So I had the sequel to my only dabble into anything other than a straight historical / historical romance come out recently and a question raised its head again. What genre is time travel? I mean yes it's historical in nature, but it can it be a truly accurate depiction of history since you've got a character that is bringing modern ideals with them, if not technology from other times. My particular character's soul was switched by the gods of ancient Egypt when she died in the present with a woman who died in the past. Does that make it paranormal? Without even hearing the premise I've had people tell me vehemently no. Paranormals are only witches, vampires, werewolves they say. If there's a gadget that caused it does that make the story a science fiction. Are they included in the new genre of steam punk if the character creates technology using the means at hand in the past? I wouldn't particularly call it a fantasy even though it is fantastical. So is time travel its own little genre within historicals? separate of historicals? Really where do they fit in the whole spectrum when they're history but not?
