The Amazing, Ever-Expanding Spectrum of Genres by Rolynn Anderson

I thought I was a limber writer, moving among the suspense, mystery and thriller genres, usually setting my novels in modern times.   Some of my stories come with a touch of paranormal, so pedestrian and not far-fetched, I call them ‘normal paranormal.’   I always thought I was an eclectic reader as well…until I read the list of plots Carina Press was looking for.  Wow!  I’m amazed at what the readers are craving…and how inept I’d be at writing most of the following ‘types’ of books! 

So I ask you, which of the following genres (quoted directly from Carina Press) would you read, and how many could/would you write?

“Although we (Carina Press) remain open to all submissions that meet our guidelines, we’re looking to acquire full- and novella-length manuscripts in these 6 subgenres in particular. This call is open-ended; there’s no closing date or submission deadline:

1.       Paranormals and urban fantasy: Other publishers are saying no to paranormals—not us! While we’ll consider manuscripts across the genre, here are some things we’re seeking in particular: great sexual tension, high heat levels, male/male protagonists, series featuring shifters, unique twist on old paranormal tropes and elements, band of brother/alpha heroes, paranormal with suspense elements, and stories that delve into clan politics.

2.       Male/male romance: Though we acquire across LGBTQ, we have the most success with male/male. Right now we’re especially interested in paranormal, sexy contemporary/erotic, stepbrother romance, romances that tackle unlikely pairings or more “taboo” subjects, suspense/mystery, and scifi/fantasy series.

3.       Sexy sci fi romance: We’re looking for the fun, the unusual, the sexy, the silly, and even the over-the-top. Maybe the hero or heroine is an alien—a true alien. Or maybe it’s set on different worlds, has a Firefly-esque space opera feel, or features space pirates or space cowboys.

4.       Erotic romance: We’d like to sign someone who can write a series that’s extremely erotic (maybe even filthy). We’d love to see ménage or more, BDSM that’s not set in a club, darker erotic romance and…there’s that word taboo again.

5.       Capers, heists, jewel thieves, etc. Books, characters and setups that are sexy and possibly cross-genre. You could have an anti-hero (or heroine), or maybe hero/heroine are on opposite sides, or maybe they’re both thieves, moving from friends to lovers. Give us fast-paced adventure and a fun duo facing off or teaming up!

6.       Cowboys and contemporary westerns. We’re looking to add to our list! There are so many possibilities here— give it a unique twist, make it a foreign locale. Or it can be high tension, high stakes American-set contemporary cowboy romance.”

As you ponder what you’d read and/or write from the list above, here’s my latest novel, FEAR LAND, a romantic suspense, slightly paranormal ;-)...and finalist for a Rone Award.  Yippee!  

http://amzn.com/B012JE75ES

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/587797

http://rolynnanderson.com

“Rolynn Anderson’s writing is tight and stays on point, always following the plot through

to the nail-biting climax.” –Melissa Snark

FEAR LAND

Tally hates to hear rants from people’s brains.  What does she do when those mind-screams threaten the man she loves?

****

Tally Rosella, an acclaimed psychiatrist who helps children fraught with anxiety, avoids adults because their brains rant at her.  But the chance to start a second child study and connect her findings to PTSD, sets her squarely among devious colleagues at a big California university.

Army Major Cole Messer, Tally’s new neighbor, won’t admit that trauma from combat tours in Afghanistan, destroyed his marriage and hampered his ability to lead.  As a teacher of college ROTC and single parent, he’s focused on enrolling his highly anxious son in Tally’s study and getting back to active duty.

Someone is dead set against Tally’s presence at the university, and blowback from her battles with co-workers put Cole and his son in jeopardy.  Watch what happens when people struggling with shades of anxiety collide with corrupt, revengeful foes.

Blending Fact With Fiction

Good morning, everyone!

I think everyone can relate to this topic, whether you're a reader or a writer.  How much fact do you want to draw out the details, and how much becomes too much and boring?

The Curse of the Templars, I
January 2012

I thought about this long and hard when developing The Curse of the Templars, and the first book, Immortal Hope.  In fact, about five chapters in, I had to do something I never do -- cut words.  I had a historical dump, when it so wasn't necessary.

We authors tend to get carried away.  We find fascination in the tiniest, most insignificant things -- after all, we can pull ideas for a whole story off of just looking at a cereal box at times.  And it's difficult to chain our inner muse when we're fascinated by something in particular.

But that actually became the key for me: stopping, looking at what I was writing and conciously acknowledging that all these facts and figures were, in essence, drivel to a reader.  Which is what we have to remember when we're writing...the reader's interest, not the writer's interest.

Fact needs to relate to the scene and the overall plot, while simultaneously driving the story forward.  A key place I can use an example, is when Anne, in Immortal Hope, is rationalizing the behavior of the knights, and how some could be less than honorable.  The first draft, I had four paragraphs listing all the different incidents where Templar knights had been documented for abuses in power.  It was fascinating to me, because I was the one doing the research.  All the reader really cares about is the summary that made it into the final version, which is along the lines of  "Some accounts documented Templar abuses of power, where men who were supposed to be noble used the sword to domineer over the unfortunate."

Readers don't come to our books for a history lesson or a reality disertation.  The facts they glean, they learn via the fiction story-telling.  Case in point -- it's really easy for us to believe CSI, and we all have a general idea of cop procedurals strictly from television, not because we watched a documentary on "Step 1, Step2, Step3...  We're really okay knowing, logically, it's been fictionalized, and we simply don't really care if fingerprint points can't possibly be matched that quickly, in real life.

The Curse of the Templars, II
September 25, 2012

The point?

When an author blends fact into fiction, historical, procedural, or simply reference, she needs to keep the reader in mind.  Step back from your writing.  Ask yourself, does my reader, who may not share the same passion for this topic, but wants to be entertained by the romance, really care about the nitty gritty?  Can I summarize this, as heartbreaking as it may be, and drive to my next point of action faster?

If you can, you probably don't need the extra tidbits.  And if you really can't part with the details, at least maybe you can move them, so the info doesn't come all at once.

Anyway!  The second book in The Curse of the Templars releases TUESDAY!  Whee!  I hope you'll check it out.  On my next stop in this month, I'll be giving away a copy or two!



~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com