Is it time for the horror romance? I know, I know–you might be thinking…horror isn’t sexy.  Well, I’m not necessarily talking “Saw”-type horror. Something softer, with, ah, less gore.

At one point, my husband told me that he thought I was writing horror romances. I was like, no, they’re paranormals.  Shifter romances. Vamp romances. He then told me, “People die, they get butchered, and you’ve got monsters.” Okay, yes, on the surface, that does *seem* like a horror tale, but, to me, my stories are more paranormal than horror.

But now I’m wondering…what is the difference between a paranormal romance and a horror romance? At my local RWA chapter meeting, one of the members asked if I knew any authors who wrote horror romances. I blanked.  I know many wonderful authors who write very, very dark paranormals…but at what point do those paranormals cross over into horror land?

Because I was curious about the true definition of horror, I hopped on the Internet and did a wee bit of research.  I found this definition from the Wikipedia site: “Horror fiction is a genre of fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the audience. Historically, the cause of the “horror” experience has often been the intrusion of a disturbing supernatural element into everyday human experience. Since the 1960s, any work of fiction with a morbid, gruesome, surreal, or exceptionally suspenseful or frightening theme has come to be called “horror”. Horror fiction often overlaps science fiction or fantasy, all three categories of which are sometimes placed under the umbrella classification speculative fiction.”

Hmmm…what do you think?  Do you believe some paranormal romances cross the line and slide into horror romance? Do you think horror romance is an entirely different sub-genre? And (last question!) have you ever read a book and thought it was a horror romance (instead of a paranormal romance)?

Hi, everyone!  Want a chance to win some free books? Then head over to The Good, The Bad, and The Unread! I’m giving away 3 copies of BELONG TO THE NIGHT.

I’m now on chapter three of my new WIP–slowly sneaking into the heart of the story.  These characters are fun.  My hero is a demon, and my heroine, well, so far she’s a pretty bad girl, uh, woman.  🙂  She likes to blow things up for fun.

Hope you have a fabulous Tuesday!

I should have posted this sooner–my apologies. I’ll also put the excerpt up on the ETERNAL HUNTER book page later today.

Here’s an excerpt from ETERNAL HUNTER, the first book in my upcoming paranormal bounty hunter series–due out in January of 2010:

“Wanna answer my question?” His voice was deep, rumbling.

Goosebumps rose on her bare arms. And it was too damn warm for her to have a chill from the weather.

“And just what question was that?” She titled her head to the right.

“Who are you?” A pause. “What are you?”

She let her eyebrows furrow. She’d fooled Other before, she could do it again. “I’m really not sure I understand. I told you, I’m Assistant District Attorney—”

“You don’t smell human.”

Her breath left on a gasp. No, he hadn’t just said—

He stepped toward her, a fast move that brought their bodies too close. Jude leaned in, lowering his head over the curve of her throat. And inhaled.

“Stop!” She shoved him, hard, and watched with no small satisfaction as he stumbled back. Oh, yeah, big guy, I’m much, much stronger than I appear. He wasn’t the first one to learn that little lesson.

She almost bared her teeth at him. Almost.

After all, she wasn’t an animal. No matter what the whispers back home said.

“I don’t know just what you think you were doing,” she snapped, glaring at him as she narrowed her eyes. “But you’d better watch what you do and what you say around me.” Was the guy crazy? You don’t smell human. He couldn’t say things like that.

The words were too dangerous.

She reached into her purse. Dug out her card. “Call my office. My assistant will take care of any paperwork you’ve got.”

He stared at her a moment longer. Then, slowly, his tanned fingers rose. Long fingers, callused. Strong. He took the card, and his fingertips brushed over her hand.

Erin didn’t flinch and she was extremely proud of that fact.

“Good work, Donovan.” After giving him that grudging token of appreciation, she nodded and began to march back toward her car.

She’d taken all of five steps when she heard his whistle. Long, loud, and very appreciative.

Erin stilled.

I really don’t need this shit.

“I’ve got your scent.” Hard words. Scary words. Because she knew what they meant.

If Jude Donovan truly was a shifter, and every instinct she had screamed that he was, then having her scent, well, it meant he had her. He’d be able to follow her, to find her, almost anywhere.

A shifter. What were the odds she’d stumble onto him?

One of the little perks in the Other world—the world full of supernaturals and nightmares, the world that, rather unfortunately, was her life—was that like recognized like. Demons, because, yeah, those conniving bastards were real, could “see” others of their breed. They could look right past the magic glamour and peer into the darkness inside.

Witches felt the power pull from their brethren.

And shifters, well, they could smell each other—a distinct scent. One that carried the wisp of power and the scent of the beast.

Jude Donovan smelled of power. Of wild, strong man. Of savagery. No denying that scent.

As for the beast…she didn’t need the marks on Bobby’s face to know Donovan had claws.

Erin began to walk again. One determined step after another.

And even when she climbed into her car, she could feel his eyes on her. Watching and seeing too much.

Oh, damn.

Now, she’d have to be extra careful to stay on her guard and not let the hunter discover the secrets she kept so carefully hidden.

***

Have a great weekend!

Today, I’m getting back in the groove. Yes, that means I’ll start work on a new project today. Oh, the joy. Oh, the fear. 🙂

I’m also guest blogging at Riding With The Top Down–and giving away a prize. Come on by and chat with me about sharing the romance love for a chance to win!

And, on a different note, as I type this, I’m watching the video of the journalists who were just released from North Korea. Such an emotional reunion with their families. I’m certainly glad that they are back home.

Are you looking for a great writers’ conference?  One that is held in an absolutely beautiful location?  (Right on the beach!)  It’s a conference that has great workshops–and some wonderful editors and agents are coming to hear pitches!

What’s this event?  It’s the Silken Sands Writers’ Conference, and it will be held March 19-21, 2010, in Pensacola Beach, Florida.

A facebook fan page has recently been created for this event, and the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA now has a MySpace page for the conference, too: www.myspace.com/silkensandswriters.

What are you waiting for? Make plans to join me at the beach!