Is a book that includes vampires and mythical beings, but has romance(sex and all that good stuff) considered a romance? Could it be pitched to pubs and agents that handle romance?
Thanks~
Thanks~
Question of genre
- Thread starter Branwyn
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I would say that is probably paranormal romance, and it is rather a hot genre in romance at the moment!
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I think that might depend on how important the romance is to the plot. I mean, is it based on a romance? If so, I'd agree with the whole paranormal romance thing.
Is the book primarily about the romance stuff, or the vampiry stuff?
In other words, is this a romance with vampire characters?
Or, a vampire story, and the vampire just happen to be horny?
Unless the vampire stuff is pretty lightweight, I'm guessing most agents who focus on romance wouldn't be interested. But . . . I don't know that for sure.
In other words, is this a romance with vampire characters?
Or, a vampire story, and the vampire just happen to be horny?
Unless the vampire stuff is pretty lightweight, I'm guessing most agents who focus on romance wouldn't be interested. But . . . I don't know that for sure.
For it to qualify as romance by the RWA's current definition, the love story has to be central and there has to be a happy ending. So as long as the romance is the main focus of the book, you've got a paranormal romance. If the romance is a subplot, you might have something like an urban fantasy with romantic elements.
Yikes...it's a 50/50 deal. There's the main characters (lovers) and of course there's the drama of 'Dr.Evil', so to speak, trying to destroy them.
BTW
It's a bit frustrating though--how many names can you come up with for the male and female anatomy that don't sound lame.
BTW
It's a bit frustrating though--how many names can you come up with for the male and female anatomy that don't sound lame.
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Stick with one for each except at the most intense moments, or in dialogue. And for the climax, of course! ;-) (I'm so bad . . . )Excellent.
Thanks. Better get back to it then...
It's frustrating though--how many names can you come up with for the male and female anatomy that don't sound lame.
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Sorry to kinda hijack, but this is always something that I've wondered about romance, not being a reader of the genre and all. Why does it have to have a happy ending?
I guess a sad ending would be kinda...sad, though. Hrm.
To most romance readers, not having a happy ending (or at least an ironical ending) is a little like a mystery not being solved at the end. After a while . . . readers stop buying that writer's books because they don't like them.Sorry to kinda hijack, but this is always something that I've wondered about romance, not being a reader of the genre and all. Why does it have to have a happy ending?
I guess a sad ending would be kinda...sad, though. Hrm.
Or a horror novel that causes no dread. A humorous novel that isn't funny. Fantasy without a speculative element.
An HEA is simply a convention of the genre. The point is that the couple ends up together. Happily ever after.
The frustrating bit for the readers are the writers who apply themselves and come up with allllllll sorts of words. If you write 'turgid member' then I am going to laugh at you. Sorry.
(my, but the forums are so very adult today)
Me too. I am still relatively new to paranormal romance, but I've read a handful and they tend to be pretty racy (or I'm just buying the racy onces, it's hard to tell
). Very little in the way of flowery language. A c*ck is a c*ck.
Beats me. I've always wished we could have nicely-labeled books for people who like to curl up and cry: a Silhouette Tearjerker line, or Harlequin Three-Hankies.Sorry to kinda hijack, but this is always something that I've wondered about romance, not being a reader of the genre and all. Why does it have to have a happy ending?
I guess a sad ending would be kinda...sad, though. Hrm.
Besides, then we could reclaim non-HEA books like Wuthering Heights and Gone With the Wind as romances. Or at least be able to add Nicholas Sparks and his ilk to the official stats.
This was almost a "me too" post. I love a good cry, especially over a moving story (be it film or in a book).
The only problem with a Tearjerker line is that some of the most emotional moments are the ones that come out of the blue. Those unexpected deaths/tragedies. Picking up a book that guarantees someone will die by the end will eventually defeat the purpose and lose its appeal.
I know, I know, I'm thinking about this way too much.
HORROR: Killer wins
HORROR: Hero wins
HORROR: Mysterious Resolution
HORROR: God intervenes (Stephen King sub-genre)
I like the thought of clearly labeled books.
And yet Sparks is a ka-billionaire.
I think you'd have to label, because there are too many romance readers out there who crave the happy ending--surprising them with a teary ending wouldn't be fair. Of course, you wouldn't have to insist on a death--The Way We Were is a three-hanky movie, and nobody dies. GWTW, Forever Amber--the heroine ends up spurned and alone.
You with me yet?
And yet Sparks is a ka-billionaire.
Excellent point. I suppose if you are going to make a career out of people dying, you best do it well and do it often.
Is it sad that I was hoping Streisand died? I couldn't stand that movie. Or her. But again, I'm an odd duck. I cried at the end of The Land Before Time, and it had a happy ending!?!
Sure, why not?
Anyone else?
If you write 'turgid member' then I am going to laugh at you. Sorry.
I would laugh at me ,too. I don't go for those sappy (no offense) his manhood, love muscle names.
Maybe I'll call it Krull.
So, anyway...I guess I'm stuck in the middle...so to speak.
I would laugh at me ,too. I don't go for those sappy (no offense) his manhood, love muscle names.
Maybe I'll call it Krull.
So, anyway...I guess I'm stuck in the middle...so to speak.
"Oh Timothy," she gasped pleadingly in a haltingly voice, "Your Super Skrull is so huge!"
"Thank you. Come be my Silver Surfer, baby," Timothy said in low and lustily tones.
Which is why we need romance novels written by comic book fans.
"Thank you. Come be my Silver Surfer, baby," Timothy said in low and lustily tones.
Which is why we need romance novels written by comic book fans.
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