I tend to narrowly define Sci Fi vs. Futuristic. To me, anything that happens out in space, or on a ship/space station/what have you, is firmly in the Sci Fi category. Futuristics tend to focus more on humans and Earth - or some colony world - but in some distant future which can be, and often is, post-apocalyptic in nature. By that definition, Hara's Legacy is definitely Futuristic, though the presence of aliens will make many people think Sci Fi. *shrug*
Then there are the Paranormal categories. The genre seems to encompass (judging by the market and what other kinds of books are being labelled Paranormal) the traditional werewolves and vampires, but also psychic phenomena of all kinds, ghost stories, and the more Buffy-like demons, angels, zombies, and other things that go bump in the night. The characters in Hara's Legacy have psychic gifts. The eldest brother has precognitive visions, the middle brother is telekinetic and the youngest has very strong telepathic skills. The heroine is strongly empathic. All of their skills together are what's helped them survive in the "brave new world" where aliens have invaded and claimed the Earth for themselves. So, as you might guess, I'm in a bit of a quandry. How to label this?
I just don't know, but my guess is the Futuristic setting probably takes precedence, then the Paranormal abilities of the characters. Oh, and it's a really hot romance. I mean scorching, so that's got to be taken into consideration as well. LOL. I don't envy the publisher for having to make these kinds of category decisions. I've become a little hung-up on how you define each category as I struggle with how to describe my books and set up my website. It seems each person I speak to has different definitions. Thanks for bearing with me as I search for my own concensus of what's what. Any suggestions/comments are welcome!
Bianca D'Arc
www.biancadarc.com
6 comments:
I think you got the labeling right with Futuristic, Bianca. I think with Futuristics, we can accept the aliens and the psychic humans as part and parcel of What Might Yet Be here on earth. Sounds interesting!!
That was the "problem" with my first published book. A couple of NY editors liked it, but rejected it because they didn't know how to market it - that is, they didn't know what shelf to put it on. Contemporary? Historical? Paranormal? Or time travel? The book had elements of all those sub-genres.
There's a catetory for multi-cultural. Why not "multi-genre"? :)
I'm not too worried about which genre it's in... I just want to read your book now! lol ;)
Carolan, I think a multi-genre category is a great idea :)
Sela: thanks for the vote. I agree - who's to say humans won't evolve to have psychic powers someday?
Carolan: That multi-genre thing sounds RIGHT up my alley! LOL!
Ali: LMAO! Soon, my friend. Very soon. (I'd better get back to work!) :-)
I agree with the choice of futuristic. I don't know what I'm going to call my WIP, since on the surface it might appear to be a paranormal (people with abilities), but I intend for those abilities to be science-based. Hm! Don't you wish sometimes we could just call them BOOKS? *heh*
Wow! Talk about being multi genre(like this idea as a catagory btw)
When I hear Sci-fi, I think aliens. Futuristic, makes me think of just regular people in the future and paranormal, I think weres, ghosts, demons, that sort of stuff. You, Bianca, have that Sci-fi, futuristic, paranormal thing going on in your books which is fine by me as a genre....lol. Personally, although those genres bring to mind different things, when someone asks what genre I read, I throw it all in there and say paranormal. That includes your work too. Just easier to say paranormal. Sorry for rambling on and on..
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