The Advantages of Writing in Multiple Genres
When I first began to publish, I had no idea how
intricate and complicated the process would be to develop a professional
product in print. Our 4H club had asked me to write a little book on how to
raise sheep—which I eventually did over a two-year period. At that time, I wrote
for families and people who knew us in the club. Friends and family are
forgiving and supportive, and they gave me a false sense of security about my abilities
to explain what I’d learned over twenty years with sheep. Writing is easy and
so much fun! I say that now as I’m laughing…
The sheep book and my love of sheep was a joy
to write, I’ll admit. A primer to learn the art of writing fiction—it was not.
My book adviser through Book Surge, (Amazon’s publishing company at the time,)
expressed surprise at my switch from non-fiction to genre fiction. Actually, he
was shocked. His reaction seemed odd to me at the time.
It wasn’t until I waded deep into the fiction process,
that I understood my advisor’s gasp on the other end of the phone. The literary
pool I’d fallen into had water way over my head. The research and years of
looking into the various genres was arduous, and the harsh critiques I’d
received from literary agents in online bootcamps were brutal to my
self-esteem. Writing is hard. It’s that simple. Writing fiction takes a certain
knack and the ability to create endlessly. All the while, following rules
authors are expected to follow for their readers depending upon the genre.
Ten years later, in 2018, Stolen Obsession came
out in paperback. What a proud moment for me. Finally, I had a finished my
first novel, one that had morphed from a single volume into a carefully planned
series. The Annalisse adventures I write about include an antique-loving
amateur sleuth who can’t seem to keep herself out of mischief and killers who
want to do the couple harm. The books cross into different countries and subtly
slide into various genres. The cross-genres happened accidentally—but situations
emerge for a reason.
Writing the first four books in the Annalisse series
has taken me from romantic suspense, thriller, and suspense, to romantic
mystery. Mostly in international settings. Having a couple begin their dating
experience while traveling exotic lands takes readers to places most of us
won’t ever visit in a lifetime. By writing in different genres with characters
who’ve become friends to my readers has given me the freedom to explore each
genre without learning new main character backgrounds—while keeping the focus
on the protagonist and her love interest, Alec Zavos. Should I decide to begin
a new series with the detective from my original books, I will already have
experience with what readers expect in each new category and theme of work. Some
readers want to hear more from Annalisse and Alec’s detective friend, Bill
Drake!
I wrote the children’s book, Mia and Nattie: One
Great Team in 2020 after we lost the sheep that had become part of our
family. The story is based on true events and learning experiences we had with
the only bottle lamb my husband and I ever raised in the laundry room. They
were heartwarming experiences I felt needed exploring in the public square. A
picture book for children to teach the heartfelt life-lessons we had with
Natalie, our horned Dorset ewe.
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