Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Over the last two years we’ve been hearing editors say that they’re cutting back on historical fiction. It’s become increasingly difficult to sell new historicals. Those authors who’ve already made a place for themselves and who’ve amassed a loyal following are here to stay but new authors? Those sales are few and far between industry-wide.
Janet Grant and I were chewing on this. It doesn’t make sense. Historical fiction readers haven’t gone away. I can attest to that. If I’m reading for escape, for pure enjoyment, I’ll always pick up an historical novel. I want to be transported to another time and place. To me, commercial contemporary fiction is too often missing a layer of complexity unless the author manages to take us into a different world– like the world of the courtroom, the police precinct, or a different culture within the contemporary world.
So I still prefer historicals as do many of my reading friends. Let me say it again, historical fiction readers have not gone away. My fear is that when CBA publishers stop creating a wide array of new offerings for that reader she will simply move to ABA where there is a never-ending offering to tempt her.
When ABA romance morphed into more and more graphic sexual content many formerly ABA readers moved onto CBA’s inspirational fiction because they wanted romance and nuance, not the mechanics of physical attraction and the ever-evolving spectrum of sexual variety. When the genre shifts it breaks the bonds of genre loyalty.
It got me to wondering about genre loyalty. How loyal are readers to a specific genre? I know I go in spurts. Sometimes it might be gothic suspense historical, other times I’ll go on a binge of historical mysteries. Of course these are different from the more upmarket books I read– the book club-type books, literary fiction or classics. I’m talking about the fiction we read for entertainment.
So I thought I’d ask you to help me gather anecdotal information. How loyal are you to a certain genre or sub-genre? How about friends and family members? How far afield do you go when you are choosing your next vacation read? Have you ever completely left a certain genre and never looked back? Do you pay attention to whether your next read is contemporary or historical?
I know that’s a boatload of questions to be throwing at you but I’d like to tap into the collective wisdom here in our blog family. Will you help?
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Great question!! The first books I purchase are always Love Inspired romances (contemporary). At the library, I tend to go for inspirational historical romance or a mainstream book recommended in Entertainment Weekly. On my kindle, I usually want trade-length contemporary inspirational romance. It really depends!! Oh, and I’ve been on an Agatha Christie kick. Basically, I just love to read. 🙂
Interesting that different devices or locations are connected to different genre. I love that you read Love Inspired Romance when that is what you write. You’d be surprised how many writer-hopefuls think they can write in a genre they rarely read.
Speaking of Love Inspired Romances, don’t you have one– Small Town Bachelor– debuting this week? How exciting is that?
Love Inspired are my favorites. 🙂 I can justify buying them often because they cost less than a value meal through the drive-thru! And, yes, my LI hit shelves this week! So exciting!! Thanks!
Congrats, Jill!! Thrilled for you.
I think I’m like Jill, I just love to read. I don’t think I’d claim to be partial to any certain genre. I have really been enjoying contemporary romance. I think I just love sweet romances, regardless of the time period. One thing I’ve noticed in myself as a reader … sometimes I get tired of trudging through the chapters of Uncle Joe and Aunt Sally, though I know they set the stage, to get to the chapters where the romance continues! 🙂
Writers, take notice! Get to the story. You never want a reader to use the word “trudging” when it comes to your book, right, Shelli?
I’m a loyalist. I prefer to read Women’s Contemporary Fiction, General, Literary and Romance, but these days the straight romances bore me. I probably read more ABA than CBA, which is sad to admit, but it has to do with the depth of read I’m looking for. I’m happy to say that over the past couple of years, I’ve devoured some stunning CBA books whose authors are digging deeper and meeting that need. I think the loyalty to certain genres comes from knowing what to expect. I have my favorite authors, but I’m always happy to read somebody new to me if they come with a great recommendation. Reading is my escape, my down time, so I want it spent wisely. As an author, I also naturally gravitate toward books that are in a similar vein to the ones I write. Maybe it’s more of a comfort zone thing. I wouldn’t ever pick up a SciFi novel because I know I probably wouldn’t enjoy it and much of it would be lost on me.
It’s an interesting topic, Wendy, and I’ll look forward to seeing what others have to say.
Cathy, I’m not much for SciFi either. My husband had me read a book years ago … I was so into the book, until the ending. The ending was so unrealistic. I know … it’s fiction … but I was disappointed. I was looking for some realistic explanation of all the events that had taken place … didn’t get it. 🙂 Not sure I’ll go down that road again. But I would for an author I know and love. 🙂
Cathy, you said, “Reading is my escape, my down time, so I want it spent wisely.” This is why it is so important for authors to be able to deliver solid entertainment. We hate to think of our books that way, but it’s reality.
I used to read almost exclusively historical, but then I grew tired of it, needed a change. I picked up a Dee Henderson book. And that launched me into contemporary. So even though I still read historical–and write it–I’ve found great value in contemporary romance and suspense. I have a voice style that I like and I’m more loyal to that style than a particular genre. I find it strengthens my own writing to read authors with similar voices, regardless of genre. And we can always grow as writers by examining plot and character, no matter the genre.
Interesting, Sondra, that you are more loyal to voice than to a genre. I take it that when you find an author you like you read deeply into his or her backlist.
I’ve probably dabbled in reading most genres, but have found that as my reading time has been reduced by my writing time, I’ve gotten more particular. I used to read an occasional science fiction or fantasy, but have given that up. While I enjoyed some of those books, I found them more hit or miss than my standbys of historical fiction, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction. And while I was on an Amish kick a few years back, I’ve barely touched one recently. As my reading time has contracted, I’ve become less willing to try a genre that might feel a little “risky” to me. Hmmm. Maybe I’m in a rut!
You know how you pick up a book and think, “Gosh, I LOVE this author!” and you tingle down to your toes because you realize you’ve just discovered a glorious new fave? Yep. You’re THAT author, Sarah. 🙂
I agree, Cynthia!! I love Sarah’s writing!
Aww! I was scrolling up from the bottom and though, gee, what a lovely thing for Cynthia to say. But wait a minute, that’s me! You just made my day.
Count me in with the same response, Cynthia.
Can’t wait for your next release, Sarah!
I think we need t-shirts that say “Casewell FINALLY got some nerve!!”
I think any author who can make the reader cry, and laugh out loud, has a fabulous future!
So love Casewell!! 🙂
I’m with you, Cynthia.
Chiming in here. You have a great way with words and story, Sarah!
I agree!! I loved your debut, Sarah!
Only a rut if you are ho hum about it.
Wendy, interesting topic. I read in a number of genres. In part, I’m enjoying reading friends who have become published. And I like to read my favorite authors. I try new authors on recommendations by friends.
I don’t have a ton of time for reading (two boys and writing time take up a lot of it), so when I do read, I have to be into the book. If I find a book loses my interest or isn’t well written, I put it down in favor of another book. I enjoy a mix of historical and contemporary.
It’s interesting to read others’ comments. Looking forward to reading what others say. 🙂
Jeanne, I have taken the greatest joy in reading other writers’ works that I have met on this blog. It’s such a joy! 🙂
I agree, Shelli. 🙂 It’s fun to be able to read their words, and know that you’ve interacted with them personally, eh? 🙂
I LOVE reading books written by friends! It’s such a blast reading what they made-up, fleshed out, created and gave life.
Interesting, Jeanne. You are definitely “genre agnostic.”
I understand there’s precious little time when you have children in those primary and middle school age groups– I remember those days– but I do think it’s important for parents to read in front of their kids so the little ones get the idea that reading is as interesting as television.
My addiction is definitely historical. I read other genres for a change of pace and to continue to open my mind to different writing styles, tropes and plots but, if I want to truly get lost, I reach for historical–preferably with at least an undercurrent of romance.
Me, too. And my addiction carries over to television preferences. Give me a BBC costume drama any day. (I’m currently binge watching Murdoch Mysteries. Mystery and history– it doesn’t get much better.)
To be honest, I am not loyal to a particular genre. I’ll read or listen to one type of book from one genre then next I will go to a book from another type of genre. Sometimes I may read or listen to a series of books from one particular genre. What can I say, I like variety. I’m the same way with movies. TV shows not as much.
So Lori, how far afield do you go? From romance, say, to political intrigue? From contemporary woman’s fiction to sci-fi? From literary to action adventure? I’m just wondering how wide the swings.
I will go from romance to political intrigue and from contemporary woman’s fiction to sci-fi. I will do literary but I do not do action adventure (movies yes, books no). I also love mysteries and suspense too.
Wendy, I enjoy several genres, but I am loyal, first and foremost, to legal suspense. I’m in the middle of John Grisham’s Sycamore Row (quite a commitment when it weighs in at 600+ pages 🙂 but what a story!), and although he breaks several writing “rules,” I’ll pick up the next book. One genre I have left forever — horror. As a teenager, I avidly read Stephen King. But now, faith (and the desire to sleep at night) plays a huge part in my reading choices.
Great questions, and I look forward to the comments.
Meghan, horror … 🙂 Yeah, I’ve never read horror, but I used to have to suffer through it with my older sister. Or I thought I had to (from my teens to my early 20s). When I became afraid of the shower drain with my husband on a military month long TDY … I knew I had to evacuate horror! 🙂
Not my older sister … ha ha … but horror movies with my older sister!! 🙂
Meghan, I read a few of Stephen King’s books. I am with you. I value my nightly sleep too much to read it anymore. 🙂 Can’t watch it in a movie either. 🙂
He is an incredible writer, and I credit him with helping to grow my imagination. 🙂 But the movies were way too much for me. I couldn’t even watch the commercials. 🙂
LALALALALALA
SLEEP
LALALALALA
As an attorney, yourself, are you pretty critical when it comes to reading Legal suspense?
Genre loyalty is a real thing with me. I avoid certain genres even if my favorite authors are dabbling in it, and I’ll look for new authors in favorite genres. Historical is my favorite (the longer, the better) but I’m always willing to pick up a contemporary. I’ll switch between CBA and ABA authors, too, but I’m more likely to stick with known ABA favorites as I’m leery of the potential for graphic content in unknowns.
So yes, as a fan of historicals I’d hate for CBA publishers to lessen their availability. Not fair to new authors and longtime readers!
Kelley, I echo your comment about sticking with ‘trustworthy’ ABA authors due to a concern about graphic content.
Can I admit I was turned off Kate Morton after reading the Secret Garden? She was good, but pleeeeease, how LONG does this thing need to be???
You wrote: “So yes, as a fan of historicals I’d hate for CBA publishers to lessen their availability.”
Hear, hear!
Wendy, my go-to faves are inspirational romances, but that being said, I adore books and will often find great treasures outside of my niche.
Years ago, I tossed some of my dog-eared ABA reads, as I found myself skipping over unsavory content time and time again. It just seemed that a lot of material I once enjoyed continued to push the envelope. I’m not a prude, but really????
Yes, it has nothing to do with prudishness. I think explicit sex and explicit violence is too often lazy writing– sure sex can titillate and violence arouse, but nuance and character development are often lost in the process.I think it’s a reaction to formulaic writing.
I’ve read 2 Amish novels. TWO.
I do appreciate most other genres, but only if the writing is good. Not murder mysteries or horror though, ew. Like Meghan Carver said, I like sleep.
Missionary or WW2 biographies aways enthrall me.
Fish out of water rom/coms are fun, but they have to be really funny. Like, REALLY funny. I have high standards for humour. It has to be witty, intelligent and devoid of vulgarities.
I love his/fic, that’s why I write it. And I cannot fathom WHY the CBA houses aren’t noticing that people buy historicals! Look at the Amazon rankings!!
When faced with a choice, I always go back in time.
Going back in time can be a great adventure, yes Jennifer?
That’s two more than I have, Jennifer! I’m a fan of historicals, too!
And, Jennifer, historical fiction is more often presented in series and guess what? With the advent of ebooks and the availability of the whole backlist historical fiction readers are binge reading through an authors whole list.
Stand-alone books have less of a chance of binge reading which is often based on falling in love with ongoing characters. With stand-alones the reader must come under the spell of the author and his/her way of telling a story– often not as strong a draw as following a beloved character.
That’s great to hear! It’s a good thing I’m writing a series then!!
Personally, I’m more a fan of reading standalone titles.
It makes me a bit apprehensive that I’m not writing a series. Know you’ll point me in a different direction if need be.
My vacation reads are almost always books that are research for something I’m going to write.
I was fairly loyal to reading Wouk, Michener, and Clancy among modern authors, but haven’t read anything by any of them for several years as I read books for research. I was starting to read Grisham till some of the comments he made about sexual predators surfaced in the press. Now I avoid him. So I guess you can chalk me up in your anecdotes as not being very loyal at all.
Grisham comments in the press? Going to look that up. Thanks, David.
It was sometime in 2014, Meghan. He made excuses for a friend who was convicted as a pedophile, trivializing the crime.
David, I’d encourage you to make time to read fiction if you write fiction. You have to keep experiencing the joy of the story if you hope to capture that as a writer. (Half fiction, half research?)
I loved Michener back in the seventies and also haven’t read him for a long time but one thing I’ve observed is that today’s reader does not have the patience for Michener-like story building. If someone told me they were going to write like Michener, I’d try to talk him out of it.
I definitely don’t stick to one genre. Most of the time I’ll get on a kick. In January 2014 I got on a Regency kick after reading Julie Klassen’s book The Dancing Master. The next book was a non-fiction book about all the places Jane Austen visited and lived in her lifetime. Then there was a re-read of Jane Austen’s Emma, a Love Inspired Regency, and another non-fiction book about someone’s travels to Jane Austen sites in England.
That’s how it usually goes for me. I’ll get in the mood to read one type of book and read lots of it. Then I’ll get worn out from all the prairie historicals and switch to something completely opposite like contemporary cozy mystery and read a lot of those. My problem is that when I’m on the historical binge I check out too many of them from the library. I get out of the mood to read them, but have to because I’ve checked them all out. Then it becomes a chore and I find myself slogging my way through them.
I read mostly CBA historicals and contemporaries, CBA mysteries and suspense, CBA romance and women’s fiction.
I haven’t read a lot of women’s fiction, but the older I get the more I’m wanting to read stuff that’s not straight romance. I don’t want a lot of drama in women’s fiction though. Uplifting reading is the key. I read a book recently that was CBA, but hardly mentioned Jesus or any type of relationship with God. The characters went through such hard stuff and never really had hope at the end of the book. I thought it was such a wasted opportunity for that author. They had the answer and hope for life in the palm of their hand, but wouldn’t give it to the characters. I guess they thought they would be too preachy. The end of the book was just so hopeless. It really bothered me for a CBA book. They say they want readers of secular books to read their work and Christians to be uplifted and encouraged too. I don’t think either groups of readers would have found hope by reading that book.
Recently, I’ve actually been reading some non-fiction history event books; personality and birth order studies books. They’ve been really interesting and given lots of conversation topics.
Occasionally I’ll read secular fiction, but it has to be clean.
I know of some people who only read historical romance and others who only read contemporary romance. They’re both missing so much by not branching out.
Good grief! I’m sorry for being so lengthy in that last comment. (hides head in shame)
I didn’t mention vacation reads. My vacations are always visiting tourist sites like museums, houses, aquariums, caverns, etc. We go all day long and crash in the evening. I usually take some books, but don’t get a lot of reading done. The books I do take are usually CBA contemporary romances. When I’m tired it’s difficult to concentrate on absorbing all the historical information in other kinds of books. The same goes for mysteries. I need full concentration to get all the details.
Sylvia, no need to hide your head in shame. We’re all about community here. Great thoughts! 🙂
How interesting, Sylvia. I’ll admit I hadn’t thought of subject linkages but sometimes I go down that reading trail as well.
And never apologize for a long post when it is as interesting as yours. You’ve given us a new kind of loyalty. . . to rabbit trail reading. I love it.
I usually have at least one fiction and one non-fiction book going at the same time. Fiction genre? Willy-nilly, except to avoid scary and creepy. And since I work in health care, I favor medical fiction–done well(poor research makes me scream like surgery without anesthesia).
Dare I confess that the Large-Print bookshelves at the library can drive my choice? I fly through large print. It’s like getting two books for the time investment of one.
Thanks to my reading devices– iPad, iPhone and Kindle– I’ll admit that I change to large type. I’m on the computer almost all day so when I sit down to read it’s with blurry screen-tired eyes.
If I have a choice between a historical novel and a contemporary waiting to be read, I’ll pick up the historical first, especially if it’s in or around my favorite 18th century time period.
I also read the occasional mystery series (most often historical but not always), contemporary romance, and YA Dystopian.
The latter genre is the nearest to fantasy I read anymore, although The Buried Giant by Ishiguro, which I’m reading now, qualifies as fantasy imo, and not the historical novel I’d expected it to be. I was once a great fan of the fantasy genre, especially anything that reminded me of Tolkien or had a Celtic element (Stephen Lawhead), and tried my hand at writing it long ago. Historical love eclipsed it.
I don’t like hearing that CBA publishers are pulling back on historicals. Hopefully that will be a short-lived trend.
I don’t like hearing that either!!
Lori, writers like you who are succeeding in historical fiction– racking up awards and readers– are paving the way for other historical writers. Publishers pore over the success stories to try to figure out what makes them tick.
If someone (Kudos to Shannon Marchese) had not had the foresight to take on a new author like you, think of the sales and readers that would have been lost to the industry.
Lori, I concur with Wendy on this. You’re paving the way with truth and history that comes alive and quote-worthy writing. 🙂 Thank you!
I don’t read many historicals older than the 1890’s. I prefer contemporary. I’ve always enjoyed mysteries, women’s fiction, and fantasy. I’ll read about any genre a little, but tend to find certain authors I enjoy and read everything they write before moving on to the next. Hope this helps!
It does help. Author loyalty above genre loyalty. Interesting. (and very nice for your authors.)
I’m a true loyalist to CBA historical romances. Before I began to write, I would devour a book or two a week. I love all historical time periods, and it was fun to delve from one era into another. As part of a book club one summer I did read The Help and a CBA contemporary romance–but that was pretty much the only two books I read out of my favorite genre since The Babysitters Club in middle school! 🙂 (I should say, I did read some Amish, but they were historical Amish.) However, since getting involved with the CBA industry, and meeting hundreds of new authors, I have immersed myself into other genres and been happily surprised by how much I enjoy them. I realized I needed to acquaint myself with a wider variety of books to become a better writer. With that said, if I’m reading purely for pleasure, I will always, always, always choose a historical romance. *Sigh* They make me happy.
And besides the clothes are so much more interesting, right? I mean which has more panache, to enter a candlelit ballroom in a swirl of ivory silk satin to the strain of a waltz played by a small ensemble of musicians or to step into a club in short figure-hugging sheath of black knit during the DJ’s riff on a disk he’s about to spin? 🙂
I was obsessed with Babysitter’s Club!
I’m a historical junkie and have been ever since reading Anne of Green Gables when I was twelve. From time to time, I might pick up a suspense or contemporary but only by authors I’m already fairly familiar with. In particular, authors who have written historicals and crossed into a different genre. That being said, if I have a choice between a historical or any other genre, I’ll pick the historical every single time.
I love Anne of Green Gables. 🙂 I’ve read the entire series . . . a few times. 🙂
I hear you, Tara. I love Alexander McCall Smith’s Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I gave him a try with his other series but the magic is just not there. I’ll pass over those to get to the newest installment in my favorite series,
(Notice that Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency is a contemporary but the setting and social mores make it appealing to those of us who love the age of gentility. African gentility and respect is a pure delight.)
My South African friends got me hooked on No. 1 Ladies. I am comforted by the slower pace and intrigued by the characters. I too tried his other books and was disappointed. But I might have liked them if I’d read them first. Instead, I mourned the loss of the rhythm.
I try to be intentional about reading historicals in CBA and ABA, but to be honest I shy away from ABA in this genre. I’ve read too many that transport me to another place with beautiful language and historical details I adore, only to take a sharp turn into a dark alley where a completely inappropriate (and in my mind, unnecessary) gratuitous scene infiltrates the storyline. I’ll be honest, these are the scenes that will stick in my brain despite the fact that I want more than anything to forget them. Is it a requirement for ABA novels to include scenes like this? It’s so disconcerting.
In recent months I’ve come to appreciate lighthearted, humorous contemporary stories on audio (Austenland was a favorite). I’ve found it’s safer to laugh while driving than to cry. 🙂
Austenland WAS fun!
I love this: “take a sharp turn into a dark alley where a completely inappropriate (and in my mind, unnecessary) gratuitous scene infiltrates the storyline.”
And I have to admit I do love many a contemporary read as well (especially complex upmarket reads like Cynthia Ruchti or Kathryn Cushman for instance).
I haven’t read Austenland. Should I?
I was a die-hard CBA historical romance reader for close to 20 years. Put a pile of contemporaries on a table and one historical, and I’d pick the historical almost every time. I still don’t much care for contemporary, because of the lack of immersive world-building. My exceptions are RS with military heroes, and heroes who play football.
But then I jumped the CBA ship. I got tired of reading the same thing book after book after book, and not being able to find the settings I wanted. LIH is sickeningly sweet for me and I found most of the ones I tried lacking in the type of conflict and romance progression I want.
And everything in CBA historical (and CBA romance in general) is heroine heroine heroine heroine. It’s like the hero is an after-thought. He’s the head I want to be in the most! Another big reason I jumped the CBA ship.
I’m not interested in prairie or Western settings, or schoolteacher heroines and rancher/cowboy heroes, or business magnates, or Regencies. I want variety and choices. And there’s no variety or choices in CBA historical romance. At least in my definition of variety and choices.
They were trying for a little while, but it didn’t last. My 1857 Louisiana historical set on a plantation, with Creole characters, was too different.
Haven’t yet done much exploring in the ABA historical romance section, though. I’m having too much fun in paranormal!
Genre loyalty is a thing with me. I read 98% romance, and reading anything that isn’t romance is a slog. It also has a detrimental effect on my muse.
I wish you’d tell this to our beloved CBA editors and publishers: “And everything in CBA historical (and CBA romance in general) is heroine heroine heroine heroine. It’s like the hero is an after-thought. He’s the head I want to be in the most! Another big reason I jumped the CBA ship.”
I would love to! I’ve tried, in fact. The answer is “but readers have told us they don’t care about him.”
I semi-finalled in the 2012 Genesis with my 1857 historical. One of the judges told me to cut the hero’s scenes from the entry because “readers don’t care about him, they want to see her.”
My response was to rewrite the opening scene to put the focus 100% on him and him not meet the heroine until the end of the scene. This novel is on submission at a small CBA press right now, so I haven’t given up completely. I submitted to this particular press because I know the editor, and she knows my heart and my voice.
The genre exploding the most in ABA right now, after erotica, is m/m romance. There is a clear desire for more time in the hero’s head. I’m afraid by the time CBA sees it, and starts to open up to it a little more, it’s going to be too late and all the readers like me who are desperate for it will be gone. Forever.
I’d say I’m a very loyal CBA Historical Romance reader, with occasional enjoyment of a contemporary romance. The only ABA I read was James Alexander Thom. Since I was a late bloomer to the love of reading, I feel I’ve missed out on some of the classics I might have read if I’d fallen in love with reading at a younger age. Last year I made it my goal to put some classics on my bucket list.
Gabe’s comment about jumping eras is one I’ve wondered about. For historical loyalists, would you say that you are loyal to a certain era or decade? If you have an author you love who primarily writes 19th century, would it make you hesitate to read him/her if she jumped to the 18th century?
As a writer, I’ve written three 19th century stories. But I’m loving the 18th century reads and find that I click well with their voices. I’ve been tempted to jump back 100 yrs for my next story. But is that wise?
And Wendy, out of curiosity, are there any eras in historical category that are selling better than others?
The era doesn’t matter much to me, Anne. I love it all. 🙂
Interesting question, Anne. I’d like to know– if you are an historical reader are you loyal to a specific period?
And in answer to your question about which eras sell better than others it is an ever moving target. It used to be that WWI and the aftermath were verboten but then with mega hits like Downton Abbey, Foyle’s War and Maisie Dobbs readers are craving more. And Civil War, which has been perennially popular needs something unique to make it stand out now. 1890 and the west is another favorite but again, how do you make it new? Laura Franz , Lori Benton and others have resurrected the 17th century in CBA. Lauraine Snelling owns the nineteenth century Norwegian pioneer experience.
All that to say, an era that has been popular for a long time may already be populated by favorite authors and it’s harder and harder to do something distinctive. But try a new era and you have to have a book good enough to be a trailblazer.
I prefer novels set in the 19th century. The setting is of utmost importance to me, as is learning about a trade. Details about how a commoner would live (rather than a famous figure), the ins & outs of domestic history. These things intrigue me.
I read half a dozen Middle-Grade and/or Young Adult novels every week and maybe one book for “grown-ups” in a month. I think historical and fantasy books for kids will continue to grow because the sort of contemporary adventures popular in the past are unlikely today since all kids need to do to get out of trouble is pull out their cell phones and call for help. I have seen some books with creative ways to get rid of the phones, but the possibilities are limited.
Janet, I also read a couple of middle grade novels each week. That is what I write, so I love seeing what else is out there.
You are so right. Modern devices and forensic science make it a lot harder to write a good mystery.
And I love Middle grade and YA literature as well.
I’m loyal to books that have a magical or other worldly element. My day job is heavy (trauma therapist), so I’ve got enough of reality in that. I like it to be light and fun, but have enough complexity to keep me interested. YA fantasy is the genre I’m most loyal to.
Interesting. I think you are right, the more complex or responsible your day job, the more you need to read in the opposite direction.
Andrew???
Missing your comments – everything OK?
I was wondering the same thing, Sheila.
I’m missing Andrew as well.
I flip flop between historical and contemporary. What holds my interest are things I don’t know much about, whether it be a setting, occupation, culture, or era. I know a lot of people who love historicals, and we all know how popular speculative fiction is. What do these books have in common? They take us to another place in time.
You are right. they are both about world building.
Sheila, and everyone else, Andrew has been a bit under the weather the last few days.
Please pray for him and Barbara.
Thanks, Jennifer. Can you please keep us posted about his condition?
I will.
Poor guy, it’s been a miserable few days.
Thank you for letting us know, Jennifer. We take notice when a family member is missing. Andrew and Barbara can count on our prayers.
I don’t have a preferred genre, but lately, I’ve been reading a lot of YA – yeah, go figure. I suppose I’ll keep reading it until another genre offers me a good reason to switch.
Peter, me too! My life drives my genre — when writing memoir, I read more memoir, and when my child started reading YA, I did too. At first, it was just to see what my child was reading, then it became for the pleasure of what YA offers, especially post-apocalyptic YA, that other genres don’t. YA is crisp, fast-moving, puts the reader in the scene — often through present tense, and allows more experimental writing than other genres. The characters are flawed, make mistakes, and are sympathetic. So bring on books like “Peak,” The Ranger’s Apprentice, the I Am Four series, the Hunger Games, The Divergent series, the Cinder series, and similar plot-driven, edgy stories. Hidden in the stories are themes and morals that fit in Christian books, but that are written more subtly.
Ann, I so agree!
YA has become so imaginative much of it is plowing new ground that adult lit will follow.
Wow, look at all the comments! That’s great.
I try to keep my “literary diet” balanced with good stuff (such as doctrinal or biographical), and the stuff I really love, which is pretty much ALWAYS historical. It’s just what I love, so if I’m reading for entertainment, it’s historical. On very rare occasions do I venture from Christian, inspirational historical.
So you are pretty loyal to the genre when it comes to wanting to be swept away in a story. Me too.
Very interesting to read the variety of genres you all enjoy. I rarely stick with one genre although I used to love mystery and suspense. Now it’s hard to pick one genre. A good story and one that doesn’t have a “bad” ending – that’s my criteria. I don’t like it when the author kills everybody off at the end just to make the book more “literary.” Often it seems what the the reviewers think of as serious fiction has to have those unhappy endings. I’ve enjoyed reading more books in the CBA market and have been impressed with some of the great stories. Contemporary romance isn’t the genre I’d ever choose, but mix that romance with a little history or mystery or, as Wendy says, an interesting background and I’m a happy reader then. I think I might read more different types of books if I can only add a few hours to each of my days. So many books. So little reading time.
I have zero genre loyalty. The only thing I don’t read is horror and ABA romance that is sexually explicit. I will read novels with sex scenes, even graphic ones, and just skim over it, but it has to be a really good book in every other respect. If the romance, or sex is the only story, I won’t bother with it.
I enjoy both ABA and CBA, and I will read anything other than the two genres I already mentioned. I don’t even have a go-to because it depends entirely on my mood at the moment.
I love contemporary, historical, Amish, mysteries, Chick-lit, legal thrillers, literary, book club-type books, dystopian, some fantasy. I don’t read much sic-fi, but I have enjoyed some. Classics are always good. I love really long books, 800 pages or more, that I can stick with for a few days. I am such a fast reader that I have to force myself to slow down and savor the books I’m reading. Otherwise, I can spend $15 on a book and read it in 3 hours… drives my husband crazy!
I’m usually reading at least 3 books at a time. Right now I’m reading: The Fortune Hunter (ABA Historical), An Amish Love (CBA Novellas), All Creatures Great and Small (not sure how this would be classified). I’m also re-reading the annotated version of Little Women. And that’s just the fiction 🙂
I am sort of the same way with music, there are only one or two genres I don’t listen to and enjoy regularly.
I’m a huge fan of inspirational historical romance. I’m partial to stories that take place in the second half of the 1800s, but every now and then I’ll read a story set in another period if I’m sold on the author’s storytelling abilities. That’s the case with Bookie Sarah Sundin. I’m not a big fan of WWII romances, but I can’t wait to savor the next one Sarah releases.
Being a guy, I’m a bit intimidated to admit liking The Notebook, but I did. Probably because I remember once experiencing the same emotions Noah did as Allie drove away …
I know, awwwwww. LOL.
But none of his other books grew on me like that one. I have enjoyed all kinds of genres and authors, from sci-fi when I was a teenager, to Grisham, Lee Child, Larry McMurtry, Jean Auel, and a LOT of Stephen King, and plenty more. But the author I read most is Rex Stout. I dearly love his Nero Wolfe mysteries. My wife introduced those to me and I am eternally grateful. But it’s interesting to me that right now I’m writing a love story, and with a twist, and with some history involved, maybe, and hopefully, just a bit like The Notebook. What can I say? I guess deep down I’m just a softy!
This is an interesting question. I am loyal to historical fiction most of the time but I do like variety. However I am drawn to the Victorian era and go back to it eventually. I have heard the publishers are turning down historical fiction and that worries me as my own novel, not yet published falls under historical fiction 1913 – 1947 spanning two world wars. Having said that it seems to me that readers are still reading historical fiction so are publishers really closing the doors? As a reader I will seek out the genre I love as a writer, I’ll have to work a little harder.
I’m a hardcore historical romance junkie. The more unique the setting, the better. The more realistic the romance, the better. No flighty romance for me! It’s what I read. It’s what I write.
The problem with this is that publishers rarely put out historical novels with a-typical settings, so I usually settle.
I will forever avoid Amish, but my love of unique settings draws me occasionally to speculative.
Great topic!
I like sticking with certain genres. I will read outside the genre, but I still like what I like. I’m pretty loyal. But then again I do the same thing with foods and colors too.
I never really thought about this, but I think I generally gravitate toward fantasy, but I like picking up any classic literature as well as the latest best sellers no matter what the genre.