tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5458366600444159737..comments2024-03-29T09:03:34.140-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: The Utility (or Futility) of Subgenres: a guest blog by Chris F. HolmJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36168499088104293422012-03-22T07:31:21.274-04:002012-03-22T07:31:21.274-04:00Hank,
I don't know whether or not my books wo...Hank,<br /><br />I don't know whether or not my books would earn a spot in the "Helluva Story" section of the bookstore, but that's where you'd find me shopping regardless.<br /><br />Deb and Lora,<br /><br />Thanks very much! I hope you enjoy it.<br /><br />And Reine,<br /><br />It sounds to me like you filtered based on experience, not just based on label, and who could fault you for that? Everyone's got their dealbreakers, their lines they won't cross as a reader or writer. Interestingly, though, the last book my wife (a reviewer) had a visceral negative reaction to was because of explicit violence toward animals... and that book was a pastel-covered cozy. That may be an instance of a writer stretching their subgenre in an unappealing way. (And no, I won't mention what book it was.)Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286520897538327919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72225847771418766582012-03-22T01:56:59.298-04:002012-03-22T01:56:59.298-04:00Sorry so late. Just want to say now that when I fi...Sorry so late. Just want to say now that when I first started reading for fun 6 years ago it was mysteries, all of them. About a year ago, I started tiring of some sorts and filtered them out. Occasionally I give them a retry, but so far none have restuck, especially the way too, for me, gory. I do gravitate to certain authors, but love discovering new, and if they are any bit different from what I read elsewhere, that is a great plus.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-92098925089123354262012-03-21T20:28:31.281-04:002012-03-21T20:28:31.281-04:00Welcome Chris!
I love me a well-written book. My...Welcome Chris!<br /><br />I love me a well-written book. Mystery, romance, thriller, YA, dystopian, cozies, contemporary, chick lit...I am not picky except about the style of writing. Don't insult me with a hastily thrown-together<br />novel copying some new theme of best seller. And while I love my favorite authors to publish frequently, I've found that most of those (not all...Lawrence Block could write drivel and I'd read it), that churn out 2-3 books a year, are too prolific in their writings to meet my preferences.<br /><br />Looking forward to reading your book!Lora in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47024902622885018982012-03-21T19:27:49.034-04:002012-03-21T19:27:49.034-04:00Chris,
Something tells me I'm going to like y...Chris,<br /><br />Something tells me I'm going to like your books!<br /><br />I was intrigued when I read the description above of Dead Harvest. I like fantasy/unreality,etc,mixed with my reality. (What is more real than evil?) I like mystery,suspense,thrillers, science fiction. I definitely do NOT care if it follows a "recipe" or meets certain criteria. I feel that writers ought to write whatever they enjoy writing,even if they are mixing genres.<br /> <br /> Yep,I'm a Jasper Fforde fan and I like the fact that I can't exactly explain his books to people who do not know of them. (Makes me feel like I know something that they don't know.)I tell people that they need to experience the books,especially if they love literature.<br /><br />I can't wait to get out there and buy your book. I can't wait to see the expressions on certain people's faces when they see me reading it. (This is an experience you cannot get on an e-reader!)<br /><br />Oh,JRW,you have introduced me to so many authors whose books I NEED to read! I can't ever afford to retire; I need money for my beloved books habit! And I don't have enough free time to read all the books that I want to read!<br /><br />(But writers, listen to me: you MUST continue writing!)Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9115125054601613572012-03-21T17:52:48.887-04:002012-03-21T17:52:48.887-04:00LOVE that cover..and love this discussion. It'...LOVE that cover..and love this discussion. It's so funny--people need to categorize things, its a way of helping them think about it.<br /><br /> And who was it that said "people want NEW--and they want it to be exactly the same new they had before."<br /><br />SO yeah, I hear you. There was a brief spate of describing some books as "thrillzies"--a cozy-ish thriller. But I always thought that was pretty patronizing. <br /><br />How 'bout if we start a new genre, which could be describe the same way we describe something in my TV world: "It's a helluva story"? Could there be a "Helluva story" section?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45619028563991284282012-03-21T14:20:59.583-04:002012-03-21T14:20:59.583-04:00Thanks, Darlene, that's great to hear! But may...Thanks, Darlene, that's great to hear! But maybe stick to salads and sandwiches until you're done -- I don't want a house fire on my conscience.<br /><br />And PK, I agree. If you wouldn't eat the same dish every day, why read the same thing? Variety is key.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286520897538327919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8541158649428832872012-03-21T14:02:40.805-04:002012-03-21T14:02:40.805-04:00Genre labels are just convenient "addresses&q...Genre labels are just convenient "addresses" to begin the narrowing down of the search process. :) <br />Otherwise, in my reading, it really depends on my mood what "flavor" to read in crime fiction. I like having lots of options.PK the Bookeemonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03478996122841311684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59230221840673980902012-03-21T13:55:12.235-04:002012-03-21T13:55:12.235-04:00Welcome Chris. In a bit of odd timing I just start...Welcome Chris. In a bit of odd timing I just started your book last night. It's very good as in I almost burned supper because I was just going to read one more paragraph and instead read three pages good.Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4476405947237706582012-03-21T13:37:22.509-04:002012-03-21T13:37:22.509-04:00Leslie, the idea of you reading boxes reminds me o...Leslie, the idea of you reading boxes reminds me once more of Donald Westlake, who once remarked he was such a compulsive reader, he'd read the label on a bottle of Worcestershire sauce if that was all he could get his hands on.<br /><br />And Lisa, I hope you enjoy it!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286520897538327919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58259533538639212202012-03-21T13:25:14.972-04:002012-03-21T13:25:14.972-04:00I love reading about genre-blending fiction...I lo...I love reading about genre-blending fiction...I love what's going on indie publishing these days!<br /><br />I'm definitely going to check out your book. Thanks!Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22209767671118807992012-03-21T12:56:33.599-04:002012-03-21T12:56:33.599-04:00Boxes. They're meant for packing, not writing ...Boxes. They're meant for packing, not writing -- or reading. (Unless the box is sitting on the kitchen table and you have nothing else to read while you eat.)Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41896443332097316212012-03-21T11:57:35.588-04:002012-03-21T11:57:35.588-04:00Thanks, Rosemary! And hey, if folks wanna buy my b...Thanks, Rosemary! And hey, if folks wanna buy my book, they can call me any damn thing they want. Though I do occasionally wind up stumped when an interviewer asks, "So, when did you realize you wanted to be a horror/fantasy/crossgenre/science fiction writer?" Uh, I didn't. I just wanted to be a writer.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286520897538327919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23388917265956398512012-03-21T11:14:54.942-04:002012-03-21T11:14:54.942-04:00Welcome Chris!
Haven't read Dead Harvest yet, ...Welcome Chris!<br />Haven't read Dead Harvest yet, but just went to Angry Books website and learned even more about it and you - and I LOVE the cover!<br />Yes, they have to call us something. ...how about fiction?Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91904590440896578432012-03-21T10:56:35.160-04:002012-03-21T10:56:35.160-04:00Thanks, Linda!
I'm as guilty as anyone of boo...Thanks, Linda!<br /><br />I'm as guilty as anyone of book-browsing along genre lines. There's nothing wrong with that; everybody's allowed their tastes. It's when I start telling myself while writing, "I'm not supposed to do that in this kind of story" that I worry genre gets me into trouble. So now I take thoughts like that as a dare.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286520897538327919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67476884198348000592012-03-21T10:53:08.012-04:002012-03-21T10:53:08.012-04:00Thanks, Barb and Lucy! (And to Julia, of course, f...Thanks, Barb and Lucy! (And to Julia, of course, for having me.)<br /><br />Barb, you're right that writing under contract is a bit of a different beast, but I think the widely read come through as such even when tackling a specific assignment.<br /><br />And Lucy, I love Thursday Next as well. Fforde hops genres with such glee, I haven't the faintest idea where to stick him, except for in my TBR pile. And that's good enough for me.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06286520897538327919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80138103836878083482012-03-21T10:52:56.570-04:002012-03-21T10:52:56.570-04:00So great to see you on Jungle Reds, Chris! And I c...So great to see you on Jungle Reds, Chris! And I can attest to the fact that you're a fine short-story writer, as well.<br /><br />I think genres are (or were) a useful marketing tool. They were the "if you like that, you'll like this" or "readers who bought that also bought this" of their day.<br /><br />I suspect they may have outlived that usefulness, however. But then, I have been known to steal a phrase from Julia and call my books "traditional mystery/thrillers."<br /><br />Love the great success you're having with DEAD HARVEST! I hope it only grows and grows!Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8397018026679903272012-03-21T10:25:56.112-04:002012-03-21T10:25:56.112-04:00Hear! Hear! I cheer you on, Chris, not so much as ...Hear! Hear! I cheer you on, Chris, not so much as a writer but as a reader.<br /><br />I "don't read" alternative history/reality but I love Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series. And I'm not one of those people who feels she has to "learn something" in her mysteries, but I still pine for Rebecca Pawel's Spanish Civil war series.<br /><br />The more lines you draw, the less you enjoy. The tighter the boxes, the less interesting the results.Barb Rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55386389997824011432012-03-21T10:10:38.021-04:002012-03-21T10:10:38.021-04:00Welcome to Jungle Red Chris! Golden Era Crime Pulp...Welcome to Jungle Red Chris! Golden Era Crime Pulp--that's a fascinating mouthful! I agree a writer needs to write what she writes, unless she has a contract specifying a particular kind of book:). And even those guidelines can be stretched a little.<br /><br />Julie Hyzy's White House chef books are a great example. they are packaged as cozies but there is a lot of thrilling action and her main character is no Miss Marple.<br /><br />Anyway, we wish you the best and see you on the crime-fighting circuit!Lucy Burdettehttp://www.lucyburdette.comnoreply@blogger.com