I spent a lot of time at World Fantasy this year talking to publishing folk. I like talking to publishing folk, and it was a lot of fun. One very strong impression I came away with is that the ‘hot’ thing at the moment is romantic fantasy, especially romantic fantasy with vampires. It seems that, following in the footsteps of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake and Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, everyone wants to tap into the romance/fantasy/vampire/chicklit crossover. I don’t know why this is so, but it is. sigh.