The Romantic Times Before Bookstagram And BookTok [Let's talk about the Romantic Times Magazine]

Prologue

If you have been on my page for any amount of time, you might have stumbled over me mentioning a magazine by the name of “Romantic Times”. To many veteran romance readers the “Romantic Times” (short: RT) is a very familiar publication, to newer enjoyers of the genre (or like me simply part of Gen Z) you might know nothing or very little about this magazine which once reigned over the romance world with an iron fist.

Chapter 1: The Romantic Times Magazine

The Romantic Times was a genre magazine specialising in romance novels that was published from 1981 to 2018. Originally founded as a newsletter by Kathryn Falk, and written in her walk-in closet on a selectric typewriter, the initial publication took nine months to create, and was distributed to 3.000 subscribers. It was printed tabloid style as Falk couldn’t afford the glossy white papers typical for magazines at the time. Together with  her mother-in-law, who was an English professor and lecturer on English Classic, she reviewed around 30 romance novels for the first edition of the Romantic Times.

“I believed that if millions of women were buying the new sensual historical novels, they must be like me and want information about the books and authors, the illustrators, cover models, and how-to-write articles.”

In the mid-70s romance novels were mostly considered beneath contempt, and not worth discussing in public domain. As a publisher put it, romance novels are “fantasies for housewives in fluffy slippers and housecoats”. However, this notion about romance novels did not mirror how much these novels were bought and enjoyed by many readers. Falk saw this gap between the wants of the readers, and what publishers and media provided  Or as Caroline Tolley at Avon Books said: “Romance readers are vicarious readers. They want more and they want them fast."

Swiftly after the first publications of the Romantic Times, the magazine started organising the “Romantic Times Booklovers Convention.” A convention all about romance novels, its authors and readers. Several thousand people attended these events featuring author signings, a costume ball, and a male pageant contest.

By 2004 the magazine had around 150.000 subscribers, and established its reputation as “Romance’s premiere genre magazine.” With its worked out review system, including a sensuality rating, book reviews, interviews, columns, author profiles, and reader network department, the Romantic Times had accumulated enjoy power on the market to make or break a romance writer as it was the only one of its kind on the market. Writers and editors feared the reviews printed in the magazine. 

It had been responsible for the discovery of the model Fabio, as well as essential in the push of Topaz Man to the masses. 

The Magazine also was involved in persuading Walter Zachary's, chief executive officer of Kensington Publishing to publish black romance.

Later on, the Romantic Times breached out into a Digital Format, and content could not only be found on their website, but also on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter (now X). To this day you can find interviews and reviews on the social media channels of the magazin.

In May 2018 Kathryn Falk and her co-worker husband Kenneth Rubin announced the closure of the magazine at the last ever held RT Convention in Reno, Nevada. 

Chapter 2: The Queen of Romance

One cannot discuss the Romantic Time magazine without talking about the self-proclaimed “Queen of Romance” herself Kathryn Falk. Falk grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and graduated from the University of Detroit. After graduation she moved to Manhattan, and ran a Madison Avenue shop that sold-house furniture. As a lifelong romance reader Falk found herself rather frustrated that authors like Barbara Cartland sold millions of copies, but were largely ignored by critics. This inspired to write her first nonfiction book “Love Leading Ladies” which featured several romance authors and their accounts on their careers. With plans to turn her passion into her career, Falk sold her shop and started the magazine. Or in her own words: “I always loved the Brontes and ‘The highwayman came riding’, and I love to make money.” Where the publishing world saw clinch and cringe, Falk saw the opportunity for money. Many saw Falk herself as the reason for the great success of the magazine. Katherine Orr, vice president of public relations for Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. said: “It’s not the magazine, it’s Kathryn. She’s a phenomenal promoter.”

But Kathryn Falk was not without her flaws. Though often described as “colourful”, “brilliant”, and “temperamental”, Falk had a tendency to act when things didn’t go her way. During one convention Falk punched a former employee of hers in the face. The woman had to be brought to the hospital, but did not press charges. Falk only defended her actions by claiming to be protective of her work. At yet another convention, Lark threw a handful of books at a diabetic employee who insisted on taking a lunch break to keep his blood sugar in balance. He also did not press charges. 

On another occasion Falk bought a royal title for 100.000 US Dollar to impress her readership and shamelessly exploit for publicity. The “Lady of Barrow” quickly attracted a village of devoted followers, much to her own pleasure.

Chapter 3: The Legacy of RT

It is undoubtedly that the Romantic Times has left a legacy that still lasts to this day. Just take a look around Bookstagram or BookTok, and you will find what once was only done by the magazine. In a way Falk and her magazine paved the way for the discussion of romance novels without shame and without judgement. Many of us take it granted that we today can talk so openly about our passion for dukes, billionaires, and orcs, but not too long ago that was not as easy, if possible at all. What we call a “spicy scale” today, was not too long ago an invention by the RT under the name “sensuality rating”.

Falk was the OG bookish influencer. Her style of reviewing and talking about romance novels was the blueprint for what we find today on blogs and other forms of social media. The power that BookTok holds over the publishing world, and the making and breaking of novels, was passed down by the Romantic Times. In a way the RT was involved in the curation of the power of romance readers, and ultimately handed us this power back to use (and abuse). It is obvious to me if it wasn’t for the explosion of social media, the magazine and magazine alike would probably still be around. But with the flood of reviewers, higher social acceptance, and a younger audience, the old school era of the RT had to ultimately end. Especially as I do not see Lark as someone willing to consult with the new generation, and hand over some influence to anyone else. So I guess all good things have to end. RIP Romantic Times. And Long Live Bookstagram.

Chapter 4: Hall of Romantic Times