Sci-fi and fantasy are my bread and butter, hands down. I’m a diehard graphic novel lover, and every variation thereof. I’ve taken quantum physics, genetics, and astro-biology classes, and weaving those bits and facts to create a viable civilization in or from outer space is a passion. But, fantasy doesn’t have scientific limits. You can do whatever you want with fantasy, whether it’s urban, epic, high, or dark. My characters can have inexplicable powers, and live in a world within our own without too much explaining and hard facts. It’s a fun genre, and it really tests the imagination.
Aside from the genres mentioned above, I’ve tried my hand at mystery because most of my co-workers enjoy mysteries. I took on this challenge with Hellhound. It was very difficult to write for me, to fill in the gaps and cut off loose ends while holding onto consistency. I don’t foresee another mystery in my future. It’s too much work!
In the end, my imagination is all over the place. My muse creates characters, plots, and sets the genre. I just try to corral it long enough to make sense of the storylines
Find Kayle At: Website | Blog | Facebook | TwitterAbout Kaylie Austen: I was born during a monsoon in an Indian village that lacked a doctor and a hospital but had many nesting cobras nearby. That’s the most fascinating thing about me. Other than that, I’m a true Texan, and yes, I bleed orange (Longhorns!). Currently, I reside in the Pacific Northwest with my husband. My novels include YA fantasy, YA sci-fi, and paranormal romance/mystery.
I’ve been writing since the age of ten, and completed two novels before high school graduation. I love to learn, my life is rich with culture, and I’m an undercover nerd.
I'm glad it's not just me that genre hops. I always assumed that if and when I actually got something published, that would be the genre I'd have to stick with. I think that's changed with the advent of epublishing.
ReplyDeleteI usually don't think about genre when I'm writing which is probably the main cause of my genre hopping (it's small hops though). I don't think I would be able to not write something due to genre so... go epublishing!
DeleteI admire anyone who can write mystery. I get confused enough watching movies and TV shows with a mystery in them. I'd have no idea how to write one! (Though I guess fantasy/paranormal do often have mystery elements in them, even if they're small...)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could write a mystery. Not because I would get confused, but because I wouldn't know how to slip in subtle little clues, if I would be able to think of them, on purpose without being totally obvious.
Delete@Sarah, a lot of NYT authors are genre hoppers. Surprisingly, between romance and YA. The former one tends to pigeon hole authors, and the latter one does as well, but not as much, I think.
ReplyDelete@Rachel and Brooke, yeah, I think writing a mystery is very difficult. I couldn't write another one. I'll leave it to the mystery at heart writers! Hellhound has paranormal elements, and that's what creates the twists and turns when throughout the entire book you think the obvious but know (or hope) it just can't be! I hope I did a decent job at writing it.