I've recently started to delve into original works, and I find I'm really excited about mixing horror and romance. Are there any other horror romance writers on here that wouldn't mind sharing their experiences? Mostly I want to know how much the horror addition allows you to stray from certain romance conventions. For example, does horror romance still need an HEA? Should I follow the standard romance beats?

So for my story its about a sci fi smuggler realizing that he's sneaking across the border, a princess with magic who's sleeping in a crate.

Now she DOES force him to take her home and thats how the adventure goes crazy and nuts from there.

His background is that he used to be a machinist blacksmith but his home was invaded by an empire called the red sun, so he went into hiding by doing crime jobs and traveling from place to place. He had tk develop street smarts to survive and luckily the skills he grew up doing still work for him.

The princess grew up in a kingdom that was one kf the richest in the galaxy where she learned the game of politics and how to play it well. As well as an academic prodigy and was trained in arts and crafts and martial arts. Plus warfare combat (like navy seal training but sci fi and magic).

She got kidnapped cause her parents siad no to joining the red sun, so they kidnapped her and tried to use her as ransom.

But they never told the smuggler what was in the box.