Guidelines for writing romance novels for TMP
We are looking for romance novels in the following genres:
Contemporary—These books are set in contemporary times and focus on contemporary problems and issues. They are adult books with women readers as the primary audience. Sexual tension and conflict between the characters is high. The books thrive on the emotion of a new relationship and the situations that come with it.
Historical—For our purposes, books classified as historical are set in times prior to the 1970s. Any time period is fair game but be certain that you know your history and write to it respectfully. Research the era and bring that forward in your fiction work. The romance is between a hero and heroine, and reflects the moral situations of the times.
Paranormal—If it goes bump in the night, predicts an untimely event, propels you through a time portal, gives us a glimpse of the future, bites with fangs, shape-shifts into other creatures, or just plain gives us the heebie-jeebies, then it fits! Build your paranormal world, convince us that it’s real, and focus heavily on the romantic relationship.
Romantic Suspense—Will she die? Will the heroine get whatever (or whoever) she is after? Is there a bad guy? And attached to all that, is there a romance? Put your heroine into jeopardy and make us wonder if she is going to come out alive. Put questions in her head about the hero. Is he good guy or bad? Can she trust him, or not? Keep us on the edge of our seats and write a good love story at the same time.
Erotic Romance—In our world, erotic romance can be as hot and sexy as they come—no holds barred. What makes the story erotic romance for TMP is that there are always these elements: 1) there is a plot, 2) the sex is extremely steamy, pushes sexual boundaries, and there is lots of it, 3) the main characters (two or multiples) in the story care about each other, even if they don’t realize it in the beginning, 4) no one gets physically or mentally hurt, ever, 5) the storylines are respectful of both men and women, always, 6) there is a happily-ever-after or a happy-for-now ending. Write it, do it well, and we’ll like it. (Oh, and if it makes us go,"ick," or is illegal, we won't want it. And...we determine what that "ick" factor is, not you.)
Consider the following guidelines when describing your book to us in your query. Are you pitching a sweet, sensual, sizzling, or erotic romance? Let us know where you feel it fits.
Sweet Romances close the door on any sexual scene. We know they have sex but we don’t read about it. Sexual tension remains high.
Sensual Romances up the sensuality level of the love scenes, which are consummated, and they are an integral part of the story. The love scenes are there but not explicitly described. Emotion and conflict run high. No graphic language or violence.
Sizzle Romances are sensual, sexual and edgy. Sex scenes are detailed in their description and graphic, candid language is used. Sexual situations bump the boundaries but don’t cross over into erotic. Sexual tension remains at a high level throughout.
Erotic Romances push the envelope and break the boundaries. As long as you follow the guidelines indicated above, your storyline and sexual situations can be wide open. A TMP/SNB erotic romance could be in the contemporary, historical, paranormal or suspense genres.
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