanco.me.uk/popular-roma... ]
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
📣📣📣
There's still time! JPRS is still accepting reviews of recent YA scholarship for our special issue on YA series romance. See our Padlet for more details: padlet.com/bookreviews/...
#RomanceResearch @jprstudies.bsky.social @iaspr.bsky.social
#RomanceResearch @jprstudies.bsky.social @iaspr.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM
📣📣📣
Reposted by Laura Vivanco
Red Squirrels always looking like they're about to politely interrupt
October 14, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Red Squirrels always looking like they're about to politely interrupt
This update got very long, but maybe that means there's a higher chance of it including something you'd be interested in reading?
Most of the entries are to open-access publications, so they're free to view.
Most of the entries are to open-access publications, so they're free to view.
A very long list of new (and some not so new) publications about romance
The open access journal TEXT dedicated a special issue to romance/romantic fiction, under the subtitle " Trope Actually – Popular Romance" b...
teachmetonight.blogspot.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This update got very long, but maybe that means there's a higher chance of it including something you'd be interested in reading?
Most of the entries are to open-access publications, so they're free to view.
Most of the entries are to open-access publications, so they're free to view.
I'm 😡 and 😱 and sending 🫂 to my US colleagues. [Words are failing me somewhat, hence the emojis.]
US professors facing threats, firings and harassment over Charlie Kirk posts
As many as 40 academics have been dismissed in aftermath of shooting, allegedly without due process
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I'm 😡 and 😱 and sending 🫂 to my US colleagues. [Words are failing me somewhat, hence the emojis.]
Amy Krug from the University of Dayton got in touch about their library's popular romance novel collection, which is being created by her students
Romance at the University of Dayton
Amy Krug, from the University of Dayton, is happy to report that the University of Dayton (Dayton, Ohio) now has a dedicated collection, the...
teachmetonight.blogspot.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Amy Krug from the University of Dayton got in touch about their library's popular romance novel collection, which is being created by her students
@orkneylibrary.bsky.social I just saw this post from @metoffice.gov.uk and wondered if your photos of the dark sky would be starting soon.
Noticing the nights drawing in? 🌙
October brings a big shift with most of the UK losing over 2 hours of daylight this month!
Do you enjoy the cosy evenings or miss the longer days?
October brings a big shift with most of the UK losing over 2 hours of daylight this month!
Do you enjoy the cosy evenings or miss the longer days?
October 8, 2025 at 12:27 PM
@orkneylibrary.bsky.social I just saw this post from @metoffice.gov.uk and wondered if your photos of the dark sky would be starting soon.
This is for the UK Government, but also I thought it was worth sharing the photo of the extremely cute hedgehog (since there's no alt-text, the hedgehog is partially curled up, but facing the camera with a speech bubble saying "Can you help" as it looks out with bright black eyes + shiny nose)
It only takes a moment to help save our hedgehogs 🦔
Now officially listed as near threatened, our hedgehog numbers have crashed by at least 30% in just ten years 💔
But there’s a simple way to help: hedgehog highways. This just means a small hole in a fence or wall to let them roam more safely.
Now officially listed as near threatened, our hedgehog numbers have crashed by at least 30% in just ten years 💔
But there’s a simple way to help: hedgehog highways. This just means a small hole in a fence or wall to let them roam more safely.
October 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
This is for the UK Government, but also I thought it was worth sharing the photo of the extremely cute hedgehog (since there's no alt-text, the hedgehog is partially curled up, but facing the camera with a speech bubble saying "Can you help" as it looks out with bright black eyes + shiny nose)
@jenniebatchelor.bsky.social You've probably seen these already, but my brother and father went to Agatha Christie's house recently and my father happened to send me a photo of the copies of the Lady's Magazine which they have there.
The Lady's magazine :. or, entertaining companion for the fair sex, appropriated solely to their use and amusement. 3181909
www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk
September 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
@jenniebatchelor.bsky.social You've probably seen these already, but my brother and father went to Agatha Christie's house recently and my father happened to send me a photo of the copies of the Lady's Magazine which they have there.