Oct 29
Whatever Wednesday – Changing Romance?
I started reading romances back in the late 80′s. Men were tough and strong but women were coming into their own. Vikings, pirates and cowboys dominated the landscape. You could still find a good Civil War or Colonial romance. Contemporary romances beyond Silhouette and Harlequin (back when they were two separate companies) were few and far between.
Time periods aside, this was the beginning of the modern romance without the requisite scenes where the hero raped the heroine. At the time, some people liked the new direction of the genre, feeling it more uplifting and fresh and modern…while some traditional readers from the 70′s found the change jarring. I don’t think it’s necessarily that they were into rape; they were simply used to what they were used to.
Which brings me to today. I received an email some time ago from a reader who thanked me and the “new generation” of romance writers for creating characters that were more multi-dimensional and real. For writing storylines that were imaginative and daring. For not being afraid to push the envelope.
Personally, I loved the email because I do focus a lot on my characters. I frequently don’t “play it safe” with plots. My editors have sometimes hammered me for pushing too hard on that envelope. I push back with the idea that no one wants to read what they’ve basically already read. Yes, some tenants of romance are constant, but new elements and resulting outcomes in a romance can lead to something totally new for a reader. Robin Schone broke new ground years ago with The Lady’s Tutor. Love it or hate it, I think JR Ward did also with the more mainstream elements she’s brought to the Black Dagger Brotherhood novels.
Which gets me to a recent reader comment and my question. So I received reader feedback that they found an element of one of my books unromantic (Lucan and Anka for those of you reading the Doomsday Brethren novels), that breaking apart two committed characters and putting them through fire was frustrating and if I didn’t solve it quickly, she would cease to read my books. Sadly for this reader, Lucan and Anka’s storyline will not receive resolution in SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW or POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT. I will, however, have forward progress of their storyline. The relationship is integral to the overall story of the entire Doomsday Brethren, and I can’t change that without changing the whole series. They were forced into the magical equivalent of a divorce. Like any divorced couple, navigating your relationship after the break isn’t easy, and I felt I’d be doing a disservice to Lucan and Anka if I put happy-smiley faces on them both, shoved them back together to live a happily ever after that I never really explained. In other words, I’m sorry to lose this reader, but I’d rather be true to the characters, story and situation.
But my question is, do you think romances should have a “pretty pink bow” wrapped around them, as they had through the late 80′s and the 90′s–and as this reader clearly prefers? Or have our changing times changed the genre again so that it’s more acceptable—or even welcome—to include elements that aren’t traditionally romantic?
By the way, I’m sorry for missing Manly Monday. I’ll make it up to you sometime when you least expect it!
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Shelly,
As far as the losing that reader, she didnt see the big picture….as a fan of your novels, especially the Doomsday Brethern, Lucan and Anka’s story was a sad one, but, it also, to me, reflects how many of todays relationships work. I mean, they were forced into a “magical” divorce, which tore them both apart, Lucan the most to me. I fet his pain in the book, and if the reader was as into the story, she would have seen the dramatic element of that course of action.
As for the question, most, if not all, people want that pretty pink bow package kinda romance, like the fairytale of boy meets girl, they fall in love, the end….To me, thats not at all traditional.
Modern times now have changed romance to include drama, pain, sorrow, betrayel, and love. Persoanlly, I think its more than acceptable for elements of romance to change…A romance is a progression of two people, including all of the trials and tribulations, which are not always great!!
Just my two cents!!
I don’t think romance should have a “pretty pink bow” wrapped around them these days. I do love a happy ending but I don’t think it necessarily needs to happen right away. Especially if you are writing a series of books and the story does make the forward progress that it needs. I was shocked about the magical divorce but I understood that it had to happen. So sad for the couple but then it makes me want to read more to find out what you do.
I also think one of the reasons I never read romance before a year and a half ago was because of the sugar sweet happily ever after. I dig it now but was scared of the cheese factor back then. It wasn’t real and what life was about. Now I can enjoy that and get those happy feelings toward it. Its a nice fix every once in a while but I still love my angst and emotional pain. Reading a romance that has all the ear-marks of modern day men and women with a good ending is great. If you have read WHAT LOOKS LIKE CRAZY then you know there is a nice ending but not a sweet happily ever after. If you haven’t then check it out for a new twist on happy.
WOW! What a deep and thought-provoking question. As a kid I certainly expected a happily ever after when I read romance, but I’ve changed and so has the path of romance in real life. I had a certain expectation from an author when I read her book that it was going to be a fantasy because I did want that fairy tale. As an adult and frequent reader, I now desire – no – demand a very real storyline and characters who are multi-dimensional. Life isn’t solved at the end of a book or the end of a television series. It does go on, so I look for dynamic ways to tell me about that tale. Something cutesy that clearly won’t make sense and is not believable will neither keep my interest or send me running out to purchase that new release. I have to have imagery, substance and something to hold on to. It’s sad that you’ll lose that reader and I do have to respect bher honesty, but I also commend you for remaining consistent with the building of your very real story-lines. Stepping out of the box and taking risks is what life is all about, isn’t it? This is the reason that I love and enjoy everything that you take the time to share with your readers. Well done!
Do I have to have it wrapped up in a bow? Not if they are moving forward. I read a story based on the story and the characters, do I want to root them on yeah, but you are writing a series of books, we get to see the characters evolve in each book. Sometimes that evolution is good, sometimes they have to go through real life issues and work their way through them. Ultimately I want the characters that I have invested my emotions in to have some kind of resolution in whatever way suits the story.
I have been reading romances since the mid seventies and they were considered easy reading because of the same format the books all had..heroine in trouble..handsome hero shows up..trouble brews..hero saves heroine..happily ever after…THE END.
Books have taken on a realty check for us. We read to escape. The more a book relates to real life the more we read. Relating or understanding the motivation of a character is vital to the enjoyment of a novel and life is not wrapped up in bow, pink or any other color!
It is sad that a reader would feel they have the power to direct a writers creativity. It is even sadder that that particular reader is probably going to miss some of your best work.
Push that envelope and you will never regret it!!!
I love everything about your character development. Life is not always wrapped up in a pretty pink ribbon.
Keep up the great work. Love all your books.
That is a shame she won’t read your books, because it doesn’t have a nice pretty pink bow on it. I absolutely loved TMWD. Even though you made me cry and broke my heart with Anka & Lucan. I can’t wait to see what you do with them, whether there is a reconciliation, or the each get their own HEA.
Some authors use the concept of catching a killer to arc several stories. I don’t know if it’s intentional on your part, but maybe you are using Lucan & Anka as the arc to carry through. There is alot of pain and hurt in the world and something about those two characters resonated with me.
I hope that makes sense.
Shelley,
In the past couple of years, my tastes for romances have evolved. I used to prefer the type of romance that one might expect: boy meets girl, boy woos girl, boy wins girl. HEA. Story over. However, I now have noticed myself craving the darker side of romance. Romance is not pretty. It isn’t all bells and pretty music. It’s messy and sometimes, even in the best of relationships, people go through hell to get to their happily ever after. Having been through a messy romance of my own that didn’t reach its HEA, I know that when I finally find mine, it will be a long time in coming. Romance that doesn’t look like category of old gives me hope for myself.
And you know what? My litmus test for romance is not my ~sigh~ at the end. It’s often if I cry during the flesh of the story. Does it make me FEEL?
As you used Lucan and Anka as your example, so will I. Those two made my heart wrench, but the thing is, I saw where it was going. To me, should their story wrap up nicely now, it would almost make the official climax of the Brethren’s series, well, anticlimactic. Their story is so entwined, even after one novel, into the main plot, that it CAN’T be resolved until the series is almost complete, or fully complete. I didn’t expect their story’s end in TMWD. Nor do I expect it in SMIS or PMAM. But my heart will continue to lurch as I feel their pain and truly I will rejoice when they finally reach their peace, whatever that looks like.
Thank you for pushing the envelope. I saw that when I first read Wicked Ties, and it’s what keeps me coming back for more.
Shelley, I’ll admit, I wasn’t too happy about what happened with Anka and Lucan (especially with all the tears you put me through, lol), but I definitely won’t stop reading your books because of it. I think it’s great that you’ve pushed the envelope and I love the elements in your series.
What I love about the romance books being published these days is that there are so many different types. I’m just amazed and love the changes in the romance industry. There’s something for everyone, whether you like the envelope being pushed, or not.
As for what I prefer… I enjoy both… sometimes I like the pretty pink bows ;)
I have to say, I like being surprised. I love it when the author goes with the story instead of catering to what they think the readers and publisher wants. When an author writes a story according to the way they think the public wants it to go, it shows, and not in a good way.
I don’t have to like everything that happens to the characters. I don’t even have to like all of the characters.
What do I need in a story?
– I need to be entertained.
– I need the story to make me feel something.
– I need to believe the plot could happen in that world.
– I need to believe the characters would act and react the way the story tells it (whether I agree with those actions or not.)
That’s it. Oh, and a little bit of steamy sex doesn’t hurt, either. *grin*
Jennifer <– who ADORED ‘Tempt Me With Darkness’
“You can please some people some of the time, but no one all the time” or atleast that’s how I think it goes….
I love the edgeyness(is that a word–or did I spell it right?)of your writing. I have thought to myself, after reading alot of Romance—”Why in the heck don’t more authors write about divorce, step kids, and things that affect most people today?” I love happy endings and all, but I also like reality. More complex stories–make them work for that happy ending….
For every one fan you might loose, ten more come aboard. Never stray from your gut feelings about your writing.
PS–Loving my Kindle….
Every1 has a right 2 their thoughts re bks. IMHO, every author has their own unique way of telling a story. It is really up 2 them on how their stories should end.
What I enjoy must about certain series is how these authors use our, the readers, everyday life issues & integrate them in their storytelling. I’ll use ur ie, re JR’s BDB series, it’s nice 2 c that even these dark & dangerous vampires r also very emotionally wounded. It’s like c’ing our, ‘humans’, everyday lives play in front of us but seen through the eyes of a vampire…if that makes any sense.
Just my thoughts! Ada
[...] my friend Shelley Bradley/Shayla Black wrote a great blog yesterday about Changing Romance. She is asking your opinion on your preference of romance. Whether you want a pretty pink bow kind [...]
I don’t believe in the ‘pretty pink bow’ of romances. I love the happily ever afters, but I don’t think every characters HEA is the same thing, and I don’t think it should be easy for them. I mean, it’s not easy for US to find a HEA, why should they be any different. *grin*
I love everything about your work, I think your books are just so amazing and I always look forward to more…
No, no book, romance or not should always be wrapped in that so-called pretty bow. In fact, when I read the Doomsday book and got to Lucan and Anka, I had a feeling that something would pop up with those characters because they were already in a committed relationship. For couples such as those in a new series, there’s only two directions for them to go: either they fall into the background as white noise, or something terrible happens and they’ll get their own ending further down the line. Funny you mention JR Ward because it calls to mind the situation with her character of Tohrment and the unexpected death of his wife.
All in all, I agree that the ‘face’ of romance has changed in the years, as everything should given a new generation of writers and publishers. And yes, I think you’re making your own individual footprint in this path to change.
I wouldn’t even describe what happened to Anka and Lucan in this first book as divorce, the woman was kidnappd and raped. Ix-nay on the divorce angle…I do understand the author’s perspective, it’s her creation of course. My gripe stems from having to wait so long for resolution…I hate dangling on the emotional precipice. It sucks. Suzanne Brockmann did the same thing with Sam and Alyssa in her series. I was frustrated for years, lol. I read to escape and feel good and sometimes curse the aritist that takes several books to tie it all up. Go figure, I sure won’t tell someone how to create and write, just that I don’t like to wait for closure. Been reading romance since the early 80s, I want that happy ending. Awesome novel, great talent, Mrs. B. Thanks.