Come on In, Boys...the Water's Fine!

I made a very cool discovery recently. My books are appealing to men! As my paranormal romance novels have turned darker, my audience has widened and that is a very good thing!

Welcome to my world, all you Testosterone filled readers! Seems I'm tapping into new territory...horror readers, dark fantasy, dark paranormal readers...and as one male reader said, "I go for your fiction that is a little farther out there." Best compliment I've received in a long time! So nice for him to write me and give me feedback. I truly appreciate it when I hear from readers. He also gave me some great advice:

"As long as you are writing what makes yourself happy, it will show through your work. That's what makes people so talented, they are just doing what makes themselves happy, and the end product is usually amazing, and other people dig it."

Thank you, Mike! You go down in my book as my first male reader. Anyone else out there?

Genre blending has always been something I'm inclined to do and now I'm experiencing some growing pains with it. Some good stretching pains and some not so good from readers who feel my writing has turned a little too dark. While I'm gaining new readers, I'm also losing a few but that is how we as writers find our true audience.

I can't feel bad about it. I just sold my 1848th book since Circle City released in late March. I could get used to this new audience.

Spread love,
Alisha

Michael Murphy, Suspense Novelist on Blending Genres

People who read Michael Murphy mystery/suspense novels are often surprised by the wacky characters and humor in the stories. I’ve always enjoyed reading mystery/suspense with a blend of humor and romance. One of the best writers who excels at this is Nelson DeMille.

It wasn’t a surprise that when I became an author I wrote the kind of novel I enjoy reading. I blend elements of different genres. At the end of the novel, the reader experiences a mystery, a thriller, and a romantic comedy.

Authors should write for their audience. Readers expect a certain style of writing, mystery/and suspense tends to have shorter scenes, chapters, even sentences. Romance writing has longer sentences with more descriptions, not just the sensual scenes. Sci-fi readers want science fiction, but why not include elements of literary fiction in the story?

Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries in your writing. Crossing genres boundaries can add depth of characterization and provide surprises for the reader. The challenge for writers is to write with an audience in mind while pushing the boundaries of the genre. It’s a fine line to walk, but hey, if it was easy, they’d all be doing it.

My latest novel, Scorpion Bay, is filled with danger and suspense. There are also wacky characters and laugh out loud moments. There’s even a paranormal experience, or was it a dream?


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