What is paranormal romance?
Think of an ordinary couple, but one of them is either a werewolf or a vampire. You might as well call The Beauty and the Beast a classic paranormal romance. These stories include love interests who are demons, aliens, shapeshifters, incubi/succubae, fairies, you name it!
Paranormal romance novels are the most popular, bestselling genres in the book publishing market. A couple of publishing companies producing paranormal romances include:
- Avon Publishing
- Carina Press
- Harlequin LUNA
- Juno Books
- Kensington Books
- Nocturne
- Penguin Random House
- St. Martin’s Press
But you didn’t come here to learn about publishing market and all that jazz! You want to know the paranormal romance authors.
There are thousands of paranormal romance authors around the world writing the next love story involving a sultry demoness or a seductive jaguar shifter. Here are ten you should know right now:
1. CHRISTINE FEEHAN
The Quick Facts
- Wrote multiple series: The Dark Series, Leopard Series, Ghostwalker Series, Torpedo Ink, The Drake Sisters, and The Sisters of the Heart (aka Sea Haven).
- Received three PEARL (Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romance Literature) awards in 1999.
- Won the Borders Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008
- Currently lives in North Carolina
- Published manga: Dark Hunger (2007)
Recent Books
- Shadow Keeper
(2018) - Leopard’s Run (2018)
- Covert Games (2018)
- Dark Sentinel (2018)
- Judgment Road (2018)
- Leopard’s Blood
(2017) - Shadow Reaper
(2017) - Power Game
(2017) - Bound Together (2017)
- Dark Legacy
(2017)
2. GENA SHOWALTER
The Quick Facts
- Lives in Oklahoma City, OK
- Two-time RITA nominee
- Series: White Rabbit, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress, and Intertwined.
Recent Books
- The Darkest Captive (2018)
- Shadow and Ice
(2018) - Dark Swan
(2017) - Can’t Get Enough (2017)
- The Darkest Promise (2017)
- Can’t Let Go (2017)
- Can’t Hardly Breathe (2017)
- The Darkest Torment (2016)
- The Harder You Fall (2015)
- The Hotter You Burn (2015)
3. ILLONA ANDREWS
The Quick Facts
- The author is a husband-and-wife duo.
- Husband is a former army communications sergeant
- Live in Texas
- The two met in college
- Ilona dreamed of becoming a scientist before being a writer
Recent Books
- Iron and Magic
(2018) - Diamond Fire
(2018) - Magic Triumphs
(2018) - Wildfire (2017)
- White Hot (2017)
- One Fell Sweep
(2016) - Magic Binds (2016)
- Magic Stars (2015)
- Magic Shifts (2015)
- Sweep in Peace (2015)
4. J.R. WARD
The Quick Facts
- Famously known for the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
- Worked as Chief of Staff in a Harvard medical facility
- Graduated from Albany Law School and worked as a corporate attorney
- J.R. Ward is a pseudonym for Jessica Bird
- Originally from Boston, MA
- Doubled-major in history and art history in Smith College
Recent Books
- Prisoner of Night (2019)
- The Thief (2018)
- Dearest Ivie (2018)
- Blood Fury (2018)
- Consumed (2018)
- The Chosen (2017)
- Devil’s Cut (2017)
- The Beast (2016)
- Blood Vow (2016)
- The Angel’s Share (2016)
5. JACQUELYN FRANK
The Quick Facts
- Born in Long Island, NY
- Lives in North Carolina
- Loves animals
- Former ASL interpreter
- A major advocate for reading and writing.
- Known series: The World of the Nightwalkers
Recent Books
- Famished (2018)
- The Science of Pleasure (2018)
- The Phoenix Project (2018)
- Victory (2018)
- Truce (2018)
- Melena (2018)
- Valerian (2018)
- Conquest (2018)
- Warlord (2018)
6. LARISSA IONE
The Quick Facts
- Lives in Wisconsin
- Known series: Demonica and Lords of Deliverance
- RITA nominee
- Studied meteorology
- Air Force veteran
- Wrote five novels before being published
- Born in a tiny farming community in Oregon
Recent Books
- Dining With Angels (2018)
- Hawkyn (2018)
- Her Guardian Angel (2018)
- Forsaken By Night (2017)
- Razr (2017)
- Z (2016)
- Base Instincts
(2015) - Hades (2015)
- Revenant (2014)
- Chained by Night
(2014)
7. LOUISA BURTON
The Quick Facts
- Descendant of Little John, Robin Hood’s partner
- Real name: Patricia Ryan
- Has a twin sister who is also a writer
- Her novel, Silken Threads, won the RITA for the Best Long Historical Romance
- Currently lives in New York
- Loves collecting antique books
Recent Books
- My Best Friend’s Girl (2016, as Patricia Ryan)
- Good to be Bad
(2016) (as Patricia Ryan) - Deep in the Night (2016) (as Patricia Ryan)
- Arm Candy (2016) (as Patricia Ryan)
- The Marriage Arrangement (2016, as Patrica Ryan)
- The Black Sheep (2012, as Patricia Ryan)
- In the Garden of Sin (2009)
- Whispers of the Flesh (2008)
- House of Dark Delights (2007)
- Bound in Moonlight (2007)
8. NALINI SINGH
The Quick Facts
- Born in the Fiji islands
- Lives in New Zealand
- Worked as a teacher, a librarian, and a lawyer
- Avid Traveler. You can check out her latest travels in her Travel Diary.
Recent Books
- Archangel’s Prophecy (2018)
- Cherish Hard (2017)
- Ocean Light (2018)
- Archangel’s Viper
(2017) - Silver Silence (2017)
- Rebel Hard
(2017) - Archangel’s Heart
(2016) - Rock Wedding (2016)
- Archangel’s Enigma (2015)
- Rock Redemption (2015)
9. ROBIN T. POPP
The Quick Facts
- Has two master’s degrees
- First novel: Close to the Sun
- Lives in Houston, Texas
- Pets: Three frogs, two dogs, and a rabbit
Recent Books
- Beyond the Mist (2016)
- Dark Side of the Sun (2014)
- The Reckoning
(2009) - The Haunting
(2008) - Lord of the Night (2007)
- The Darkening
(2007) - Tempted in the Night (2007)
- Seduced by the Night (2006)
- Out of the Night (2005)
- Too Close to the Sun (2003)
10. SHERRILYN KENYON
The Quick Facts
- Aka Kinley MacGregor
- Was rejected from the University of Georgia’s Creative Writing program three times
- Was accepted into the Savannah College of Art & Design, but couldn’t afford the tuition
- Born with mixed Cherokee blood
- Owns a vast sword collection
- 80 of her books have been placed in the New York Times Bestseller’s List
- Her Dark Hunters series is currently in the works of a television series
Recent Books
- Death Doesn’t Bargain (2018)
- Stygian (2018)
- Born of Trouble
(2018) - Born of Blood (2018)
- Deadmen Walking
(2017) - The Wager (2017)
- Insurrection (2017)
- Dragonsworn (2017)
- Dragonsmark (2017)
- Born of Legend (2016)
Now you know who’s who in the paranormal romance world. Who are you going to start reading today? Have any favorites?
Of course, there are even more authors in this realm:
- Alexa Riley
- Celia Kyle
- Chloe Neill
- Donna Grant
- Jayne Ann Krentz
- Jeaniene Frost
- Jennifer Ashley
- K. F. Breene
- Karen Marie Moning
- Kathryn Smith
- Kerrelyn Sparks
- Kresley Cole
- Lara Adrian
- Laurann Dohner
- Laurell K. Hamilton
- Lora Leigh
- Lynsay Sands
- Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
- Nina Bangs
- Paige Tyler
- Rebecca Zanetti
- Robin D. Owens
- Starla Night
- Sunny
- Suzanne Wright
- T.S. Joyce
- Thea Harrison
- Tina Folsom
- Yasmine Galenorn
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