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.