Life Goes On

I just looked at the date of my last entry. Oops. Okay, that was an auspicious day, but that's no excuse for not blogging since then. Yes, there have been extenuating circumstances. Illnesses, family emergencies, work... I can give you lots of them. But they are just excuses. I could have done this - well, not every day - but most of those missing days.

In the meantime, I am happy to announce that I finished my latest WIP - an urban fantasy. I finished it last weekend and then took the week off from writing to work on paring down some of my to be read pile. I have to say, I'm not impressed so far. I've picked up - and put down - five books this week. They're not bad books. And one of them, I will probably go back and actually finish. But the others just didn't grab me. Not like the Jim Butcher "Dresden File" book I just finished did.

I think part of the problem is the language. These books are supposed to be paranormal romances - a genre I absolutely love. But less than a dozen pages into the one book and I was hit with graphic language and sex that was actually quite a turn-off for me. The book was not promoted as "Erotic" or even "Hot", and yet there it was, in my face. And before you think me close-minded about this type of writing, I myself, have written this type of story. And it was published by Ellora's Cave, one of the premier erotic publishers in the industry.

So why was I put off? Because I wasn't expecting it. I picked up the book, read the blurb, and thought I was getting a regular paranormal romance story. I was looking for action, adventure, romance, and a little paranormal activity. Not in the bedroom specifics. And yet, there it was, in great detail. I put the book down. It may be a great story. And maybe some day I will pick it up again. But not right now. Right now, I want a story that will entertain me. Sexual tension is fine, but for the moment, please close the bedroom door.

And I know I'm not the only one feeling this way. I see a lot of emails from people who are disgruntled by the explicit language and activities in many of today's romance stories. There has to be a happy medium somewhere.

Publishers - are you listening? There is a huge market out there for stories that aren't so explicit. And not just in historical or inspirationals. Those of us - and we are many - who enjoy science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and things that go bump in the night, are looking for books we can really enjoy outside the bedroom. You supply it and we will buy it.