In Romance Writers Report’s (RWR) November 2001 issue, Julia Quinn tells us we’d "have to be living under a rock not to have realized that the market for spicier romances is exploding" (p46). If you think exploding is too powerful a description, I’ll take you through a brief history.

When people find I’m published in both erotica and erotic romance, questions ensue on the difference between the two. Then discussion often leads to Harlequin’s new Blaze line. Where does that fit? Those questioning are amazed at the "level of sensuality" (let’s forget the euphuisms for this article and call it what is - "explicit sex") in these books. Some readers might be surprised, even a little shocked. It’s too early to tell. But if Julia Quinn and market-savvy Harlequin are right, Blaze will survive.

I have been reading sexually explicit material for 34 years. Then, Anais Nin, and later Xaviera Hollanader and Nancy Friday’s wonderful accounts of real women’s fantasies were the only game in town. If you were not gay, lesbian, bisexual, or a straight male pitifully little existed. In 1993, Virgin Publishing’s Black Lace Line debuted, among great controversy, in Britain. Their claims? Erotic fiction written by women for women. Finally! And it delivers. Short stories, novellas, and full length fiction. Border’s boldly displays them in their sexuality section while other bookstores special order. You can also purchase through the net. This should improve with new establishment of a distributor in the U.S.

Soon came Red Sage with Secrets in 1995 publishing novellas in one volume labeled "The Best in Women’s Sensual Fiction." Sensual? Well-known highly sensual author Virginia Henley says, "These stories take you beyond romance into the realm of erotica" (Vol.1, cover). Then, it’s erotica, right? Not necessarily. Read on.

Kensington, who has been publishing sexually explicit stories by wonderful authors like Thea Devine, Beatrice Small, Robin Shone, and Susan Johnson, decided, in 1999, to label some of those works as "erotic romance." There’s that word again. Just a word, you say. Ah, as writers, we know the power of words. (And so does the marketing department at Kensington). That word erotica engenders a wide range of emotions.

In recent interviews, Blaze authors Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison, and Julie Elizabeth Leto all agree that the definition of "erotica" is sex without emotion. They also agree that "erotic romance" pushes the boundaries of sexuality and blends it with the intimacy, emotions, and happy ending of romance. They further agree that "sensual romance" deals primarily with the senses and sexual tension, not necessarily explicit sex. (SensualRomance.Writerspace.com/Interviews.html/) So, then the Blaze line is erotic romance? It isn’t marketed as such. Smart marketing until Harlequin sees which way the wind blows may explain that.

Why doesn’t Red Sage say erotic romance on its Secrets covers? Probably because they were around years before the term was coined. Publisher Alexandria Kendall says it is erotic romance. (SensualRomance.Writerspace.com/Secrets.html./Alice Gaines Chambers/1-13-02) Is it hotter than Blaze? The publisher allows authors to use highly charged words. And we all know what those naughty words are. That alone makes it hotter. Will Blaze go that far? We’ll see.

Still confused? It gets worse or better, depending on your POV.

But we’re getting somewhere, right?

Erotica – explicit sex without emotion and commitment.
Erotic Romance – explicit sex with emotion and commitment.
Sensual Romance – lot of unexplicit sex with emotion and commitment.

Let’s not even touch terms like super-sexy, hot & spicy, or highly sensual and further confuse ourselves, although, Vickie Lewis Thompson gives us an adorably fun definition to play with. She says, "Blaze has an edge, takes risks, is a little naughtier than Temptation." (SensualRomance.Writerspace.com/HarlequinBlazes.html/>/BonnieRock/1-13-02) Then there are certain premises that naturally lead to a sexy ...

Stop, that’s an article in itself. Back on track. We’re done? Not necessarily.

Anyone who has read a full length Black Lace knows it is packed with emotion, plot, and characterization. Read Emma Holly! But how could it not? Seventy-five thousand (75,000) words of explicit sex? No matter how deliciously written, it would numb and bore quickly as does too much witty dialogue, breathtaking description, and sizzling action. And, guess what? In all the ones I’ve read, the couples end up together. Sometimes (ophmygosh!) married. Yet, I still agree with Alice chambers and Angela Knight, fellow Red Sage authors, that erotica is written primarily to arouse (SensualRomance.Writerspace.com/Secrets.html./Alice Gaines Chambers/1-13-02), especially the shorts, and include more sex scenes than erotic romance and other genres.

Thea Devine in RWR’s 2001 March issue asks the question, "…is it (Kensington’s Brava Line) erotic romance or erotica … porn for women?…" She answers that it’s erotic romance because the erotic component is "overlaid … with …stringent romance components: there are no multiple partners; he doesn’t hurt her, she has some control…; sex is consensual…" She then qualifies this statement with, "at least for me, personally" (p21). Good thinking. Because in the same Brava anthology as Thea, FASCINATED, co-featured author Beatrice Small has her heroine having explicit sex with five other men besides the hero. Penetration with only one, but in this post-Clinton era will we split hairs over what defines sex? Of course, in one scene, Beatrice’s heroine is simply being prepared by the hero’s two assistants to later have sex with the hero. And the other three scenes, well, you’ll have to decide for yourself. So how to categorize that? I’d categorize Beatrice’s novella as beautifully written, highly erotic (oops, I used that word), packed with sensuality, humorous, and with a satisfying romantic ending. So, it’s erotic romance, despite multiple partners. Oops, I forgot. The heroine is also kidnapped and disciplined by a group of men. She’s forced to have sex with the hero in front of them. (For anyone who can’t imagine how this could be tastefully done, read it, it works.) But then, it can’t be erotic romance.

Wait a hot minute! The first few Blazes had exhibitionism and bondage and they don’t even use that naughty erotic word. Blaze author Julie Elizabeth Leto even warns us to expect, "sex slaves…hotels that cater to the sexual needs of clients … voyeurism …" Now, maybe these authors have been reined in by Harlequin since these interviews with Ms. Rock (SensualRomance.Writerspace.com), although I hope not. So far, they’ve delivered and still the stories are varied in how far they push the boundaries.

But now I’m really confused. But it seems the industry is, too. In the same article, after extensive interviewing with Black Lace, Red Sage, and Blaze authors in addition to Harlequin editor Brenda Chin, Ms. Rock suggests the following continuum.

I added St. Martin’s new anthologies.

Are we clear now? I hope not. Ms. Rock’s line is good, but even she says, the "line is fluid." How wonderful for us as writers and readers. Kathy Love in Romantic Time’s February 2002 issue states in her article Redefining Erotica that "erotic romance, like erotica itself, offers a full range of styles" (p64). Which leads into my last point.

Are sweet romances getting any hotter in response? The popularity inspirational romance enjoys would suggest not. Then, perhaps there is something for everyone? Is this because the romance industry is dominated by women? I think so. We like to meet everyone’s needs. And what a wonderful job we are doing!

My advice, if anyone cares, is write what you love to write. Kensington editor Kate Duffy says "erotic romance (authors) can’t not write that way" (RWR/March 2001/p22). When your manuscript is complete, see where it fits. Chances are, with categories expanding, it’ll fit somewhere. Maybe with a little tweaking when your manuscript is done and maybe without if you’re lucky. The main thing is to be yourself! Happy writing.

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