If You Were Writing The Call For Submissions This Month What Would You Call For?
January 28th, 2010 | 
Author: Periodically I send out a writer’s newsletter to all the writers who have signed up for it. Usually the newsletter has an article or two about writing better, stronger, more intense stories, or about how to submit those stories once they are written. I usually also include a list of what I am most looking for in terms of submissions, whether that is sweet romance, sensual romance, erotic romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, or something else.
You are all readers–if you were going to tell authors what you would like to read during the next year, what would you tell them? Would you ask for more short stories? More paranormal? More historical? More sweet romance or more steamy erotic romance? What would you tell authors that you are tired of?
You see…as readers, all of us do influence what publishers publish by what we buy. However, often the writing decisions that writers make are far removed from the publishing decisions that publishers make…sometimes by a couple years or more. The buying decisions that readers make are far removed from the publishing decisions that publishers make…sometimes by a year or two. This means it takes a long time for publishers to get the word from readers that they are tired of a certain plotline, a certain type of character, a certain setting, or a certain type of book.
This is your chance to create YOUR wish list…to convey directly what you hope to read within the coming year. It’s your chance to tell me what you think I should put on my submissions wish list for January/February of 2010.
Posted in Readers' Wish Lists
Paranormals and cowboy stories!
I would love to see more shifter paranormals and m/m stories and if you could combine the two that would be even better.
I love shapeshifters. My faves are dragons, bears and big cats. I also like menage, one female with two or three men, and if the men are with each other also, so much the better.
M/M is good too. A well written story with HOT scenes and humor appropriately applied. I don’t like a story that is all dark angst.
And as a sci-fi fan for over 30 years, anything futuristic always gets a second look from me.
I’d love to see more time travel or psychic connection stories where characters connect and start the romance psychically across time and then somehow manage to make a physical connection.
My second choice would be so see a few more stories on romances of unusual types like two foreign agents who connect and fall in love or a girl with a huge crush who becomes a beautiful woman and comes back and KNOCKS THE SOCKS OFF the boy who had no clue she existed (or so she thought). Or even the girl next door who comes back to find the geeky boy from next door, who used to peep through her windows, is all grown up and one heck of a stud – maybe one who had naught bondage dreams after peeping at her.
Ok, got to stop or I’ll be desperate to go home and grab a book, and right now I’m waiting to go into a court hearing.
I love stories with cowboys, either modern or historical. Next to that I love stories with babies or small children in them.
More paranormal historicals.
More steamy erotica books.
I am not tired of anything—I love to read.
I would want erotic, romance, m/m fantasies, please.
It seems that several of you have mentioned m/m stories. Has m/m replaced BDSM, dominance and submission, and other types of erotica in your wish list?
I’ve also noticed several people mention paranormal and sci-fi…but I also know that Ellora’s Cave publishes heavily in those areas. Do you feel that there is more demand for paranormal, sci-fi, shifters, than there is supply of it from other publishers?
Curious.
As a fledging writer still learning the craft, I am taking notes. Finish Julian’s story — vampire historical paranormal with a heavy dose of faith and a bit of time travel added in. Finish Maddie’s story — contemporary BDSM menage where the guys are partners before they take Maddie in to heal her wounds from a horrible past.
Donna, your idea got me thinking. Psychic connection across time and space — that’s different and challenging. Usually we want the hero and heroine together by the end of chapter one. Lots of angst, though, as they try to make sense of their yearnings and then begin the search for their soul mate.
The soul mate idea is why I love werewolves so much — that one true mate he will move heaven and earth to find and keep.
Great ideas. MM
I think that there is a great deal of sci-fi/shifters/paranormal out there in the publishing world. Many authors write in this genre along with another one,but some might use another name though. This is a huge market.
I love paranormal, mystery, and intrigue that is sprinkled with suttle humor- with a female main character. She can fall in love with the man she perceives to be bad, but he is really looking out for her. Hate books where all the male has to do is mention the woman’s name and she swoons, or even worse, he treats her like his property and she kisses his feet. Would like him to be strong, except where she is concerned. Would love to see more books with less brainless women.
I liked this thread, I’m just slow getting here. I’m always looking for feedback on what types of stories readers want, because I write a lot of romance sub-genres, although I’m fairly new to BVS.
I’d appreciate some comments on what projects I have in various stages already, on what you would be most interested in…if any of them.
I was thinking about doing a 4 book series with different cowboys involved in 4 different businesses due to inheritances: a feedlot/ranch, a ski lodge, a balloon ranch, and a small luxury resort in St. Croix.
I also have a Faery Queen/wolf heroine hiding out from a vampire who gets involved with a search-and-rescue specialist of children, who is also a part-time rancher.
And a story about a vampire heroine working as a reporter sent to interview a popular elusive paranormal author/rancher.
I’ve written a number of custom stories, storylines based on specific ideas from editors and readers. I love trying my hand at most anything. So, please, give me some honest thoughts on what you would most like to see from me. I haven’t tried m/m yet, but I’m game.
You can let me know your preferences here, or send me an email at starlakaye.romance@gmail.com
I prefer contemporaries and realism. Historicals and western romances are great, too. Cowboys are always exciting heroes amd ranches make nice background material.
Great to hear that many of you want more paranormal as that genre is what I love most to write. Be on the lookout at BVS because in just a few weeks I will be debuting another paranormal novel Only the Lonely, an erotic vampire romance!
This novel is also a mystery/suspense that will keep you guessing until the last page.
I had a wonderful time writing this book and I hope you find it a wonderful read. If you’d like to see a book trailer for it, you can find it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlHwZQLGRn8
Susan, I just looked at your trailer…very nice. I read a lot of paranormal and vampire stories, so I’ll have to check this one out. Best of luck with your sales.
There is a series of ?? books written by John Norman — the series are referred to as Gor.
My guy has most of the books from the 70′s (and the newest hardcover). About two years ago he asked me to read one, just one — and see if I liked this. Truthfully, I thought I’d be bored, offended, possibly could not get into this at all – many negatives..
I was very wrong.
This is sort of Sci-Fi — a bit paranormal (in a way) and involves elements of BDSM in another way.
For me — I enjoyed this book VERY much — it held my interest even though this book was about 1/2 way through the series.
I’d like to see something along these lines. If you’ve not picked up a Gor book — and the subject matter may grab your interest – then go for it. You’ll not be disappointed.
So that’s my suggestion — something LIKE the Gor series — but with the author’s own spins.
Thanks,
doni
I love stories that combine genres, both when I read and when I write, but honestly – the thing I love most just now is a sweetly sexy contemporary with a great alpha hero and a smart and savvy herione…. set it someplace exotic and I’m immersed happily…. ROMANTIC is the thing that does it every time… and so many books are running a little short on the real romance of a relationship.
Just a thought.
Blessings to all…
Denyse
This may or may not sound silly, but I’d like to see a very down to earth book, two as a matter of fact. The first is written by many woman — about a woman. Give a piece of yourself to the book and tell the men what it is that you find romantic and/or sexy and/or so utterly masculine that it flips your wig a mile high.
The second book is for the male writer and pretty much does the same — but of course the words for the context above must be changed (lol).
Thanks – again.
Doni