Jumping from erotica to new adult with Lilly Avalon of UNEXPECTED (#Giveaway)

Jumping from erotica to new adult

When I decided to write new adult, I didn't think it would be too difficult compared to the erotica I've already written. They're both contemporary romance, it should be a breeze. Right?

Well...

Don't get me wrong, they are similar in the contemporary romance department. Yet, they have slight differences. When I first started reading tons of romance, I didn't think much of the nuances between the two. I enjoyed them both very much, so in my mind they were just romances, but I knew they weren't exactly the same.

However, not everyone views them the way I do. A lot of readers and reviewers have issue with some erotica novels being disguised as new adult novels. And that's understandable because on the one hand you have a novel that is heavier on the sex (erotica) and on the other hand you have a novel that isn't as heavy on the sex, if it even has sex at all (new adult). Also, in new adult, the point of the genre is about new experiences for the character--college, jobs, responsibility, etc. It isn't all about the love story (although it does often play an important role in the character's story). Some readers/reviewers aren't erotica readers, so when they pick up a book that is categorized as new adult and they get something different... Well, let's just say they're not happy.

Herein lies the issue as a writer: knowing the difference and making sure to keep the genres separate. My first four published books are all straight up erotica. Even though the characters are in the new adult age range, the amount of sex (or sexual scenes) is higher than new adult books. So, I chose to put them in the erotica category (specifically romantic erotica).

Which brings us back to my new adult novel. As I was writing it, I had to keep in mind the key points above. Since I spent months upon months writing erotica, it was a struggle to find the right balance. I complained to a friend that I wanted the characters to "just kiss already" and she told me that I'm the writer and I can make them do what I want them to. While that's true, it wasn't the direction I wanted the story as a whole to go. As much as I wanted the kiss to happen, I had to make sure it progressed in the most natural way possible.

In the end, I learned a lot about writing in the new adult genre. It took some time to find my footing, but I found it. It may not have been a huge leap, but it still required effort to do the genre justice. I feel that my writing as a whole benefited from doing something different, even if it wasn't hugely different. I'm glad I was able to tell Ryan and Alina's story the way it needed to be told.

Unexpected

by Lilly Avalon

Published July 21st 2015

Ever had one of those days? Alina Lyons is having one. Everything keeps falling apart and going wrong. Just when she thinks it couldn't get worse, it does. After a case of mistaken identity and a broken heart, she finds herself questioning the things she thought she knew. She wonders who she can turn to or trust anymore.

An unlikely bond with her former best friend's ex, Ryan Wilcox, sends her life in a new direction. He offers her a place to stay while she gets her life back on track. His friendship is exactly what she's been missing—what she's been needing. Alina's never felt this alive. As time goes by, the dynamic of their relationship becomes more than either of them expected. A few innocent kisses could lead them in a new direction, but are they prepared for what's on the other side?

Only one way to find out.

AMAZON | B&N

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