My story is about demons and vampires, about love and lust, about action and adventure, and so much more…
So is it a horror novel? Or is it a paranormal romance?
According to J. A. Cuddon (1984), horror novels are ones that frighten a reader or sometimes repulse and shock them. Other writers indicate that they are novels about ghosts, demons, vampires, and the like. Many people associate writers like Stephen King and Dean Koontz or Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft to the genre.
Does my story have the ability to frighten and repulse? That certainly depends on your perspective. For some people, the mere mention of blood is enough. For others, a description involving elongating teeth, jaw separation, and the stretching and lengthening of a spine into a twisted version of what was once a human being is plenty. Others need limbs torn asunder and intestines spilling out across the floor. It’s a personal level.
All of these elements are in my story, and yet…
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormal_romance) has the definition of paranormal romance as simply a sub-genre of romance. The key elements are the inclusion of something beyond scientific explanation, such as ghosts, vampires, psychic abilities, etc. Often in these books, the main emphasis is the story, with the romance or romantic aspects being a subplot and not the main focus. Authors like Christine Feehan, Karen Marie Moning and her Fever Series, and Marjorie M. Liu are great examples of this.
My story strongly leans in this direction. So for anyone curious as to what genre the book is, it is definitely a paranormal romance.
References:
Cuddon, J.A. (1984). The Penguin Book of Horror Stories.
Author Shanna Robillard 