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Ontario-based Book By You says it sells thousands of personalized romance novels each year with titles such as ER Fever and Pirates of Desire, where the reader is the star. It is not Brontë, but customers are going crazy for novels that make them the main characters.

Customers answer 20 to 30 questions about themselves and their beloved, ranging from body type to pet names. Then the details are woven into one of the company's eight pre-formatted novels. Clients can even have their photos added to the book jacket.

Turnaround time is quick. Publisher Michael Pocock said if customers ordered their personalised book on Monday they would get it in time for Valentine's Day. Virtually all the orders are done on the Internet, Pocock said.