Friday, June 22, 2012

Who Do You Think You Are? - “Autumn Leaves” and Beyond

I’ve read about quite a few authors who went from romance to mystery which had me wondering if it was something of a natural path. Can you do both, love and respect both equally?
As a reader, I love stories of smart, capable women making it in a men’s world. Their successes are satisfying, even more so when the author has them collaborate, not compete with other women. There is something about the heroine archetype in a mystery that makes me want to go there time and again. Write her, too.

Against that backdrop, I’ve been shaping my own writing and yet come out with a focus on writing romance, opposed to what seems the direction many other writers are going. Of course, there’ll be drama. There will likely be bad guys. I’ve realized over the years that I have a love for characters that are torn and haunted by the things and people they are passionate about--makes for fun introspection. I love it in a mystery, and in characters whose story is completely different from your favorite Hardboiled. Besides, there are just not enough happy-ending lesbian love stories around.

Of course, the sad stories are necessary and relevant to show the ugly face of prejudice, but if we want to believe that things are changing to the better, we need that vision, too.

It can be hard to challenge a long-held conception. There’s a reward in learning, and growing, and maybe change a few preconceived notions along the way. Autumn Leaves is a love story first and foremost. It’s also about what can happen when people are challenged that way, and not just the two main characters.

PS: Please bear with me as I'm starting to figure out how this blog works, gadgets and all, and see you next Friday! Well...maybe earlier than that. 





 

2 comments:

  1. Congratulations on starting a blog Barbara. It becomes a spiritual practice as well as a writing and marketing practice. Interesting, this post about moving from romance writing to mysteries, wondering if that were a natural progression, and choosing to do the opposite.

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    1. Thank you! I've been blogging before, but in a more private setting, so this is a new and exciting experience, also learning more about this particular site.

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