The first rule of genres…

Is to create more genres

Sometimes I feel like Jan Brady looking at her sister getting all the attention, shaking her head, and saying Marsha, Marsha, Marsha. Only, I’m saying, Romantasy, Romantasy, Romantasy.

(For those of you not up on Brady Bunch meme lore, visit: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/marcia-marcia-marcia).

It’s not like romantasy is a bad thing. It isn’t. Or that it’s getting too much attention. It’s not. It definitely deserves its fifteen minutes (years?) of fame. Fact is, I read it and enjoy it. And I write it. 

Or do I?

What exactly do I write?

Genres may look well defined on the surface, but they’re not. They’re messy and include lots of sub (sub sub) genres and cross-over genres and cross-cross-over genres, etc. etc. etc. To infinity and beyond.

So, romantasy is a cross-over genre, as we all know, of romance and fantasy. It has caught on as a term because, in my humble opinion, it’s easy to say.

Coming soon…stay tuned for the title and cover reveal.

But maybe what I really write is romantic suspense with a supernatural element? Is that romansuspentural?
Not very catchy.
Plus, I’ve written YA/Scifi/Romance. How do you combine that into an easy to pronounce and memorable genre category? You don’t.

Or how about speculative fiction?

Wikipedia says speculative fiction is an “umbrella genre of fiction that encompasses all the subgenres that depart from realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or other imaginative realms. This catch-all genre includes, but is not limited to: fantasy, science fiction, science fiction fantasy, superhero, paranormal, supernatural, horror, alternate history, magical realism, slipstream, weird fiction, utopia and dystopia, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction. In other words, the genre speculates on individuals, events, or places beyond the ordinary real world.”
 


Well, that’s a mouthful.



One thing that’s missing in that description, however, is romance. 

But speculative romance is a thing. I write it. So is it speculatromance?

That sounds like an instument a doctor sticks down your throat. Or up your … you know.

THE ALCHEMIST OF ALEPPO is about a 14th century alchemist who makes a goblet that magically contains the essence of the souls of lovers who have made a sort of blood and bone contribution to the glassmaking process, including his and his dying wife’s souls. And as long as the goblet—and the additional personalized glass balls—exist, the lovers will continue to be reincarnated for yet another chance at love.



It’s got long-lost lovers and open-door sex and alchemical magic and multiple timelines in multiple centuries and, of course, reincarnation, so…how would you define it?



My latest work, the first in a four-part series, that is scheduled for publication sometime in late 2025 or early 2026, is set in a near-future dystopian America and goes beyond alchemy and reincarnation and straight to gods and goddesses and demigods and the warping of physics with wormholes and teleportation, and telepathy, etc. etc. etc.



And it has romance. And sex. And a happy ever after (eventually). 


So what do I call it? 



Well, since Gothic fiction started in England way back in 1764 with Horace Walpole’s THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO and includes such classes as DRACULA and THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY and the STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR HYDE (etc.) and eventually was adopted by American authors and called American Gothic, I’m calling my new series American Romantasy. 



Because, why not? Romantasy is bound to be broken down into subgenres just like every other genre, so why not create one and claim it early on?