To Ménage or not? Is THAT the Question?
You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. Ménages are popular. They’re hot at the moment, right? Everyone says so. I’m talking about them within the context of erotic romance and erotica, of course 🙂 . I hear all the time about how great they sell and they do seem to be a very popular topic of conversation on some of the loops I frequent/lurk. Is it just something that is of interest at the moment or is it a sub-genre that will continue to grow in regards to reader demand? Is it very much a niche market or it is gaining in popularity? Predicting trends like this is pretty much impossible, but I do think about different story lines and scenarios to try as a writer. To date, I’ve written strictly M/F romances. Sure, they’re hot and steamy, but at their core is the development and growth of the emotional relationship with a HEA or at least a HFN guaranteed. I’m not sure I could get my head around the emotional threads needed when three people (or more) are involved for it to be still considered a romance. Plus, those sex scenes? I have enough of a time keeping track of 4 arms, 4 legs and…er…other body parts, without factoring in more LOL! Of course, I could write erotica. I don’t have a problem with it, but it’s not where I want to focus my efforts, it’s not what really “talks” to me. Not at the moment, anyway. I really love to explore the complexities of a couple. I want to be as successful as I can be with my current writing and I intend to continue to write erotic romance. This plays on my mind somewhat, so I thought I’d just throw it out there:
Do you have to write ménages to be really successful as an erotic romance writer? What do YOU think?
About Kaily
Kaily Hart, a seemingly straight-laced mother of four left corporate America and a high-powered, lucrative career to be a stay at home mom. Ha! That lasted about four weeks, during which time she realized she had a deeply repressed dream—to write. And (gasp) romance at that! Who knew? By day, Kaily plays conservative wife and soccer mom, but at night crafts hot and steamy tales of romance and love with gorgeous heroes who wouldn’t dream of leaving the toilet seat up. Ever. She’s smart and sassy, at least in her own mind, and is creating as many happy ever afters as she can, one hot story at a time. Kaily never would have thought she’d be doing this, but now that she is? Well, you couldn’t pay her enough to do anything else.
Kaily’s books, PICTURE THIS, PAY UP, PLAY ME & POINT BLANK (yeah, she has a thing for book titles that start with ‘P’), are all currently available from Ellora’s Cave and all other ebook outlets. Kaily’s first paranormal romance, the first book of a new series, releases from Carina Press in August!
If anyone would want to contact me (which I would love by the way) or just keep up with what I’m doing, you can find me all over:
Web – www.kailyhart.com
Blog – http://kailyhart.blogspot.com/
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/kaily.hart
Twitter – http://twitter.com/kailyhart
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I think a good story is a good story. For me, many menage stories don’t pan out with my world view. Specifically the ones where two men (some way related, through job, family, etc) are looking for “the right girl” to SHARE, forever. I just don’t buy it paired with a HEA very often. So, while I have read several that worked really well for me, most of them, don’t. HFN, I can see way more often, and generally a HOT experience, not a sexual preference or lifestyle choice for the long haul. Maybe I have just never met two Alpha men, who are looking to share…
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I don’t think an author needs to write menages to be successful. I enjoyed many erotic romances just featuring one couple.
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I honestly don’t think an erotic author has to write menage to be successful. In fact, if an author forces a menage into a book because “it’s popular” then it doesn’t feel real or natural. Let’s face it, menage is not the norm IRL so it takes a deft hand to make it work in a book.
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I’m not a publishing writer as of yet. So I know what I feel more comfortable writing is lesbian erotic short stories. The fans I do write for prefer just the one couple involved. I also think a writer needs to focus on stories that they feel they can do a great job at and if they want to try something then they do it because they want to not just because it seems to be popular at the time. This is because it has to feel real not just placed into the story.
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What Ava said: a good story is a good story, although I’ve never read a menage story before.
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Ava, that’s it for me, too. A long term HEA is a difficult thing to pull off, but some writers do it well!
Glad to hear that, Jane ;).
Jen, absolutely agree. I think you can tell if a writer is writing to a ‘trend’ or trying to write something that doesn’t come naturally to them.
Yes, Deb, writing the best story you can is key I think. You couldn’t do justice to it otherwise.
Oh, Maggie, perhaps you should try one and get back to us :).
Delilah, thank you SO much for having me. Sorry for not stopping by earlier, but I was absorbed at RT in Chicago for the week!!
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I wrote a menage because I wanted to see if I could, and it was HARD. Honestly, it doesn’t sell as well as my other books, which I find interesting. Now my historical erotic romance–those sell 🙂