Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Tales From The Lighter Side

Among my friends there has been much conversation as of late on the merits of the lighter, “quiet” book. Opinions vary, as opinions should, but the one thing agreed upon is that they have their place, especially in romance. Unfortunately, I think romance is where we tend to see the fewest lighter books, definitely in paranormal romance.

Secret babies, marriages of convenience, cruel bets, accidental deception, intentional deception, supernatural mysteries, mundane murder sprees, impending doom, all of it has been a background in romance for our couples, trios, and so forth getting together or being torn apart. The line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance has been blended, (or skewed depending on your viewpoint) to such a degree that nearly any catastrophe could befall our beloved main characters, sweeping us to the highest highs before plunging us to gut-wrenching lows. And I get as caught up as anyone in it, but I don’t always need it.

Stories satisfy cravings just as food does, and sometimes you don’t even realize you were craving something until you find just that right thing that hits the spot. Unlike walking into your kitchen or strolling down your grocery store aisle, there’s less variety to choose from in paranormal romance thus far. Much of what’s out there is quite good, but this would be a situation of too much of a good thing.

I love pizza, but I don’t want to eat it every day. Wait, okay that’s a bad example, I actually could eat pizza every day. On the other hand, that makes it the perfect example. Crust, sauce and cheese begin, (and depending on the mood end) the building of a good pizza, and each day brings an endless combination of possible toppings. I’m asking for a few more toppings out there, a few more paranormal romantic comedies where the emphasis is on the people not the angst.

I like my angst, (sometimes a little less angsty than my favorite authors slather it on), but I like my laughter too. I like getting wrapped up in the characters and the smaller daily turmoil present in any relationship. Sometimes, (probably most times), the big bad standing in the way of our heroes happiness is the heroes themselves. Insecurity, past relationships, family, friends, all the things we’re familiar with that cause relationship pressures in daily life, would cause it in paranormal relationships; and like in daily life, it would rarely be as bad as it seems to people involved. Some mountains in the distance are just hills when you get close enough to check them out. Where are those stories?

Does anyone remember My Big Fat Greek Wedding? For Toula, the story is nothing but angst. She’s the oldest unmarried woman in her family, she’s in a rut working for the family restaurant, she’s attracted to a man she considers out of her league, and she’s embarrassed by her boisterous, culturally proud family. For the audience, the story is a feel good ride about a woman taking control of her life and her happiness and how we’re all reduced to children when our families get to throw in their two cents. Toula learns to appreciate her family and their Greek pride through the eyes of her fiancé being pulled in the great boisterous mess Toula herself would like to escape from. Without a single terrible dark moment of will they/won’t they, the story manages to captivate and make us laugh and cringe and cheer for the couple to the closing credits.

I’ve read different anthologies, (My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding and My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon among them), that go for the laugh over the deep dark depths and I enjoyed them. But I want more. What about the Erotic Romantic Comedy? What if My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon had actually touched on exactly what happened in that honeymoon bed? Don’t laugh, I write open-door romance and sometimes, (often by accident, it’s the characters not me), I write comedic romance, why can’t those exist together? Where are more of those stories?

No, seriously, I’m actually asking, where are they? Beyond MaryJanice Davidson and Lynsay Sands, (and maybe Katie MacAlister) which authors have you read that manage to mix laughter, smiles and sex and keep you turning the page? I’d love to add them to my reading list. Currently I have all the angst and chaos I need in my real life, I’d like to smile a bit more as I escape into a book these days.

So readers and writers alike, what are your opinions, suggestion and favorites?

“Erotic Romantic Comedy Ramble” Done :)

~Xakara