Pages

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Writing different genres By Susan Page Davis

Today we welcome Susan Page Davis to our blog. Susan writes several different genres and is blogging about this for us today. 

From the time I started writing fiction, I’ve written in several different genres. I love variety, and writing different kinds of stories keeps me from getting bored and, I like to think, keeps my writing from getting stale.

The first full-length book I ever finished was romantic suspense, but my first book ever published was a historical romance. I’ve continued to write in both genres, but I have also published two children’s chapter books, a couple dozen cozy mysteries, and a few plain ol’ romance novels.
What am I working on now? A historical romance novella, a cozy mystery, and a romantic suspense novel in my Maine Justice series.

Working on several books at once doesn’t bother me, unless they are somewhat alike. For instance, if I’m working on a novel set in 1860 and a novella set in 1880, I might have moments where I get confused as to what technology and services were available at that time. Did this area have railroads yet? Telegraph? A county courthouse?

As to the projects I’m working on now, the historical novella is set in Texas in 1886. The other two are contemporary, so no problems there.

But the characters for my suspense novel—cops and their families, suspects, friends, and crime victims—do speak, act, and think differently from the modern, middle-aged women who own the tearoom in the cozy mystery series. The tearoom ladies are much more genteel than the cops, much more upbeat, and always trying to make their friends and customers feel loved, or at least valued.
My cops, on the other hand, see a lot of rough happenings, and sometimes they get depressed. Sometimes they argue and throw things. Sometimes they break the rules and give their bosses cause to discipline them.

So, for each genre I have to have a distinct “voice,” which amounts to attitude. My Texas Ranger is a little folksy, a little funny, but determined to get his man. My tearoom owners are gentle and compassionate, but good at exposing lies and crimes. My Maine Justice cops are tough, but each has a tender side that is only seen by those who know them well.

Do you see a particular attitude or mood running through books of your favorite genre, even when they are written by different authors?
               
Short bio:
Susan Page Davis is the author of more than seventy published novels. A Maine native, she now lives in the state of Kentucky in the USA. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com , where you can see all her books, sign up for her occasional newsletter, and read a short story on her romance page. Her newest books are Found Art (romantic suspense) and My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains (western historical romance).


Posted by at
Labels: , ,

10 comments:

  1. Iola23 May 2017 at 06:42

    Thanks for visiting, Susan!

    I've read some of your historical novels, as well as many of your romantic suspense, and I've enjoyed both. That's a real talent - the only other author I can think of off the top of my head who writes contemporary and historical with equal skill is Francine Rivers :)

    I will admit to liking your contemporary romantic suspense novels best, but that's just because I'm a romantic suspense junkie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan Page Davis23 May 2017 at 07:32

      Thanks, Iola! I like the variety of writing in different genres, but right now my Maine Justice series is tugging at my heart.

      Delete
    2. Ausjenny23 May 2017 at 09:03

      I am loving the Maine Justice Series and I reviewed the first of the series on this blog a couple of months back. I also reviewed My Heart Belongs in Superstition Mountains. I enjoy all the genres Susan has written (including one she wrote with her son which starts in Australia)

      Delete
    3. Susan Page Davis24 May 2017 at 10:01

      Oh, thank you so much, Jenny! I laughed when you told me one of my characters in the Maine Justice series had the same name as your aunt, Thelma Blake!

      Delete
  2. Jeanette O'Hagan23 May 2017 at 08:53

    Thanks Susan for an interesting post. I enjoyed reading how you keep your genres and character cast separate and distinct. Up to last year, I primarily wrote in one genre - secondary world YA fantasy, but over the last 12 months I've finding myself writing adult science fiction (though still many set in my fantasy world) - for me, the setting makes all the difference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ausjenny23 May 2017 at 09:10

      Hi Jenny, I too love reading how Susan keeps the genres separate while writing. I do love the different genres she writes.
      I find it amazing She can write different genres at the same time.

      Delete
    2. Susan Page Davis24 May 2017 at 10:03

      Thanks, Jeanette! Now I am going to have to go look for your books. They sound interesting. I haven't written Sci-Fi but I do have one gentle fantasy for kids ("Feather"). I do love fantasy, and occasionally read Sci-Fi if I'm in the mood for something different. I read The Martian last year, and recently finished Stealth Power (by Vicki Kestell)--good reads both.

      Delete
    3. Jeanette O'Hagan24 May 2017 at 10:44

      :) Thanks Susan. I've read The Martian - great book & movie. Will have to look out for Stealth Power and also Feather.

      Delete
  3. Narelle23 May 2017 at 22:31

    Hi Susan, I write contemporary and I imagine it would be difficult to keep the details straight in one historical setting, let alone writing two historical settings at the same time. Thanks for visiting with us and sharing your experiences. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan Page Davis24 May 2017 at 10:03

      Yeah, I try to avoid writing more than one historical at a time now. Thanks for coming by, Narelle.

      Delete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)