Hehe, I sneak all that unhappy romance and gay sex stuff into a big fat historical novel. Maybe I can hide in well enough in the really intricate plot, amazing setting and engaging characters for the publisher to realise it's there only after I the contract is signed. *grin*
I was wondering how I'd pitch my story that's mostly romantic tragedy. Once upon a time romantic tragedy sold. Shakespeare, Hans Christian Andersen, etc.
Shame Romance nowadays must have an HEA.
So, instead of trying to pitch it as a paranormal romance, I can safely remain within the realm of fantasy with overtones of romantic tragedy a la Romeo & Juliet.
Now, I could change the ending to be an HEA, but I think that would be a cop-out and ruin the story. I want to keep the sense of bittersweet loss.
Moral of the story: Build the tree of a solid genre with a big audience, but hang the ornaments of a subgenre with a minority audience on it. I just thought of another benefit to this--New and Different Approach value.
I my case, the romance can't end HEA in the historical context. Ciaran is a pagan tribal leader of the Eoghaidh Riata, no matter his Roman education; Julia a christian Roman patrician. She would never adapt to his life, his people would not accept her, and Ciaran would never give up his position as leader for a life in Rome or even Roman Britannia, not after he spent half of the book fighting to oust an ursurper. *sniff*
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And those tend to do pretty darn well, actually! So sneak away!
Be sneaky, huh...?
I was wondering how I'd pitch my story that's mostly romantic tragedy. Once upon a time romantic tragedy sold. Shakespeare, Hans Christian Andersen, etc.
Shame Romance nowadays must have an HEA.
So, instead of trying to pitch it as a paranormal romance, I can safely remain within the realm of fantasy with overtones of romantic tragedy a la Romeo & Juliet.
Now, I could change the ending to be an HEA, but I think that would be a cop-out and ruin the story. I want to keep the sense of bittersweet loss.
Moral of the story: Build the tree of a solid genre with a big audience, but hang the ornaments of a subgenre with a minority audience on it. I just thought of another benefit to this--New and Different Approach value.
Re: Be sneaky, huh...?
I my case, the romance can't end HEA in the historical context. Ciaran is a pagan tribal leader of the Eoghaidh Riata, no matter his Roman education; Julia a christian Roman patrician. She would never adapt to his life, his people would not accept her, and Ciaran would never give up his position as leader for a life in Rome or even Roman Britannia, not after he spent half of the book fighting to oust an ursurper. *sniff*
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Not to mention some battles, intrigues, assassinations and the usual mayhem.