In most cases, those readers want more romance books, and Parker (fantasy), O’Keeffe (comedy) and Castel (historical) all offer variations on a theme of love. “Romance writers are our most professional and best-earning writers,” says Jenny Nagle, CEO of the New Zealand Society of Authors. There’s a direct link between that rural childhood and the epic fantasy romance books she writes as an adult. Parker found herself turning down meetings with traditional publishers before choosing Harper Voyager, the fantasy and science fiction arm of HarperCollins. You’ve got to respect the creative process, and you’ve still got to be excited to get up and write those books.”
