What happened to Contemporary Romances?

December 16, 2007

Comments

6 comments posted.

Re: What happened to Contemporary Romances?

As an author of contemporary romances, I have the same question and the same lamentation. Unfortunately, the answer is that the publishing companies are market driven and apparently, buyers of contemporary romance have dwindled dramatically in recent years. Paranormal romances are the hottest ticket right now, so that's what is being bought and publsihed. This didn't happen overnight, though it seems as if it did. The slowdown in contemporary sales has been coming on for a while. Of course the bestsellers in contemporary will always be published and you'll always see their books, but authors who sell fewer books than the bestsellers are being dropped, asked to write for less money and, in general, shoved to the sidelines. Mid-list authors who want to try to keep their hard-won careers afloat are being forced to try the paranormal or erotica route.

Readers loyal to contemporary romance should let the publishers know their feelings. And buy books!
(Jeffery McClanahan 2:26pm December 26, 2007)

There is nothing wrong with non-contemporary romances. I understand where your coming from because I enjoy a good conteporary romance every now and again my self, but vampires and witches, although very out of the norm, are just an other type of character. The focus of the story is still romance. Love is still love even if the story is a little far fetched.
(Jess Walsh 5:17pm January 8, 2008)

I agree, I don't care for all the witches, vampires and other paranormal romances. I like good old comtemporary romances.
I go to flea markets , used book stores and go back to my favorite authors to get away from the weird romances of today.
(Mary Branham 10:35am January 18, 2008)

I don't buy paranormal books.Some may like them but give me agood old contempory romance anyday.
(Nancy Toms 8:13pm February 5, 2008)

I was glad to see this question asked. I do not buy the paranormal books, with the witches and vampires. I agree give me a good old contempory romance book any day.
(Pam Alderson 8:36pm February 22, 2008)

I totally agree about not wanting to wade through all the gore and shifter books just to get to the real contemporary romances. My thoughts have been that publishers are offering more of the "goth", vampires and paranormal to draw in younger readers. That is great to do that to get more to read but publishers should STOP and realize that we long time readers are still buying the most books. We are still their bread and butter and they need to wake up and give us what we want.
(Beverly Rhodes 8:32am March 5, 2008)

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