Genre mash-up

[Pru Freda]

Following a BBC TV series on the sacred sites of Britain, I was inspired to write a six book supernatural fantasy series. Because I'm primarily a writer of cozy mysteries, I'd like to include a whodunit element in the stories. Would mixing genres like this be a good idea? Does anyone know of something similar? For all I know all the world and his wife could be writing supernatural fantasy whodunits, but I'd like to check them out if they are.

And if you are a fantasy writer and would like to see the source of my inspiration, here's a link to the site featured in the first of the TV series, St Nectan's Glen in Cornwall: www.st-nectansglen.co.uk/

[Deleted]

Hi Lynda,

Personally, I see nothing wrong with mixing up the genres. I've nearly completed the first draft of a Steampunk Western. Off the top of my head, the only fantasy whodunnit I can think of is Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series (I'm in the middle of the first book and think it's great).

[Deleted]

A lot of the supernatural fantasy books I've read have had a mystery element, like Ilona Andews' Kate Daniels series. They work well together as a mashup. Then, of course, you have the Dresden Files. Definite pattern there.

[Daniel]

Beautiful photo, Lynda.

I can relate to this question. The idea for my first book started off with the premise, "What if you put a private investigator into a fantasy world?"

So I don't see a problem with mixing genres a bit either. Marketing can be trickier, which is why some writers pick a "primary" genre (Supernatural Fantasy in your case) and then use the other genre (e.g. whodunit) in the plot structure. For readers who have genre preferences, the primary genre clearly identifies your book as something they might like to read.

It all comes back to knowing your audience. If you target the book at the supernatural fantasy crowd, you don't want your book to sound like a mystery. What I would try to avoid is making my book sound like only an intersection of the fantasy and mystery readers would like it.

I think romantic fantasy authors struggled with this problem for a long time. But from what I can tell, romantic fantasy has evolved into a fairly large market of its own. Not all genre combinations do that.

[Becca Mills]

Apr 11, 2014 11:03:53 GMT -5 @lynnblackmar said:

A lot of the supernatural fantasy books I've read have had a mystery element, like Ilona Andews' Kate Daniels series. They work well together as a mashup. Then, of course, you have the Dresden Files. Definite pattern there.

Yep, I was just going to chime in with this sort of comment. Mystery/thriller is one of the main genres contemporary fantasy hybridizes with. In fact, I'm going to go out on a limb and say *most* contemporary/urban fantasy has a mystery element. Maybe that's too strong. It's definitely super-common, though.

So, write away, Lynda!

[Pru Freda]

Thanks, everyone. That's eased my mind.

Daniel, yes marketing was what worried me, especially as there may be a fair element of romance involved, too. I'm not sure at the moment which of the three elements will predominate - I certainly don't intend for it to a PNR - but it won't be exactly a cozy, either.

Ah well, we'll just have to see when I write it.

Becca - thanks, I'll try. I just don't seem to be writing much of anything at the moment.

[Becca Mills]

Apr 11, 2014 11:22:55 GMT -5 Pru Freda said:

Thanks, everyone. That's eased my mind.
Becca - thanks, I'll try. I just don't seem to be writing much of anything at the moment.

You and me both, Lynda.

[Deleted]

I think genre-mashup is very common, but most readers seem to prefer that you have at least one dominant genre. If you look at the Kate Daniels novels -- which I ADORE -- there's fantasy and mystery but also romance. But fantasy is the primary, then mystery / action then romance. These days romance seems more dominant than mystery/action in KD, but fantasy is the main one.

[Deleted]

Stevie King had like seven (?) genres in The Dark Tower series. I LOVED it. But then, he doesn't need to market. My first book is a mash-up. It's been very hard to market. It has a strong story of suspense woven through a Coming of Age, New Adult vibe. Dark New Adult. And I've had people read it and say its definitely Women's Fiction. I just changed categories today to Suspense (since a lot of the reviews mention that part) and Coming of Age. The second (sequel) is definitely New Adult AND Romantic Suspense, as is the third. And they're the same series. So for my debut book, I think I screwed up... BookBub has turned me down 4 times, even with 40+ reviews with a 4.5 average star rating. I seriously think its because they don't know where to place it.

[Becca Mills]

Apr 11, 2014 11:42:21 GMT -5 @nadia said:

I think genre-mashup is very common, but most readers seem to prefer that you have at least one dominant genre. If you look at the Kate Daniels novels -- which I ADORE -- there's fantasy and mystery but also romance. But fantasy is the primary, then mystery / action then romance. These days romance seems more dominant than mystery/action in KD, but fantasy is the main one.

LOVE that series, too. Do you have other faves?

[Deleted]

Apr 12, 2014 2:07:50 GMT -5 Becca Mills said:

Apr 11, 2014 11:42:21 GMT -5 @nadia said:

I think genre-mashup is very common, but most readers seem to prefer that you have at least one dominant genre. If you look at the Kate Daniels novels -- which I ADORE -- there's fantasy and mystery but also romance. But fantasy is the primary, then mystery / action then romance. These days romance seems more dominant than mystery/action in KD, but fantasy is the main one.

LOVE that series, too. Do you have other faves?

In the similar vein.... I like Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson, and Alpha & Omega.

[Becca Mills]

Apr 11, 2014 19:43:35 GMT -5 @lilly said:

Stevie King had like seven (?) genres in The Dark Tower series. I LOVED it. But then, he doesn't need to market. My first book is a mash-up. It's been very hard to market. It has a strong story of suspense woven through a Coming of Age, New Adult vibe. Dark New Adult. And I've had people read it and say its definitely Women's Fiction. I just changed categories today to Suspense (since a lot of the reviews mention that part) and Coming of Age. The second (sequel) is definitely New Adult AND Romantic Suspense, as is the third. And they're the same series. So for my debut book, I think I screwed up... BookBub has turned me down 4 times, even with 40+ reviews with a 4.5 average star rating. I seriously think its because they don't know where to place it.

Hmm ... maybe they're just waiting on the third book?

When you apply to Bookbub, do you tell the what list you'd like to advertise to, or do they decide?

[Becca Mills]

Apr 12, 2014 2:09:14 GMT -5 @nadia said:

Apr 12, 2014 2:07:50 GMT -5 Becca Mills said:

LOVE that series, too. Do you have other faves?

In the similar vein.... I like Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson, and Alpha & Omega.

Yeah, I like those a lot too, though I like the main series better than the A&O spin-off. I think I may have read everything Briggs has written. She's terrific.

Do you read Seanan McGuire's October Daye series? That's a big favorite of mine.

[Deleted]

I read a lot of them, but I sort of stopped...not even sure why. I heard of Seanan because we have the same agent.

[Becca Mills]

Apr 12, 2014 2:13:05 GMT -5 @nadia said:

I read a lot of them, but I sort of stopped...not even sure why. I heard of Seanan because we have the same agent.

Wow, that says great stuff about your work! Do you do the hybrid thing, and if so, is your agent cool with it?

[Deleted]

Apr 12, 2014 2:37:08 GMT -5 Becca Mills said:

Apr 12, 2014 2:13:05 GMT -5 @nadia said:

I read a lot of them, but I sort of stopped...not even sure why. I heard of Seanan because we have the same agent.

Wow, that says great stuff about your work! Do you do the hybrid thing, and if so, is your agent cool with it?

Thanks. My agent's cool with it. She's going to handle sub-rights like translation instead. Basically at this point, I'm not enticed by anything NY can offer...unless they put their promises in the contract lol

[Becca Mills]

Apr 12, 2014 2:45:24 GMT -5 @nadia said:

Apr 12, 2014 2:37:08 GMT -5 Becca Mills said:

Wow, that says great stuff about your work! Do you do the hybrid thing, and if so, is your agent cool with it?

Thanks. My agent's cool with it. She's going to handle sub-rights like translation instead. Basically at this point, I'm not enticed by anything NY can offer...unless they put their promises in the contract lol

That's awesome.

[Deleted]

I'm always quick to snag books that leave bookstore clerks confused as to where to shelve them. A well-written mystery is always appealing and an uncommon setting is even better!