Most readers I know have a favorite genre. They may read in various sub-categories and may even add additional genres as supplements but when there is a book that they just can't wait to come out, must grab on release day, would wait in line to get it if needed, it is usually in that one man genre. In that respect I'm the same. I love thrillers.
I reader murder mystery, horror, suspense, and others but I prefer the ones with a thriller element. I have collected a decent amount of books over the years though due to limited space I have switched over to getting more of my books from the libraries or passing them on to other book fans I know once I read them. I know I could simply do the ebook thing and amass a huge collection on my Kindle but so far that hasn't appealed to me in the least. Audio books are becoming an addiction of mine but ebooks are still almost non-existent.
It seemed strange to many when I began publishing that my first book wasn't a horror. I read them. I have read almost every Stephen King book ever put into the world. He is one of my idols and that is after I graduated from the kids / YA horror of R.L. Stine. When I first read the Fear Street books I was amazed by how I felt a physical need to turn the pages. I HAD to know what was going to happen next. I read every single Goosebumps and Fear Street book I could get my hands on and when I ran out of books I moved to Stephen King and began an entirely new collection. Since then I have added authors and genres as my enjoyment and tastes have grown and changed but I still have half a dozen King books on my shelf waiting to be read as I write this.
I understand where the confusion came that I didn't choose that genre when I became an author myself but it wasn't the type of story I needed to tell. Never Give Up is a suspense so I didn't stray too far but it was still a surprise to many. When my second book came out, Survivor, and it was a based on true story drama there were more shocks from my readers. Survivor made people stop for two reasons; not only was it once again a different than expected genre but the story was my own and being that honest and raw about a situation few knew about took some time to digest. Fish was less unexpected because it is in the same series and vein as Survivor. My one remaining book wasn't a surprise though it is a huge departure to the Humor category. Just Deal With It is an inside look at the hilarity that is my casino day job.
I have been working on several other books for awhile such as Crash and Combat which are the 3rd and 4th books to join Survivor and Fish. Those will have the same dramatic genre and will follow the same style. My Voices series is 4 books long and are Thriller through and through. There is a potential Romance in there but it is further down on the list. I find I am drawn to the darker stories in writing just as I am in reading.
Never has that been more true than in the book I have struggled with for over 7 years now. The book formerly known as Breathe (and currently called That Pain In My Ass) went from a 3400 word short story to a flailing romantic novel, to a slightly more comprehensive romance but it never felt right. The short story is a suspense thriller. The longer version should be too. I have started a complete rewrite for the first time now and I think I have finally found what was missing. The darker side of the story is what feels natural to me. I never thought of myself as an author who would kill off their characters and in one instance I mourned that character's death for nearly a week. Yet I find that when I am watching my true crime television shows or reading my darker books I relate to and am inspired by those more evil characters. They make me want to write and capture that more taboo side.
It has taken years to say, and I know I will venture from time to time, but I believe I found my home in the darker realm. Making myself comfortable in the shadows and carrying out the deeds of the undesirables sparks a life in my creative mind. I cannot wait to rename and rewrite Breathe and let the world truly see who I am becoming as a writer.
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