The Fifty Shades of Grey Phenomenon and the Erotic Romance Genre

I’ve been an avid reader of romance most of my life. I’ve been published by electronic and independent, small publishers in the romance genre since 1998 and in the erotic romance genre since 2006. In all that time, I’ve seen fads come and go, and e- and small-press publishers open and fold almost in the same breath. After all these decades, the one thing that has remained constant in popular fiction is the romance genre. It has gone through many incarnations and phases, to be sure, from the bodice rippers of the seventies to the current craze sweeping the globe in the form of this little tome, you might have heard of…Fifty Shades of Grey.

I have to admit I was skeptical and looking at all the hype fueling the popularity of this book with a jaundiced eye. How much different or better could it be than the hundreds of erotic romance titles I had read and written in the last ten years? Did it really deserve all the hype? I admit I was curious, but had firmly refused to fall into the propaganda. It was just the point. I figured the phenomenon was just big publishing’s attempt to capitalize on the latest literary trend of the day and the book was just their flavor of the month. Of course there could be no merit to all the hype! I realized I was being just as disdainful and judgmental of this book as others had been toward the genre I had been reading, writing and loving for decades. Shame on me. Still, I would not budge from my stance and the only thing that made me cave and purchase the trilogy was a discussion I had had with an agent who was interested in seeing my work. During the course of our phone conversation, he asked if I had read Fifty Shades of Grey and when I told him I had not, he said, “Read it.” Okay. Needless to say, I went into the first book with a gigantic chip on my shoulder and telling myself I was reading it strictly for research purposes. I needed to know what was hot in the market and what my competition was writing after all.

A strange thing happened to me on the way to finishing Fifty Shades of Grey, however. After I got over my initial pessimism and delved deeper into the book, I realized that I was enjoying it. The characters were engaging and had depth, the story was compelling and suspenseful and, most importantly, Anastasia and Christian had chemistry—in and out of the bedroom. All the elements of a good romance, a solid story—maintaining sexual heat and tension between the heroine and hero, and an entertaining, enlightening and relevant narrative—were present. However, what was it that took James’ book over the top, out of the grassroots movement of the niche erotic romance market and into the mainstream? What was making first-time erotic romance readers pick up the trilogy in droves, people who would have never considered reading romance, much less an erotic romance? I couldn’t put my finger on any one thing except the BDSM ingredient of the book.

And here is where I took issue. 

As is the case in the hundreds of romances I’ve read over the years, there are a lot of things going on in Fifty Shades of Grey, lots more things than heaving bosoms, throbbing members or kinky sex. Purple prose aside, BDSM is just one element, the vehicle that drives to light other heavier social issues and universal themes like domestic abuse, sexual awakening, and self-acceptance, just to name a few.

Yet, mainstream readers and the media are focusing on the kinky sex and BDSM elements as the end-all and be-all of the book.  

Take for instance Ellen DeGeneres’ recent video spoofing the popular novel here: http://www.clubcalexotics.com/video/fiftyshadesofgrey I’m a huge fan of Ellen and enjoy her show whenever I can catch it. Admittedly, her Fifty Shades of Grey parody was, of course, hilarious. I even shared it on my Facebook page. After the laughter died down, however, I realized how much the video feeds into the public’s perception of the “prurient” romance genre and appeals to the lowest common denominator—the sex—rather than focusing on the other merits of the book like characterization and story and how each focuses on the way human beings relate to each other and express and experience love, joy and pain.

Granted kinky sex and BDSM are essential parts of the story, as is the romance itself. If one took away either element, there would be no Fifty Shades of Grey. But someone not familiar with the erotic romance genre might come away with the idea that kinky sex and BDSM are ALL the book—and erotic romance—is about and this just isn’t the case. The kinky sex and BDSM elements make the book controversial and ripe for criticism and satire—which is a negative and a positive for a genre that already suffers from numerous misconceptions (i.e., “romance books are dirty and all about sex” and “romance is just porn for women”).

Now into the second book, Fifty Shades Darker, I’m no longer skeptical of the success of the trilogy. It’s a solid piece of fiction and an arousing, humorous, revealing read. James was in the right place at the right time when she got her trilogy published, but more importantly she was able to parlay her obvious passion for a genre into literary success with her trendy novels. I admire that in a writer, in particular, and applaud the success of Fifty Shades, in general because really, anything that gets people talking about and reading books can’t be bad, especially when it opens up a dialogue about the diversity and viability of the much-maligned erotic romance genre.

Having said all this, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some other authors and titles in the erotic romance genre that deserve recognition <g>.

If you’re a first-time erotic romance reader who has fallen under the Fifty Shades spell, and would like to be brave and broaden your erotic romance horizons, you might want to give some of my favorite authors, titles/series and e-publishers a try. A lot of these lists will overlap, as many e- and indie published authors write outside the box and often cross genres. However, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by any of them:

If you’re into Anthologies:

Games in the Dark – A Dreamspinner Press Anthology http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

The Eroticnoir.com Anthologies from Zane: Chocolate Flava; Chocolate Flava II; Caramel Flava; and Caramel Flava II (includes Leap of Faith by Gracie C. McKeever <g>) http://www.amazon.com/Sensuality-Caramel-Flava-II-Zane/dp/141654884X

If you’re into BDSM:

Morgan Ashbury http://www.morganashbury.com

Joey W. Hill’s Nature of Desire and Vampire Queen series http://www.storywitch.com

Gracie C. McKeever/Gigi Moore http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Cooper McKenzie http://www.coopermckenzie.webs.com/

Bridget Midway’s Corporate Desires series http://www.bridgetmidway.com

Benjamin Russell http://incubuschronicles.blogspot.com/

Katrina Strauss’s The Eldritch series and Blue Ruin series http://www.katrinastrauss.com

If you’re into Contemporary

Morgan Ashbury http://www.morganashbury.com

Destiny Blaine http://www.destinyblaine.com

Jami Davenport http://www.jamidavenport.com/ 

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb http://roslynhardyholcomb.com/

Gracie C. McKeever http://www.graciecmckeever

Cooper McKenzie http://www.coopermckenzie.webs.com/

E.R. Pierce http://erpierce.com/

Lara Santiago http://www.larasantiago.com

Katrina Strauss’s http://www.katrinastrauss.com

If you’re into Cowboys/Westerns:

Destiny Blaine http://www.destinyblaine.com

Cara Covington http://www.morganashbury.com/bookscara.html

Wendi Darlin http://www.wendidarlin.com

Stacey Espino http://www.staceyespino.com/

Elle Saint James http://www.ellesaintjames.com

Gracie C. McKeever/Gigi Moore http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Bonnie Parker http://www.tonyaramagos.com

Jenny Penn http://www.jennypenn.com

If you’re into Futuristics, Paranormal, Shifters, Scifi, Time Travel, Urban Fantasy, and/or Vampires:

Melodee Aaron’s Ike Payne Adventure books http://www.melodeeaaron.com

Morgan Ashbury http://www.morganashbury.com

D. Renee Bagby http://www.dreneebagby.com

Michael Barnette’s Immortal Heroes series http://www.michaelbarnette.com

Laura Baumbach's Details series and Out There series http://www.laurabaumbach.com

Destiny Blaine http://www.destinyblaine.com

Charlotte Boyett-Compo http://www.windlegends.org/

Tymber Dalton http://leslirichardson.blogspot.com/

Keta Diablo http://www.ketadiablo.com

Kate Douglas http://www.katedouglas.com

Stacey Espino http://www.staceyespino.com/

Daisy Harris http://www.thedaisyharris.com

Joey W. Hill’s Nature of Desire and Vampire Queen series http://www.storywitch.com

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb http://roslynhardyholcomb.com/

Delilah Hunt http://delilahhunt.wordpress.com/

Samantha Lucas http://www.samanthalucas.com

Gracie C. McKeever/Gigi Moore http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Rae Monet http://www.raemonet.com

Jenny Penn http://www.jennypenn.com

E.R. Pierce http://erpierce.com/

Michelle M. Pillow http://www.michellepillow.com

Dahlia Rose http://www.authordahliarose.com/

Benjamin Russell http://incubuschronicles.blogspot.com/

Lara Santiago’s The Wives Tales http://www.larasantiago.com

Katrina Strauss http://www.katrinastrauss.com

If you’re into GLBT and/or Man Love:

Michael Barnette http://www.michaelbarnette.com

Laura Baumbach's Rough Series http://www.laurabaumbach.com

Ally Blue http://www.allyblue.com

Joyee Flynn http://www.joyeeflynn.com/

Daisy Harris http://www.thedaisyharris.com

Gracie C. McKeever/Gigi Moore http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Tere Michaels http://www.teremichaels.com

Rick R. Reed http://www.rickrreed.com

Katrina Strauss’s The Eldritch series and Blue Ruin series http://www.katrinastrauss.com

If you’re into Historical:

Sharon Cullars http://www.loose-id.com/Our-Authors/Sharon-Cullars/

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb http://roslynhardyholcomb.com/

Karen Mercury http://www.karenmercury.com

Gigi Moore http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Emma Wildes http://www.emmawildes.com

If you’re into Interracial/Multicultural:

D. Renee Bagby http://www.dreneebagby.com

Sharon Cullars http://www.loose-id.com/Our-Authors/Sharon-Cullars/

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb http://roslynhardyholcomb.com/

Bridget Midway http://www.bridgetmidway.com

Gracie C. McKeever/Gigi Moore http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Dahlia Rose http://www.authordahliarose.com/

If you’re into Men in Uniform:

Tere Michaels http://www.teremichaels.com

Tonya Ramagos http://www.tonyaramagos.com

Lara Santiago http://www.larasantiago.com

If you’re into Ménage: Siren Publishing http://www.sirenpublishing.com has very popular imprints devoted to this area of erotic romance, Ménage Amour and Ménage Everlasting (I have several titles/series in these lines myself, under the nom de plume, Gigi Moore)

If you’re into Sports:

Destiny Blaine http://www.destinyblaine.com

Jami Davenport http://www.jamidavenport.com/

If you’re into Suspense:

Tymber Dalton http://leslirichardson.blogspot.com/

Gracie C. McKeever http://www.graciecmckeever.com

Lara Santiago http://www.larasantiago.com

Marquete Williams http://www.marquetewilliams.ca

Other Erotic and Sensual Romance Publishers and Imprints:

Amber Quill Press – Amber Heat http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/

Amira Press http://www.amirapress.com

Beautiful Trouble Publishing http://www.beautifultroublepublishing.com

Black Velvet Seductions http://www.blackvelvetseductions.com

Changeling Press http://www.changelingpress.com/

Dreamspinner Press http://www.dreamspinner.com

Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com

Evernight Publishing http://www.evernightpublishing.com

eXstasy Books http://www.extasybooks.com

Liquid Silver Books http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com

Loose ID http://www.loose-id.com

MLR Books http://www.mlrbooks.com

Phaze Books http://www.phaze.com

Red Rose Publishing http://www.redrosepublishing.com

Resplendence Publishing http://www.resplendencepublishing.com

Samhain Publishing http://www.samhainpublishing.com

Secret Cravings Publishing http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com

Shadow Fire Press http://www.shadowfirestore.com

Silver Publishing http://www.spsilverpublishing.com/

Tease Publishing, LLC http://www.teasepublishingllc.com

Torquere Books http://www.torquerebooks.com/

Total-E-Bound http://www.total-e-bound.com

Whiskey Creek Press - Torrid http://whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/


These lists are in no way complete where erotic and sensual romance is concerned, just a sampling of what the genre has to offer and what I personally have read or with which I am acquainted. I extend apologies in advance to any and all the other excellent, award-winning erotic romance authors and titles out there that I have missed.

Be aware that tastes and tolerance levels vary, even among diehard erotic romance fans, and know there are heat ratings (from Sweet to Sextreme) and story lines that should appeal to all manner of erotic romance readers’ tastes.

So go forth, explore, find your inner goddess, Dom or sub annnnnnnd…Happy Reading!