I sometimes find my books in the erotica category on Amazon, I also get tarred with the same brush as other MM writers who are labeled as erotica writers when what they really write is romantic stories of love with a happy ever after.
Unfortunately because I write love between two men it would seem this instantly means it is erotica (because two men in love can only have an *entirely erotic* relationship, clearly!) and is lumped in with books that push boundaries. Pfft. That does not make me happy.
I did some research and Sylvia Day had something to say on the matter – sylviaday.com/extras/erotic-romance/. She made a distinction between porn, erotica, erotic romance, and sexy romance. I believe I write sexy romance (if indeed I need to be categorized!).
She commented that porn was written for the ‘express purpose of sexual gratification’. Erotica is ‘stories written about the sexual journey of the characters and how this impacts them as individuals’. she added that erotica was not written to ‘show the development of a romantic relationship, although it’s not prohibited if the author chooses to explore romance’ and that ‘Happily Ever Afters are NOT an intrinsic part of erotica.” Erotic Romance on the other hand was written about ‘the development of a romantic relationship through sexual interaction’. A HEA has to happen for it to be an erotic romance.
Now, sexy romance, which is what I believe i write are ‘stories written about the development of a romantic relationship that just happen to have more explicit sex’
Lime Cello on Heroesandheartbreakers.com says ‘erotica is all about sex between characters. Emotions do not necessarily equal a relationship. Romance, on the other hand, is about the relational journey to a happily ever after love between the characters’
She makes a distinction between Romance being a story where the characters fall in love, Erotic Romance which is the same as Romance but with explicit sex and Erotica. She says that erotica is ‘a story with explicit, graphic sex, that focuses on the emotions of the characters—not necessarily the relationship (good or bad)—and no happy ending required’.
So am I a writer of sexy romance, or erotic romance, and does it even matter what ‘category’ I am placed in? If you are an author are you worried about being labeled as an erotica writer? Or does it have no bearing on what you write?
Readers, when a book is labeled erotica, what exactly are you looking for inside the pages?
CROOKED TREE RANCH
SERIES: Montana #1
AUTHOR: R.J. Scott
PUBLISHER: Totally Bound
LENGTH: 176 pages
Blurb: On the spur of the moment with his life collapsing around him Jayden Sullivan answers an ad for a marketing expert on a dude ranch in Montana. With his small family he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life.
Foreman and owner of a third of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running Crooked Tree Ranch. His partners in the business convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the ranch survive. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.
BUY LINKS: Totally Bound
Read Danielle’s Review for this book (Rated: 4.5 stars) – HERE
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ABOUT R. J. SCOTT
RJ Scott lives just outside London. She has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and was told to write a story. Two sides of A4 about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born. She loves reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror; however, her first real love will always be the world of romance. Her goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and more than a hint of happily ever after.
Email: rj@rjscott.co.uk
Webpage: www.rjscott.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.rjscott
Twitter: rjscott_author
GIVEAWAY
R.J. Scott is giving away a free ecopy of “Crooked Tree Ranch” to one lucky winner! All you need to do is leave a comment under this post, telling us why you are interested in reading this book. Don’t forget to leave an email ID through which we could get in touch with you, in case you win!!
CONTEST ENDS 21st NOVEMBER,2013 @ 23:59 PACIFIC TIME
I want to read this book, well, bacause I want to read this book. Because it sounds interesting, fun and because I love books that put a family in the mix, I think that adds a spice that has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with the emotions of the characters and both the characters and the rreaders view of the world.
osorgini@gmail.com
I want to read this book because it sounds wonderful. I’ve read The Gallows Tree by this author
and loved it, so I know I like her style. 🙂
aelnova@aol.com
I agree with what you said about classification. I read somewhere it had to do with some people being offended with MM loving. I find love to be love and we should celebrate what ever form it takes.
It’s RJ and the start of a new series, what more do I need to say. Except I love her books and must read them all.
Laurie P
goaliemom0049(at)gmail(dot)com
I want to read because of MM with romance.
This book sounds really good. Who can resist cowboys?
Please count me in.
Dorome at gmx dot de
When I see a book listed as “erotica” it’s like a signifier that love and relationships are NOT a part of this story, but sex is. Perfectly fine way to categorize a book, except that some books, labelled “erotica” do have romantic relationships involved. Others don’t. I actually prefer “erotic romance” but I can’t depend on that label! Who knows what I’ll end up with? Thanks for an interesting post. I hope we get some standards to use one day.
I want to read this book because I love the Texas series by R.J. Scott and this one is a cowboy/ranch story by her. It’s gotta be great.
Since erotic content is subjective to a certain extent, I’ve always found the categorizations arbitrary. This one just sounds like an intriguing story!
I feel like the labels are important for someone just trying to find one type of book. There are those who want their erotica only and those who want sexy romance or just sweet romance. That’s never been an issue for me because I like all types and just want to go on a well-written journey of whatever type the author wants to take me. I get irritated by people thinking any books with gay romance are “erotic.” Sometimes the romance between two characters is the smallest storyline in a book.
Oops! Email: caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
When I see erotica I think pure sex with dialogue and some plot. No romancing and no connecting building. When I hear erotic romance I think equal measure of sexy scenes and wonderful relationship development and good plot.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
I think it will be a wonderful book to read. I love RJ’s books they are always a good read.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
New series, need I say more? Looking forward to it.
Count me in valeridavila@yahoo.com
I want to read this because I enjoyed your post about book categorization. I think this is going to be an increasingly important subject and I am irritated by many of the same things you mentioned. Thank you for the post and the giveaway.
aahickman at hotmail dot com
I love RJ’s Texas series so much. I have a feeling I am really going to enjoy the new Montana series too. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
lkbherring64(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like a good book, thanks for the giveaway!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com