Writing a genre novel is a bit like running for office. In my example I’m going to choose an ethical, honest politician. I know they’re out there, right?
The person elected is often the person more people feel comfortable
with. They identify with the person’s ethics, morality, and expertise with the
legal system. A New York Times best seller is read and enjoyed by more people
than the average book. One reason an NYT pick is a winner (like the politician)
is that the author doesn’t sugar coat his charac6ters, making them
unbelievable. The reader/voter identifies with the book/politician. They fell
like the story speaks to them, just as a platform speaks to peoples’ needs.
When you an uncommon man/woman you have empathy for your
reader/constituent. Your characters struggle in a world full of pitfalls
garnering empathy along the way. They can and should change into someone better
than when they stared the book’s journey. The empathetic politician’s goal is
to make things better For his/hers constituents. If they don’t the people will
soon figure it out and boot them out of office.
I excluded the literary novel because it can and does sometimes
show things falling apart. But here too, a different lesson can be learned. Instead
of the theme of growth in a genre novel, the whole literary story becomes a
cautionary tale if the reader sees it that way. There are nihilist authors who
believe the world is absurd, and they’re going to tell you about it.
As always choose your candidate book that suits you. Write
the story that suits you and be honest, the voter/reader can tell.
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Once I saw this cover I could not resist crowing about it and the author.
I'd like to introduce an author friend of mine also with my publisher The Wild Rose Press: Karla Kratovil. Karla writes on Amazon: The Duke of Gilchrest spends his days restoring his inheritance, raising his two young sons, and forging a path past his guilt over his wife's death. Then one night he catches a thief breaking into his bedroom, and his well-ordered world is turned upside down.
Emma Whittingham is leading a double life. Her father's suicide leaves her to care for her five younger siblings alone. Her estranged uncle is in no financial position to be their guardian, but he does teach her his only skill, how to be a jewel thief.
The trouble is, she can't seem to stay away from the sexy duke. Each time she visits him under cover of darkness is another chance he will figure out her real identity. Then one job goes terribly wrong, and she must ask for help from the only man powerful enough to protect her and her family from ruin.
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