I read a sci-fi books earlier this year that broke me spiritually and mentally, so went looking for a romance, probably my fave genre, to help me out of a reading slump. I just couldn’t find anything that hit for me in my Aussie context and current stage of life. I wanted a book about a guy with a guitar and a bit of spice but didn’t want Bon Jovi adjacent and American music wasn’t hitting. I also wanted a normal romance about people I could relate to but in contexts that seem familiar. I’ve found that even Aussie writers tend to set their books in the USA, or if set in Aus, tend to tone down the Aussie vernacular and lingo perhaps for international audiences? Anyway, I’ve started writing my own (I was a creative arts major at Uni and then life took a pivot), three standalone interconnected magic-realism romance novels set in Sydney and surrounds, normal people, characters who are in bands, but not wildly popular ones, just like hardworking gigging Aussie bands. Or MMC who is a blue collar worker/hot tradie and all round cheeky boy with a reserved but passionate FMC who is a beauracrat. For UK people think Home and Away style setting with romance, sad/trauma backstory and a bit of magic and sexy stuff. I tried searching this and other subreddits for Australia and Aussie tag words but didn’t get much. I just wonder because there’s not much out there like it, if I ever published, would anyone read it? I’ll keep writing regardless, because it’s a lovely hobby and these characters are utter chaos goblins who need to tell me their story, but yeah, just curious if anyone would ever be interested.
Hell yeah
Cool! Can I ask why? Are you Aussie? Been to Aus? Have a Hemsworth kink?
I’ve never been and only experienced Australia through films. I’m sure I’d enjoy reading a story set there too
What if it’s a bit of a loose situation, romance for sure, spice, passion definitely, but also some deadset larrikin energy? Like it will be more than just touring the place it will be like being billeted on your exchange trip but a bunch of upper middle bogans who are as loveable as they are slightly unhinged?
I’D LOVE IT EVEN MORE
Yes!!!
Rippa! Mind if I ask why? I’m guessing you’re probs Aussie since you’re commenting this time of day :-)
Have you never heard of Sam hall? So many of hers are in auatralia! But they are paranormal lol
No I haven’t! I will cue her up to read, do you mean the author of the Dragon Queen and Wolf Queen series? That’s what comes up on a search. I don’t mind a paranormal romance now and again. I’ll read anything tbh.
Yes those. I read her ursa bear series! All in Australia.
Ooh I’m intrigued as to how a were-bear works in Australia and now I’m wondering about were-crocodiles and were-quolls and I may have another story idea now haha
Haha that’s usually how it works for me as well 😂
Imagine a were-crocodile MMC! He’d be a scary mofo. Were-quokka! He’d be cute as a button and super chill. Omg were-magpie! She sings like an angel but fuck she’s a nightmare in springtime, relentlessly pursued anyone who even looks like messing with her family.
I totally would. I started writing an Aussie romance couple years ago set on the gold coast. 40,000 words in and I kind of wrote myself into a corner. I will return to it though after I finish my current romance which is based in London/Essex. Good Aussie author with romance in there is Fiona Lowe, and I think Stefanie London has some romances based in Aus. No magic stuff though.
Yes get back into it! I’d read a spicy romance set on the Goldie! I will check out those authors as well are they romance writers? What I see so far is kinda, family drama? Is there any swooning and yearning and spicy stuff?
Fiona Lowe maybe not, although she's a really good writer with romance in there. But maybe some of her earlier books could be. Not sure about Stefanie. Never read any of her books. But you're right, there isn't much of that Aussie romance type stuff around. Good to know you'd read something like I have made a dent in. I guess it's up to us to get something out there like this ...
Yeah I think we should. I think we have a unique perspective on life and love and sex. We have some really great characters. Apparently we have the second highest body counts in the world, and in the top 20 for frequency, which I think we would be higher if it wasn’t so bloody hot all the time.
Edit: I used to love Linda Jaivin, she wrote these spicy, funny Aussie books set in the 2000s (written then too) steeped in Aussie music and popular culture of the time. She had a book called Eat Me, in which one of the main characters has an erotic dream about Andrew Denton asking the female character to engulf him on a beach and I see him down my local Woolies all the time and wonder if he knows.
Heck yes. I always love a story that makes me feel like I’m also on vacation in a new place.
Ahh that’s great insight, I do live in a tourist destination, have to get better at describing the landscape. Cheers for the help!
After the internet sensation that was Dangerous Crow Boy Whose Job It Is To Destroy Plastic, I would say yes
Ahh true I forgot about that, yes you’ve given me something else to read to end my reading drought!
If you did a story with an Australian character and a character from Canada or the U.S., that would not only be funny, but educational. I (Canadian) had to look up words when I was reading a book by an Aussie author 😅 You all have very unique language!
I spent a lot of time in the USA in my 20s so that could be an option. I had a lot, A LOT of adventures some of which are suitable for a PG audience, most of which are not. So yeah that’s on the cards. I have never been to Canada though.
I’d definitely be interested! I’ve never read a book set in Australia before. (I’m American)
Cheers, I think there’s a shortage of romance and spicy novels set here. Kylie Scott has some zombie apocalypse romances set in QLD.
My only connection your country is my third favorite version of Taskmaster, so I probably wouldn't seek it out, but this is nowhere near the most niche topic I've seen discussed. Someone in the romance book sub asked for one where the MMC chooses the FMC over his child. So, anything less niche than that will probably do fine.
Wow that is niche. And just wow ok, I’m not going to even ask anything else about that request.
But out of curiosity, what are your other two fave Taskmasters? I didn’t know this was a global franchise.
It's originally from the UK, which is my favorite, then NZ, then Aus. There's a bunch of non-English versions too
I’m gonna give them a go! Thanks.
Answer to your question: WHY NOT!?
Well when you put it that way, yeah why not?
I'll tell you something, I write no spice romance books and the MCs are often from different countries or the story is set in different place etc. People do read despite that. So don't worry
u/sheiseatenwithdesire did you write any own stories? im always interested in reading stories from new writers
Yeah I’m writing about 6 haha
ohh amazing, where can we read them?
Not published yet. I’ll keep you posted if I ever publish.
that is amazing, and if ever need to spit ideas just hit me up
i wrote some short stories but that was more in the adult style but my brain is a huge fantasy land so ideas enough
Yeah, keep writing, even if nobody ever reads it, it’s so good for your soul!
yeah absolutely, i wont give up
No.
Cool. Mind if I ask why not? Just don’t like the way we talk or act in Aus or magic realism not your thing?