With everything going on in the world right now, I
can honestly say, I have never been more grateful to live on an island in the middle
of nowhere. I can’t fully escape seeing and feeling what is happening everywhere else, but I do get to walk on the beach and pretend I’m removed from it all for a few
moments each day.
Increasingly, people need an
escape. This is reflected, in my view, in new trends in the world of romance
books. We seem to be moving away from dark, angst-filled books, towards lighter romances, still with
conflicts and tension but not as heavy as the sub-genres that have soared in recent
years.
Another trend I have noticed is for shorts
and novellas. Not necessarily as a replacement to novels but as alternative
options. A fast escape from reality, whether they be enjoyed by readers lying in bed at night, during their lunch hour, or on a commuter train. See
Carina Press’s call for erotic shorts and multiple anthologies, for example: http://carinapress.com/blog/submission-guidelines/
In terms of reading and writing, my own
tastes are also reflective of the market. I am writing lighter books and dabbling in shorter books that are a little more removed from ‘real-life’
scenarios. My reading tastes are heading in the same direction. In fact, in the
virtual book club I run through Facebook, my readers are choosing more fun
reads and loving them. I am also listening to brighter music and watching
rom-coms more often (together with eating copious amounts of chocolate but I’m
not sure that’s relevant to the trend towards escapism J).
I want to make this blog interactive. So, tell me what you do to escape the realities of life, whether it be
reading, writing, listening to music or something else.
I want to know whether you have noticed a
shift towards less intense reads, and what you are reading of late.
Finally, I would love your suggestions for
lighter books that I should read this summer and perhaps recommend in my book
club.
Comment on this post and come to chat with
me here:
If you are interested in joining a virtual
romance book club, click here: www.facebook.com/groups/carterschiccats
2 comments:
Laura, I've noticed similar trends and have also been reading and watching lighter books/shows. I think when people are generally disheartened and disillusioned, they turn to the stuff that makes them smile and laugh. Thanks for the insight!
Laura, you live on an island, how lovely. As for light recommendations for your book groups, yes, I have just the ticket! Shamelessly, I suggest one of my Murders by Design Mysteries. They are tongue-in-cheek, humorous who-dunnits with an interior designer as amateur sleuth. #5, The Design Is Murder, was a finalist in the Florida Book Awards. Okay, I did admit this would be a shameless pitch.
Post a Comment