I imagine a lot of people see the new Shomi covers and say
“What the heck is this?”
After all, their manga look certainly sets them apart from your typical romance novel. In a world full of paranormal covers which seem to alternate between half-naked-hunks and curvy-tattooed-woman-wearing-tight-outfits-and-wielding-weapons, Shomi books really stand out on romance shelves.
The publisher says that they designed the covers to appeal to a younger audience. To make romance relevant for a new generation. But, having written one and read the other two launch books of the line, I truly believe what’s behind the covers will be enjoyed by readers of all ages—if they’re willing to try something new.
So okay—what can you expect behind the covers? Well, Shomi books are hybrids at heart—taking elements from paranormal, sci-fi, cyber punk, time travel, and speculative fiction and threading them together with an emotionally driven love story. Imagine Neuromancer—with Case and Molly falling in love. Or The Matrix, with a Trinity and Neo who get their personal happily ever after.
My Shomi book, Moongazer, is about Skye, a videogame designer from Manhattan who dreams of a post-apocalyptic underground world where she was once a freedom fighter named Mariah who betrayed her own people. As the dreams become more and more real, her sense of reality is tested and she must figure out what world she really belongs in. She is helped by the somewhat reluctant hero, Dawn, who was once Mariah’s boyfriend, and believes Skye is but an empty shell of the girl he once loved.
Bottom line, if you like an action packed, reality bending futuristic tale with a heavy helping of romance, then I hope you’ll give the Shomi books a try.
