Ghosts? they asked. Are they creepy? We don't like creepy...
No, no, I hastily assured them. I don't write creepy.
Shapeshifters? Were-people? Vampires? What's up with that? They wanted assurance.
I can relate. Really, I can. We all have our lines we draw in the sand. And when we cross that line, we leave our comfort zone. It's difficult to tell from the blurbs for books whether or not that line will be crossed. There's a lot of blurry edges these days.
I try to be scrupulously honest about my books. For instance, many in my family would find the sex in my books tooooo much. I'm up front about it. Don't read my books, I tell them. If you do read them, you have been warned.
Heh. In the same way, I explained my books to my new friends at the swimming pool. Here's what the books are about. Some you may not like.
Fortunately, for every single book, there's a reader somewhere just waiting to read it. Nay, even devour it! So, readers wanted. I write steamy, paranormal, fantasy romance. If that's your bag, have I got a story or two for you!
anny
I love fantasy. I draw my line in the sand with really gross stuff, regardless of genre.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was curious about my Kenzie books, so I went through and 'cleaned' them up; took out the language and edited the sex scenes, even deleting some in Wild At Heart.
ReplyDeleteHer reaction? She enjoyed them...but said the characters had sex waaaaayyy too much for her taste.
Anny,
ReplyDeleteReally late, but honestly true, I love your books. I am waiting with bated breath to read the next book wherever and whatever it is.
I completely agree that everyone has their comfort zones, but I must say that stretching your barriers is a good thing. I'm not talking about knocking down brick walls, but blurring a few lines in the sand.