Please Welcome Larriane aka Larion Wills

Larriane aka Larion Wills

Larriane a/k/a Larion Wills Asks: 

What’s a romance?

As a multi-genre, cross-genre writer one of the first things I had to learn when I entered the publishing field was what I considered a romance was not necessarily what publishers considered a romance. To me it’s a story wherein a man meets a woman, there is or isn’t instant attraction, but they do fall in love and overcome obstacles to reach happy-ever-after. 

That does not always qualify a story for the romance genre with—and I clarify this—some publishers. Confused? I was when I started cruising the publishers’ requirements for submitting. The following, however, is the definition by Romance Writers of American—a romance consists of two basic elements, a central love story, and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending, at all heat levels.  

      Then they go into sub-genres:

contemporary—anything after 1945, either series or single title

historical—anything before 1945

inspirational—novels with religious or spiritual beliefs with the main part of the relationship

paranormal—the future, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot.

Regency—the majority of the story is set against the Regency period of the British Empire.

Suspense—suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

young adult romance—a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers.

Following those guidelines, the story I’m giving you a peek at today, Mark of the Sire, is a historical, western, suspense, romance. A mouthful.

While searching through publishers’ sites I ran into other requirements like the man and woman had to meet in the very first chapter. Some even specified the first page. Oops, that left some of mine out, including Mark of the Sire. The romantic characters had met when the story began, but he doesn’t come into the story until later. Ummm? Never mind, it’s still a romance in my opinion. Some specified a percentage of the story had to be devoted to the love aspect. To me it doesn’t matter if he has to go off in part of the book or if some chapters revolve just around her, as in Mark of the Sire. Then there were those who didn’t want suspense, some didn’t want westerns, and others in no way wanted science fiction. Hey, they’re all romances. To me, many traditional westerns—though called westerns to attract a male audience—were formula romances. Case in point, Louis L’Amour one of the most popular western authors often had the male lead meeting the female in the first chapter, instantly being attracted, fight adversity, and ended happily. Hondo, Key-lock Man, Flint, and Fallon to name a few. And let’s not forget the Sacketts. Yes, Louis was an influence over my western Romances. The man was a romantic at heart and understood the west never would have been settled without strong women.

I love romances with suspense, mystery, paranormal, action, all of those varying elements. I mix up and cross genres in all manner of combinations. For a look at what I mean, drop by my website: Larriane AKA Larion Wills You’ll find my other historical western suspense romances there as well as news that the same characters will be back next May in the second of the series, Curse of the Sire. Some characters just won’t leave you alone.

 About Mark of the Sire: Cathy would deny she ran away even though the gossip had gotten vicious. She was certain the wilds of Colorado were far enough, never anticipating she’d first get herself into the same predicament that shamed her in the east or the man she’d ran from would follow.

Lon only meant to make things right for Cathy, hoping as well to leave behind the stories he'd  been responsible for his brother's disappearance. The reputation for violence he tried to leave behind followed---waited, buried in legends of the sire. Fate had led him to where his estranged father came from.

One son lost as a child, the second hating him for never finding his brother, the sire returned. Those who threatened his son discovered the truth of the man behind the legends. Lance was not to be challenged, and his mark was carried in more than appearance in the next generation.

    

Larriane AKA Larion Wills

Two names, one author, thousands of stories

 

MuseItUp Publishing

Secret Cravings Publishing

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