Here's part of what Wikipedia says about Ms. Crusie:
Crusie was graduated from Wapakoneta High School, and then earned a bachelor's degree in Art Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.[1] She has two Master's degrees. For her first, from Wright State University in Professional Writing and Women's Literature,[1] Crusie wrote a thesis on the role of women in mystery fiction.[2] Her second master's degree is an MFA in Fiction from Ohio State University.[1] She has also completed work towards a Ph.D. in feminist criticism and nineteenth century British and American literature at Ohio State University.So we know we're dealing with a driven, intelligent woman who loves romance and who can discourse intelligently on the themes and motifs of romance fiction. On her website, Ms. Crusie discusses her writing process and analysis of genre fiction.
I have to recommend this one, if only cheer about someone mentioning V. Propp's and Claud Levi-Strauss' theories on literature and myth.
This Is Not Your Mother's Cinderella: The Romance Novel as Feminist Fairy Tale.