Sub-genres and sub-sub-genres

It is arguable that, rather than there being sub-genres in romance, that romance IS a sub-genre of other genres (ie: Western romance, Fantasy romance, Detective romance). Either way its roughly the same message.

Thanks must go to the very handy 'FindMeAnAuthor.com' from which I've paraphrased the following definitions (marked with an **). They spread theirs out through their site but I've brought them all together here for ease of comparison. It's a terrific site for all things literary.

• ROMANCE: ** The genre of Romantic Fiction has two strict criteria: The first is that the story must focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people. Secondly, the end of the story must be positive, leaving the reader believing that the protagonists' love and relationship will endure for the rest of their lives.

• CHICKLIT: 'post feiminist fiction' (whatever that means) ** "Find Me An Author.com" explains that the most straightforward examples of chick-lit is Briget Jones' Diary and Sex and the City. In fact 1996's 'Briget Jones' gets the credit for coining the phrase which has taken the world by storm and now appears in the Oxford Dictionary.
• PARANORMAL: Vampyres, warewolves, aliens, futuristic, ghosts, time-travel. Romance is still central to the story.
• EROTICA: Romantic erotica is different to hard erotica or pornography in that the relationship bewteen characters is still heightened. Rom.Erotica seeks to create feeling through the emotional aspects of the book as well as the physical descriptions. Language and concepts are often more adult than other sub-genres. Anatomical descriptions are coarser, swearing is common, sexual activity between any number of individuals acceptable.
• MYSTERY/WHODUNNIT: ** There is now such a huge variety within the genre, it also has several sub-genres, including detective fiction (including the classic whodunnit), legal thriller, courtroom drama, hard-boiled fiction, Police Procedurals, Private Eye, Suspense, Thrillers and any other sub-genre in which a committed crime is the leading motivator of the plot. (Romance remains central, of course, in a romantic detective/suspense novel.)
• CONTEMPORARY: A 'modern' book (ie after 1950) which does not meet the definition of 'historical' or 'futuristic'. Very broad scope within that definition.
• HISTORICAL: ** I suppose the most obvious thing is that any historical fiction piece will have to encompass history. Usually the time period - and its depiction - is at the core of the story. As well as telling the stories of everyday people's lives, historical fiction may involve major political or social events of the time and the individual’s role in shaping them.
• INSPIRATIONAL: romance stories in which the faith of the characters is integral to the plot. Without the faith-elements the story would not hold up. No restrictions on what kind of faith is being explored (real or invented). The having of faith and living by faith is of central importance.
• FANTASY: ** A Fantasy Novel is any book that contains unrealistic settings, or magic, often set in a medieval universe, or possibly involving mythical beings or supernatural forms as a primary element of the plot, theme, or setting. Make-believe is what this genre is all about.
• MULTICULTURAL: Love stories with mixed race relationships, set in foreign locales or containing some other aspect of multiculturalism as a central plot point.
• MEDICAL: As the name might suggest, this sub-genre relates to individuals working in the medical industry (hospital, practice, field) and more than usually is written BY writers who have worked in the medical field.
• ROMANTIC COMEDY: Generally a contemporary romance in which light comedy is central (but not overpowering the romance).

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