Unless there’s no romantic element in a book touted as paranormal romance. Then I get a little grumpy…until I remember that leaves room for the next great novel in the to-be-read pile.

But I digress.

I’m a firm believer in romance – as a genre and as an important real life factor. If someone sells me a novel, claiming it’s paranormal romance, I want to see, feel, and enjoy the element of romance in that novel.

Of course, as an author, I understand how some novels cross over several genres. I think that’s a good thing, and it’s often particularly true for paranormal romance writers (like me!)

And every writer has a unique view of how to balance the scale between those two elements in their paranormal romance novel. Each story will need different degrees of paranormal adventure and romance.

The element of romance is different from merely the element of physical attraction and personal conflict.

Sure conflict drives the plot and pushes the characters apart and/or together, but when I share a story I loved with another reader, I’m usually focused on the relationship element of a paranormal romance novel.

The creatures and excitement are extremely important, but when I’m reading romance, I’m reading to escape, to get my fix of adventure amid another routine day of school, work, house- and zoo-keeping.

So, for me and my keeper shelf, the romance has to be a significant element of a paranormal romance novel. There are so many authors who’ve delivered delightful stories with varying elements within their paranormal romance novels.

My keeper shelf features books by Nora Roberts, Karen Hawkins, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lori Handeland, Kresley Cole, and Jayne Ann Krentz (aliases included) just to name a few. All of them write books with strong romantic elements sizzling within action packed paranormal novels.

Live the adventure!

You have only to look at the phenomenal popularity of the Dark Hunter novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon to see a prime example of how world building can lead to so much more.

Not only has she created spin off story lines with the Dream hunters, but she’s got her own conference as well as a series of graphic novels. Can the movies be far behind?

Oh! I hope not.

Did Kenyon do this on purpose? It’s a question only she can answer, and as a paranormal romance writer, one can only hope to achieve the same fan following that’s pushed her into the stratosphere.

My opinion is the effort she put into the world building for her paranormal romance novels, combined with distinct voice on the page and rich story lines earned her the fans and success that demanded more and more outlets for her characters.

Do World Building and Marketing have to go together?

It’s probably not a requirement- but why would you want to rule it out? Every author needs a hook – in the story, at the book signing, and for the future.

Doesn’t matter if it’s theme, characters, voice or setting. All of it can lend to the power of marketing the paranormal romance novel. If you’ve set your novel in a popular destination city (like Kenyon did with New Orleans) you’ve already upped your marketing potential.

It’s obvious in Kenyon’s books how she loves the historic city – so it serves her well and satisfies her readers to have her characters play there.

Is there a theme or symbol in your story, characters, or setting that readers can emotionally or mentally tie to your books? If so, capitalize on it and make it work for you.

My Justice Incarnate cover featured a scales of justice figure and I use a small scale at book signings to spark attention in my display. (it gives kids something to play with while I tell their parents about my books too).

It’s a small detail that I’ve capitalized on to break the ice and market my work. Has it made me a household name – not yet – but I believe I’ll get there, one well-balanced step at a time.

Live the adventure!

What would a Kenyon Dark Hunter be without the cunning and skills to defeat the dreaded Spathi?

As the elements of paranormal romance novels go, the character is often the ‘it’ factor. As well it should be. Super-natural speed, strength, and agility are powerful and exciting and intriguing. A beyond the norm story requires a larger than life character.

Any character – heroes, villains, even sidekicks -  can have understated (or undervalued) skills that add an extra element to the paranormal romance novel.

Looking at the extraordinary feats Olympic athletes are making everyday during the Winter Games can be an inspiration to developing the stand out character element in your paranormal novel.

Whether dealing with injury, emotions, or circumstance, these athletes overcome the obstacles and leave their best effort on the track, mountain, or rink.

It’s amazing. It’s this type of heroic effort that can lend the perfect element to your paranormal romance novel – whether the character is normal or super natural; an alpha male or alpha female.

Again, how much of that paranormal element you include is up to you. You don’t want to overpower the story – and you’d better have a good reason why a ski-loving vampire doesn’t go poof on a sunny downhill run…

Live the adventure!

Take setting for example. An ‘other’ world can be a place of discovery for both characters and readers. Or spinning known landmarks and cities into a clever new look or purpose can spark passion that resonates with paranormal romance readers.

The Olympic venues (beyond the skating rink) are often foreign territory to the average reader and viewer. Think what a paranormal romance writer could do with that!

Those places known and loved, or as yet undiscovered can be either big or subtle elements of the paranormal romance novel. In the forests surrounding the venues of Vancouver, I can see the characters of Lori Handeland’s Night Creature novels having a grand adventure.

Setting can be a powerful element of the paranormal romance novel, whether it’s a shining city like New Orleans, a pristine forest, a mountain staked for Super G, or a bumpy moguls course.

It’s not so odd for a paranormal hero or heroine to enjoy adrenaline-inducing sports. The Olympic Village could be it’s own element in a paranormal romance if the hero is tracking a villain disguised as an athlete – or coach.

Visions of James Bond racing onto the ski cross course are one thing, but what if it was Kenyon’s Acheron – even better!

In other words, look at settings you know and love, as well as settings that intrigue you. Then fold it in to the fabric of your story to create a memorable – big or subtle – element of your paranormal romance novel.

Live the adventure!

There are many factors to consider when you’re world building for a paranormal romance novel and I’ve covered a bunch of them in previous posts.

But at some point you have to wonder…does size matter? Is bigger the best way to go when you build a world for your paranormal romance novel? Should you go all out and make the world bigger than life?

Only if it’s necessary.

No that isn’t a cop out. When you read your favorite paranormal romance writers, is the setting – the world – the key ingredient? Think about it. It’s a backdrop and the best authors in the business make it as big a factor as it needs to be.

I recently read a paranormal romance set in post apocalyptic Chicago. I didn’t even know the city name until the second chapter – and that was fine, the focus was on the action and immediate conflict.

Even after I knew where (and when) they were, I didn’t see much of the city – didn’t need to. There were a few clues, enough to keep the story grounded, but more of the time element came from the characters and plot conflict.

It was ideal – to read only what mattered and advanced the plot. The author did a masterful job keeping the spotlight where it needed to be for the genre: on the characters involved in the paranormal plot and romantic plot.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy seeing more of the world – when it makes a difference or has an impact on the choices characters make in the novel.

I can assure you, the author knew every nuance of the world her characters played in – that’s why it felt so seamless as a reader when she showed me only what I needed to see to enjoy the current story.

So while you have to do the background and research for world building no matter when or where you set your paranormal romance novel, you don’t have to feel obligated to include daunting passages of big description.

The detailed world building of your paranormal romance novel shouldn’t overshadow the excitement, fun, and romantic adventures of your characters.

Live the adventure!

Still other authors use an entirely different world for their paranormal romance novels. While this may seem more challenging at first glance, there’s an infinite amount of freedom in the approach.

How do you convince a reader there’s life on the moon? Like maybe a werewolf colony that’s managed to hide themselves from every lunar landing and exploration. Building a brand new world for your paranormal romance can be fun.

The imagination is boundless! Other planets, lost cities, alternative histories and potential futures actually give authors plenty of new, undiscovered blocks to build the special world for their paranormal romance. As long as they stick to the rules of the world they create.

For example, if gravity’s important, explain how creatures cope or defy it. If you introduce a fuel cell, be sure your heroine doesn’t fill up the tank with unleaded on her way to catch the bad guy.

When you’re considering what sort of world to build for a paranormal romance novel, think about the specific strengths and weaknesses of your characters and/or creatures.

Build them a world that will challenge and surprise, as well as assist and comfort them on their journey through the story.

Also, writer know thyself. Consider the things you’re good at. Think about the voice that comes most naturally to you.

Do you have a penchant for the dark and angsty, or would a battle between good and evil land on the page sounding more like a walk through Central Park on a balmy June day?

Whether you’ve got supernatural creatures romping through the this world or humans trying to navigate an otherworld environment, there’s plenty of room for putting your own spin on the world you build for your paranormal romance novel.

Use your innate storytelling strengths as you build the right world for your paranormal romance. It’ll be more fun in both the writing and editing process and your readers will thank you later!

Live the adventure!

She’s infused locations we can relate to (the French Quarter, Pike Place Market) with nightclubs, tabloids, and coffee shops unique to her characters, which coats the ‘real world’ setting to her desired effect and enhances the believability of her stories.

Her readers want to visit the locations she uses, and when they do, it’s easy to imagine their favorite characters moving through the shadows.

But Kenyon goes deeper into the process of world building for a paranormal romance novel. She layers what we know (or can vaguely recall from long-gone history and lit classes) with what is fresh from her imagination.

Using mythology, gods, and pantheons both familiar and not-so-familiar, she lends vivid depth to what our teachers and professors likely glossed over. She boldly claims and modifies what she’s clearly researched, using it to best advantage for both her plot development and her readership’s enjoyment.

This blurring of real and unreal worlds (combined with a preternatural understanding of men in all stages of development – an analysis for a different post), is what I believe makes Kenyon so popular within the genre of paranormal romance.

We could chalk up this talent for world building as intuition, but that does Kenyon and other paranormal romance writers a disservice. Effective, consuming world building for a paranormal romance stems from an author’s specific interests, passions, and ability to tell a story that transcends the ‘real world’ readers know.

When using the real world, especially well-known areas, a writer has a responsibility to do the research, check the facts, and justify any  exceptions. Kenyon has done this quite well as she’s built the world for her paranormal romance novels, a world her readers love to visit over and over again.

Live the adventure,