Erika Gardner, Author and Guest Blogger

My guest blogger today is Erika Gardner, author of THE DRAGON IN THE GARDEN, published by Tirgearr Publishing. Here is Erika's fascinating take on how she--and other authors--choose their genre. Or do they choose it?

You Don’t Get To Pick The Genre… The Genre Picks You- Sort of Like a Stray Cat

I love books. I unabashedly, unapologetically adore them. I delight in reading them, dreaming tall tales up, and then writing them down. Stories make me happy and if you are following the lovely Elizabeth’s blog I am guessing it is the same for you. At least the reading part anyway.

Liz writes in some of my favorite genres. The sweep and happy ending of a good romance or the satisfaction of a mystery unraveled just right are the elements that make me curl up on the couch, cup of tea by my side and a book in my lap. They are also two of the reasons that my house appears to have been built of books. My poor husband has given up on building me any more book shelves.

My very favorite genre is fantasy. Not surprisingly, this is what I write. I have frequently had well-meaning friends bound up to me and say, “I have a great idea for your next book!” or “You should write a *insert genre here*.” It doesn’t work that way. Liz would likely back me up. My story telling voice simply won’t do romance, or cozy mystery, or thriller. There is a remote possibility that I could write a ghost story, but then, ghosts fit in quite nicely with my usual fare: wizards, phoenixes, sirens, a chupacabra or two, you get the idea. My novel The Dragon in The Garden contains a dragon (obviously), fallen angels, fairies, demons, a Valkyrie, even some gryphons- just your basic Erika day at the office.

This book started out a children’s book. I had intended it to be middle grade. This lovely idea came to me. A little girl wandering her grandmother’s garden, touching the various garden statues, smelling the flowers until she realizes that there is one statue that is special. It is not a simple figure made of stone; it is a dragon in hiding. I’ve included a picture of the actual figurine that inspired the book. The child, named Siobhan, calls the dragon Daisy and they become friends. Siobhan has a talent, no magical powers, just a special ability. She can see the absolute truth. She sees through lies, illusions, even spells. 

Sounds like it could be a children’s book, right? Kind of sweet, even, right? Yeah, that would be a resounding no. A hot fallen angel crept into the mix, then a love interest (also a hot fallen angel) and an even hotter King of the Fey. I found myself shaking my head at my computer saying, “Um, I am not a children’s writer.” My understanding is that middle grade publishers frown on sex scenes. Not to mention the violence in the epic battle near the book’s culmination.

Here’s a bit about the book as it ended up being written, the way it wanted to be written:

There is magic beneath the mundane and in The Dragon in the Garden, Siobhan Orsini witnesses it all. No lie can fool her, no glamour or illusion can cloud her Sight. She sees through them all and wishes she could close her eyes. Returning to face her past, Siobhan inherits her grandparents’ house in California’s wine country. She encounters a talking dragon, a hot fallen angel, a demon lord, a Valkyrie, and, oh yes, her ex-boyfriend. And that is just in the first twenty-four hours. 

It’s time to find out why she has this power. 

Siobhan seeks out the Oracle and learns that only her Sight can help mankind navigate the travails of an ancient war. Our world is the prize in a battle between the dragons, who would defend us, and Lucifer’s fallen angels, who seek to take the Earth for themselves. Using her gift, she will have to make a choice that will decide humanity’s future.

To purchase The Dragon in The Garden please see:

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gardner_Erika/thedragon-in-the-garden.htm

This post was written by Erika Gardner. She’s a native Californian, lifelong lover of fantastical adventures, and a dedicated Whovian.  If you enjoyed it, please sign up to receive updates on www.erikagardner.com   Or you can follow Erika on Twitter @Erika_Gardner, “Like” her Facebook page Erika Gardner- Writer and Storyteller. Or check out her contributions to the BBB Blog.