tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post1942983320124298521..comments2023-09-13T01:03:35.934-07:00Comments on Dance on Fire: A Disclaimer: Romance?James Garcia Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559119178720751963noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-20963818957171608782013-05-24T13:52:25.395-07:002013-05-24T13:52:25.395-07:00I don't know if it's technically a romance...I don't know if it's technically a romance--because I just don't know too much about that stuff--but it is very romantic. Missed Periodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10343265071637032284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-52350196833800418552013-05-22T09:46:57.456-07:002013-05-22T09:46:57.456-07:00OK, curiosity piqued. Bring it on!OK, curiosity piqued. Bring it on!Jane Isaachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170793644740072343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-12397715446923697172013-05-22T07:09:32.582-07:002013-05-22T07:09:32.582-07:00I liked the excerpt - great dialogue! I liked the excerpt - great dialogue! mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-50661454904190280512013-05-22T05:21:04.309-07:002013-05-22T05:21:04.309-07:00Sounds good xSounds good xSusan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09445232725431784781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-84243569270725495832013-05-21T12:02:37.337-07:002013-05-21T12:02:37.337-07:00This sounds more like a love story than a romance....This sounds more like a love story than a romance. And there is a difference. Like everyone says above.<br /><br />Oh...and I like this brief excerpt :)Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-27874996324524443792013-05-21T08:14:38.535-07:002013-05-21T08:14:38.535-07:00I'd call it romance, but I wrestle with the sa...I'd call it romance, but I wrestle with the same label in my books. Love and lost love is at the heart of the stories and to me that's what romance is. I'd at least tag it as such. Looking forward to reading it.John Hundleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14763843792087479420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-6060982932814590982013-05-20T11:44:10.932-07:002013-05-20T11:44:10.932-07:00What LD said. Paranormal romance is very hot right...What LD said. Paranormal romance is very hot right now so that might not be a bad label to use.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-79235945942446795382013-05-20T10:58:20.255-07:002013-05-20T10:58:20.255-07:00I read once that if the plot exists to support the...I read once that if the plot exists to support the relationship, it's a romance. If the relationship supports the plot, it's not.<br /><br />Nice excerpt either way.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-10144731387571113812013-05-20T07:30:51.914-07:002013-05-20T07:30:51.914-07:00Always a difficult call, James. I've been told...Always a difficult call, James. I've been told if there's a happy ending for the two involved, it's a romance. However, that rules out many books I've read that are obviously romance (Wuthering Heights would be one). You can always claim some romantic tension and be done with it, I suppose. hahaClarissa Johal, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964562809187386341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-88575228498151391292013-05-20T05:05:20.610-07:002013-05-20T05:05:20.610-07:00What constitutes romance depends on the novel, and...What constitutes romance depends on the novel, and the author.<br /><br />For instance; you may not think of Stephen Kings Dark Tower series as a romance; but Roland Deschaine is a romantic. Physical romance did not work for Roland himself because of his dedication to duty as he saw it. He was already in love with the ideal of the dark tower before he met Susan. He was born to the legacy. He believed the hype. He would sacrifice anything and anyone to get there.<br /><br />The romance between Eddie and Savanah sustained him. Roland would do anything to see that life affirming romance fulfilled. Yet, he sacrificed it to fulfill his predestined life mission. It represented hope for the future, hope for humanity, and a fulfillment of purpose for Roland's sacrifices.<br /><br />Romance is an ideal James; a perfect love. It is not always fulfilled in the main characters life span. Or, the MC may have experienced it, lost it, and so has a comparable emotion to identify with.<br /><br />Life is romance.<br /><br />Did you watch the movie Constantine? Hancock? Or End Of Days? All were romantic movies. It was the love interest that drove the plot line, even though they did not end up with "the girl."<br /><br />Braveheart, Last of the Mohicans, Gladiator: all were romantic movies that did not focus on the love interest. Watch Steel Magnolias and Life As We Knew It, Love Actually. Even Shrek. Love is grown through a series of life altering events.<br /><br />I think this excerpt is "romantic." I don't know if the novel itself is a "romance" but I think you can safely draw readers in based on the "romantic" appeal of this excerpt.<br /><br />Are romance readers your target audience? <br /><br />If the main focus of your novel is the relationship between your 1st person POV character and a peripherary character, then it is a romance. Don't spend a lot of time developing the event that brought the two together. Focus the story line, and the circumstances and physical attraction that bring the character together. The movie Sweet Home Alabama is a good reference. on the physical attraction But, if a romantic interest exists between the MCs and the focus is a dead body and how it came to be dead is the focus then you have a Romantic suspense, Romantic paranormal, Romantic Crime Fiction . .you get the idea.<br /><br />So, what's the backstory with this excerpt: Are Anna and Him consistently thrown together to solve the mystery; or is their journey to discover a murderer an excuse for them to consistently be alone and vulnerable together?<br /><br />I found your excerpt here highly romantic. I'd have to read the rest of the novel or a synopsis to know if this was the only romance excerpt in the book.<br /><br />Me; I'm not a "romance" reader. I like romance in a story though. So, my vote for this excerpt is "romantic" and I hope to see other scenes like it in the novel. I'd stop reading this more for a lack of action than a lack of romance though.<br /><br />What audience do you really hope to cultivate with this novel, James? Are you willing to sacrifice one genre to achieve another? Do you really need to jump on one band wagon at the cost of another?<br /><br />Your posted review says this is a ghost story that includes a romance. Is this a ghost story?<br /><br />I'm just one reader James. You have to decide where you want your novel to reside on a shelf in a book store - even a virtual bookstore. Focusing on the romance appeals to one market. But I can't tell from this excerpt if its contempory, mystery, crime, fantasy sci-fi, dystopia, urban fantasy, paranormal.<br /><br />Its and angsty lovers scene that fits anywhere.<br />Who is your target audience? Focus your marketing there.<br /><br />.....dhole<br />dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-9557372235942345722013-05-20T02:30:01.263-07:002013-05-20T02:30:01.263-07:00It's playful. I liked it. I wouldn't call ...It's playful. I liked it. I wouldn't call it a romance, though...at least not from this excerpt. Just because a book has romance in it doesn't mean that's the genre in which it fits. A murder in a story doesn't necessarily make it a thriller.<br /><br />Good writing and enjoyable dialogue.<br /><br /><a title="Follow My Writer's Blog" href="http://mlswift.me/blog" rel="nofollow">My blog at M.L. Swift, Writer</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17064990883097071040noreply@blogger.com