Paranormal Romance Reflections
I’m learning so much during my romance personal curriculum and podcast with Katrina Jackson (Hear Me Out). This comment set me on a side quest, and boy, I’m happy about it.
The stars aligned, and I had the opportunity to speak with paranormal romance authors Nikki Clarke1 and Dria Andersen2. The discussion was a much-needed reminder that
paranormal romance is not simply about vampires. At its best, paranormal romance invites readers into stories that are deeply connected to the imagination of both the known and the unknown.
It was a reminder that we have an opportunity to invest more in reading this subgenre, given the expansive creativity of Black storytelling traditions.
Before we get started, let's break down the differences
Speculative fiction is the broad umbrella category that includes stories that depart from reality and ask “what if?” These stories may include fantasy, science fiction, horror, alternate histories, supernatural tales, and other narratives that imagine worlds beyond everyday experience. Think of speculative fiction as the house.
Fantasy is one room within that house. Fantasy generally features magic, mythical creatures, invented worlds, supernatural powers, or alternative systems of reality. The existence of magic is accepted as part of the world’s natural order. Think epic quests, magical kingdoms, enchanted realms, and ancient prophecies. Romantasy, urban fantasy, etc.
Paranormal romance is another room within the speculative house. The defining feature is that the romance remains central to the story while paranormal elements such as ghosts, vampires, shapeshifters, witches, ancestors, spirits, or other supernatural beings drive the conflict and worldbuilding. The love story is not incidental. It is the point. And that focus on relationships creates unique opportunities within paranormal storytelling.
Remember when I was fussing about the importance of labeling books. Labeling books as speculative fiction is critical because it helps temper the reader’s expectations. Or I hope it would.
During the discussion, it was aptly observed that paranormal fiction tends to default to and/or reference European folklore, mythology, and fairy tales. We readily recognize vampires from Eastern European traditions, fae, and dragons from various mythological systems. Yet Black communities throughout the diaspora possess equally rich traditions of supernatural storytelling.
• Stories of ancestors who guide the living.
• Stories of spirits inhabiting crossroads.
• Stories of shape-shifting beings.
• Stories of protection, intuition, prophecy, and unseen worlds.
Whether we are examining West African spiritual traditions, Caribbean folklore, Gullah Geechee storytelling, Hoodoo traditions, Voodoo rituals, or oral histories passed down through generations, we find narratives that engage with many of the same questions that speculative fiction explores: What exists beyond the visible world? And how do the living interact with spirits?
The Opportunity Within Paranormal Romance
What makes paranormal romance particularly exciting is that the genre centers on emotional connection. A paranormal romance writer can tell a compelling love story while simultaneously introducing readers to fictional or referenced lore that might otherwise remain unfamiliar. And I tried to argue that paranormal romance has room to create cultural continuity. In some ways, if we remove the demonic critique, current-day paranormal could uncover or preserve knowledge.
Remember, before widespread literacy, communities relied heavily on oral storytelling. Today’s paranormal romance authors have another tool at their disposal. They can embed folklore and center blackness. Both Dria and Nikki reminded us that paranormal romance can nod to and reference diasporic traditions, ancestral practices, or cultural histories. Regardless of whether you practice or have encountered it before. Paranormal romance is uniquely positioned to continue that expansion. They create worlds that move beyond familiar supernatural tropes and introduce readers to different ways of understanding magic, spirituality, and community.
Black paranormal romance authors offer a wealth of possibilities. Not because it is underexplored. But because these stories show reverence for our Black ingenuity and creativity. And that, my friends, is Black Girl Magic, pun intended 🤭
The conversation with Nikki Clarke and Dria Andersen reminded me that paranormal romance occupies a fascinating space within speculative fiction. It allows authors to blend imagination, emotional intimacy, and supernatural possibility into the romance narrative.
Perhaps that is one of the genre’s greatest strengths. Beneath the romance, beneath the magic, beneath the supernatural intrigue, paranormal romance can serve as an official living archive one that keeps our stories and spirits moving forward.
Check out the full IG Live
And after you watch the live, I want to encourage you to pick up a paranormal romance.
Happy Reading!
https://www.nikkiclarkeromance.com/
https://www.driaandersen.com/