What is a contemporary?

[Billie_Joe00]

hey, i've recently checked out the smooch website and looked at their guidelines, but it says they are only accepting contemporary and paranormal. Is contemporary just like any other teenager story? like the whole, boy troubles and school life or whatever? or is it something completely different?
Thanx

[Cathy C]

Okay, Dorchester's new Smooch imprint is a YA line set up for girls 12-16. They're sort of young adult "chick lit" filled with boys, makeup, best friends and life in school. "Contemporary" means that it's set in the here and now. This earth, this reality. "Paranormal" is . . . well, NOT this reality. Witches, vampires, werewolves, etc. Keep in mind that the Smooch line is primarily romance, but of the young love sort -- puppy love. No sex. More a "sweet first kiss" sort of thing. Manuscripts should be 45,000 words maximum. The editor for the line WAS Kate Seaver, but she just recently moved to become senior editor at Berkeley, so I don't know who will be taking over the line. You might address a query to "Smooch Editor" and it'll be forwarded along.