Category Fiction: What’s Hot?

In my Marshall Plan® books I have always recommended writing the genre you love to read. It gives you several advantages. First, the passion you have for reading a particular genre carries over into the writing. Second, you’ll already have a good idea of what’s been done and what hasn’t.

But what if you read several genres? Or what if you’re looking for a new genre to love? There’s an old saying: “It’s as easy to fall in love with a rich man as with a poor one.” Similarly, it’s as easy to fall in love with a “hot” genre as with a “cold” one.

Here, then, is a rundown on a few of the hot genres editors are hankering for more of.

Urban Fantasy

In urban fantasy novels, supernatural beings/creatures living among “regular” people in a world that seems normal, but really isn’t. Some of the more popular writers in this genre have series in which the main character appears in more than one novel. According to Kensington Publishing, “There are no set rules when it comes to these novels. The more creative and imaginative, the better!” Publishers will consider urban fantasy novels featuring female protagonists but will consider projects with male protagonists, too. The series character can be human or inhuman (i.e., vampire, werewolf, shapeshifter, etc.). Some authors in this genre are Mark Henry, Jess Haines, Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher and Karen Chance.

Changes, Book #12 in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series

Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

African American

This market embraces novels in virtually every genre, from humor to drama to romance to suspense. There are publishers specializing in books for the African American market, such as Genesis Press and Urban Books, as well as imprints such as Amistad at HarperCollins, Dafina at Kensington and Kimani at Harlequin. Some leading names are Kimberla Lawson Roby, Carl Weber, E. Lynn Harris and Mary B. Morrison. Writers in this genre are nearly always African American themselves. 

Big Girls Do Cry by Carl Weber

The Right Wedding Gown by Shirley Hailstock

Dark Teen

These aren’t your parents’ young-adult novels. With utter frankness, the newly dark and stark teen (12-17) novels address such brutally real subjects as arson, violence, anorexia, terrorism, disfigurement, sexual abuse and mental illness. Some writers carry these elements into the paranormal; most of us are aware of Stephenie Meyer’s ”Twilight” vampire series. In 2008 Suzanne Collins published The Hunger Game, a novel set in a dystopian future where teens are pitted against each other in televised death matches. Some popular authors are Maggie Stiefvater, P.C. Cast, Alyson Noel and Sara Shepard.

Perfect by Sara Shepard

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Amish Romance

These super-chaste “bonnet rippers” (a play on “bodice rippers”) are a G-rated subcategory of Christian/Inspirational fiction. In Amish romances, readers expect a safe, gentle read. The sexiness nearly always goes only as far as a few kisses. Plots often center on an Amish man or woman who falls in love with someone outside the Amish community. These novels are so popular that we are starting to see Amish thrillers and Amish murder mysteries. Interestingly, Amish novels are becoming popular among the Amish themselves—the women, for the most part—who admit to reading the books “under the covers” because many Amish leaders condemn the books. A few authors to watch in this genre are Beverly Lewis (who started it all), Cindy Woodsmall and Wanda E. Brunstetter.

A Cousin’s Promise by Wanda E. Brunstetter

The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

Issue-Driven Women’s Fiction

These upscale, intelligently written novels deal with problems real women face in their lives. For example, Jodi Picoult’s House Rules tackles Asperger’s syndrome; in several of her novels Emily Griffin addresses infidelity. Randy Susan Meyers’ The Murderer’s Daughters opens with young Lulu finding her mother dead and her sister wounded at the hands of their alcoholic father, who has failed at killing himself after attacking the family. You get the picture. Some authors to check out, in addition to Picoult, Griffin and Meyers: Lori Lansens, Robin Antalek and Pam Lewis.

The Girls by Lori Lansens

A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve

Comfort Food Cozies

We all know what cozy mysteries are–mystery novels that eschew gore and violence in favor of knitting and cats. Well, a cozy subcategory has appeared and is currently enjoying enormous success: the cozy featuring down-home food. Joanne Fluke’s mysteries feature bakery owner and part-time sleuth Hannah Swensen; each book in the series bears the name of a sweet treat: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Apple Turnover Murder and so on. JoAnna Carl writes the Chocoholic Mysteries, Cleo Coyle the Coffee House Mysteries, and on and on it goes. The trick is coming up with something new, and something you know well, because more often than not these novels contain lots of sumptuous recipes. Readers look forward to reading and trying them, so any recipe you insert in your cozy food yarn had better be carefully tested. Also check out: Diane Mott Davidson, Avery Aames (cheese), Jessica Beck (doughnuts) and Laura Childs (tea).

Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle

Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Remember, write what you love. John Scognamiglio, editor-in-chief of Kensington Publishing, sums it up nicely: “Yes, there are many hot genres in bookstores right now, but when it comes down to it, authors need to write a book that they’re passionate about. If they’re not, it shows in the writing and an editor can always pick up on that. Don’t go through the motions. Write what you want to write but always be aware that you’re going to need to aim it at a particular niche market.”