Promotion plus a question

[Shirley]

I would like to tell you about my latest book, Heartbreak Trail, a western romance about a wagon train. It's available several places, including Amazon Kindle, as well as print format.
Now having said that, I have a question which I would have posted elsewhere but didn't want to be accused of blatant author self promotion!
I used to write the traditional "sweet"regencies, books I could give to my granddaughter to read. A few years back, the big publishers pulled the plug on such books and I had to change genres. When I wrote Heartbreak Trail, my agent told me to "ramp up" the love scenes, so I did, reluctantly. The same with a larger Regency I've just completed. Now I've written a paranormal romance about a Las Vegas haunted casino. It's got a couple of explicit love scenes in it which I keep putting in and taking out. I'm glad I found this group because you are readers and I'd appreciate your telling me how important is explicit sex in a romance novel, especially if it has good characters and a good plot. I won't reveal my age but when I tell you I clearly remember the Lindberg kidnapping and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, then you know I come from an era where certain subjects were NOT DISCUSSED, so though I try to keep up, I fondly remember "the old days" when a kiss and warm embrace were enough. Your thoughts please?

[Gwennie]

That is a very interesting question.

For me Sex does not equal romance. It's fun in some books, but it doesn't add to that feeling that a good true romance should evoke.

If the book has good character building and a strong storyline, I don't need explicit sex scenes. Some of my favorite romantic reads had no sex in them at all. The love between the characters was enough. For me, there's something so much more romantic about these types of books.

With that said, I also read alot of books that do have explicit sex. So, I guess I would say that whether or not a book needs them depends on multiple factors.

[Ottilie]

I agree with Wendy, a book does not need sex and love does not equal sex. The characters and their words are more alluring and can be more a draw in then the actual action at times.

[D.G.]

This is a difficult question and like a lot of things, it depends.

I like romance books with some heat in them but have enjoyed and continue to enjoy other romance books that are less explicit depending on the relationship, the conflict, the world building, the characters, etc.

I also think it depends on how a book is marketed. If the book has a cover of a half naked guy or gal, you bet that I'll be expecting some sex.

[Shirley]

Wendy and Ottilie, I agree, and thanks for your opinions. To me, part of what makes a good romance is the buildup---the sexual tension--but how can that happen when the first steamy scene appears in chapter one?

Okay, you've convinced me. I'm taking the explicit scenes out of my paranormal yet again. I have a lot going on in this book, and it just seems to slow down the action when I have my H&H jump into bed and then describe what they do in every detail.

[Ottilie]

I love the verbal sexual tension it can be so funny. Sweet actions get me, I'm editing my one story and writing another and I forgot about some of the small things, but yeah first chapter usually sets me back when I'm reading if sex is present.

[Shirley]

D.G., thanks for your comments, too. Speaking of covers, the ones on my Signet Regency romances were just beautiful--and cost a lot of money. Models were hired, costumes rented, and then a picture was taken by a professional photographer. Then a professional artist transformed the picture so that it looked more like a painting than just a photo.
Unfortunately I've gone with a smaller publisher this time, so instead of a beautiful couple on the cover in a romantic pose, there's a stock photo of a wagon train. Not quite the same!

[Ottilie]

Keeps your audience on their toes!

[Julianna]

Like the others who have responded so far, the importance of love scenes in a romance depends on various factors for me. I've read some beautiful romantic stories with great sexual tension that had absolutely no love scenes, and I've read books loaded with sex that had very little romance. I enjoy some steamy scenes, but not just for the sake of throwing them in. I can take them either way. It just all depends on how it is written.

If the Clean Romances group here on GR is any indication, there is still a fairly healthy market for sweet romances. The active members over there would love you to pieces for leaving the sex out.:-)

[Shirley]

Thanks for your input, Julie. I'm going to look up Clean Romances. I see and agree with your point--that a steamy scene is quite ok when it's part of the story and not just thrown in.
By the way, I have found one of the biggest problems a historical romance writer has is WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO DO IT? Contemporary romances are no problem because the heroine probably has her own apartment. But back in Regency times, there were no motels, and not only did young ladies not live alone, they wouldn't be caught dead visiting a gentleman's lodgings. A wagon train was even worse because there was absolutely no privacy. More than once, my hero and heroine have ended up on the cold, hard ground deep in the woods or behind some bushes! They're so blissfully wrapped up in each other, though, they never notice.

[Ottilie]

I hope at times my characters tell me what they want. Currently I'm hoping mine tells me out of the triangle. I read a book during the 1890's where they were kissing in a coat closet during a party or snuck out when the rest of the house was asleep