Making It Urban

[naomi_jay]

In an earlier post I asked if death was necessary in urban fantasy. I'm broadening that question now to: what makes urban fantasy?

What do you think the key elements are, the features that you'll find in every last book that comes under that tag? Magic? Sex? Kick-ass first person female narrator? Vampires? What differentiates it from epic, high fantasy besides location? What would you have to take away (or add in) to make it paranormal romance?

And on an unrelated note, are you reading Barb & JC Hendee's Noble Dead series? If not, why not? I finished Traitor to the Blood last night and I'm now moping because I can't get hold of the next book, Rebel Fay. Seriously, it's an awesome series.

Comments

Re: The Great Trout Speaks

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

And there was me thinking it was a conscious decision by the writer, when actually it's all down to cunning marketing strategies. Fooled again!

Re: The Great Trout Speaks

[antonstrout.livejournal.com]

Well, the writer may set out with that in mind, and if the tropes are all there, it's a no brainer for the sales and marketing people... but the author has little say by that point on category and I would actually trust the sales people to know where it's gonna sell best anyway.

Hmmm.. I have the sudden desire to kill my parents...

Re: The Great Trout Speaks

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.. I have the sudden desire to kill my parents...

It's funny how many people have said that to me lately...

Well, the writer may set out with that in mind, and if the tropes are all there, it's a no brainer for the sales and marketing people

My first novel is being touted round the publishers at the moment, and by far the most frequent feedback my agent is getting is that it's a YA rather an an urban fantasy. I'm fascinated by this since I never set out to write a YA (I'm not sure how I would for one thing).