If "A Christmas Carol" was written today...

[AdamH]

...what genre would it be considered for a would be author looking for a publisher/agent?

Reason I'm asking is because I have this novel completed that's along the lines of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It's a holiday novel with adventure aspects to it. Adventure along the lines of The Santa Clause with Tim Allen or Polar Express.

As I'm researching potential publishers, I find that none really specifically say that they look for Holiday novels. Yet, about a couple months ago, I pitched it to a panel of publishers and the consensus was that most fiction publishers are looking for good holiday novels because they tend to sell so well...especially this time of year.

Still, I'm stuck with the question: what genre are Holiday novels? Specifically, A Christmas Carol? Do I just consider any publisher that publishes fiction to be a potential candidate?

What say you "O Sages of Absolute Write"? :D

[TrickyFiction]

I'd call it Fantasy.

[katiemac]

I'd say you're okay calling it a holiday novel, but with fantasy themes. You can compare it to the fantasy in A Christmas Carol in your query if you think that will help open doors to mainstream agents, not just fantasy ones.

[AdamH]

Thanks! I'm trying to get as wide range of potential publishers that I can. It's funny to think of it as a fantasy because when I think fantasy, I think Lord of the Rings, or Alice in Wonderland not a Christmas story.
Then again. I am creating a whole world based in our world...so I guess that qualifies.

Thanks for all your replies.

[Danthia]

I'd say urban fantasy or magical realism. It's a ghost story essentially.

[triceretops]

I've written one myself called Dispossessed Incorporated, and I'm calling it Fantasy. Mortals hitchhiking a ride back to the past via ghosts.

Tri

[Phaeal]

Holiday novel with fantastic elements.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I thought it was considered a ghost story.

[browneyes106]

I think it would go under fantasy/supernatural.

[NeuroFizz]

I bet if it went to cinema, you'd be able to get someone like Bill Murray to play the lead. Oh. Wait...

In other words, is there any way you can take the same basic story plan and make it more universal, so it isn't just a holiday-specific story? You might find interest in publishing a season-limited story a bit tough. If would be a good question to pose to ask-an-agent threads or blogs.

[AdamH]

That's a good idea to go to the ask an agent board, Neurofizz.

I did pitch the idea to some publishers back in September and there was interest in it (it was one of those public forums where you stand in front of everyone and bear your soul!). I did ask them this same question there and the concensus was that they figured most publishing companies would be interested in a great Christmas novel because, even though it's a limited time frame for interest, a good Christmas novel historically sells really well year after year and, they said, there's a demand for them.

But yeah, I'll go over to Ask an Agent and find out.