If you feel like writing something in the romance genre, consider trying your hand at a Vampire, Occult or Gothic themed book. Sales of this subcategory have gone up 30% in the past two years and I see no sign of it slowing down in the 1.2 BILLION dollar romance novel marketplace. Essentially, the vampire is a reworking of the classic "bad boy" or dark hero taken to the extreme. It's classically romantic to have a difficult male lead, and what could be more difficult and full of conflict than a character who is literally a monster? Gone are the days of the terrifying vampire, shrouded in rags, basically a zombie out for blood. Today's vampire heroes are stylish, smooth and charming. They take the basic male lead of a romance and multiply every fascinating quality by ten.
From the first popular Gothic Romance, which blazed onto the scene as "Interview with a Vampire" by the legendary Anne Rice, the genre has simply picked up more authors, more fans, and more business than most any other subgenre of Romance. It's an excellent way to start because modern female readers, especially of a younger age, love this type of novel and many gobble them up as fast as they are published. You may easily find yourself with a fan base devoted to your characters and writing.
Consider setting your Gothic or Vampire romance in a major European capital city. Somewhere with a rich history that you can place your characters in, like Prague. Take a few days and do some online research, including an images search so you can get the settings clear in your mind. Create a folder on your desktop for just this purpose and load it with links and photos. Take notes on the ideas that come to you as you do your research and find your inspiration. These types of details will make your story stand out and create a quality experience for your reader, drawing them into the world you have created.
The culture surrounding the Gothic or Vampire story is somewhat magical and occult. It conjures up images of the last two centuries, with fancy dress, history and mystery in the air.
The occult romance is dripping with powerful ways to engage your readers and even yourself as you write it. Think of a compelling main vampire character, what he wants, who he associates with, what he looks like, and then place a strong, sexy female lead blocking his path and watch the fireworks explode off the page.
You can consider creating a series if you build your characters and their worlds strongly enough, and continue with this idea for many profitable years. Don't be surprised if you find yourself with a creation that is an out of control success. There is something about this mix that makes people thrill with adventure and romance.
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