Romance Trailblazers

To honor as many of the trailblazers of the genre as we could as part of the 2019 RITA Award Ceremony, RWA members worked to build the list below—featuring many of our earliest voices—with an eye toward finding and celebrating the early authors and books that have been left out of the spotlight during the nearly fifty years of the modern American romance genre.

A note on this list: Firsts are a challenge in any medium—there is often someone who came before, lesser known, and less celebrated. If you have additions or corrections to this list of romance trailblazers, please let us know. Our genre’s history is vast and varied, and your knowledge is essential to ensuring it is remembered.

Thank you for reading and for remembering.

Watch the romance trailblazers video

1970 - 1989      1990 - 2019


1970 ‒ 1989

 

1972
The Flame and the Flower
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
First modern romance
1974
Loving Her
Loving Her by Ann Allen Shockley
First biracial lesbian romance
1974
Forth Into the Light
Forth into the Light by Gordon Merrick
Early gay romance series

 

1974
The Front Runner
The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren
First gay romance to receive breakout mainstream success
1975
Forever
Forever by Judy Blume
Seminal YA
1977
Eleanor & the Marquis
Eleanor & the Marquis by Jane Wilby
Harlequin Masquerade #1

 

1979
Love Comes Softly
Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke
First modern inspirational romance
1980
Entwined Destinies
Entwined Destinies by Rosalind Welles
First own voices category romance; edited by Vivian Stephens
1980
Gaywyck
Gaywyck by Vincent Virga
Early gay historical romance

 

1980
The Tawny Gold Man
The Tawny Gold Man by Amii Lorin
Candlelight Ecstasy #1
1980
Gates of Steel
Gates of Steel by Anne Hampson
Harlequin Presents #1
1980
End of Innocence
End of Innocence by Abra Taylor
Harlequin Superromance #1

 

1981
Flamenco Nights
Flamenco Nights by Susanna Collins
Berkley/Jove Second Chance at Love #1
1981
Golden Fire Silver Ice
Golden Fire, Silver Ice by Marisa de Zavala
First own voices Latinx romance; edited by Vivian Stephens
1981
New Boy in Town
New Boy in Town by Dorothy Francis
Silhouette First Love #1

 

1982
Say Jesus Come to Me
Say Jesus and Come to Me by Ann Shockley
First black lesbian romance
1982
The Tender Mending
The Tender Mending by Lia Sanders
Own voices romance by Angela Jackson & Sandra Jackson-Opoku; edited by Vivian Stephens 

1982
Lesson in Love
Lesson in Love by Tracy West
First own voices Silhouette Young Adult

 

1982
Annie On My Mind
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
Early young adult lesbian romance
1982
Corporate Affair
Corporate Affair by Stephanie James
Silhouette Desire #1
1983
Dreams of Evening
Dreams of Evening by Kristin James
Silhouette Intimate Moments #1

 

1983
Untamed Heart
Untamed Heart by Elda Minger
First contemporary romance with a condom on page
1983
Tomorrow's Promise
Tomorrow's Promise by Sandra Brown
Harlequin American #1
1983
Heaven's Price
Heaven's Price by Sandra Brown
Loveswept #1

 

1984
Rites of Spring
Rites of Spring by Sandra Kitt
First book by a black author to be published by Harlequin; edited by Vivian Stephens
1984
The Key
The Key by Rebecca Flanders
Harlequin Intrigue #1
1984
Spring Fancy
Spring Fancy by LaVyrle Spencer
Harlequin Temptation #1

 

1985
Adam & Eva
Adam & Eva by Sandra Kitt
First own voices Harlequin Romance; edited by Vivian Stephens
1986
Sweet Starfire
Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz
Early space romance
1986
Rose Royale
Rose Royale by Inga Dunbar
Harlequin Historical #1

 

1987
The Ivory Key
The Ivory Key by Rita Clay Estrada
First paranormal romance
1988
Satan's Angel
Satan's Angel by Kristin James
Harlequin Historical (Line 2) #1
1988
Careless Whispers
Careless Whispers by Rochelle Alers
Referenced in LaQuette's speech

 

1989
Matched Pair
Matched Pair by Eva Rutland
Harlequin Regency #1