It's amazing the dust one narrow-minded letter can kick up.

There are a lot of writers out there who are torqued, the result of a debate (re)started by a letter printed in the May issue of RWA's trade publication, RWR. In a few words (and in my humble opinion), the writer of this letter insults the erotic romance genre, one of the publishers of that genre, and the writers of erotic romance by indicating writers of erotic romance aren't professional writers, and the RWA "made a big mistake in lowering our standards to accept such a publisher ."

It bears mentioning that the publisher in question is RWA recognized, meaning they have met the standards set forth by the organization for recognition.

Apparently, the writer of this letter was offended by the May RWR’s back cover advertisement, placed by this same publisher, describing it as “dopey-looking hunks in ridiculous costumes”.

For more detailed discussions of this issue, please visit Sylvia Day, Shannon Stacey, HelenKay, Monica Jackson, and Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels.

My own opinion? I have a problem with the letter-writer's comments. A huge one. It seems to me she feels that writers of erotic romance are beneath her. That they have no business being part of a professional romance organization such as Romance Writers of America.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

I don’t write erotic romance, but I do know that writers of that genre work just as hard as those writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, inspirational romance, etc. Not professional? Pshaw! I have no questions about the professionalism of the erotic romance writers I’ve encountered. And those “dopey-looking hunks”? Shannon Stacey has posted links to some of the letter writer’s own covers, and frankly, I don’t see a difference.

I may be beating a dead horse here (to coin a cliché), but I’m more offended by intolerant elitists than I am by erotic romance.

But that’s just me.