What Kinds of Romances Do You Enjoy Best?

--By Vonnie Davis

Have you enjoyed meeting your authors this month? I’ve learned quite a few delightful things about some very talented writers. Haven’t you?

 

So now it’s time to ask you, the readers, a question. What kinds of romance do you typically reach for? Historical? Contemporary? Fantasy? Romantic Suspense? Paranormal? Inspirational? I’d love to know.

 

I ask because I’m an author trying to find her place. My name is Vonnie Davis, and I tend to write most sub-genres of romance, which makes my agent nervous. She tells me I should pick one or two and build a reputation as an author of those sub-genres. How can my readers find what I write if they don’t know where to look?

 

Her thoughts kind of make sense, don’t they? At least that’s what I tell myself.

 

Too bad my characters aren’t listening.

 

My heroes typically come to me at night, full of swagger and attitude. They introduce themselves, tell me a little about their lives and ask me to write their stories. It is them, not I, who decides the sub-genre of the romance I write. My agent's not having any of it. Sigh...

 

Take Storm Masterson, who sauntered into my bedroom wearing nothing but a pair of cowboy boots and a Stetson. Calvin snored through the whole episode. Not me, though. I was all eyes. Storm told me about the blue-eyed woman he’d dreamed about for three nights and his twin sister who was dying of leukemia. His story, Storm’s Interlude, was contemporary and has won a HOLT Award of Merit as best single title.

 

A Harley roared into our bedroom one night. Calvin snorted and rolled over. When the rider got off his bike, I instinctively knew he wore a prosthesis to replace part of his leg he’d lost in Iraq. He removed his helmet and sat on the edge of our bed. He’d met a woman with violet eyes, he claimed. Would I tell his story? Those Violet Eyes won first place in the novella category of the NERFA (National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award).

 

One night a tumbleweed rolled into our bedroom, followed by a rider on horse, his one arm banded around a little boy sitting in front of him. The horse reared and the man, his face hidden by his Stetson, glanced my way. I need a woman to raise my son and warm my bed. I started my first historical the next day—Tumbleweed Letters.

 

A French government agent slammed our bedroom door late one night. The sudden sound made me sit straight up in the bed. Wh…what was that? Who…who slammed that door? I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and glanced around the dark room. No sooner had I snuggled back against hubs than someone slammed the door again. This time I saw the scoundrel. He had dark wavy hair and mega doses of French attitude. His name was Niko Reynard, second in command of the French Counterterrorism Unit. He said there was a band of terrorists and an American art teacher who came to Paris and stirred up a mess. Mona Lisa’s Room was my first romantic suspense. It also won the HOLT Award of Merit for best romantic suspense and best book by a Virginia Author.

 

Then one night a pair of glowing golden eyes stared at me. Slowly a bear’s body formed. I whispered to the bear he had the wrong author’s bedroom, that I didn’t write children’s stories. He shook his head and then shifted into a kilt wearing Scot. He sat on the edge of my bed and I told him he still had the wrong bedroom because I don’t write paranormal. He aimed those golden, glowing eyes at me. “Aye, lassie, ye will. Let me tell ye how bears came to be extinct in Scotland.”  

Honest folks, sometimes I’m afraid to go to bed. Lord only knows who might show up next!

 

Now do you understand my dilemma? How can I only choose one or two sub-genres to write when so many men keep asking for my help? Could you refuse them? I certainly can't.

 

So fess up, ladies. What's your favorite category of romance? I'm giving away a $10. Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter today. Please include your email so I can contact you. Winning the gift card does not pull you out of the running for the Kindle.

 

To learn more about me, visit www.vonniedavis.com or visit my blog www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com  Hugs to all!