Today we are lucky enough to have the fabulous Storm Grant join us. Yesterday I reviewed her latest book, Few Are Chosen, and today she is here to share some thoughts on gay romance. She has also brought a great giveaway (details below). Welcome Storm!
Gay romance IS romance!
A couple of years ago, when I was shopping around Shift Happens, my m/m urban fantasy/paranormal romance, I was told that m/m books are NOT romance or women’s fiction. Once by an agent who specializes in romance and women’s fiction, and again by a romance writer whose blog I follow.
Two questions:
1. What is gay romance if not romance?
2. Who do you THINK is reading it? Why do you think it’s so popular with the e-publishers? (Yes, that is three questions. Sorry.)
I don’t think I have to answer those questions here; I’d just be preaching to the choir.
However, people need to realize that their comments have ramifications. Even though my next book featured a heterosexual main character, I refused to send it to this well-respected agent because he either puts his own prejudices ahead of his business, or he’s not very informed about his market. Reject me for any other reasons–you hate my writing, you hate my characters, you hate my hair, but don’t reject me and slap my wrist for submitting something you don’t rep–because you do. You rep romance. And, as said above, what is gay romance if not romance?
And romance writer, while I enjoy your blog, you, too, need to learn your own market.
Now a couple of years have passed since then, and I wonder if I’d get a different response if shopping Shift Happens around today. I did land an agent with the quirky, funny book with the straight heroine, but it also includes her transvestite best friend.
And subsequently, I’ve been writing m/m stories for Riptide Press. My latest, Few Are Chosen, is m/m, YA and interracial. And funny. Riptide was pleased to acquire it. Would a mainstream publisher have turned up their noses?
What do you think? Has the traditional publishing marketplace changed?
[More details and giveaway info after the jump]Blurb
Sparks fly between virgin teenage demon hunters when the Chosen One turns out to be… the Chosen Two?
Apprentice warrior Blake St. Blake is the Chosen One, raised by an ancient order to defend the world against evil. Well, maybe not the whole world, but at least his neighborhood in downtown Detroit.
When a dreaded reflux demon is sighted in a local cemetery, Blake is sent off to his very first battle, armed with his sword, his super-senses, his black leather duster, and a few well-rehearsed one-liners.
But another Chosen One gets in Blake’s way—an apprentice wizard named Shadow. While the boys argue about who’s the more chosen of the two, the demon escapes.
Blake wants to be angry, but it turns out he and Shadow have a lot in common. Besides, Shadow’s pretty cute, and Blake can’t help but think that the wizard’s skills (and hands and lips and other bits) might make the perfect complement to his. Blake and Shadow are brave enough to challenge the reflux demon in a second battle, but will they have the courage to tell each other how they feel?
Title Details
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-937551-22-3
eBook release: Feb 20 2012
eBook formats: pdf, mobi, html, epub
Word count: ~12,000
Page count: ~40
Heat Wave: On-screen, mildly explicit love scenes
Type: Standalone
eBook $2.99
– – – – – – – – –
Storm Grant Bio: Storm Grant is a writer of short and long tales, her work spanning both genres and genders. Storm’s stories offer titillation and merriment, and in a few cases, horror. In the last few years, she’s published with MLR, Torquere, Phaze, Blood Bound Books, eXessica, Amber Quill, and Riptide Publishing.
Storm Grant (also writing as Gina X. Grant)
Email / Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Giveaway Contest
>I think some of the big time publishers must be changing their opinions. One example would be JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series published by Penguin. There are gay characters, Qhuinn and Blay(Qhuay), that have a huge following in these books. So much so that they may get their own story soon. I sure hope they do.
I will say this. I still read some het romance. Mostly series that I started reading before I discovered gay romance. About 90 percent of the books on my Kindle, though, are m/m romance. I'm talking over 900 books and short stories. No telling how much money I have spent on them in the last three years. So mainstream publishers take note. I only read romance, I am a woman, and I'm telling you there is a huge market for these books. You would be wise to figure that out.
P.S.
So far, I am really enjoying the books from Riptide Publishing. I think they are doing a great job.
>That editor was an idiot. M/M is romance above everything else.
I don't see mainstream publishers suddenly picking up m/m by the cartload, but it'll start seeping in.
>I would agree wholeheartedly that gay romance is romance – a love story with a happy ending? Yep, that's romance, regardless of the sex of the protagonists.
However, I have to say that the majority of my readership (judging from the letters I get from readers) is gay men. Not to mention the fact that I dislike being stuffed into a box marked "women only", the last thing I would want is for gay romance to be categorised as women's fiction. Isn't that ignoring the very people we write about? Isn't that ignoring a large proportion of our readership and a large number of our authors?
Why does "romance" have to be equated with "women's fiction" anyway? If we're writing gay romance, we're surely doing it with the belief that men enjoy romance too. Why the voluntary cramming ourselves into a box that doesn't fit? Why the inclusiveness!fail? Who wants to be a part of "women's fiction" anyway when we could be aiming for non-gendered, relevant-to-everyone "fiction"?
>Romance is romance, whether it's gay, straight, or alien. I feel myself about to get on my soapbox, so I'll stop now.
I can't wait to read Few Are Chosen.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
>I agree that gay romance is romance. And it is now my favorite since coming across the genre and reading my first book a few months back.
That being said, I think eventually it will seep into mainstream publishing but not in the way in the amoount it should, which is really a shame. And I would just like to throw in here too that it really tics me off that I can not find these books in my local library either, what is up that? Maybe it's just where I live I don't know, but it's frustrating to say the least
>I don't know about the mainstream publishers. I also feel they must be changing their attitude, slowly, but surely. Authors have been sneaking homosexual characters into their books, not as MC's, but they're still there. I think that's a good thing.
But another thing about gay fiction as a whole is that on seller sites it's usually categorized together. I don't like that. There's gay romance, gay horror, gay action and adventure, gay paranormal etc. People who enjoy gay horror don't necessarily enjoy gay romance. I think sellers need to recognize this.
But yeah, gay romance is romance 🙂
Erica Pike
eripike at gmail dot com
>I live in a pretty decently sized suburban area and no m/m at my library either. Makes me crazy to have to pay for every book. It is not that I mind buying books, but when trying out a new author it would be really nice to be able to check out a book or two before committing to a purchase. Very frustrating.
>Yes, I totally agree with the issue of lumping gay fiction all together. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Especially bugs me when there are contests that put all the gay books up against each other, but everything else gets to compete it an actual category.
>Just wanted to give a big thanks to Storm for stopping by the blog and sharing her book and her thoughts on m/m romance. And for everyone who shared their perspective as well!