"We’re giving the middle finger to book banners everywhere and saying they can take our minotaur and balloon animal smut out of our cold, dead hands." LOL... you're not holding back, Alyssa! What a fun and fascinating list. BRIDE has been on my radar, might have to make 2025 the year!
I’m reading this late, but I wanted to give a big thumbs up 👍 to reading Lisa Kleypas! I ran a voting bracket for her historical heroes in February and St. Vincent was the ultimate winner. And on the paranormal theme, my next voting bracket is for the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole!
I cannot wait to read more Kleypas. And I hope one day to have so many books that people are fighting over them in a bracket like yours! That's so cool :)
What are your thoughts/predictions for urban fantasy? I've been re-reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood, which seems to have had a little resurgence from the show, and I feel like it complements the early 2000s trend right now.
That's a good question! I don't read urban fantasy, but with the upcoming Buffy reboot in the works, I think the genre could benefit from Gen X & Millennial nostalgia. I'll point you to this interesting Reddit thread where trad writers discuss their 2025 publishing predictions so you can get some more insight: https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1hbozeu/discussion_2024_is_coming_to_an_end_what_trends/
Loved these predictions for this year. Definitely agree with most of them. I'm definitely feeling the struggle with marketing my own contemporary romance novels or “rom coms” ;)
I empathize with that struggle! I would much rather read a contemporary romance that's marketed correctly than get deceived by a so-called rom-com that's not funny!
I read this a couple of months after you published it and I think you're spot on. I'm tired of hockey romance-feels like there's a lot out there right now. I find the historical fiction conversation so interesting-especially with the popularity of Bridgerton (the show) Looking forward to reading upcoming posts.
I completely agree about the indie prediction for histrom authors. There’s already a huge community of us and I’ve already had several of my trad pub friends reach out to get my advice on everything from formatting and cover design to marketing and social media.
All of my characters are older, so much so, that I feel I have to go back in & create some younger side characters or my world is not realistic. 🤣 At least mention some youth...
Love this (fiendishly rubbing hands together in preparation of the release of my next vampire novel in February) and YES to all the weird and all the queer! Reading and writing are resistance, so let's stop letting people tell us what we should be reading! Thanks for this Alyssa! See you in Burbank and Santa Clara if not before!
I hope you add my story Repercussions of Fate to your reading list. It has at least 3 of the items on your wish list checked off, and maybe fulfills some you didn't even know you had.
This list feels pretty spot on. And yes please to older protags!
Agreed! My characters are aggressively Millennial and that's how I like them lol
"We’re giving the middle finger to book banners everywhere and saying they can take our minotaur and balloon animal smut out of our cold, dead hands." LOL... you're not holding back, Alyssa! What a fun and fascinating list. BRIDE has been on my radar, might have to make 2025 the year!
Thanks Beth! If there's anything romance authors can be known for, it's never holding back ;)
I’m reading this late, but I wanted to give a big thumbs up 👍 to reading Lisa Kleypas! I ran a voting bracket for her historical heroes in February and St. Vincent was the ultimate winner. And on the paranormal theme, my next voting bracket is for the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole!
I cannot wait to read more Kleypas. And I hope one day to have so many books that people are fighting over them in a bracket like yours! That's so cool :)
Thank you!! The first bracket was so fun, I’m excited to get this next one started next week 😊 What series would you want to vote on?
I would definitely duel for my rom-com faves: Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella, and Tessa Bailey!
Love Kleypas!!
What are your thoughts/predictions for urban fantasy? I've been re-reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood, which seems to have had a little resurgence from the show, and I feel like it complements the early 2000s trend right now.
That's a good question! I don't read urban fantasy, but with the upcoming Buffy reboot in the works, I think the genre could benefit from Gen X & Millennial nostalgia. I'll point you to this interesting Reddit thread where trad writers discuss their 2025 publishing predictions so you can get some more insight: https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1hbozeu/discussion_2024_is_coming_to_an_end_what_trends/
Loved these predictions for this year. Definitely agree with most of them. I'm definitely feeling the struggle with marketing my own contemporary romance novels or “rom coms” ;)
I empathize with that struggle! I would much rather read a contemporary romance that's marketed correctly than get deceived by a so-called rom-com that's not funny!
I completely agree!
I read this a couple of months after you published it and I think you're spot on. I'm tired of hockey romance-feels like there's a lot out there right now. I find the historical fiction conversation so interesting-especially with the popularity of Bridgerton (the show) Looking forward to reading upcoming posts.
Thanks so much! There's a lot of conversation around historical romance, and I'm intrigued to see how the genre evolves. Appreciate the support!
Yes, yes and yes. No notes.
Yay, I'm so glad you agree! :)
I completely agree about the indie prediction for histrom authors. There’s already a huge community of us and I’ve already had several of my trad pub friends reach out to get my advice on everything from formatting and cover design to marketing and social media.
Thanks for commenting! Histrom will never be dead—it will always continue to adapt and evolve. Your friends are lucky to have your guidance!
We’re all in this together!!!💕
As a featured author at the last Twilight fan convention in Forks, prediction #1 greatly excites me! 🧛♀️
Oh dang, that's so cool! Yes, I'm totally on board with Twilight nostalgia :)
I knew I’d live long enough for vampires to come back around again! Love these predictions and hopes.
They will never go out of style! Thanks for reading! :)
All of my characters are older, so much so, that I feel I have to go back in & create some younger side characters or my world is not realistic. 🤣 At least mention some youth...
Haha hey it's your story, so you get to do what you want!
I love Bad Omens. Saw them live in 2022 at Blue Ridge Rock Festival and have been listening to them ever since.
And I need to drink up the latest Ali Hazelwood apparently. Took a sabbatical to read some Tracy Wolff and got sidetracked. 😊
Hope to see you in Burbank!
That's so cool! I would LOVE to see them perform live.
And don't worry—it's hard to keep up with Ali. So many books on my TBR!
And yes, hope to see you there! :)
This is so great, Alyssa! Thanks for sharing (she said while taking notes for the romance panel she's moderating at SFWC!).
Oh yay, happy to help!!
These are so good!!! I am ready for all the vampires and weirdness ngl
Bring 'em on, I say!
Love this (fiendishly rubbing hands together in preparation of the release of my next vampire novel in February) and YES to all the weird and all the queer! Reading and writing are resistance, so let's stop letting people tell us what we should be reading! Thanks for this Alyssa! See you in Burbank and Santa Clara if not before!
Woohoo—new books and new events, can't wait!
I hope you add my story Repercussions of Fate to your reading list. It has at least 3 of the items on your wish list checked off, and maybe fulfills some you didn't even know you had.