I didn’t grow up sneaking romance novels from my aunt’s closet—I had barely read any. When I started writing fiction, romance novels seemed like a place I might fit in because they explore characters’ emotions and inner struggles. I had a lot of practice writing about such things in my journal.

I started reading in different sub-genres of romance and learning about the history of romance novels, and my goal quickly became writing feminist romance novels with empowered heroines. I discovered things like beta heroes and #consentissexy. My goals as a writer kept growing into what feels like a mission.

Some people criticize genre fiction and romance novels in particular as being unimportant or “trashy” or “porn for housewives” but I disagree. By portraying positive relationships with good communication, romance novels help readers envision such relationships for themselves. They can be a model of proper consent for young people and can portray diverse types of relationships and people. They can be a fun escape while still having depth and contributing to a better society.

I gravitated toward fantasy romance but couldn’t seem to write the “dark fantasy” of most of the books I read. That’s how I ended up writing “cozy fantasy romance”—lighthearted stories with action and adventure, love and magic, but without the violence and lurking evil of many fantasy worlds. My books are kind of like The Princess Bride movie, in book form, with more kissing parts.

Lately I’m writing characters who approach love and sex more slowly. I think progressive M/F romance novels took a turn toward heroines with experience who jump right in to having sex, as a backlash to decades of the double standard where women who like/have sex are criticized, while men are praised. I welcome that change but also see that it doesn’t include people who don’t rush into a physical relationship for personal reasons, even if they think it would be socially acceptable to do so. Maybe they need an emotional attachment first. Maybe they need to establish boundaries before they can be comfortable. And/Or maybe they are on the asexual spectrum. I love writing love scenes where the couple communicates verbally, instead of having characters who somehow just know exactly what their partner wants.

I’ve also plotted and drafted some contemporary romances. They are set in Orange County, North Carolina and have ace spectrum characters who are just beginning to understand their identity, and grumpy/sunshine pairings.

I have had a long (and ongoing) journey to understand myself. The themes in my stories are rooted in my own struggles to believe in myself and be courageous, and to understand how I fit in the world. “Jane” is my middle name and the pen name I use for my romance writing. You can learn more about my other pursuits at emilybuehler.com.

I live in the historical, writer-filled town of Hillsborough, North Carolina. When I have any free time, and even when I don’t, I like to hike with my partner, write paper letters to friends outside of Kim’s Bakery, defuse my Very Angry Cat named Coco by letting him kill his feather toy, or listen to podcasts to make mowing the lawn bearable.