I write historical romance (see cover to the left). When I decided to aim toward writing novels, I had to choose among the things I loved to read best. I’m an avid reader of historical romance (most all eras), romantic suspense, suspense/thriller (more Mary Higgins Clark than Stephen King) and women’s fiction (Kristin Hannah tops my list there.). And it seemed a very easy decision: historical romance authors had long been my inspiration. Like many other authors or writers I know, Judith McNaught was an idol of mine, a writer who weaved stories both historical and contemporary that stuck with me long after I finished them. Still, today, some of her characters live in the memory banks of my brain like old friends. I wanted to write like that.
And I love, love, love history. It seemed a simple, easy choice. And the genre? I stuck with the historical genre Judith M. most wrote in: regency. There are others I love as much (if I must confess, probably more). I’m an avid reader of anything Elizabethan — both fiction and nonfiction. I also love to read books set in Revolutionary War America, but those are far and few between. Especially right now, when it doesn’t seem that war is a high topic of interest in romance novels, unless Napoleon was a part of it.
So my first book, my second currently about fifteen thousand words from being finished and a short story under submission right now are all historical romance, all set somewhere within the years of 1811 – 1820, in England. And I continue to have ideas for historical romance and I will always, always write them. It is my first love.
But I confess. After many fantasies of cheating, I finally took the plunge. And it felt amazing to cheat. On my genre, that is.
Part of that came from a desire to try something different. Part of it came from a solid discussion with myself about where I wanted my career to go. Where I envision myself. Mostly, it was because this book — the one I cheated with — called to me. Until I couldn’t ignore it, until I couldn’t just make a notation here and there and call it a day.
So finally, I succumbed. I began thinking about it actively, considering the elements of plot, learning about my characters. In January, I went to a full day workshop where this book was my focus. I’ve been plotting out this very different book. I wrote the first four or five chapters, to get a feel for the story, and have since returned to finishing my plot outline, working out the elements and details and how to weave it all together.
This book is very, very different. It’s a suspense/thriller type with some romantic elements. It has a villain who makes me uncomfortable. Thinking about his motivations, about why he does what he does makes me more than a little twitchy. But honestly, I think that’s a good thing. And it has a heroine who will make some big mistakes that result in hard-to-live-with consequences. And just yesterday, another character came to life for me. He introduced me to his home, his family life, and in the span of five minutes, became so much more real and interesting because of it.
So as I work on this plot and finish the second book in my Willoughby Series historical romance, I’m essentially straddling between two relationships. (Er, pardon the pun.) Both of them are very different, both give me something the other one doesn’t and both of them are a part of me. And I suspect, will always remain so.
I won’t give up my historical romance roots, because I love writing it. I love the research, I love the history. I believe the type of romance one call tell in history is different, sweeter somehow. More magical in some ways. In a review, a reader likened SOMETHING ABOUT HER to a sort of “fairy tale type” romance. That pleased me, because that’s often how I think of the historical romances I love. I often thought of many of Judith McNaught’s historicals as very fairy-tale like.
The suspense/thriller stories are grittier and much less about romance (if at all) than about a journey, the twists and turns and how the characters overcome and handle them. It’s darker, less comfortable and still, so very satisfying. (And will probably be written under a different name.)
So I will continue to cheat. In fact, one might call me a Genre Polygamist. Because I foresee long lasting relationships with both genres and hopefully, many books to come. And there is the story I wrote first, years ago, (now dubbed in women’s fiction) that begs to be updated and rewritten too…
What about you? Do you write in multiple genres? As a reader, do you read authors who do? What is your first love as a writer or reader?
5 comments
I like playing in the dark sometimes. Actually, I finally figured out how to describe myself as a writer. For awhile, I stammered and ermed about being a cross-genre writer. Then it came to me. I write romance with magic and mystery. The time period doesn’t matter, not really. So long as there is a romance, there’s a mystery to solve, whether it be an actual crime or a puzzling secret, and a touch of the magical, I’m in my happy place.
Of course, I’m also a firm believer that a writer writes best when she loves what she’s writing. A story that grabs you will grab your reader.
Stretch your wings, Jeannie! You might surprise yourself at how far you can soar. 😉
Great post, Jeannie! I think this kind of “cheating” keeps it all fresh. I write in multiple genres, but not as far removed as yours. I write contemporary romance and also women’s fiction. Much easier to “straddle” these two.
Kudos to you for taking the leap. It sounds like you’re having a lot of fun with it.
@Silver — playing in the dark, perfect way to describe it. And I believe absolutely that writing style comes across — no matter how unique or different the elements, you leave something of yourself on the page. As a marketing person, helping authors to find brands, it’s what I always encourage them to look for.
At this point, if I had to search for identifiable similarities in my historicals and my suspense books, it would be that in the end, we can overcome anything and that the choice to do so is ours to make. Otherwise, I think I’ll have to wait until the suspense book is finished to really delve deeper into that.
But for now, it’s just fun. LOL
@Laurie — Thanks! I am having a lot of fun.
Yes, contemp romance and women’s fiction are closer. But either way, you’re writing what you love. Contemp romance is probably the one thing I haven’t really thought about writing. I enjoy them — romantic comedies especially, but it’s definitely not my voice.
When I get brave, I’ll post the first few pages of my suspense. 🙂
I’m glad others ‘cheat’. They say write what you love to read. I don’t think I can live long enough as I read a lot of different genre’s and keep adding more. I had never read a paranormal until I read Lucy Monroe’s “Moon Awaking” a shift changer. I loved it and took the leap to read the Twilight series. Again loved them. Just recently I read Stephanie Meyer’s “The Host” An OH MY GOSH story and a Sci-Fi. Again a genre I hadn’t read in years.
So far with 4 books out 2 contemps and 2 romantic suspense I’m ready to expand cheating. Silver said it well when she encouraged you to Stretch your Wings. It’s good to soar high and if we don’t stretch we’ll never know how high that can be for us.