This week: Summer Subgenre Fun! Edited by: StephBee More Newsletters By This Editor
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Welcome to Summer! June is a busy month, and the start of summer romance fun.
I just want to give a shout out to all our dads out there. Father’s Day is 16 June and has already passed by the time you read this missive, but has not yet occurred as I write this newsletter. It began in the early 1900’s as a compliment to Mother’s Day. Several local traditions came together on the national level when President Richard Nixon made it a national celebration in 1972.
I’d like to know what you love about your dad. Write in and share!
June 6th has come and gone, but this year we honored the 75th anniversary of “D” Day. At Collevill-sur-Mer in Normandy, France there is an American Cemetery Memorial. This cemetery is on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach and run by the American Battle Monuments commission.
I spent most of my time stationed in Germany when I was overseas, however I did manage to visit France a couple of times. One visit created a memory that will last me a lifetime. My friend, PFC East, and I visited the French town of Lembach in 1987, just over the German/French border in France. The town was small, but we were in awe. A French flag hung from a bannister in the town square. The square, itself, was empty. PFC East and I walked around, took some pictures and decided to eat in a local café before heading back to Germany. That’s when our moment happened. Obviously, we stuck out wearing our BDU uniforms, and the citizens had been watching us. They came to the café to shake our hands. The owner of the café insisted on paying for our lunch. We protested, but he was firm. We shook hands with everyone, humbled. Most of the people spoke French and I tried my best with my French for traveler’s book. There was some conversion, but it was light. An older gentleman spoke decent English, and thanked us for liberating France. I thought: I didn’t liberate France, my grandfather who was in World War II did. It was 42 years ago. But the French people were still sincerely grateful and it meant a lot to them to thank PFC East and I - personally. I could hear their appreciation in the tremor of their voices, and feel it in the power of their handshakes. They wanted to know more about me and PFC East and how we came to their town that day, but we had to leave. Still, the appreciation and gratitude the French people extended to PFC East and I was powerful and resonated with us for a lifetime.
I can only let my romantic notions run away with me. Did the Americans pass through Lembach weeks after landing in Normandy? Did the newly liberated French town offer them a meal? Wine? Give thanks? Did the French shake the American soldiers’ hand like they shook mine? Did the Americans stay in the town or just pass through, and then they were gone, only to arrive again with PFC East and myself? Questions only history knows the answers to.
There’s more to romance than just heroes and heroines, conflict and danger. Today we’ll explore the appeal of the different romantic subgenres.
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ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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What I like about romance is that it can appeal to wide audience of readers.
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary usually starts in 1950’s and runs through the present. All contemporary romances share a modern setting with realistic scenarios. They also focus on the emotional development between the hero and heroine. Contemporary can be funny or serious, and it usually is a very popular genre because most readers can identify with the topics and themes in the story.
HISTORICAL
There’s a lot of variety with historicals. You can visit the wild west or Victorian times. Elements in common from westerns to steampunks include a different language style and characters in roles not common today. Another challenge historicals have is the treatment of the heroine. Actual attitudes of the time period differ from modern attitudes, so care must be used to present the hero and heroine in a favorable light. Regencies are so popular, they could be a subgenre in itself, however, since they are set during the British Regency of George IV, they still fall under historical. The Regency was a unique time and often stories reflect the values - and the ton - of the times.
SUSPENSE
These romances tend to be fast-paced, involve a crime, (which supplies the external conflict) and typically use a contemporary setting. In a historical setting these romances generally fall under gothic genre.
EROTIC
With this subgenre, the sexual encounter(s) are the key that drives the plot. Common elements include multiple love/sex scenes that may or may not include tropes common to the genre such as a ménage.
RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL
This genre incorporates religious or spiritual beliefs into the fabric of the plot of the love story. Since it’s essential to the plot, and provides the conflict, the plot can’t develop without it. Generally, the sexual content is avoided or goes no further than a kiss.
PARANORMAL
This genre also includes fantasy and sci-fi. The elements combine some type of fantastical, futuristic, or supernatural settings. Their worlds are not “normal” like the one you’d find in contemporary, so it’s important to build the world of the story in such a manner that it’s relatable to the reader.
YOUNG ADULT
This romance involve teenagers to young adults and issues that focus on empowerment, or coming of age themes. As a general rule, “love” scenes and the “heat” of the love scene depend on the theme. A Christian YA romance may only involve hand holding where a paranormal might go further.
What’s your favorite romantic subgenre?
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| | Love (E) A love story in the form of a tweet. This is a contest entry for Tweet Me A Story. #2103500 by Chris Breva |
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ASIN: B07YXBT9JT |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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I have no feedback from my Romance/Love NL DTD: 22 May 2019, “Beta Heroes Love Flowers."
Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. Her latest 99 cents release is “Journey of the Heart,” now avail on Amazon as an ebook. In the aftermath of World War II, can James help Rachel save her winery?
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ASIN: 197380364X |
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Amazon's Price: $ 15.99
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