I just reread the post Flights of Passion http://www.triadweyrs.org/story.php?st_id=5200, where L'rew gets a harper romance from the Records Room. It has given me some ideas, and some questions. Would harper romances really be written by harpers? They seem a bit lowbrow for the Hall. If not, where would they be printed? Could a wealthy merchant own a printer? Would there be a printer at the Weyr? I'm not sure yet if I'll actually use the idea in a post, but I was just wondering. :p
I've actually been toying with the idea of submitting a sona who actually writes those romances (and yes, he would be harper, and no, he would not use his real name.)
We've had the Harper/Printer Hall produce them before. I see them as the kind of thing that would be relatively cheap to produce so they judge it worth the while.
Although, I could also see someone who has their hands on a printer writing cheap knock-offs. It would be possible. They just wouldn't have the seal of the harper hall and would probably be of exceptionally low quality (as far as paper and whatnot).
This is all very interesting. I would like to do a post or two at least about harper romances but am not sure yet if I'll develop the idea. Paula, if you do decide to create that persona, let me know!
Francesca, thank you for bringing that post to my attention. Firstly, it was amusing, (go Eimi!), but secondly it's given me an idea for Nirra... who... well... would probably love reading those books, and probably not have the sense not to talk about them in public - cue some embarrassment for her companions perhaps?