Category/Genre Question

Yes and no. My recent manuscript falls into the same category yours does, and in my query I call it a paranormal mystery. But the publisher/bookstore would very likely choose to place it in the Mystery or the Fantasy section of the bookstore. Sometimes their placement really confuses me. I expected to find Jackie Kessler's Hell's Belles in Fantasy but found it in Romance. There's quite a bit of mystery in Charlaine Harris' and Kim Harrison's books(and a chunk of romance in the former) but they shelve it in Fantasy.

And now I've probably confused you further because I just confused myself.

Just call it a paranormal mystery since you think it fits.

I made my list of agents from each, a handful rep both.

There are plenty of agents who rep both fantasy and mystery genres. That might be a good place to start.

If you had to pick one, however, I think you'd have better luck with an agent who reps fantasy. I think a mystery agent will pass as soon as the first werewolf makes an appearance. I used to write mysteries, and my latest, a fantasy, is the same in many ways - who is trying to kill the MC and why - except it's chock full of paranormal critters and situations. So it's an urban fantasy, no ifs ands or buts, even if there's a strong mystery element.

Romance is different. As long as the focus is on the MC's love life, it doesn't seem to matter if it's with a landed noble, blacksmith, pirate, or werewolf.

As always, I could be wrong.

Toni1953 said:

The actors who portray the main characters, a vampire, a werewolf, and a witch, are actually the same in real life. A psychic consultant for the show hints at some sort of secret, gets herself killed, and the main star of the show, the werewolf, is suspected of the crime...

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I'm already seeing the sequel: the psychic comes back as a ghost – and she's pissed...

Interestingly enough, the Berkley Prime Crime imprint already has several paranormal mysteries that are SHELVED in mystery. I didn't believe it at first, since most everything I've seen with a paranormal thread has been shelved in fantasy. You might pick up a book of the "Chintz & China" cozy mysteries by Yasmine Galenorn. The protagonist is a witch/psychic and it's set in a small town in Washington state. Talking to the author on a loop we both belong to is how I found the line. I'm thinking of submitting a ms. one of these days (when I have time to write something not under contract, that is... )

aadams73 said:

I expected to find Jackie Kessler's Hell's Belles in Fantasy but found it in Romance.

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Heh. I wrote it as an urban fantasy, and it sold as a paranormal romance.

In my query letter, I didn't mention the genre at all; I let the agent determine it.

Cathy C said:

You might pick up a book of the "Chintz & China" cozy mysteries by Yasmine Galenorn. The protagonist is a witch/psychic and it's set in a small town in Washington state. Talking to the author on a loop we both belong to is how I found the line.

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I just picked up Ghost of a Chance. I think it's the first one in the series. It's a good read and hard to put down! Cathy - what's a "loop"?
-Mary