Polyamory in books?

I don't know if there was a book by the same name, but if I remember correctly, the movie Paint your Wagon included a situation like that.

I'm polyamorous and I've been looking for such novels myself. I haven't seen any online however I do somewhere on this computer have a list of books to do with polyamory there may be some fictional books in that list I'll dig it out for you

Just out of interest is it a subject you are planning on writing into a romance novel? I've been wanting to write something to do with polyamory although I think a lot of publishers prefer the main character to be monogamous but it might be possible to get away with it with characters seen only in the background.

In case anyone has any questions on polyamory please feel free to ask I'll answer as best as I can

Nicole

I could be wrong here, but there are quite a few romantic menage books--my cp and I sold one to EC a little while back and they do lots of others--that, while they may not be exactly what you want, certainly do contain romantic relationships involving more than two people and everyone knows about it.

If you're looking for "X dates Y" and "X dates Z" and everyone knows about it but Z and Y don't go on the same dates, I don't know of any, unfortunately, but that doesn't mean they're not out there.

Perhaps this is a new market to open up!

Oh I've just remembered I just finished reading a book where polyamory was the main subject. It was a science fiction/romance/erotic novel (i'm not exactly sure of the genre it fits in to be honest.) It talked about polyamory in a very refreshing way and had some interesting connversations between the characters with regards to it.

It was called: The Polyamorous Princess and is by Melodee Aaron as far as I know its only available as an ebook but you can find all the info here: http://www.sirenpublishing.com/melodeeaaron/tpp.asp

Now i'll get back to looking for that list.. I have a feeling however they are all non-fiction books and websites on the subject.

I find it odd that the main character has to be monogamous, when it's okay for them to be a serial killer.

janetbellinger said:

I find it odd that the main character has to be monogamous, when it's okay for them to be a serial killer.

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Well, for one thing, a serial killer might be the villian in a romance novel, but never the hero. No, sorry, I'm pretty sure no editor is going to buy a romance with a serial killer hero. (Crinklish? You out there? <G>) Not even a reformed serial killer. Possibly not even a falsely accused serial killer. <G>

If we are talking about romance novels here, the reason you don't find polyamory (and I'm not talking menages in the erotica romances, I'm talking true poly relationships) is, IMHO, that the vast majority of readers cannot buy into the HEA that involves a poly relationship -- too many folks will project their own jealousies and insecurities. I mean, I gotta admit, there are moments when I'd like to have a second wife in my marriage, especially if she can be the one in charge of the laundry, cooking and cleaning. <G> Possibly even taking over the sex when I'm just not in the mood. LOL. But...on the other hand...I am NOT a good sharer. I know this. It may be a character flaw, but...there would be physical fighting, I just know it.

The whole fantasy, the appeal of the romance novel, is that this is THE great love of this person's life. That sort of gets watered down if there are multiple great loves at the same time. (I can buy into second chance stories, so multiple great loves at diffferent times in life can work, I think.) It's the fantasy of the reader that this is something SPECIAL, unique. Powerful. They don't want it diluted. (*I* don't want it diluted.)

Now, can there be mainstream novels that deal with polyamory? Sure.

One really terrific fantasy series that I just read, that while it didn't exactly deal with polyamory, did deal with a main character who, while in love with, and in a sense "bonded" to a very special man in her life, also had numerous sexual (and sometimes emotional) relationships with other people, was the Kashiel series by Jaqueline D'A something or other. <G> (Sorry, don't recall the author's full name.) The heroine in that book is a courtesan who's marked by one of their gods to find pleasure in pain. (So, talk about breaking a bunch of supposed "taboos," this series does it.) The emotional depth this author managed to weave into these stories is simply OUTSTANDING! The protagonist is an amazing character. I highly recommend the series.

Susan G.

No, sorry, I'm pretty sure no editor is going to buy a romance with a serial killer hero.

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Assassin, yes--serial killer, no. That was made VERY clear to us when we sold to Tor. In the FWIW department. I personally have no problem with Poly situations, which are often considered menage tois in the erotic forum. But yeah, I have to agree with Susan that many romance publishers are going to have a difficult time, since an HEA is pretty much required in romance and a poly relationship sort of precludes that. But that's not to say that it's impossible. If done well, ANYTHING is possible.

Cathy C said:

Assassin, yes--serial killer, no. That was made VERY clear to us when we sold to Tor.

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LOL! Yes, there IS a difference. <G> I'm laughing because I had, long time ago, a story idea that was sort of romcom, and the hero was a hit man. (Hey, he had RULES about what sorts of people he'd hit. <G>) Assassin, yes. Serial killer, no. LOL.

But that's not to say that it's impossible. If done well, ANYTHING is possible.

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Absolutely. Totally possible. But one should always know when what they're trying to do is going to be a harder sell. But I'm not one to tell people that there are "rules" that are absolutes.

Still...no serial killer heroes. I think that might come as close to a "rule" as I'd ever say. <G>

Susan G.

These days I think they can't commit infidelity--but thet can be 'faithful' to more than one person. More on the erotic romance front and fantasy/sci fi romance than Harly/M&B.

If you wait til February my fantasy romance non-erotic menage will come out with Samhain I'm working on the edits as we speak.

Susan Gable said:

The whole fantasy, the appeal of the romance novel, is that this is THE great love of this person's life. That sort of gets watered down if there are multiple great loves at the same time. (I can buy into second chance stories, so multiple great loves at diffferent times in life can work, I think.) It's the fantasy of the reader that this is something SPECIAL, unique. Powerful. They don't want it diluted. (*I* don't want it diluted.)

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This is my point of view on it exactly. Sure, a multi-partnered sexual scene can be tantalizing, but when I'm reading a romance novel...I guess my own personal hopes and ideals in the realm of love superimpose themselves. I've got a monogamous heart. I want to find the one, great love of my life, and I want to be the one great love to that person in return. I don't share well. So, it's most satisfying for me to see characters entering into monogamous relationships. I can't picture myself happily in a polyamorous relationship, so I can't picture the characters that way either.

Of course, there's probably plenty of people who have no problem with it, thats just how it works for me. ^_^ There's probably a market for it somewhere, I just don't know myself.

Heh, and I think the closest you can get to serial killer heroes is either assassin heroes or paranormal heroes--like, where the hero is a vampire, and his vampiric nature has caused him to kill before. In those kinds of cases, the killing is for a more 'acceptable' reason, I guess. The assassin has to take out bad guys, and the vampire can't help his nature. But when a character kills to get their jollies...most readers I think would find that an unforgivable offense.

Oh, and is it Jaqueline D'Allessandro?

Tallymark said:

Oh, and is it Jaqueline D'Allessandro?

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YESSS! That's her. Thank you. Fabulous books. (And I could "buy into it" completely because you COULD tell that her partner really was the love of her life. )

Susan G.

Romance includes what all readers would consider, or could fantasise being, the great love/s of their life. There is a need to separate what each of us look for within the gener, and what the genre is.

A love story with a HEA. Polyamorous people have these too. Also people who aren't polyamorous (like moi) like to read about them.

I have one of the Kushiel (not Kashiel) books right in front of me, and her name is Carey. Amazing books. I adored them. *sigh* Okay, back to real life.

ETA: The main culture in the book is D'Angeline. Is that where you were getting confused?

WildScribe said:

I have one of the Kushiel (not Kashiel) books right in front of me, and her name is Carey. Amazing books. I adored them. *sigh* Okay, back to real life.

ETA: The main culture in the book is D'Angeline. Is that where you were getting confused?

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ROTFLMAO! Yes, I am easily addled. <G> My problem is that I don't OWN these books. I borrowed them from a friend, but I need to get my own copies.

I absolutely STINK at names, but gosh, I can remember plot lines.

Thanks for bailing me out here. I have to get on Amazon and order a set for myself. They're keeper books for sure.

Susan G.

Have you watched Big Love? Truly, it's an interesting show and makes me laugh. When I watch what the husband goes through, part of me goes, what man in his right mind would want more than one wife? <G>

Good luck with the story. Go for it!

Susan G.

Hey, if you think you can do it well, go for it. There's always a place for a well written book, and even if there's not a huge market for it right now, maybe you'll spark one. ^_^

And whoops, guess I missed that one. XD I've never read either of their books myself so I was just guessing by name recognition--I work in a bookstore, so it's part of my job to be able to complete names. (you'd be surprised how many people come into a bookstore with only half the authors name, or even only a single letter, so having a general sense of who writes what genre--even if you've never read the books yourself--is a big asset).

There is a site for polyamory couples and singles to go, you might do better to ask them?

http://www.polygamy.com/forums/default.asp

Ok I found my list and its pretty large would you prefer me to PM it to you? Its very extensive going back to 1939 in some cases, sorry it took so long to find there's just so much stuff on this computer!

As someone who is in an ever expanding polyamorous releationship I'm always interested and happy to read books both fictional and non-fictional on the subject. If you plan to write a book however where polyamory is the main subject please research it as it is something that has a lot more depth then most people realise. There are many different types of poly relationships in all sorts of formations from ones where everyone loves each other physically and so are all together (this is becoming the most normal setup now as people become more comfortable with sexuality etc), others where there is one in the middle and their partners (more commonly known as a v format - Big Love is an example of that although its not the best example of a poly relationship - far from it in fact) and then there are mixes of the two.

Althogh I can understand the majority of people wanting to read about a mono relationship with a big HEA there is definatly an ever growing market for fiction books based on a poly relationship, supprisingly within such relationshiips jealousy isn't an issue as the key point to a poly relationship is communication, and also as the name translates into 'many loves' it is just that everyone loves everyone else be it in a physical way or not. I would like to see a lot more books come out with it as the main topic, although actually there are a lot of books out there but people just don't realise that it is based around polyamory.

I hope this helps, and please if you have any questions on being in a polyamorous relationship or just more general information such as how it impacts on day to day life etc please feel free to contact me.

Nicole

Nicole, would you mind either posting that list of books or PMing it to me too? It sounds really interesting (to write about, I'm the jealous type in real life ).

I wouldn't be offended if my bf wanted me to share with another man...however he is not allowed to do so with other women, it's forbidden! LOL!

He has never agreed to this so I guess the only way I can do it is in my head or by vicarously living it through books and Big Love...oh well.

Some of the epublishers will consider polyamory, both V and triad, and more complicated stuff as well.

All I know is that my menage romances are my best sellers. But those are with epublishers. Though I'm starting one with my writing partner that we hope to sell to a non-epublisher.