The Red Headed Nephew

In my quest to take advantage of the information and support available to fledgling authors online, I've join several writer's organizations and support groups.  Not surprisingly, many of these are genre specific, Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, etc., and within these are smaller groups dedicated to specific sub-genres.

My current WIP is a sci fi with a strong romantic element.  It would probably qualify as a sci fi romance.  Except...of all the sub-genres identified under the romance genre - and there are plenty - there doesn't seem to be one for sci fi.  The closest is "Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal."   It's pretty much the same for the mystery sub-genres.  Paranormal, time-travel, futuristic, but no sci fi.

Well, doesn't the F, F & P umbrella cover sci fi?  Not exactly.  Or at least not completely.  Fantasy would be mystical creatures and/or other worlds.  Futuristic would have to be, well, in the future.  Paranormal includes vampires and werewolves and even ghosts.  But not aliens.

My aliens are here.  In this world.  In this time.  Not quite fantasy, not futuristic at all, and, by all the definititions I've come up with, not considered paranormal.  It seems as though non-futuristic sci fi is like the redheaded nephew at the family reunion.  Sure, he's part of the family, but no one wants to claim him.

What is your take on this?  Where do you think the little redhead fits in?  Is there a place in our world for sparkly vampires but not extra-terrestrials?

By the way, I squeaked in just under the wire on my 30,000 Words in February challenge.  30,056 words with 15 minutes to spare.

My current word count: 30,773

I'm currently enjoying: Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters (poor Peabody, I've left her in the desert with no reading time to bring her home)

Groaner of the day: Scientists have announced that we have made contact with an alien race whose planet is entirely covered by one gigantic shopping center.

The sceptical scientists didn't believe it at first, but they've now confirmed...it's a mall world after all.

What is paranormal?

At a writers conference this weekend, we were discussing the often blurred line between genres – specifically between a mystery with a strong romantic element vs. a suspense romance - and the fact that it might be a moot point. An author can pitch a story to an agent as one genre, it may be published as another, and the local bookstore may sell it as something else entirely.

But this discussion also touched on the topic of paranormal romance. How do you define paranormal? Vampires, ghosts, and anyone with magical powers, of course, but what about aliens? If one of your romantic leads happens to be a visitor (refugee, wayward traveler) from another planet, with or without special powers, is that paranormal? Or is it strictly sci fi, and never the twain shall meet? I tried researching this one on Google, moving from web site to blog until my mouse-hand cramped tight and I had to stop. The results? Everyone seems to have a different opinion.

So I’d like yours. Writers and readers, please weigh in on this question. If I have a sexy romantic lead with some very interesting special gifts who happens to be from another planet and who falls for a “normal” human…is that a paranormal romance? Why or why not?

Linda