Urban Fantasy…It Has Pull

I’m a romance writer through and through.  Even when I’m not writing romance,  I really am — even my two Sherlock Holmes pastiches, Chronicles of the Lost Years, and Case of the Reluctant Agent, are parts 1 and 2 of a sweeping romance that spread across thirty years, five countries, and a world war.

So I’m kind of surprised, lately, to find myself drawn towards Urban Fantasy.  I’ve been reading it and watching it by the cartload.  I guess Twilight qualifies as romance anyway, although not a very satisfying one.  As an Ellora’s Cave author I spent most of my time reading it going “Kiss her!  Kiss her, goddam it!” although the rest of the story more than held my attention, so kudos to Meyer for that.  I’m a committed Supernatural fan (Dean is my favourite), but I buy the DVD seasons as they are released, so do not give me spoilers, ‘kay?  And I loved Underworld.  Although even that was a romance of sorts.

I’ve tried discussing Urban Fantasy v’s paranormal romance on a couple of different boards and groups, but the discussion didn’t get very far.  I guess, in the end, most people don’t want to discuss it.  They just inhale it whole and enjoy it, because they’re readers and viewers.  I keep worrying at the difference though, because my writer’s muscle is twitching.  I think I’m being pulled there.  I think I’m going to write it.  I think I feel a book coming on.  But I worry about readers who are used to me producing contemporary romantic suspense:  Good guys, bad buys, guns, spies and heart stopping moments…. are they going to hit the roof if I suddenly produce a vampire into the middle of all that?

Would you?

[First published as a blog post, May 29, 2009 on this site]