Okay, so this title reflects multiple truths for vampire romances especially this year. My original prompting for this article was the stunning new covers for two upcoming releases from the Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schrieber: “The Beginning” (April 21) and “Royal Blood” (May 19) . Of course, ‘Vamplore’ basics dictate one or more bites by or of a vampire (stories vary) will change a human into a vampire (if they live through it). On a larger scale, we are also seeing a major increase in readership and demand for “books with a bite” aka: the Vampire Romance subgenre of Fantasy-Fiction. The rise in vamplore popularity among teens and young adults is now also effecting change across merchandising, fashion, media and literature too, much like the piratology (skulls and cross bones) frenzy. But let’s get back to these new book covers and change they follow in merchandising.
Personally, I loved the artsy feel of the first five illustrated covers in this series. But I must admit the new gothic-inspired photograph in dramatic black & white with splashes of red or violet tones is a good move. This change should help bring them into the same limelight as bestsellers Twilight, Vampire Academy, House of Night, and Blue Bloods. Ellen Schreiber writes well-developed humorous teen love stories anyway, complete with captivating fun characters (Alexander and Raven are so cute together!) So Vampire Kisses has captured and held my attention already, as well as the hearts of many teen readers across America. But I believe these covers will attract new readers and perhaps an older audience of college students and adult readers. You might say Vampire Kisses is showing its fangs this year in YA fantasy marketing and it will likely place a sizeable bite on the vampire romance vein, draining it of some very sweet profits!
On a larger scale, the Vampire Romance genre is growing with great energy and effecting change in readership, classification, and related merchandising across markets of all ages over the past several months. This sudden surge was prompted by, fed by or at least confirmed by the popular Twilight Saga novels and movie last fall (and yes Robert Pattinson as Edward). Stephenie Meyer (author of Twilight) suggested this success may be largely due to the hole in fantasy-fiction left by the aftermath of the Harry Potter series. But HP books never tapped into the romance genre or the hearts of love struck females ages 10-70 worldwide like Twilight has (and still going!)
But now “vamplore” addicts have flung that door wide open drawing attention to similar genres Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy and Dark Fantasy. Thankfully, a mass of writers and publishers are meeting our demands with an onslaught of “Immortal Fiction” bearing similar marketing appeal including vampires, were-animals, shape-shifters, mythological creatures, ghosts, faeries and magical creatures of The Fey, all kinds of immortal, paranormal, spiritual or otherwise supernatural beings, most of whom interact with and often fall in love with humans. As if we would hold any real appeal for such spectacular creatures, right? But we like to believe it, perhaps so we won’t mind too much having to return to the real world after such a great adventure! Continue reading →
ROYAL BLOOD
Immortal Fiction 