Some of you will look at this post and realize that it’s a repost of something I posted on my blog last week. But I know a lot of people don’t see that, and a lot of people like to know specifically what some editors are looking for. So, here ye be. =)
1. Foodie books a la Lousia Edwards. I love her “A Recipe for Love” books, and I’d love to see some contemporary foodie books. And when I saw foodie, I mean I want the details. I don’t want books that contain food. =P If you don’t know anything about being a chef, catering, how a restaurant runs, etc. then you probably shouldn’t even think about writing a book like this. =)
2. Harry Potter with a twist. I love the world Harry Potter is set in, I love the wizardry, I love the fantastical story/stories. I would LOVE to see something like this, only with adults instead, since Samhain is currently not accepting any YA materials. And when I say adult, it doesn’t mean add a bunch of sex scenes into it. No, that’s not want I want. Heck, there doesn’t have to be any sex in it at all, but it needs to have romance in it. Come on, you can do it.
3. Stories with a Pagan theme/character/s. No, not the Harry Potter type of magic. And really not “magic” as people think of it as all. I want to see people following real Pagan and Wiccan traditions. Blessed be. =)
4. The ’60s. I LOVE the 60s. Whenever someone asks me when I feel I should have lived, I always answer the 60s or the 20s. Give me Timothy Leary and Haight Ashbury, Grateful Dead, Janis Jopin, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. Give me Woodstock. Give me the protests. Give me free love.
5. The ’20s. I love the 20s. Prohibition and flappers and gangsters….love it. There is a Purdue Bar in my town called “Harry’s Chocolate Shop” that is just steeped in history. Back during Prohibition, they turned it into a chocolate shop, but there was a trap door in the floor that led to an underground speakeasy. That same trap door is still there in the middle of the floor, except now they use the area for a cooler and storage. All of Harry’s shirts that you can buy say “Go ugly early.” The majority of people who see the shirts or don’t know anything about Harry’s think it’s some sort of drinking slogan. Nope….it was the password to get into the speakeasy during Prohibition. =)
6. Civil War/Underground Railroad/interracial. Oooh, this could really be a good one if done right. Gimme history, give me some hot loving between two people who shouldn’t be together during that time frame. I want to see how love can cross all obstacles…slavery, racism, war. Be aware when you submit me something like this, I’m a Civil War buff. Hint, hint.
7. The ’50s. Ah, the days of Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best. Where men worked and women stayed home to take care of the kids, clean the house, cook, and have a cocktail tell ready for their master…I mean husband, when they got home from work. Just think of all the neat things you can do with this genre. =)
8. Post-Apocalyptic/Doomsday. Do I really need to explain this one? smile
9. Serial-Killers/Cults/Etc. Did anyone say Dexter? Yeah, that’s what I want, baby. Dexter with more romance. Don’t look at me crazy, it can be done.
Note: One thing about all of the “historical” stuff I’m looking for…do your research and know the time period. I want to read the book and be immersed in that time frame. I want really history in it. That’s extremely important.
That’s a fantastic list. Unfortunately nothing I write/read fits… hmm lots of ideas running around in my head now, though.
* puts on thinking hat and digs out pen and paper *
Wow!
You must have taken a peek in my goodie bag. Currently I have a 1930’s story that will wet your whistle. Word Count: 35,759K
Dancing the Hooch Summary: A multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, historical erotic romance set upon the backdrop of a 1930’s carnival. Dancing the Hooch is a sensual, daring, oftentimes intriguing tale of two passionate lovers living outside the boundaries of normal society.
Meet Della Lavue, orphaned in a traveling carnival where the owner exploits her beauty. Della dances erotically and draws the eye of moonshine runner, Silvio Garelli. The passion between them is instant. But the affair is costly. Driven by desire the lovers ignore the carnival rules: no carnie is to ever betray another for a townie. The price is a six-year separation. One is thrown in jail and turns to a life of crime and the other is forced to a life of solitude and obedience to protect a secret more valuable than her life. But destiny can do nothing to keep these star crossed lovers apart.
I will submit it right away
Ah, I’ve just submitted a manuscript with a touch of Paganism. A love story dealing heavily in Celtic Mythology, as well as the lifestyle of the Irish peasants of the time period. (800-900AD is the setting of the story)
That being said, this is an excellent website. I love the editor/author/reader interaction. Its like a little family. Although, I wish I had I found this section before I submitted. So many things in the editor blogs I never thought about before. If only I could go over my submission one more time! But blast, its already out there. I know I am guilty of the “comfort words”.
Anyway. Enough of that, then. I am off to browse and buy. =)