I'm a literary defector. The country? Romancelandia. Such a beautiful place, really. Populated by men who have only convenient flaws, nothing like sewage breath and bad gas that make romantic interludes, well, unsavory, and the feisty women who reluctantly love them. It is a place filled with Gothic mansions on the cliff-side of the island, vampires and were-creatures in the interior caves, gypsy cowboys thundering through the open expanses and even a font of inspiration that would put the Jordan River to shame. Its been rumored that there's even a formidable time machine there, but I've never been able to find it.
My heart will always be with my native genre. It's so much a part of who I've become as a writer. But I've long sensed the tide shifting and was reluctant to acknowledge it. Change meant drifting away from author sisters, communing at writing conferences where the topic of conversation at the bar is not is there a tattoo plague infecting cover artists' brains? but perhaps Tolstoy or Vonnegut. Change meant owning that my strength as a writer is not in the intricacies of man-woman relationships or the physical manifestation thereof, ten pages, ad nauseum (never my favorite part to write). Change is foreign and scary and isolating. But it can also mean escaping familiar patterns, freedom from rules that never quite seem to change and the sense that every reader's bite is essentially vanilla, just coated with different colored sprinkles.
My characters will visit Romancelandia from time to time. Heck, they may even winter there (the beaches are very nice). It's one of the best places in the world, filled with stories that are important to understanding our human experience. It's a place of hope and love and enough hot heroes to sink it into the ocean.
So when you notice small changes in the evolution of my website, the blog (though I will always speak of Fabio with reverence), my tag line; and, perhaps, even my retreat into more androgynous content (L.A.= Lawrence of Arabia, Lester Andrew, Lennard Aaron) you'll understand why. I'm out seeking the time machine on other lands.
Anyone have directions to Thriller Island?
Well, L.A., this is once again proof that we are sisters under the skin. For, you see, while I will probably always claim dual citizinship in Romancelandia, I am also working on a thriller and after that, some kind of messed-up literary fiction that won't stop talking to me. 2011 is going to be one crazy and awesome year. I can't wait to see what it's going to bring you.
Thriller island lies beyond the straights of despair, past Skull headland and through the wild currents of doom.
Glad Charles gave directions; I couldn't find my way out of a phone booth.
Not even the rockin' red one on L.A.'s blog.
Whatever the genre, you'll have a lot of people cheering you on.
@Pamela-you, too? Wow. I think we ARE twins. I wish you all the best with your new direction 😉
@Charles-that was beautiful. You aren't a writer, are you? 🙂
@Todd-thank you. Means a lot to me.
Perhaps a TARDIS might serve you better?
Good luck in whatever genre you turn to. You are a fab writer.
Best wishes and happy writing with your new direction! You're a splendid writer, and I look forward to hearing about all the great things these new lands will bring you.
Great blog! Your works look great! Keep the good work going! Will be glad to have some of them in the future! It seems we have a lot in common - there shouldn't be a sharp border between the different genres? A book could be a fantasy story and a romance at the same time? I guess these are the best books? I strive to create such works too.
Yet, don't you think every author should strive to create new creatures, the classical, öld like vampires, elves, dwarfs, wizards with sharp hats, fairies, etc. are too ordinary already? That's why I try some new in some of my books (Tale Of The Rock Pieces, The Opposite Of Magic, Kids'Funny Business, etc (weightless korks, glowing, living balls, Brown faces, fiery men, one-eyeds, night fruit, rock pieces, fish-keepers, etc...), do you think I'm right?
I really appreciate Love in all its forms, the best feeling one can experience... When I was a kid I fell in love with a wonderful "mermaid"" and that was the greatest memory from my childhood :)! later one i wrote about it in my 1st Tale of The Rock Pieces. Guess you have similar experiences for your books?
Do you use sites like zazzle.com, cafepress. com, fiverr? They could be a good way to promote your works and to help "remove" stupidity in the streets like headlines on t-shirts, fridge-magnets, cups, etc: My Boyfriend kisses Better Than Yours, FBI - female body inspector, etc. Not everything we see and think of should be about sex, right? It would be much better if there were more nice pictures of mythical creatures, good thoughts, poems from fantasy genre, etc? I'm allanbard there, I use some of my illustrations, thoughts, poems from my books (like: One can fight money only with money, Even in the hotest fire there's a bit of water, etc). Best wishes! Let the wonderful noise of the sea always sounds in your ears! (a greeting of the water dragons'hunters - my Tale Of The Rock Pieces)..
@Jen- {{{thank you!!}}} And, yes, a TARDIS might do nicely 😉
@Robin-sweet of you to say. {{hugs}}
@allanbard-welcome, Allan. Thanks so much for visiting. I'm actually working on genre bending--harder said than done if you want to find a place in the market. Take care.