Tell me what to expect from Shomi in three words…
Kick-ass innovative romances
What attracted you to the line?
I had been looking for the opportunity to write something darker, as all my books thus far have been comedies, and since I have a personal interest in sci-fi and cyberpunk, I figured this was a perfect opportunity to delve into those worlds.
Also, I liked the idea that Dorchester was trying to bridge the gap between YA and adult romance, as I write both. I figured I could offer a book that both my older teen and adult audiences would enjoy.
Is your story a Romance? Where are you on the ever popular HEA debate?
My story is DEFINITELY a romance, with the hero and heroine’s love story at the forefront of the plot. The funny thing is – this story is loosely based on a screenplay I wrote in college and at the time, the angsty, artsy college kid me gave it a very dramatically tragic ending. So to finally, after eleven years, offer my hero and heroine a happily ever after really felt good!!
What is a Kick Ass Heroine? Who is your favorite?
A kick-ass heroine is one who can stick up for herself in any situation and doesn’t wait for the hero to help her out. I would say my favorite kick-ass heroine of all times is Molly Millions from William Gibson’s Sprawl series. (Neuromancer and its prequels/sequels.) She is the original razor girl and is actually tougher than the story’s hero.
What’s up next for you? And why will I want it NOW!
Next up, in October, I have my next YA out from Berkley– Girls that Growl – which is the third in my Boys that Bite vampire series and features a pack of werewolf cheerleaders. (We always knew they were a bunch of bitches, right?) But don’t let the fact that this book is shelved in YA scare you off—I have many adult readers—usually fans of shows like Buffy or Angel or Charmed—that enjoy this comedy vampire series.
I hope to do another Shomi book next summer as well. Working on that proposal as we speak…
Now it is your turn… got a question for Marianne, this is the place to do it!
Marianne,
The new line sounds like an edgier, younger version of Harlequin’s (now closed) Bombshell line. I would think this kind of heroine and story would find a better audience in the YA/younger adult age group. Is Dorchester trying to snag that audience plus some?
Besides running back and forth across the country doing conferences and conventions, are you (and your fellow rebel Liz Maverick) approaching promotion differently than with your other books?
Hugs,
TLC
Sounds fantastic…. this book is on my to-buy list
I can’t wait to read this one. Do you have any advice for someone targetting the shomi line?
Tera – I think Dorch is looking for that crossover audience with these books. The older YA crowd — maybe 16 plus? After all, these have sex scenes in the! 🙂 and a younger adult crowd – college, 20 somethings. That’s their “target” audience as they want to make sure they’re getting the younger readers hooked on romance. I think what they didn’t realize when developing the line is that these stories really cross age boundaries. They are able to be enjoyed by younger people, sure, but they also have an appeal for other adult romance reader as well.
That’s why I worry a little bit about the covers. I think some romance readers will dismiss the stories based on the artwork – assuming they’re for YA. But that’s just not the case. 🙂
As for promotion, Liz and I have been doing TONS on this series – more than we’ve ever done on anything else. We’ve done a lot of the traditional stuff – advertising in Romance Sells, targeting booksellers with the RT Booksellers That Care program, mailings to B&N and Borders, etc. and also some untraditional things – like viral video (see the BEA video we did linked in Liz’s post), the Rebels of Romance media campaign, and even an appearance at Comic Con this year. It’s exhausting but a lot of fun! 🙂
Marianne
Lis –
First off, Chris Keelsar is the Dorchester editor/creator/guru of the Shomi line, though Leah Hulternschmidt acquires for them at times as well. So that’s who to submit to.
As for what to submit…I’d say make it bizarre and then take it one step forward. They really are open to out of the box ideas. They don’t want a traditional paranormal – stay away from vamps and shapeshifters, unless they’re really aliens or cyborgs, lol. Most of them have action/fight scenes, though it’s not necessary. Chris likes a noir voice, but again, it’s up to the author on that as well. It can be first person but doesn’t have to be. However they do really want to concentrate on the heroine as the star.
Bottom line? Write your craziest high concept idea – whether sci-fi, time travel, alternate reality, or speculative fiction, throw in a kick butt heroine and a satisfying love story and I think you have a good chance at a Shomi.
Marianne
This line sounds great. Really different. Could have a lot of appeal for those burned out on traditional paranormals. I hope it takes off.
Is it difficult to switch between writing in YA and adult mode?
I would say it’s more difficult to switch from light comedy to dark edgy action romance than between YA and adult. Since I try never to talk down my teens, my YA comedies are similar to my adult comedies, but without the language and sex. (And, of course the main characters are in school.) One difference – YA books encompass a teen heroine’s entire life – school, parents, friends, teachers and love interest – whereas in adult romance, it’s the relationship between the hero and heroine that takes center stage.
Hey Mari,
I do want to target this line, and, aside from reading the Shomi books as they come out, are there any books you could recommend to put me in the Shomi mindset, so to speak. Kind of like a crash course in manga kick-ass heroine style? Alternately, you could just list some of your fave books 🙂
Good question, Kat. I’m not sure if there’s anything in the romance world quite like them, exactly. Maybe some of the Bombshells Harlequin used to put out, though I haven’t read much of that line. Gena Showalter’s alien huntress series has that kick-ass urban fantasy thing going on.
As far as manga/anime – check out .hack//sign which is a videogame related one. hehe you knew I would go there, right? I like Sojo manga, which is the girlie, romantic stuff, though often these take place in the real world.
I would also consider reading some sci-fi/cyberpunk classics. William Gibson’s Sprawl series (Neuromancer, etc.), Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, Cory Doctorow’s Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Ray Bradbury’s The Butterfly Effect, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, anything by Philip K. Dick (he wrote the story that inspired Blade Runner, for example.) Most of these stories are short on romance and heavy on the world building. So imagine writing them with a romance central to the plot and I think you could have a Shomi.
For movies: Planet of the Apes, The Matrix, eXistenz, Dark City, Blade Runner, The Running Man, The Omega Man. Even Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz.
The underlying theme is: ordinary person grapples with extraordinary world and falls in love in the process. But don’t even limit yourself to that. They are open to some real off the wall ideas. In fact, they encourage them!
Hi Marianne,
I think its awesome that you based this book on a screenplay you wrote. Do you have a fantasy cast in mind for the hero and heroine?
I’m so looking forward to these books! I think there are a lot of mature women out there who want these but I’m not sure if they will find them. I don’t think the covers would hurt in the ebook world but on shelves you are not dealing with pre-sorted geek-types like me. These had better take off because I need books like this! They aren’t easy to find at this point.
It will take me some time to get my hands on any since I can’t download. I’ll have to order them to be sent to a third party who will have to mail them to me here in Kuwait. But once I get to read them I’ll spread my opinion. I’m good/bad about that. B^D