Romance with a Capital 'R' by Sorchia DuBois

This is my first post here at Paranormal Romantics and I’m over the moon to be included in this group! By way of introduction, I want to babble about my favorite romance genre: Gothic Romance.

Romance with a little ‘r’ is a love story, but you may remember from your high school literature class that Romance with a capital ‘R’ refers not just to a love story but to a rich, sensory adventure with action, atmosphere, and angst mixed in. 

Mainstream novels portray life—something real that has or could happen in the real world. Romance with a capital ‘R’ is about what might happen—what may have been—once upon a time.

Gothic stories take Romance into the dark side—the vaporous realm of magic, fantastical beasts, and malevolent wraiths. Sensory-rich descriptions create a lucid dream filled with adventure and endless possibilities.

Great Gothic novels deliver more than a momentary shiver. They are hints of ancient terrors, secret whisperings of past lives, warnings from the other side. While you wander in the fantasy, beware. Gothic novels tap into primal fears which, once reawakened, may refuse to go back to sleep—even in the bright sunshine of reality.

Modern Gothic romance has come a long way, baby. Here’s what I’m doing with it in my Zoraida Grey trilogy.

• You have to have a castle or a ruin of some kind. I built Castle Logan in far northern Scotland from bits and pieces of real castles. It has ghosts galore, an oubliette, an enchanted ballroom, and mysterious caverns beneath the ominous East Tower.    

•  Paranormal elements are de rigueur. Castle Logan is haunted by a number of creepy crawlies—the ghosts of a burned witch and a Spanish knight who died a slow death in the oubliette; a Scottish vampiress; a selection of souls imprisoned in crystal; and a handful of wandering spirits. Oh, and did I mention the witches?

• An ancient curse is a nice option. Turns out Zoraida’s very own granny is the victim of a wicked curse and only Zoraida can make things right. Trouble is Granny sends her to Scotland without mentioning exactly how. 

•   Zoraida may be a little naïve and a lot foolhardy, but she’s not a damsel in distress, thank you very much. Though she might not turn down a little help—especially from a handsome Scottish witch.

• But what about a hero? He may be all-that, but he’s also going to have to know how to treat a modern woman. A lot to ask from an old-school witch. 

•    Romance with a little ‘r.’ Yes, please. Smoldering glances across the drawing room blaze into 5-alarm passion. Where traditional Gothic tales stopped at the bedroom door, all bets are off with the modern Gothic Romance.

Haunted castles, angry spirits, mysterious (but devastatingly handsome) men. What else can you ask of a midnight read? 

Tell me—What tickles your fancy? Ghosts? Magic? Cold Shivers? Ancient terrors? True love? What part of Romance with a capital ‘R’ keeps you reading through the wee hours of a dark and stormy night?