Pocket kicks off Jill Myles’s new Succubus Diaries series with back-to-back installments, Gentlemen Prefer Succubi (Dec.) and Succubi Like It Hot (Jan.). Says Pocket Books executive editor Lauren McKenna, “We’re excited to see breakout success in paranormal subgenres that feature demons, angels, and succubi-the less-explored heroes compared to vampires and werewolves.” While the scene still has its share of vampires, other creatures are joining the ranks as mainstays. Martin’s next August-and newer names like Larissa Ione-whose third Demonica book, Ecstasy Unveiled, is due from Grand Central in February-increase their legions of fans with each new book. Both established authors like paranormal powerhouse Sherrilyn Kenyon-whose next Dark-Hunter novel, No Mercy, will be out from St. Some might say that the success of paranormal romance is beginning to verge on the supernatural. And the recent movie box office hit Paranormal Activity has now raked in tens of millions to become the season’s surprise hit (even snagging an EW cover), while Twilight sequel New Moon waits in the wings. According to Variety, ratings for the second season of HBO’s True Blood, based on Charlaine Harris’s megaselling novels about psychic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, gave the network its highest numbers since The Sopranos, averaging some 12.4 million viewers for each episode. That’s no surprise given that the pop culture pulse is racing for paranormal-themed content. Many readers also still crave something a little out of the ordinary, as the paranormal craze continues to stake its claim into the category’s beating heart. Readers crave plot, characters, and emotion-romance delivers that.” “Readers are so satisfied by the quality of the books, they come back for more.

“In addition to providing escape, romance is so competitive that the writers who get published are really good,” she says. Martin’s Paperbacks, says she believes that part of romance’s continued appeal is the high quality required to achieve such healthy sales. “And since most romances are priced at $7.99 or less, it’s much more cost-effective than a tropical getaway-or at this point, even a movie.”īut while the allure of the guaranteed happy ending can’t be denied, Jennifer Enderlin, associate publisher for St. “For people worried about finances and job security, delving into a romance can be a great way to escape that stress for a little while,” says Dorchester editor Leah Hultenschmidt.

The Shattered Sylph by L.J. McDonald