What 'fad' do you wish would come back?

Irysangel · Nov 30, 2006

Hey everyone!

I was picking through my reading pile and thinking about fads in romance.

Right now, you can't throw a rock without hitting a Regency or a vampire story.

But I remember when Vikings were big, medievals were a sure-fire success, and Cowboys (and Indians) covered the supermarket shelves rather than suspense novels.

Do you have a favorite 'fad' of romance that you wish would come back?

I personally adore Time-Travels, and while they haven't vanished from existence, I'd love to see more of them.

(Although, Vikings were good too. Hubba.)

weezwrites · Nov 30, 2006

I wish Civil War-era romances would come back. I got hooked on romance through the books by Heather Graham and Jill Marie Landis -- both of whom now right contemporaries.

And, in general, I wish there were more American-based historicals on the shelves. Most of the historicals today are Regencies, and while I enjoy them, I do long for a good Western every now and then.

Mom'sWrite · Nov 30, 2006

Roller derby

Stacia Kane · Nov 30, 2006

Medievals (selfish, because I love writing them) and bodice rippers.

MDavis · Nov 30, 2006

Hear hear! I few years back I got the craving for a high-seas pirate story, (this was before the first Pirates of the Caribbean came out) but when I spent hours combing my local bookstore shelves I had the hardest time finding one.

So I guess pirates/high seas historical.

Oh, and Colonial America I'd LOVE to see.

Irysangel · Nov 30, 2006

weezwrites said:
I wish Civil War-era romances would come back. I got hooked on romance through the books by Heather Graham and Jill Marie Landis -- both of whom now right contemporaries.

And, in general, I wish there were more American-based historicals on the shelves. Most of the historicals today are Regencies, and while I enjoy them, I do long for a good Western every now and then.

You're right...I can't think of a SINGLE American-based historical out right now. Jeez. That is a market that's totally dried up, for sure.

And don't you hate it when your favorite author switches to contemporaries? Mine is Julie Garwood and it breaks my heart that she's not writing historicals any longer.

Irysangel · Nov 30, 2006

DecemberQuinn said:
Medievals (selfish, because I love writing them) and bodice rippers.

I LOVE medievals too! I've written one, and am writing another as soon as I finish the current novel.

Though I do see a few on the shelves still, but most of them seem to deal with an uber-buff heroine saving the knight, rather than the typical 'damsel' plotlines.

Irysangel · Nov 30, 2006

MDavis said:
Hear hear! I few years back I got the craving for a high-seas pirate story, (this was before the first Pirates of the Caribbean came out) but when I spent hours combing my local bookstore shelves I had the hardest time finding one.

So I guess pirates/high seas historical.

Oh, and Colonial America I'd LOVE to see.

I think Kresley Cole wrote a few high seas historicals...before she switched to paranormal. She's a good writer.

But I hear ya.

Stacia Kane · Dec 1, 2006

Irysangel said:
I LOVE medievals too! I've written one, and am writing another as soon as I finish the current novel.

Though I do see a few on the shelves still, but most of them seem to deal with an uber-buff heroine saving the knight, rather than the typical 'damsel' plotlines.

Ugh, I'm so sick of "kick-ass" heroines. Mine are smart and tough and can take care of themselves--to a point--but I really don't like reading about heroines who don't need heroes. My medieval heroine and hero work together to save themselves from danger, but neither could do it without the other (at least in the situation they end up in--my hero is a serious alpha warror) and that's the way I like it.

Good luck with your medieval! Is it early or late, England or France, etc.?

Irysangel · Dec 1, 2006

DecemberQuinn said:
Ugh, I'm so sick of "kick-ass" heroines. Mine are smart and tough and can take care of themselves--to a point--but I really don't like reading about heroines who don't need heroes. My medieval heroine and hero work together to save themselves from danger, but neither could do it without the other (at least in the situation they end up in--my hero is a serious alpha warror) and that's the way I like it.

Good luck with your medieval! Is it early or late, England or France, etc.?

Mine is Norman conquest, and the other deals with the Prince John/King Richard timeframe.

And I hear you about the kick-butt heroine. I don't find that exceedingly realistic (or romantic, really). When I think about what I'd do if someone put me in danger, it usually involves lots of crying and wetting myself, not kicking butt. *g*

I'm a big Alpha fan too. Give me a good Alpha over a Beta anyday!

Stacia Kane · Dec 1, 2006

Irysangel said:
Mine is Norman conquest, and the other deals with the Prince John/King Richard timeframe.

And I hear you about the kick-butt heroine. I don't find that exceedingly realistic (or romantic, really). When I think about what I'd do if someone put me in danger, it usually involves lots of crying and wetting myself, not kicking butt. *g*

I'm a big Alpha fan too. Give me a good Alpha over a Beta anyday!

Ha! Mine is medieval Wales during John's reign!

I don't know that I'd cry and hide--although, c'mon, probably--but I'd sure rather have a big strong man to do the ass-kicking. That way I don't break a nail.

Seriously. Who wouldn't rather watch somebody else get hurt, rather than get hurt themselves? Who doesn't like a man more powerful than they are? It's a biological imperative!

Tallymark · Dec 1, 2006

DecemberQuinn said:
Ugh, I'm so sick of "kick-ass" heroines. Mine are smart and tough and can take care of themselves--to a point--but I really don't like reading about heroines who don't need heroes. My medieval heroine and hero work together to save themselves from danger, but neither could do it without the other (at least in the situation they end up in--my hero is a serious alpha warror) and that's the way I like it.

Good luck with your medieval! Is it early or late, England or France, etc.?

Dude, YES. I totally hear you. I don't want my heroine to be some kind of action hero goddess, I want her to be a real person. It made me really angry when I read somewhere that, because novels in the 80's (or something) had heroines who were weak/needed a man, today's publishers don't like that and want the total opposite--it's like we're not allowed to write a heroine who's weak, because they're afraid it'd be like we're suggesting women are weak. But dammit, that's stupid--it's not that I want my heroines to be weak, it's just that I want them to be allowed to be flawed! To be human. It's the flaws that make me often like a character; I can't emphathize with perfect flawless kick-ass heroine (in fact, being so perfect just makes me dislike her). A real person gets scared sometimes, and has to use a little ingenuity, and yes, even a little help maybe, to get out of a tough situation. Instead of her black-belt ninja spy training.

If she's already perfect in every way, what does she need the hero for? The hero and heroine ought to complete each other emotionally--they both should need each other in some way. And they ought to fight together through the trials that face them--with an occasional rescue from the hero, because darnit, that's what's romantic about it.

Irysangel · Dec 2, 2006

Tallymark said:
If she's already perfect in every way, what does she need the hero for? The hero and heroine ought to complete each other emotionally--they both should need each other in some way. And they ought to fight together through the trials that face them--with an occasional rescue from the hero, because darnit, that's what's romantic about it.

Exactly! I think that's why I like the books that the hero is big, strong and alpha, and the girl is not necessarily weak, but gentle and, well, GIRLY. I like her to be protected by the big strong man. It's my fantasy, right?

Nowhere in my fantasy do they arm-wrestle each other for who gets what side of the bed. *g*

Lissa · Dec 2, 2006

Obviously, I'm in the minority here, but I like a chick that can take care of herself. You don't have to need a hero to want one.

Of course, I like a less heroic heroine sometimes...as long as she isn't too whimpy. If at any point I feel like smacking her, telling her to get a grip or feel like pushing her off the nearest cliff, then I'll give up on the story.

I suppose I like both types but lean a little more in the direction of the tough chicks. While I have not yet run across a heroine that I felt was too strong, I have certainly met some that were too weak.

Ooops...I almost forgot...Though I am rather partial to contemporaries, I would dig a good pirate story.

Edited to include the actual topic of the thread.

Stacia Kane · Dec 2, 2006

Oh, I like heroines who can take care of themselves, but I don't like it when they can take care of themselves to the point of not needing the hero's help.

In every one of my books, the heroine ends up in a physical situation where she's being attacked or whatever. In every one, she manages to hold her own, and get out of it--but the hero is usually dealing with five or six bad guys while she beats one. Or the hero is chained up, or whatever. I don't want a heroine who's a shrinking violet, but I'd rather not have her stronger and tougher than the hero.

Irysangel · Dec 2, 2006

I think it also depends on what you enjoy reading.

I like historicals, so I'd prefer my heroes alpha and my heroines a little less kick-butt.

I'm not fond of contemporaries, so I can't comment on those.

But for paranormals, I'd say I prefer the girl being able to take care of herself, at least. Not saying she has to go around and kick everyone's butt a la Buffy, but be able to hold her own.

When I mentioned previously that I hated the tough-as-nails chick, I was referring to the recent trend in historicals. Other than Regency, it seems that a lot of medievals (and other time periods, I suppose) are having more 'aggressive' heroines and I find that odd, and not to my tastes.

WhoMeWrite? · Dec 2, 2006

And now entirely too much information...

My tastes (surprise, surprise) have a lot to do with my real life.

I've been doing this single mom thing for a long time...or at least it seems that way.

I'm an independent woman by necessity. I can make a good living, help with homework, clean the house, spend quality time with the kids, assemble just about anything, kiss boo-boos, read a heck of a bedtime story, fix most things around the house, cook well, and manage a handful of car repairs.

I'm also not a petite thing at 5'8" and have the ability (and personality, I suppose) to use my stature and a handful of useful skills to combat many physical threats.

And my first instinct is almost never to cry. I'm a problem solver. That's what I do.

What do I love to read about? Strong and very real, very flawed women who find love with an Alpha male. Who need him. Like he needs her. But I admit it does take quite a bit before I finally get disgusted and put a book away with a wimpier than wimpy heroine. Because though I don't act that way, sometimes I feel that way and I understand the inclination.

Few of my friends and family know what an avid romance fan I am or that I'm a wanna' be romance writer and most who do think it's completely incongruent. But I don't see how. It doesn't matter how strong you are in real life or in fiction, we all have weakness, we all need, and we all crave love.

And now that is entirely too much information and perhaps I'll just return to lurking, lol.

sunandshadow · Dec 2, 2006

I like compelled marriage stories: you know, like the evil Duke takes the woman captive and says marry me or else. Was looking for these at the bookstore today and only found one in the whole romance section.

Irysangel · Dec 2, 2006

sunandshadow said:
I like compelled marriage stories: you know, like the evil Duke takes the woman captive and says marry me or else. Was looking for these at the bookstore today and only found one in the whole romance section.

Oooh! I love those too!!

And yeah, I can imagine that's hard to find at the bookstore right now. I keep waiting for the market to cycle back. *g*

LilaDubois · Dec 3, 2006

I too miss the Pirate stories. I mean the really trashy ones, where the hero takes over a ship to steal all the gold, but when he sees the feisty heroine he takes her captive too...

ahhh good stuff.

Irysangel · Dec 3, 2006

There's something to be said for pure, unadulterated trashy plots.

Remember the 'harem' fantasy books? I LOVED those. Completely unrealistic (and come on, would you *really* want to be in a harem?) but I still loved them.

LilaDubois · Dec 6, 2006

Irysangel said:
Remember the 'harem' fantasy books? I LOVED those. Completely unrealistic (and come on, would you *really* want to be in a harem?) but I still loved them.

*blush*

that is basically the plot of my WIP. It is unrealistic and trashy but I love it.

clara bow · Dec 6, 2006

I don't know if it ever was a fad that came and went, but I'd like to read some hot SF romance. Y'know, space opera type that's really romantic. And hot.

Ditto on the pirate historicals...would love to write one, but it seems as though it'd take a ton of research. Arghh, there be the rub.

sunandshadow · Dec 6, 2006

clara bow said:
I don't know if it ever was a fad that came and went, but I'd like to read some hot SF romance. Y'know, space opera type that's really romantic. And hot.

I've thought about this, because I love both romance and science fiction, but it seems like the mindset required to write science fiction is antithetical to the mindset required to write romance, such that concepts which start out as science fiction romance tend to mutate into either fantasy romance or plain science fiction before they're done being written.

aadams73 · Dec 6, 2006

clara bow said:
I don't know if it ever was a fad that came and went, but I'd like to read some hot SF romance. Y'know, space opera type that's really romantic. And hot.

If you write it, I swear I'll buy it. I'd love to see something like this on the shelves.

I want to see more gothics. I get bored(in fits and starts) with contemporary romance because I want to really buy into a whole different mindset.

What 'fad' do you wish would come back?

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