In her blog yesterday Sylvia Day had a brief Q&A from a snippet of a Paraphanelia interview with Audrey LaFehr, the editorial director from Kengsington. It raised a question in my mind…is Kengsington using clever marketing or is it something else? **emphasis is mine in below questions
PNR: Readers are very excited about the new Aphrodisia line; could you tell us how this line differs from the already established Brava Erotic Romance Line?
Audrey L.: While very hot and sexy, Brava still follows the “rules” of traditional romance—one man and one woman fall in love in the course of the book and arrive at some sort of permanent commitment at the end. Aphrodisia throws away the rules—anything goes, as long as it’s super hot, sexy, explicit, legal, and all about a woman’s sexual pleasure. Oftentimes the woman does find and fall in love with her soul mate, but that is not a requirement. However, a happy (or shall we say an extremely satisfying?) ending is a must.
PNR: In your opinion, how far can you go with erotic content and have it still be considered romance?
Audrey L.: Aphrodisia would not be considered romance by many traditionalists. It is categorized as “Erotic Romance” for a simple, practical reason—we want it to be sold to the romance buyer and go into or near the romance section of the bookstore. If it had “Erotica” on the spine, it would go into general fiction or an erotica section if the store has one, and our readers (who are primarily romance readers who want something hotter) would not be able to find our books easily. Other than that, Aphrodisia does not have to conform to the usual parameters of romance.
Perhaps I’m misreading this, but does anyone else read this: “It is categorized as “Erotic Romance” for a simple, practical reason—we want it to be sold to the romance buyer and go into or near the romance section of the bookstore…Other than that, Aphrodisia does not have to conform to the usual parameters of romance.” as saying that other than the label on the spine, it doesn’t conform to romance? as something a little questionable as far as the spirit of romance goes?
It seems she’s basically saying it’s really erotica, but for the sake of marketing, they’ve slapped the label of erotic romance on it. No HEA required (the one Aphrodisia book I read did not have a HEA and had I known that, I would have thought twice about reading it. I like a HEA, it’s why I read romance), just really hot sex. Sounds like erotica to me, but she already said that. So, is this clever marketing or is it something else? Something a little less…honest with the readers?
On one hand, I don’t blame them for wanting to market it to romance, because “erotica” is sometimes hard to find bookstores. Two of the big chain bookstores in our area display erotica with self help, certainly a different market from romance readers.
On the other hand, without a HEA they wont keep the romance market happy and may be disappointed long term with their sales, romance readers who are dissatisfied will probably fall under the “once bitten, twice shy” category.
That’s interesting.
I always assumed Aprodisia was simply like Ellora’s Cave in the sense that all the books have to have a HEA a la the RWA requirements.
I read one Aphrodisia antho, and all three novellas had HEAs.
Well, I always though the HEA wasn’t required in Aphrodisia as that’s what everything I heard about it said, but it IS misleading to put it in with the romances.
But it IS also very clever marketing. We may not like the thinking, but it’s clever and perhaps they think that they will find enough readers who like the erotic aspect. So who knows.
I agree, the marketing behind it makes solid sense because eroticas are shelved differently. I can completely understand their reasoning. But I’m not sure it’s right.
I was in Borders yesterday looking for Samhain books. Though none were in stock, I saw where they would be if they did have them. A small bookcase separate from the romance section. It was packed with EC. I realized that even though I write mainstream romance whenMidnight Sun goes into print it will be shelved away from romance simply because of who the book is publsihed by, regardless of the content.
BTW, these books weren’t separated for being trade paperback, as I first thought. When I asked I was told because they are e-pub and erotica.
Depending on the demographics of the bookstores visitors, it might or might not make good marketing sense.
And just because I really like this smiley: :hips:
Ang – Grrrrrrr… If it’s not a romance, IMO it shouldn’t be labeled as a romance. I like my erotic romance as much as the next person, but I NEEEEEEED my HEA. The books should come with a warning – *Beware: No HEA in here!*
To Rene – I’m actually really surprised that your Borders had a separate section for Samhain and EC. All the Borders I have gone to have all the trade sized paperbacks together. Nothing really singles them out as different than, say, trade Kensington, although my Borders recently moved the books to a MORE OBVIOUS location, because they’re so popular!
I wonder if it’s your bookstore owner who decided that…
This will come back to bite them in the butt – and in turn it will bite readers who enjoy erotic romance/erotica in the butt. Why? Because the prudes will have a big ole hissy fit and we’ll be subjected to it in BlogLand rants and message board diatribes.
Boy I’m cranky today.
I never go by publisher when determining what kind of book I’ll get. For example, just because the book is published by Harlequin – doesn’t mean you’ll get a romance. Look at Luna, Red Dress Ink, Worldwide Mystery, and now Spice. That said, I look at the packaging on the actual book. Does it say “erotic romance,” or “erotic novel?” ER – I’m expecting a romance. Sorry, just am. EN – I’m expecting erotica.
The lines are definitely being blurred, and readers are going to have to learn to be more savvy (start reading the last page first LOL). I just finished an Avon Red anthology and while it wasn’t advertised as an “erotic romance” all the stories did have HEAs. Go figure. And the Spice book I read? A vague ending that leaves it up to the reader to decide if it’s a HEA or not. Either way, I was happy with both – but I’ve long suspected I’m a freak.
Considering the price tags, if I buy a book labeled “erotic romance” and there’s no HEA, it would be the very last one I bought of that imprint.
Tis hinky.
While I haven’t really gotten into it, I would be open to romantica – but as I insist on the old HEA, I’m not interested in erotica. As a reader I know I’d be pretty upset if I bought what I thought was romantica and there was no HEA I’d be pretty ticked off!! They have a separate erotica section located next to the romance section in the larger book store near me. Sounds like that is where these ones should be – NOT in the romance section.
KatieW – I have no idea why the books were separated, and on such a small bookshelf (only four shelves high!). I saw other trade paperback in the main section. *shrug*
Made me want to tell the woman who got all huffy with me when I asked if they carried Samhain books… :fucktard:
(sorry I had to use that one!). But seriously, the woman got all huffy with me. Gotta love a snippy New York ‘tude.
:devil: I just like this devil. I agreed, it’s false advertising, and it’s going to hurt us all in the long run. I was just chatting with someone about this–while we were in a bookstore, thumbing through the “romances” that weren’t romances at all! They’re already on the shelves, Aprhodisia aside. So what’s gonna happen when bookstores in certain geographic areas start cracking under the pressure to “get rid of the porn?” Do EC and Samhain and other books get pulled as well. I simply can’t imagine that mainstream mall bookstores are going to carry straight erotica for very long, and it may bring us to a “trade size” purge.
I hate it. Is that strong enough? If it is the romance section I have certain expectations. That is why I blogged about the book Tease by Harlequin being put in the romance section. I completely understand the viewpoint but hope that it backfires. I’ll be returning those books that don’t have an HEA.
Jane knows I blogged about this not so long ago, but the big question is, what do you consider an HEA? It seems to be very much in the eye of the beholder, but most of the responses I got were happy as long as the couple ended up together (marriage not required). :popcorn: