ROMANTIC TIMES Issues: #1-54 (1981 to 1988)
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#1 (July/August 1981)
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Note: Photo of cover taken from Browne Popular Culture Library's Twitter page, which includes more photos of several pages from this issue. A scan of the top half of the front cover can be viewed here (found online).
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Note: Photo of cover taken from Browne Popular Culture Library's Twitter page, which includes more photos of several pages from this issue. A scan of the top half of the front cover can be viewed here (found online).
#2 (September/October 1981)
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Note: The cover image shown here is a close-up from a photo of publisher Kathryn Falk holding issue #2. That photo can be viewed here (found online). This issue had the news that "Jennifer Wilde" was actually a male writer, Tom E. Huff.
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Note: The cover image shown here is a close-up from a photo of publisher Kathryn Falk holding issue #2. That photo can be viewed here (found online). This issue had the news that "Jennifer Wilde" was actually a male writer, Tom E. Huff.
#3 (November/December 1981)
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Note: I've not seen dates listed for most of the issues until #26 (the oldest issue I actually have) so the dates shown below are educated guesses based on the available information. They will be updated or corrected when I have more info.
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Note: I've not seen dates listed for most of the issues until #26 (the oldest issue I actually have) so the dates shown below are educated guesses based on the available information. They will be updated or corrected when I have more info.
#4 (January/February? 1982)
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#5 (March/April? 1982)
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#6 (May/June? 1982)
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- #7 (July/August 1982?)
#8 (September/October 1982?)
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#9 (November/December 1982?)
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#10 (January/February? 1983)
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#11 (March/April 1983?)
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#12 (May/June 1983?)
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#13 (July/August 1983?)
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#14 (September/October 1983?)
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#15 (November/December 1983?)
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#16 (Spring? 1984)
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#17 (Summer? 1984)
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#18 (Fall 1984)
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Note: The endnotes of John Markert's book "Publishing Romance" list Romantic Times #18 as the Fall 1984 issue.
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Note: The endnotes of John Markert's book "Publishing Romance" list Romantic Times #18 as the Fall 1984 issue.
#19 (Winter? 1984)
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#20 (January/Feburary 1985?)
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#21 (March/April? 1985)
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#22 (May/June? 1985)
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#23 (July/August? 1985)
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#24 (September/October? 1985)
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#25 (November/December? 1985)
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#26 (January/February 1986)
52 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- COLUMNS:
"Under the Covers" (view)
Note: Final issue in tabloid (newspaper) format?
52 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- COLUMNS:
"Under the Covers" (view)
Note: Final issue in tabloid (newspaper) format?
#28 (Spring 1986)
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Note: First issue in standard magazine format?
Numbering switches to even numbers only (until #87)?
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Note: First issue in standard magazine format?
Numbering switches to even numbers only (until #87)?
#30 (Summer? 1986)
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#32 (Fall 1986)
76 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- FEATURES:
"Romantic Times Awards for 1986" (view)
"Convention Update" by Kathryn Falk; w/photo of Pocket Books editor Linda Marrow (view)
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Dorothy Garlock (view)
- COLUMNS:
[Historical] "Tidbits" by Kathe Robin (view)
[Series] "Tidbits" by Melinda Helfer (view)
"Letters" from the readers (view)
76 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- FEATURES:
"Romantic Times Awards for 1986" (view)
"Convention Update" by Kathryn Falk; w/photo of Pocket Books editor Linda Marrow (view)
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Dorothy Garlock (view)
- COLUMNS:
[Historical] "Tidbits" by Kathe Robin (view)
[Series] "Tidbits" by Melinda Helfer (view)
"Letters" from the readers (view)
#34 (December 1986/January 1987)
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(Partial cover image, taken from Facebook photo)
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(Partial cover image, taken from Facebook photo)
#36 (February/March 1987)
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#38 (April/May 1987)
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#40 (June/July 1987)
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#42 (August/September 1987)
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(Photo of cover taken from Facebook)
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(Photo of cover taken from Facebook)
#44 (October/November 1987)
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#46 (December 1987/January 1988)
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(Partial cover image, taken from Facebook photo)
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(Partial cover image, taken from Facebook photo)
#48 (February/March 1988)
84 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- FEATURES:
"Book Store Report" (view)
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Rebecca Brandewyne (view)
Phoebe Conn (view)
Iris Johansen (view)
Kathleen Korbel (view)
Cathie Linz (view)
Ellen Tanner Marsh (view)
Eileen Nauman [Lindsay McKenna] (view)
Eugenia Riley (view)
Janelle Taylor (view)
- MINI PROFILES: Bobbi Smith, Marylyle Rogers (view); Sandra Lee, Vivian Vaughan (view); Chelley Kitzmiller, Norah Hess (view)
- COLUMNS:
"A Note from the Publisher" by Kathryn Falk (view)
"Under the Covers" by Flavia Knightsbridge (view)
"Historical Tete a Tete" by Kathe Robin (view)
"Letters" from the readers (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"Regency Romance Reviews" by Melinda Helfer (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"Series Romance Tidbits" by Melinda Helfer (view)
Note: The middle of the magazine has a small insert previewing Bound by Desire by Rosemary Rogers
84 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- FEATURES:
"Book Store Report" (view)
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Rebecca Brandewyne (view)
Phoebe Conn (view)
Iris Johansen (view)
Kathleen Korbel (view)
Cathie Linz (view)
Ellen Tanner Marsh (view)
Eileen Nauman [Lindsay McKenna] (view)
Eugenia Riley (view)
Janelle Taylor (view)
- MINI PROFILES: Bobbi Smith, Marylyle Rogers (view); Sandra Lee, Vivian Vaughan (view); Chelley Kitzmiller, Norah Hess (view)
- COLUMNS:
"A Note from the Publisher" by Kathryn Falk (view)
"Under the Covers" by Flavia Knightsbridge (view)
"Historical Tete a Tete" by Kathe Robin (view)
"Letters" from the readers (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"Regency Romance Reviews" by Melinda Helfer (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"Series Romance Tidbits" by Melinda Helfer (view)
Note: The middle of the magazine has a small insert previewing Bound by Desire by Rosemary Rogers
#50 (April/May 1988)
100 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- ANNIVERSARY FEATURES:
This issue contained several articles providing an overview of the genre during the 1980s.
"Hall of Fame" by Kathryn Falk is devoted to profiling "an elite group" of 24 then-living authors who were innovators that "forever endeared her to millions of readers." The selection is somewhat biased towards RT's own preference for Historical Romance, with little representing the Gothic (no Victoria Holt), Regency (no Marion Chesney), Mills & Boon/Harlequin (no Betty Neels) or Inspirational (no Janette Oke). Here's the elite group: Barbara Cartland, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Janet Dailey (view); Rosemary Rogers, Laurie McBain, Jennifer Wilde (view); Roberta Gellis (view); Jennifer Blake, Shirlee Busbee (view); Johanna Lindsey (view); Jude Deveraux, Patricia Matthews (view); Valerie Sherwood (view); Bertrice Small (view); Dorothy Garlock (view); Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Johnson (view); Diana Palmer (view); LaVyrle Spencer, Sylvie Sommerfield (view); Rebecca Brandewyne (view); Karen Robards, Nora Roberts (view); Janelle Taylor (view)
"Down Memory Lane: Historical Romance" by Kathe Robin, a "retrospective of the evolution of the Historical Romance over the past seven years" (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3, view Page 4)
"In Memoriam" (view) about people who had passed away recently: Janet Louise Roberts, Elsie Lee, Anne Powers, Paul Little [Marie de Jourlet], Denise Robins, Jonell Lawson, Lyle Kenyon Engel, Ron Busch, Ellen Argo and Jacqueline Musgrave.
"All for the Love of Series Romance, 6000 Books Later" by Melinda Helfer, about category romance history in the 1980s (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3)
"Seven Years of Regencies" by Diane Rubin (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"The Way We Were: Romantic Times 1981-1988" by Kathryn Falk, presenting a photo-heavy year-by-year history of the magazine (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3, view Page 4, view Page 5, view Page 6, view Page 7, view Page 8)
- FEATURES:
"Ode to Romance: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" by Frances L. Trainor (view)
"Questions and Answers" from readers (view Page 1, view Page 2)
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Barbara Cartland (view)
Judith McNaught (view)
- COLUMNS:
"A Note from the Publisher" by Kathryn Falk (view)
"Historical Romance Reviews" by Kathe Robin (view Page 1 of 12)
"Publishers Previews" by Anne Sullivan (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3 [which has a photo of the book display "with author Lisa Kleypas posing in a post-Civil War gown"], view Page 4)
"Regency Romance Reviews" by Melinda Helfer (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"Series Romance Reviews" by Melinda Helfer (view Page 1 of 9)
- ADS:
Florida Romance Writers congratulates RT on its 50th issue (view)
100 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
- ANNIVERSARY FEATURES:
This issue contained several articles providing an overview of the genre during the 1980s.
"Hall of Fame" by Kathryn Falk is devoted to profiling "an elite group" of 24 then-living authors who were innovators that "forever endeared her to millions of readers." The selection is somewhat biased towards RT's own preference for Historical Romance, with little representing the Gothic (no Victoria Holt), Regency (no Marion Chesney), Mills & Boon/Harlequin (no Betty Neels) or Inspirational (no Janette Oke). Here's the elite group: Barbara Cartland, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Janet Dailey (view); Rosemary Rogers, Laurie McBain, Jennifer Wilde (view); Roberta Gellis (view); Jennifer Blake, Shirlee Busbee (view); Johanna Lindsey (view); Jude Deveraux, Patricia Matthews (view); Valerie Sherwood (view); Bertrice Small (view); Dorothy Garlock (view); Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Johnson (view); Diana Palmer (view); LaVyrle Spencer, Sylvie Sommerfield (view); Rebecca Brandewyne (view); Karen Robards, Nora Roberts (view); Janelle Taylor (view)
"Down Memory Lane: Historical Romance" by Kathe Robin, a "retrospective of the evolution of the Historical Romance over the past seven years" (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3, view Page 4)
"In Memoriam" (view) about people who had passed away recently: Janet Louise Roberts, Elsie Lee, Anne Powers, Paul Little [Marie de Jourlet], Denise Robins, Jonell Lawson, Lyle Kenyon Engel, Ron Busch, Ellen Argo and Jacqueline Musgrave.
"All for the Love of Series Romance, 6000 Books Later" by Melinda Helfer, about category romance history in the 1980s (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3)
"Seven Years of Regencies" by Diane Rubin (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"The Way We Were: Romantic Times 1981-1988" by Kathryn Falk, presenting a photo-heavy year-by-year history of the magazine (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3, view Page 4, view Page 5, view Page 6, view Page 7, view Page 8)
- FEATURES:
"Ode to Romance: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" by Frances L. Trainor (view)
"Questions and Answers" from readers (view Page 1, view Page 2)
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Barbara Cartland (view)
Judith McNaught (view)
- COLUMNS:
"A Note from the Publisher" by Kathryn Falk (view)
"Historical Romance Reviews" by Kathe Robin (view Page 1 of 12)
"Publishers Previews" by Anne Sullivan (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3 [which has a photo of the book display "with author Lisa Kleypas posing in a post-Civil War gown"], view Page 4)
"Regency Romance Reviews" by Melinda Helfer (view Page 1, view Page 2)
"Series Romance Reviews" by Melinda Helfer (view Page 1 of 9)
- ADS:
Florida Romance Writers congratulates RT on its 50th issue (view)
#52 (June/July 1988)
84 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
Front inside cover: ad for Harlequin Historical series debut (view)
- FEATURES:
"Harlequin Historicals launch" (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3 [reviews], view Page 4, view Page 5)
"Leisure's Leading Ladies" (view) with profile of editor Alicia Condon
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Julia Fitzgerald (view Page 1, view Page 2)
Heather Graham (view Page 1, view Page 2)
Brenda Joyce (view) -- plus ad for her Avon Romance, Innocent Fire (view)
Kathryn Kramer and Kathryn Hockett (view) -- plus an ad for Kramer's new book Under Gypsy Skies (view)
Karen Robards (view) -- plus ad for her new book Dark of the Moon (view)
- MINI PROFILES: Laurie McBain (whose comments arrived too late for last issue), Andrea Parnell (view); Pamela Ahearn (view); Rosalind Alsobrook a.k.a Gina Delaney, Ginna Gray (view)
- COLUMNS:
"A Note from the Publisher" by Kathryn Falk (view)
"Under the Covers" by Flavia Knightsbridge (view Page 1, view Page 2) where we learn that Kathleen Woodiwiss doesn't answer fan mail; Fern Michaels co-author has disappeared; People magazine featured Lisa Kleypas; and "former editor Vivian Stephens is reportedly working in a book store."
"Historical Tete a Tete" by Kathe Robin (view)
"Series Romance Tidbits" by Melinda Helfer (view)
"The Pink Pages" (bookstores) (view)
84 pages
Table of Contents page (view)
Front inside cover: ad for Harlequin Historical series debut (view)
- FEATURES:
"Harlequin Historicals launch" (view Page 1, view Page 2, view Page 3 [reviews], view Page 4, view Page 5)
"Leisure's Leading Ladies" (view) with profile of editor Alicia Condon
- AUTHOR PROFILES:
Julia Fitzgerald (view Page 1, view Page 2)
Heather Graham (view Page 1, view Page 2)
Brenda Joyce (view) -- plus ad for her Avon Romance, Innocent Fire (view)
Kathryn Kramer and Kathryn Hockett (view) -- plus an ad for Kramer's new book Under Gypsy Skies (view)
Karen Robards (view) -- plus ad for her new book Dark of the Moon (view)
- MINI PROFILES: Laurie McBain (whose comments arrived too late for last issue), Andrea Parnell (view); Pamela Ahearn (view); Rosalind Alsobrook a.k.a Gina Delaney, Ginna Gray (view)
- COLUMNS:
"A Note from the Publisher" by Kathryn Falk (view)
"Under the Covers" by Flavia Knightsbridge (view Page 1, view Page 2) where we learn that Kathleen Woodiwiss doesn't answer fan mail; Fern Michaels co-author has disappeared; People magazine featured Lisa Kleypas; and "former editor Vivian Stephens is reportedly working in a book store."
"Historical Tete a Tete" by Kathe Robin (view)
"Series Romance Tidbits" by Melinda Helfer (view)
"The Pink Pages" (bookstores) (view)
#54 (August/September 1988)
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