Guess that about says it all, but...I'm really not spontaneous. I'm always planning...even a few minutes ahead. It's an annoying family trait. If someone else wants to be spontaneous around me, that's great, and I get to enjoy playing hooky or eating a big burger on someone else's karmic dime. Me...I plan.

I really prefer contemporaries. I'm not a big fan of paranormal...don't read fantasy or SciFi (I do make exceptions for great characters) and while I like historicals...I don't like them enough to regularly choose them at the bookstore. So I'm glad to hear they're not dead...I'm writing them myself!

Margaret

I guess I'd have to say I'm not spontaneous. I'd like to think I'm spontaneous about some things, but in general, I normally like to plan, even for what I'm getting done in a given day. I'm not too manic about it, I can be flexible, but when it comes to things I want to accomplish, or what I want to do on a vacation, etc I can be spontaneous to a degree, sort of "let's go and we'll decide when we get there" but overall, I still have an idea ahead of time. I even look ahead on the Fair dates and think about what I want to see or eat, LOL. Though that may be more anticipation than anything. I will admit, when I have a plan for something, I don't like changes -- so, when I set out a schedule for a project or event, I tend to get very stressed if things thow me off course.

The downside I guess is that I can be a little uptight at times. :)

The upside is that I tend to get things done, projects don't languish forever, and I don't have a lot of unfinished projects around. My husband and I love the TV show "The Closer" and he always jokes that if I had a show, it would be called "The Finisher." heh.

Oh, yeah, and whoever said contemporary is dead had their head up their ass. ;)

Sam

I'm not overly spontaneous, I think I'm somewhere in the middle lol

While most of what I read is paranormal romance, I do also love contemps. Sometimes all I really want to read is a "normal" romance. It's certainly not dead to me

Ashley

Good morning! I have to admit I'm not very spontaneous, though I can be. For the most part though I need a plan. In fact, my husband says I plan too much ahead. Um, hello, I'm hosting Christmas (an example) I need to know who's coming over!!! Jeez.

I just have to say that I'm supposed to be in sunny, extremely hot California (predicted high of 108 today) but it's thundering, dark clouds and rain with lots of wind. Weird.

And yes, Sam, whoever said the contemporary is dead definitely had their head up their ass. ;)

~ Karen Erickson

http://karenwritesromance.com

Hi Karen,

I sure do hope its just a rumor because one of my stories tend to bend that way, but we'll see. At any rate, since we're still talking about it, it's probably not.

I love things planned out for me...but I am not a planner...Stay at home moms should have a personal planner don't you think..I would get so much more done!!!

I read a lot and the two genres I pick up most often are paranormal and contemporary...so I hope it isn't dead...what would I do???? :)

Kendra

I'm definitely spontaneous, which is my case is synonymous with disorganized.

And there's no way contemporary romance is dead. It's just taking a little breather so that all the other genres can catch up and then it will be off to the races again. :D

I'll take one of each------------------------>

And don't tell me the freak contemporary romance is dead. Poppycock!

I definitely don't think contemporary romance is dead. I still read it and I write it to some extent. As for being spontaneous, I'm not very spontaneous at all. I wish I could be more, but it's just not in me lol.

Impulsive, spontaneous? I dunno, just don't make me plan something in advance!

I usually read historicals, but I've heard they're dead too. Or maybe they're making a comeback too. Seems like everything cycles in and out of favor with someone all the time. Marketing? Maybe... As long as there are good stories, there will be readers.

Hey folks -- glad to see you all stopping by, but just to remind everyone, though Karen said it already, you have to be registered here on the site to qualify for contests. It's quick and easy and we hope you'll come back to see us, but it's also a way for us to log traffic, stop spam, and avoid other problems, so if you want to qualify for the giveaway, just sign in up at the left. :) If you have any problems, let me know. :)

Sam 

I am definitely not spontaneous. I am a control freak and have to have every thing planned out.
No, I don't think contemporary romance is dead. I love reading contemporary romance.

I prefer to plan things out, but at the same time have no problem grabbing my stuff and just going.

...but neither am I well thought-out. LOL.

Spontaneous sex? It is hard to have spontaneous sex when you have 3 teens and a tween in your house all the time. (I have two, my husband has two, and soundproofing the rooms are not an option.) Plus, I have found that I love my bed too much to enjoy the sex anywhere else. Once you invest in Egyptian cotton and memory foam mattress pads, you don't really ever want to be too far from your bed.

I think I'm the least spontaneous person on the face of the planet. I'm pathetic... I descend into a flat spin if anything unexpected happens, and I have to plan, like, years in advance to go anywhere or do anything!

I really do hope that contemporary romance holds its own across both print and epubs. I write mostly contemporary erotic romance, and I'd like to think there'll always be a home for my kind of writing.

Nah. Contemporary Romance will never die anymore than Historical will. Sales may wax and wane, but there are diehard fans of both who will keep them alive. I'm actually working on a contemp right now. They are just so easy for readers to relate to. I love them.

Am I spontaneous? Hmm. I'm a pantser in life, just like I am in writing, unfortunately. So, in that respect, I suppose I am. I do like to be prepared, though and carry a bag of tricks in case of shark attack, locust infestation, influenza epidemic, whatever...

Can't wait to check out your book, Karen. Spontaneous looks deelish! Congrats!

Heck no it ain't dead!

I love contemporary romance. Granted I flit into Rom Suspense frequently, but the linear HEA boy meets girl is classic.

"Give me emotion!" the reader cried.

That says it all for me. :)

I don't think so!!

In fact, lately, this is what has been drawing my attention most.

Like a lot of people, I was really hooked on paranormals for awhile (remember, my nickname is Vampslut). Aside from Blazes, everything I read was a paranormal.

But, lately, I like reading about "regular" people. I like seeing how I compare to these others (okay so I'm older and overweight but my feelings and responses are the same). It's nice to know that "normal" people can still fall in love and choose lives together without the alien force invading or having to get those dang fangs filed down! LOL

I feel like I can be very spontaneous in a controlled atmosphere. What does that mean? I have to have a safety level to let go. But if I have it, then let go I do!

ani

Interesting question - I guess it would depend upon what is going on in my life. Some things I just want planned out, I want to know where Im going, what Im doing , etc etc.

Then their are days when I don't know what is going to happen, just fly by the seat of my pants. Its what makes life interesting, and worthwhile to get through those "boring" days.

Romance isn't dead! Contemporary romance is the foundation for today's romance in my opinion.

~~ Wendy

I'm glad to see that you all agree the contemporary romance is NOT dead! Yay!!! I have to agree.

And yeah, you all sound like me regarding the spontaneous bit - we're all not very spontaneous. LOL That's what was so fun about writing this book - my heroine is a bit of a free bird, but she's learned that being so sponanteous as got her into some trouble.

Of course, the hero is a complete control freak. He even says he doesn't have time to be spontaneous. LOL She shows him a thing or two about that. ;)

~ Karen Erickson

http://karenwritesromance.com

I hate hearing contemporary romance is dead!!! Actually, even though I write contemp, I hate hearing ANY sub-genre is dead. There are readers looking for ALL the varieties, right? That said, I have been told over and over that a rom com is dead too, ACK!!! I love rom com (to read and write) I love contemporaries! And I hope editors will be snapping them up again soon.

As for spontaniety *g* Can I be sponataneously organized? I'm super organized in my writing, love making lists and goals and color coding is my friend. But I bite at keeping a schedule, I never plan out vacations other than where I'm going to sleep, and I spend a lot of time searching for my misplaced lists LOL.

I would have to say that I'm not spontaneous but probably in the middle. I like to go with the flow. I also love reading the Blaze line. I recently finished Boys of Summer an anthology of 3 different writers take on 3 friends trying to seduce their fantasy baseball players in their home team. It was a great read!

It better not be! That's pretty much all I write as well. LOL Congrats on the new release. :)

I don't think contemporary romance is even on the wane, let alone dead.
And like you I am a mixture of spontaniety? and caution.

...so, it'd better not be dead! ;) I mostly read contemporaries (Blazes are great!), so if that's the case, maybe I should go load up on some more before they put the nail in the coffin!

As for spontaneous vs not--definitely not! I like to think I'm spontaneous and up for adventure, etc., but I'm SO not--it's a little sad! I prefer to know what to expect when. But I'm not averse to being on the receiving end of some spontaneous romantic plans--flowers, chocolates, a weekend getaway (without the kiddos)... no need to put those my calendar first!

I love contemporary romance. I love to read it. I love to write it. What a huge whole there would be on the shelves without it! I agree that we need all the sub-genres to satisfy everyone's appetite.

And I wish I could say I was spontaneous. I really do. But I'm more of a planner. So I make some of my characters spontaneous. It's the best I can do :)

Great post, Karen.

Natasha

Karen those same words terrorized me. Made my stomach drop to my chipped nail polished toes. But you know what, I don't think it's dead. I think you will always have readers who love contemporary romance. I think the bar just got raised for the writers.

I just finished Spontaneous and loved it! Good stuff!

I'm a mixture. Some things I plan & others just happen. Your book sounds great. I love reading contemporary romance. So, I hope its here to stay.

I signed up for love is a an exploding cigar
please enter me

I tend to be spontaneous, and not always in a good way, *sigh* But my DH is definitely one who likes things thought out, so together it seems to work. I grew up on historical romance, and kind of had my fill, so I will be one of those buying contemporary romance stories, so keep writing them.

No one told me contemporary romance was dying. That pile of contemporary books I just bought certainly didn't say anything...lol. IMHO, it isn't going anywhere.

Spontaneous? Well, I plan time to be spontaneous. When my deadlines and work is in and to my satisfaction, I can be spontaneous. Otherwise, it just isn't allowed:)

Spontaneous sounds like a great book. I'm looking forward to buying it and reading it. Congrats on the release!

I question any of those pronouncements....most of the time. Then there's times when I totally buy it and I get myself a gallon of ice cream and have a good cry.
Glad YOU didn't listen.

I don't believe everything I hear. I think publishing houses make those kind of statements to help push another particular genre. I've heard for ages that historicals are out and have been but I have no problem finding good ones when I want one. I say write what you want to write and don't listen to others.

KENDRA!!! Yay!! Email me at karen @ karenwritesromance.com (minus the spaces) and I'll send you an ebook copy of Spontaneous! Congrats!

I want to thank EVERYONE for stopping by and visiting me here at Love is an Exploding Cigar. I had a great time and want to thank all of the lovely authors (Samantha, Karen, Lisa, Shirley, Karen, Sarah and Tawny) for having me as a guest blogger!

~ Karen Erickson

http://karenwritesromance.com

I'm somewhere in the middle, too. Sometimes I like to be spontaneous, but most times I like to know what I'm going to be doing... especially if it's date night. I like to make sure that we are going out and at what time, so that I ca be ready... but, I'm always running late, lol

~Ali
http://simplyali.blogspot.com

I am spontaneous at heart. If I'm bored, I'll turn to hubby and say, "Let's go for a drive." Of course, hubby is NOT spontaneous so that doesn't always work in my favor. LOL But in a perfect world, I'd love to just pick up and go when I want to and where I want to.

wtg kendra