Unputdownable Books: Blog Tour: Guestpost + Giveaway with Rachel Wells

Are paranormal novels just a trend? Or will it be everlasting?

by Rachel Wells, Author of Enchanted

Paranormal novels have been the hot item lately among thousands, if not millions, of readers. So the question is, is it a trend or is it here to stay? My opinion, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Why? Life is too serious, too harsh, too cruel and people need a way to escape. A paranormal novel or story is a ticket to an unforgettable destination.

With the paranormal genre, there’s something for everyone. The paranormal romance is running rampant among the other sub-genres, fueled probably by the release and success of the Twilight series. I feel this just gave everyone a taste of what was waiting to be read out there. You want a little quirky and humorous, check out the books by H.P. Mallory. I could go on and on, but if you do a simple search online you will literally find hundreds that fit into the genre, each a little different than the last.

I would say paranormal is a type of fantasy. It encompasses everything from ghosts, to vampires, to zombies, to witches, and more. In my experience with reading paranormals, there’s usually at least one person in the book who is “normal”…aka no magical abilities or dark tendencies. To me the normalcy is what makes paranormals, which are so otherwise far-fetched, relatable. Inevitably, the “normal” person in the book gets involved with the paranormal element in some way, whether it’s falling in love with the forbidden, mysterious vampire or becoming the subject of a haunting. It’s exciting. And really, isn’t that what we all want? A little excitement?

Paranormal stories give you the opportunity to live vicariously, to experience the “dark” side, the “bad” side. It opens the readers’ minds to the possibilities of the unknown. Sure not many people are willing to say they believe in say, vampires or zombies, but loads of people will admit to believing in ghosts. People can relate to the paranormal! Everyone has their own story, their own personal experiences with those certain creaks they heard, or when they just felt like they weren’t alone. Isn’t it fun to say, “What if…” It’s fun to let yourself believe, to get lost in the paranormal, even if only for a little bit.

With this day and age there are so many demands and stress placed on people. People like to keep up a certain image. You have to have the looks, the money, the car, the job, the status. There are no signs of this kind of attitude slowing down or going away. Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. To put things in perspective. To see things from new perspective. Sure, maybe your 9 to 5 job sucks, but you need it to pay the bills…at least you’re not being chased by a flesh eating zombie, or stalked by a love-struck, blood thirsty vampire, or worrying about failing your magic exams. As long as people need to get away from the every-day monotony of life, there will be a need for paranormals. To put it in “paranormal talk”, paranormals are and forever will be immortal…