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Pop Quiz from Editor Deb Werksman

POP QUIZ (Please check all that apply, and please share your thoughts/questions/comments)—I want to hear from you, I want to hear what your readers are telling you, and I want us to shape the future together.



1) What do readers want next in paranormal romance?
a. More vampires
b. More shapeshifters (including mythical creatures like dragons)
c. Reincarnation
d. Ghosts
e. Psychics/Telekinesis, etc.
f. Fantasy/Futuristic/Sci-Fi
g. Magical Realism
h. Other, please specify:_________________
Comments about what you’re reading or writing in paranormal romance, what you wish there was to read, what your readers are asking for, and/or pitches for books you’d like to write/publish:_________________

2) In romantic suspense, besides military and law enforcement, what do you buy, what do your readers ask for or talk about, what do you see working in the marketplace?
a. Ordinary people caught in circumstances beyond their control, gritty, dark, edgy stories
b. Journalists, politicians, and other professions tangentially related to military and law enforcement
c. I have no idea
d. Ordinary people in warm, fuzzy situations, where there happens to be a crime or mystery—the romance equivalent of cozy mystery
Comments about what you’re reading or writing in paranormal romance, what you wish there was to read, what your readers are asking for, and/or pitches for books you’d like to write/publish:_________________

3) In historical romance, what do you buy, what do your readers ask for or talk about, what do you see working in the marketplace?
a. Georgian/Regency/Victorian England
b. Medieval
c. Scottish Highland
d. Western Historical
e. French Revolution
f. American Revolution
g. Russian Revolution
h. Edwardian
i. WWI/WWII/between the WWs
j.  Civil War
k.  Pirates
l. Ancient Rome
m. Ancient Egypt
n. Other, please specify:_________________________
Comments about what you’re reading or writing in historical romance, what you wish there was to read, what your readers are asking for, and/or pitches for books you’d like to write/publish:_________________


4) In Erotic Romance, now that 50 Shades is behind us, what’s moving readers the most?
a. Specific erotic themes (BDSM, menage, MM, etc)
b. Short stories and novellas, doesn’t matter what the theme is
c. Full length novels, but the writing and/or characters have to be REALLY good
d. Other, please specify: _______________________________
Comments about what you’re reading or writing in erotic romance, what you wish there was to read, what your readers are asking for, and/or pitches for books you’d like to write/publish:_________________

5) In Contemporary romance, which of these would you like to read:
a. The personal side of military life
b. The personal side of being a first responder, police officer, or other profession that’s intense and life-saving
c. Small town stories
d. Stories that include deep issues that people today are dealing with in current events
e. Wealthy lifestyles
f. Ordinary people
Comments about what you’re reading or writing in contemporary romance, what you wish there was to read, what your readers are asking for, and/or pitches for books you’d like to write/publish:_________________

6) Which of these do you consider to be exotic locations?
a. The Pacific Northwest (US)
b. Alaska
c. Europe
d. Russia
e. New York City
f. Las Vegas
g. Other, please specify: __________________________________________________

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Eat well, hug your loved ones, and may your dreams be filled with the plots, characters and internal/external conflicts that will make your next book a mega-bestseller. I am grateful every day for the privilege of working with authors—I’m living the dream. Love to you all.


Comments

  1. Happy Thanksgiving all! 3) I have heard that readers are still loving Regency romance but that they are leaning toward medieval romance as well. I'd love to write a series set in the medieval period... my old favorite :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1) What do readers want next in paranormal romance? NO IDEA!

    2) In romantic suspense, besides military and law enforcement, what do you buy, what do your readers ask for or talk about, what do you see working in the marketplace?
    As a reader, I like A.

    3) In historical romance, what do you buy, what do your readers ask for or talk about, what do you see working in the marketplace?
    A,B,C.K
    I also think the 1920s may become more popular, and I would like French Revolution to gain popularity.

    4) In Erotic Romance, now that 50 Shades is behind us, what’s moving readers the most?
    Ummm...again, no idea.

    5) In Contemporary romance, which of these would you like to read:
    d. Stories that include deep issues that people today are dealing with in current events
    f. Ordinary people

    6) Which of these do you consider to be exotic locations?
    None of those

    Africa might be exotic or central Asia

    Happy holidays!








    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. I am not a big reader of Paranormal, but I go with C and G.
    2. I like a mixture of all of them .
    3. Okay this is a mix bag of reading, C,D,J,K and let us not forget those Irish Romantic Historicals.
    4. C. Erotic Romance must have a good story and good characters.
    5. Okay this one is easy...all of the above..
    6. As far of exotic locals, I think anywhere tropical is always exotic. Or the South of France and Paris...

    Happy Thanksgiving

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1) I love all creatures and most forms of hoo doo when reading paranormal.

    2) a. Ordinary people caught in dangerous situations. But I keep threatening to write a WWII home front romantic mystery.

    3) I can't get enough Regency/Victorian. More surly dukes, please.

    4) c. Full length erotica with great characters.

    5) Small towns, ordinary people, deep issues *and* wealthy lifestyles. They all tick my boxes.

    6) Alaska, Europe, Russia & Las Vegas. Alaska and Russia appeal because they're rugged and untamed.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, all--happy Thanksgiving eve!

    1. and 2.--I really don't know! Though as a sometime reader of RS, 2a appeals most to me.

    3. My readers are fans of a and also like c, d, h, k.

    4. I'd say b or c. Whether novella or novel, readers who like sexy books will enjoy them if the story and characters are good.

    5. As a reader, d and f appeal most to me.

    6. For historical romance settings, they could all be. Especially Las Vegas--imagine a story set there around the turn of the twentieth century! A different world from today...

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1) What do readers want next in paranormal romance?
    For my own selfish reasons, I hope readers will be really into immortal Vikings in a contemporary setting. ;-) Seriously though, I don’t think Vampire’s will ever go away, especially not with them still being hot on TV and in the movies. As a reader, I love fantasy romance with strong female heroines on quests. As a writer, I’d love to create something modern fairy tale related but a little dark and twisted. I’m imagining it like a retelling/mashup of classic tales, kind of like the Once Upon A Time and Grimm TV series, but darker and more twisted, like the original tales created by the brothers Grimm.

    2) In romantic suspense, besides military and law enforcement, what do you buy, what do your readers ask for or talk about, what do you see working in the marketplace?
    As a reader, I like anything with a strong female sleuth and love it when it’s cyber related. I think damaged heroes are very much in, no matter the genre, but especially in suspense. I’ve seen the theme of PTSD prop up often lately.

    3) In historical romance, what do you buy, what do your readers ask for or talk about, what do you see working in the marketplace?
    I have no idea about trends in the market place, but as a reader I love any historical with a strong alpha hero, a feisty heroine that stands up to him, and sparks flying between them as they try to make their personalities mash up.

    4) In Erotic Romance, now that 50 Shades is behind us, what’s moving readers the most?
    No idea.

    5) In Contemporary romance, which of these would you like to read:
    b. The personal side of being a first responder, police officer, or other profession that’s intense and life-saving
    d. Stories that include deep issues that people today are dealing with in current events

    6) Which of these do you consider to be exotic locations?
    I grew up in Europe and now live in the States, so exotic to me means a culture very different than what I’ve experienced, so Asia, India, Africa, South America, basically anywhere that isn’t Europe or America. :-)

    Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
    -Asa

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. All of the Above
    2. No idea, don't read suspense
    3. Regency, Georgian, Victorian, Scottish, Pirates, Edwardian
    4. No idea, don't read erotic romance
    5. Personal side of military, small town stories
    6. Alaska, Russia

    ReplyDelete
  8. In historical romance I enjoy medieval, scottish, regency and ancient anything and then the others lol. Then I read a little bit of this and that. Exotic for me would be the far east or tropical islands or New Zealand.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 1) No clue.

    2) A

    3) I buy mostly (A) but would love to see more of the Roaring 20's or early 1900's in America

    4) No clue.

    5) C, E & F. I still like to read and write about athletes and small quirky towns. My readers seem to want the same.

    6) None. I consider places like Bali, Tahiti, Tanzania or Bora Bora exotic.

    Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy family and friends.

    ReplyDelete

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