I know, it’s confusing. I’m a guy in publishing, I watch the Bachelor, I like to wear orange shirts, I watch a lot of sports, I attended RWA…. So I just want to make it clear:
Yes, I represent women’s fiction.
I know! Women’s fiction. Not just for women anymore.
Now, when it comes to romance romance, I should probably clarify a few things: I don’t represent category romance, and if it’s too squarely in pure romance territory there are probably agents out there who would do better by you than me.
I did attend RWA though, because in addition to more mainstream women’s fiction and memoir I’m also interested in what I like to call “romance plus.” As in romantic suspense, romantic sci-fi, romantic (fill in the blank).
All this said, especially because all of these genre distinctions blur into each other I still stand by my main sentiment on the subject — when in doubt, query me.
Hope that clears things up.
That was great of you to clear that up for us. Honestly!
The Bachelor is seriously addictive. It’s genius TV actually. It feeds on people’s need to see drama (hile lounging comfortable with a bowl of cracker barel and a bottle of water). Every season has the ‘personality’ : the drama queen, the pyscho, freakishly is already crying about being sent away after one day, the girl who is there to be on TV, the one who you just know straight away is going to make the finals……
Damn good TV.
Whoo romantic sci-fi! I write something similar to that. TBH, I’m more a fan when the romance is a sub-plot (both in books I read and books I write), but I definitely plan to query you someday anyway.
As for the debate raging in the comments about how sex-crazed our culture is and there not being any good shows on TV anymore–yes, our culture is very open about sex, and at times I do think it borders on mania, but more in film and advertisements than literature for me. (I know that literature is out there; I just tend not to read it.) As for television, there are plenty of programs that are safe for the whole family. There are entire channels devoted to such programming.
My main gripe is when sex is used gratuitously, which unfortunately is often the case. But I have just as much an issue when violence is used gratuitously. Both can dumb a story down by pandering to the audience.
Joanne said:
I’m not sure if any other genre can claim as many sub-categories as Women’s Fiction.
I think speculative fiction is up there. Gone are the days when it was fantasy or science fiction. Now you find out you’ve written a new weird, slipstream steampunk novel. I kept stumbling across new ones, and it often isn’t obvious what they are from the name.
I really do not care for romance novels, however, I think most novels benefit from some romance.
I really like having sex, so I also really like reading it, and that’s regardless of the genre.
Gentle. Hard. Slow. Fast. Sadistic. Masochistic. Gratuitous. Hidden. Whatever. I’m all for it.
People get too intense about the subject — on both sides.
Be proud, Mr. Bransford, and I’m sure you’re future wife will be grateful. At least, she should be. Expressing gratitude is the secret to enduring romance.
😉
Anon 7:47 Story of O is NOT chick-lit it’s considered classic/’literary’ erotica.. I apologize in advance if I’m not seeing/reading a sarcastic tone… if you were joking.
Nathan,
I’ve heard of the burgeoning romantic sci-fi (or is it science fiction romance?) before, and I was reading on one of the romance blogs how that seems to be one of the current trends in romance over contemporary fiction. Is it simply the marketing department that decides where such a book gets placed (whether it ends up on the sci-fi/fantasy shelves or in the romance section)? Or is it the booksellers prerogative? I’m curious because I know a lot of books in both genres (like Erik, I can get frustrated with genres, specifically for this reason) that bridge this gap, but can rise or fall based on which category they are marketed in. Would you ever pitch a romantic sci-fi you found at RWA as sci-fi? How do you know which audience to pitch it to?
The Story of O is chick-lit? I’m so out of the loop.
Hi all, not sure if anyone has heard of the new book coming out after October 6 called ‘Letters Between us’, by Linda Rader Overman? It’s a womens fiction novel and I had the pleasure to get it from a pre-book release party. I really liked it and I think its going to be a big hit!
I really loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. It is a very quick read, but don’t be deceived by how short a novel it is. The author has a great talent for weaving a multifaceted tale. I can’t believe it’s her first book. I can’t wait for her next one. Surely she won’t leave us hanging long. Please get writing Linda Rader Overman!
glad I kept reading for another hour! you DO represent my genre!
I would love to send you a query for my fantasy/historical romance novel. I think you are a fantastic agent with great taste and any author would be darn lucky to have you on their side in this crazy industry, but I want to first make sure I should send it to you instead of a Curtis Brown agent who might tailor more toward genre romance. If it's not right for you but you feel it would sell, would you refer it to another agent within the company?
Thank you for your time!
~Lindsey Edwards
Witch Way To you: “Lorelei and Hayden are thrust into an investigation of magic
and intrigue, where nothing, not even each other, are what
they seem.”
Hi Nathan. I'm a bit confused by the difference between romance and women's fiction. We're having a discussion on this topic over on Forums under All Things Writing, Genre Help. Maybe you could write a post on this to clarify. Are all love stories with a happy ending "romance", even though the plot also chronicles a woman's personal journey in dealing with her past and emotions? I have no idea what label to put under my name at the PNWA writer's conference. Any help would be appreciated, and I know there are lots of other blog readers with this same question. Thanks!