Blending Genres by Connie Vines #roundrobin #Writing Fiction #Blending Genres #AuthorTips #Romantasy

 Thank you, Sky, for this month's topic: Writing and Reading Blended Genres.

"What do you enjoy about blending them while writing, and do you enjoy reading the mix?"

Reading: 

Historical and Romance seem to be a comfortable blend. A gentle push-pull of attraction and the details of daily life. I'm more inclined to read a "western" setting because the plot is faster-paced.

Movies: My favorite movie: "Somewhere in Time" Starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. 1980 Romance/ Fantasy.  It is a film adaptation of the novel Bid Time Return (1975) by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay. 

My Writing: 

I'm comfortable with mixing "Romance and Paranormal." I don't know what this reveals about me... "Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow," and I'm working on novella 2 in the series. (Paranormal Romance).

"Romance and Suspense" Brede, Rodeo Romance, book 2. This is a genre I'm not comfortable writing in. I have nightmares during the process.  

Television:

Hits of the past: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Fargo". 

Shows of today: "Dark Winds". 

 

The latest mixes in novels:

Romantacy: Romantic Fantasy. A subgenre using elements and conventions of the chivalric romance genre.

Literary Horror: A mix of literary fiction and horror, focusing on character development alongside chilling narratives.

Dystopian Romance: Combines dystopian settings with romantic plots to explore love in oppressive societies.

Cozy Mystery:  Merges light-hearted cozy settings with mystery plots, appealing to fans of both genres.

Of the latest mixes, I find Romantacy and Cozy Mysteries, the ones I would most likely read and consider writing.

What are your thoughts on these new "genres"?  

Are there any genre mix-ups you read? Or would you like to see?

Happy Reading!

Connie

This month's Round Robin participants 🐦 🪺

Sally Odgers https://behindsallysbooksmark2.blogspot.com

Bob Rich  https://wp.me/p3Xihq-3ET

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/

Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com

Connue Vines  (you are here )

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/

Book Promotion Ideas for Authors. What Works and What Doesn't? #Round Robin, #Author Tips, Author Promo ideas

 

Thank you Sky for this month's topic.

 Book marketing tips: What works for me and what doesn't.

I have found my marketing sucess depends on: the book's release date, the book's premise, great reviews, and "what's hot and what's not" 😄.

 Summer books sell well because it is vacation time. Everyone loves a great beach read.

Halloween is the perfect time to showcase a spooky or goth story.

Holiday stories are always a relaxing reading.

Since I write in multiple genres, I try to avoid competing with myself.

This year, I will have a RomCom book for a winter release.

*Often, a reader likes a particular TV show or movie and is looking for the same type of connection in a book. (Yellowstone = Cowboy Romance, NCIS = Action/Military heroes.)  I prefer to write what I wish to read or what catches my attention. After all, I will live with my fictional people for months and months.

What hasn't worked for me:

Free book giveaways.

Swag giveaways.

Facebook ads.

Merchandise (mugs, totes, etc.) is on my website.

Streaming a live video event (Connie doesn't like to read aloud to adults. Though story hour is fun with children).

What works for me:

Book Awards.

Discounting the first book in a series.

Promo on other blogs.

Utilizing my blog(s) connection with my readers/new readers.

Facebook author page.

Publisher's Author Insider Blog, FB page for readers.

Theme promotions with other authors.

Coffee Time Romance (which closed its doors last year).

Guest appearances on other blogs.

And, of course, nice reviews from readers :-)

Participation Events, which sadly are no more:

Young Author Events, Judging YA Writing Contests.

Guest Speaking at schools and libraries. 

Book Signing Events at local and family-owned bookstores.

Please stop by the other authors participating in this month's Blog Hop. I bet they are sharing their secrets, 😉too!

XOXO

Connie

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-36L

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Warm Wishes and Gingerbread Kisses #Free Read. #Flash Fiction Story for My Readers By Connie Vines #Holiday Story, #Free Read #Sweet RomanceHe

A Holiday Gift to My Readers

 

Warm Wishes and Gingerbread Kisses

By © Connie Vines

He always ordered a slice of gingerbread and black coffee. Hearing his voice through the headset made my morning, which was why I volunteered to work the drive-thru.

Was it his southern drawl, his friendly smile, or the way G.B., the Irish setter, rested his chin on Mason's shoulder so adoringly that won me over?  I'm not certain. I only know I developed an impossible-to-hind crush.

Mason finally asked me out, and now we're engaged.

We're perfect together, like hot chocolate with whipped cream or gingerbread cookies and milk.

We are planning a small winter wedding. Our family organized a potluck reception. My dad will walk me down the aisle of the church. And G.B. (AKA Gingerbread Boy) is excited to be our ring bearer. 

I hope you enjoyed my Flash Fiction Story. 

🎅🎄🎁

Please click on the following author links for more gifts to you, our readers:

XOXO,

Connie

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-35i

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Diane Bator https://dbator.blogspot.com/

Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by

Setting the Scene By Connie Vines #Round Robin Blog, #Writting Tips, #BWL Author

 Setting The Scene 

 Setting for a story is important, exciting, and often challenging.

While I endeavor to give my readers a vivid sense of where and when events occur, I struggle with what is essential versus what "I" wish to highlight.

• Sensory details are essential.
• 
  
• Show what is surprising or strange to the main character.
• 
  
• Introduce emotional qualities of the 'place.' Tragic, Cheerful, Nostalgic, or another emotion.
• 
  
• How does the character feel about the place?
• 
  
• Is the story set in the city, the desert, or an imaginary world?
• 
  
• What are the key details that make your story's setting interesting?

While my stories may be fiction, I have lived in or vacationed in the town or area I chose as a setting. This is important to me. It's my way of making the scene come alive for my readers.

I set up a picture storyboard for reference.

I study the regional dialect. Example: Porch, Stoop, Patio. In California, it's a patio; in Texas, a porch; and in Chicago, Illinois, it's a stoop.

Your readers will point out your mistake.

If you are writing a historical novel, research is a must. Libraries, Historical Societies, original documents, and personal diaries are essential. However, Wikipedia or www search acquired historical information is always suspect. 

My opening settings/hooks:

Charlene hadn't told Rachel she'd fixed her up with a cowboy, much less Lynx Maddox, the "Wild Cat" of the rodeo circuit. Rachel sighed. She should have known. After all, Charlene only dated men who wore booths and Stetsons.

Thunder rumbled across the remote New Mexico sky as an unforgiving wind shoved somber gray clouds against a craggy mountaintop. Brede Kristensen tugged the brim of his Stetson lower of his forehead. The threat of a storm didn't faze him; nothing fazed him anymore. The worst had already happened.

"You and Elvis have done a great job on this house," Meredith said as her older sister led the way downstairs toward the kitchen, where the tour began. "Sorry I couldn't get over until now, but I've been sort of...well, busy. " She hoped her sister didn't ask her to define busy. Becoming a zombie and dealing with the entire raised from the dead issue over the past six months was not a topic easily plunked into casual conversation.

5 stories in one book

Marring Off Murphy

Settling into his office chair, Professor Murphy Flynn glanced at the copy of OP News. "I Want to Get Married," the headline read. He upended his coffee mug when he realized the grainy photo was of him, sending the liquid perilously close to a six-inch stack of ungraded papers.

Love Potion N. 9

"Don't shake your finger at me, Simone Basso. I know what I'm doing," Persia Richmond said, holding a pipette to fill a crystal half-ounce atomizer with perfume.

A Slice of Scandal

"Hey, now,' dis key lime [pie's like de one I serve at my restaurant. Simple to make and good to eat! Key limes perk up de mouth and makes you hoppy."

Producer/Director Julia Kincaid focused on her monitor and adjusted the mic of her headset. "Camera One, tighten the headshot."  She watched as the camera feathered over the chef to capture the best angle. The camera should have loved Franklin. His height was average, his black hair was short and curly, and his skin took on a polished bronze color under the harsh camera lights, but the camera didn't like Franklin. There was something about his eyes: the dark agate, forbidding and expressionless...

1-800-Fortune

The moon was full: giant in the sky, a brilliant iridescent orb that stared down at the earth. Enza allowed the energy to feather over her as she removed the silk cloth protecting her Tarot cards.

There are seventy-eight cards in the Tarot deck. Four suits of fourteen cards each. Swords, Cups, Wands, Pentacles, and twenty-two cards call the major arcane--the big mysteries.

If you found my examples helpful, please post a comment on my blog.

Please click the links below to visit the talented authors participating in our Blog Hop this month. 

 

 Warm Wishes and Gingerbread Kisses, 

Connie

 

Dr. Bob Rich  https://wp.me/p3Xihq-33K

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea