The Challenges and Rewards of Writing in Multiple Genres

I write in multiple genres, and it can be both challenging and rewarding. So far, I’ve written mystery, romance, paranormal, women’s fiction, and a mixture of two or three together. I have two historical books I want to write as well. See below the genres where I’m published.

Here are some of the challenges and rewards that writers may face when writing in multiple genres:

Challenges:

1. Audience Expectations: One of the biggest challenges of writing in multiple genres is that readers may have certain expectations of the author’s writing style or subject matter based on their previous work. When a writer shifts to a new genre, they may have to work hard to earn the trust and interest of their readers.
2. Learning New Skills: Each genre has its own rules and conventions. Writing in multiple genres requires the writer to learn the rules of each genre and master the necessary writing skills. This can take time and effort.
3. Branding: If a writer is known for a particular genre, it can be challenging to establish a brand in a new genre. This is especially true for authors who have built a large following in a particular genre.
4. Marketing: When an author writes in multiple genres, it can be challenging to market their work effectively. They may need to create different marketing strategies for each genre, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

Rewards:

1. Creativity: Writing in multiple genres can be a great way to explore new ideas and stretch one’s creativity. The writer can experiment with different writing styles, characters, and themes, which can lead to exciting and unexpected results.
2. Flexibility: Writing in multiple genres can also make a writer more versatile and adaptable. They can switch between genres based on their mood, inspiration, or market demand.
3. Broader Audience: Writing in multiple genres can expand an author’s readership by attracting readers who may not have been interested in their previous work. It can also make an author more appealing to literary agents and publishers who are looking for versatile writers.
4. Intellectual Challenge: Writing in multiple genres can be intellectually stimulating and challenging. It requires the writer to master different styles, techniques, and themes, which can be a rewarding experience.

In conclusion, writing in multiple genres can be a challenging and rewarding experience for writers. While there are challenges to overcome, the benefits of expanding one’s creative horizons and attracting a broader audience can be significant.

For more information on my books visit my website at kimcoxauthor.com

Paranormal Cozy Mystery with Romance and Humor

Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery Series

Paranormal Romance and Mystery

Wandering Spirits Series – Multi-Author Anthologies

Romantic Suspense and Romantic Mystery Novels

Style & Profile Series and Stand Alone Novels

Women’s Fiction

Love’s Endurance – A Novelette

Contemporary Romance – Short Stories

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Humor and Your Paranormal Mystery Novel

Paranormal Mysteries don’t have to be totally terrifying. Below, you’ll find a few tips about injecting humor into your paranormal mystery stories.

Top Ten Tips for Paranormal Mystery Humor

1. Use humor to create a contrast between the serious paranormal elements and the everyday world of the characters.
2. Use comic relief to break the tension and keep the story from getting too dark.
3. Utilize satire, irony, and sarcasm to inject humor into the story.
4. Develop characters with distinct personalities and comedic timing to create interesting interactions.
5. Use witty banter between characters as a way to add humor to the story.
6. Incorporate comedic situations or subplots that don’t detract from the main mystery plot.
7. Use physical comedy, such as pratfalls, to add humor to the story.
8. Use puns, wordplay, and other forms of verbal humor to create witty dialogue.
9. Utilize pop culture references to add humor that appeals to a wide audience.
10. Use humor to add layers to the story and explore the characters’ emotional and psychological states.

On a More Personal Note:

Of the 75+ book reviews I’ve received for Haunted Hearts, over 90% were positive. The readers expressed love for all the characters, especially the main character. Besides that, they loved the humorous and charming ghosts.

The main reason I included just a touch of humor in the Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery series was derived from a desire not to have my books become too dark. While ghosts and the paranormal can be spooky, entering a little humor into them can make your story more lighthearted. Not as scary. This is a good thing, especially for our readers who don’t particularly care for horror but do like a good ghost story.

If this is the type of book you like, you’ll love Haunted Hearts.

Book Links for Haunted Hearts

Uncover the truth behind a 20-year-old murder case with Haunted Hearts – a thrilling ghost story with a dash of comedy.

Amazon

Other Bookselles

Guest Author: G. L. Rockey – Kindle Countdown Deals @glrockey #Book #Sale

ABOUT THE BOOK

TIME AND CHANCE will be 99 cents from January 9, 2017 to January 16, 2017.
“Nashville TV news director Jack Carr weaves his way through a tangle of greed, country music, murder, and a knockout undercover agent, Gillian Phoenix.”
Purchase here.

Reviews:

“Alcohol, sex, greed and just plain nasty human habits are the gist of this first-person account about a newscaster, his love life, kidnapped children and eviscerated organs. Readers who pick up this book will not be able to put it down.” – 4 Stars – Faith V Smith, Romantic Times

“…runs the gamut of emotions along with just the right amount of twists and turns designed to keep the reader twisting and turning -, and reading – As a serious writer, Rockey has the ability, as they might say in Tennessee, to “run with the big dogs,” when it comes to spinning the kind of yarn that could easily enter today’s best seller list.” – Peggy Russell, The Hinckley Record

Author/reviewer Denise Clark: Jack Carr has a quirky witty way of speaking reminiscent of fictional Philip Marlow. I thoroughly enjoyed the plotting points that kept my attention riveted throughout . . ..”
ScribesWorld review: A great book.

Purchase here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE JOURNALIST will be 99 cents from January 25, 2017 to February 1, 2017
“Taking Fake NEWS to a higher level.” Purchase here.

In 2020 a newspaper editor uncovers a sinister plot by the U.S. President to overthrow the government by manipulating the media.

“….HAS FRIGHTENING RING OF TRUTH”
‘Sam’ Boyer, Medina/Brunswick Sun Times

***** OUTSTANDING, ENGROSSING, A CLASSIC”
Inscriptions

“The Journalist is a captivating book that had me reading quickly to follow the developments as they occurred . . . extremely believable characters . . . I must conclude the writing is very well executed to stir up so much in the reading.”
Angie Mangino, Inscriptions

“. . . book has frightening ring of truth . . . compelling . . .”
‘Sam’ Boyer, Brunswick Sun Times

“Thrilling . . . captures you in the opening sentence and hold you spellbound till the end . . . it will also scare the socks off you . . . a must read.”
Kim Gaona, writer, reviewer

A “BOOK OF THE YEAR” Inscriptions Magazine

“Mr. Rockey gives the story so many twists and turns that it seems more than believable. It makes one wonder what really is the news and what is the political agenda behind it? — Reader Views
“…brings the political tensions and dilemmas of the twenty-first century into razor-sharp focus…a biting political thriller…full of colorful characters…a great read.” – Cheryl Swanson, Author of Death Game – Gotta Read
“…a captivating book that had me reading quickly to follow the developments as they occurred…extremely believable characters…Thrilling…one story that not only captures you in the opening sentence and holds you spell bound till the end, it will also scare the socks off you wondering…”What if?”” – 5 Stars – Angie Mangino

Purchase here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

FIVE STAR REVIEW will be 99 cents from February 13, 2017 to February 20, 2107 – a nice Valentine gift for readers
“Cloistered walls not for her, twenty-six year old dropout nun, Heather Lynn Lucas, “following her passion,” is an aspiring novelist.” Purchase here.

Cloistered walls not for her, twenty-six year old dropout nun, Heather Lynn Lucas, “following her passion,” is an aspiring novelist. Pen name H. L. Lucas, a first novel written, having no luck finding a publisher, Satan shows up with an offer for publishing fame and fortune. Pondering Satan’s offer, Heather has her novel published as an e-book. Certain a review in the local newspaper will boost sale of her e-book, she attempt to contact the prestigious book editor, Joseph Hartman.

Spurned by Hartman, she attends the newspaper’s annual writing conference where she hopes to enlighten Hartman about e-books. Concerned he will recognize her name from previous attempts to contact him, she attends as Lillian Carol. Hartman not the stuffed shirt she expected, she engineers a lunch meeting with him, which leads to a disastrous dinner date. Dejected, Heather signs with Satan but insists on an out clause. An out agreement is reached that stipulates she has to get Hartman to marry her.

Contemplating the deal she has hastily signed, she reaches out to Hartman, he has been thinking about her too, they hook up again and fall in love. Hartman thinking she is Lillian Carol, Heather’s book published in hard back, Heather must tell Hartman her true identity before he discovers her trickery.

Purchase here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

By way of Carnegie Mellon Drama Department, G. L. Rockey earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and pursued a career in the television industry. From Providence to Phoenix and cities in between, he produced and directed a variety of television programs and managed TV station programming. While program manager at KTSP-TV in Phoenix, he represented NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) to Germany. He has a master’s degree from Cleveland State University and taught a course there.

TRUTHS OF THE HEART is G. L. Rockey’s latest novel. He has written three other acclaimed works of fiction: THE JOURNALIST (Re-released in paperback with the title REDACTED), a five star thriller with a “freighting ring of truth”; TIME & CHANCE, a mystery/suspense set in Nashville; and a collection of sixteen “off-the-wall” short stories, BATS IN THE BELFRY, BELLS IN THE ATTIC. Also published is a non fiction book, FROM THE BACK OF THE HOUSE: MEMORIES OF A STEAK HOUSE CLAN.

Find his published books at Anaphora Literary Press, Heritage Books, Inc., Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Fictionwise, Books We Love, and eBookwise.

Find Rockey at his website, Casablanca, Facebook, and Twitter.

Wandering Spirits II – Release Day Is Here #amwriting #BookBoost #IARTG

Wandering Spirits II

Just in time for Halloween, Wandering Spirits II is filled with spooktacular fun. Releasing in paperback and ebook at Amazon and Other Retailers on October 1st, this book includes five romantic paranormal mystery novellas, and Chris Grover has added bonus recipes you’re sure to enjoy.

Also October 1st, we’re having an event on facebook to celebrate the release of Wandering Spirits I. Please drop in and say hello.

Here are the short blurbs of the novellas.

GET OUT OR DIE by Kim Cox

When Lana Malloy helps a young widow communicate with her late husband, she learns of a frightening new ability — an ability that could give the spirit the upper hand. Knowing this next case will be more difficult than anything she’s ever faced, Lana struggles for control when she encounters an angry ghost who doesn’t want to leave and who doesn’t want the occupants of the house to stay. Does she have other abilities she can rely on to save her?

LUCIFER’S LAST LAUGH by Elizabeth Delisi
When Kirk Marsden falls overboard from his yacht, he thinks he’s dreaming when confronted by a scary-looking man in red, with a silver pitchfork stickpin. Lucifer offers Kirk a deal: he won’t go to Hell if he can reveal his true inner self to one person who genuinely cares about him. But how can a rich man find someone who likes him for himself, not his money?

BELIEVING IN DREAMS by Chris Grover
Nicole James has always believed in dreams. So after her mom dies and she dreams about a house she’s seen in an old photo and an elderly woman who beckons to her and says “Nicole! Finally! I was so worried you wouldn’t get here in time,” she has to check it out.

‘NEATH HALLOWED HALLS AND IVIED WALLS by Maureen McMahon
Stacey Christian and Peter Mansfield come together again to attend the funeral of their beloved Harvard history professor, Bertram Donelson. Stacey’s emotional stint as a reporter in Afghanistan and Peter’s exhausting high-profile business takeover make them even more vulnerable to the romantic chemistry that’s always been between them.

Little do they know their old alma mater holds an evil and deadly secret that will propel them into a whirlwind of ghostly, shocking and even deadly experiences. Will this adventure be enough to finally bring their love to fruition?

ENIGMA by Sheryl Hames Torres
Brace Adams struggles to solve the mystery of a blind woman who wakes up beside a brutally murdered man, but has no memory of how she got there. Can he protect Riley from the forces surrounding her without losing his life?

Wandering Spirits I

In celebration of Wandering Spirits II’s release, Wandering Spirits I is on sale for 99 cents in ebook at Amazon and Other Retailers – also available in paperback. Wandering Spirits I includes five romantic paranormal mystery novellas, and Chris Grover has added a bonus short story. Here are the short blurbs of the novellas.

ONLY 99 CENTS FOR 3 DAYS

HAUNTED HEARTS by Kim Cox
(Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery Series, Book 1)
Two ghosts, a hysterical neighbor and the handsome nephew of her aunt’s fiancé and you get a mix bag of comical events. Lana Malloy embarks on a new career as a private investigator. She must solve the forty-year-old murder of her great aunt and her great aunt’s fiancé or they will remain Haunted Hearts.

RESTLESS SPIRIT by Elizabeth Delisi 
Desperate to talk to her young son, who died from a rare, incurable blood disease, Laura St. Clair uses a Ouija board to try to reach him. But when she makes contact with the spirit world and receives a message, whom has she reached? And what does the spirit want in return for helping her?

VALENTINE’S INN by Chris Grover 
After being badly injured in an auto accident, which killed three of her friends, Rianna Gordon has given up on life. Then she meets Josh Byford, unaware that Josh is a ghost. Rianna is a lawyer not a hotelier, but rather than sell the country inn her family has owned for over a hundred years, Josh not only convinces her to reopen and run it, he finds her the perfect partner as well–the boy she fell in love with when she was nine years old and never quite forgot.

GHOSTS OF AULD LANG SYNE by Maureen McMahon
(Stacey Christian & Peter Mansfield: Book 2)
The second book of the series after Return of the Gulls, Stacey Christian and Peter Mansfield reunite in Ghosts of Auld Lang Syne to celebrate New Year with friends at a remote New England homestead. Are the terrifying incidents that befall the guests really only accidents? And why does the spectre of a young woman walk the halls?

FATE’S LITTLE TRICK by Sheryl Hames Torres
Gemma McKenzie Fuller must put aside her fears and help someone from her past. Can a troubled child teach her that going back again could possibly be a Christmas miracle?

MEETING MR. WRIGHT by Chris Grover
Vicki figured the dream was simply a spin-off of her bedtime reading. She had no idea it was a prediction of things to come.

Readers are saying:
“You get a lot of bang for the buck when you get your hands on WANDERING SPIRITS! There are 5 novellas by 5 authors and 1 short story.”

“Whether you believe in the spirit world or not, these stories will provide the reader with enjoyment and maybe a few chills.”

Happy Reading,
Kim Cox

#Free for a Limited Time – Books 1 & 2 – Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery Series

You can’t beat that? You can NOW get Haunted Hearts FREE through booksellers and have an option to get the second book, Get Out or Die, in the Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery Series FREE, also.

    

Haunted Hearts is FREE for a limited time at the following locations:
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo
Page Foundry

Tell all your friends to get their copy of Haunted Hearts while the sale lasts, and learn how to get Novella 2 in the series for FREE. To read a preview, click the links below.

Haunted Hearts
Get Out or Die

Go to this option to learn how to snag Get Out or Die FREE.

#EggcerptExchange: SHOCKING FINDS by Tracey Clark

I am participating in the Author Helping Authors – Egg-cerpt Exchange.

Today, I am featuring Tracey Clark, author of Shocking Finds.

Shocking Finds (A Finder’s Keepers Novel)

-Tracey Clark
Here are a few treats for readers interested in Paranormal/Fantasy Romance (New Adult)
A blurb, a quick excerpt, some links for buying options and author info… and
Lastly… a fun little Q&A session with the main character Marin!!
Happy wordage everyone

Blurb:

An act of rebellion, Marin doesn’t think that running into the new store in town will hurt anything. Her aunt will never know… right? One car wreck later, her aunt is hospitalized, Marin is forced to spend her twenty-first birthday fighting for her life, and magic – the very thing her aunt has always sworn to be for fools – is real. And so is the irresistible Fae dedicated to Marin’s protection.

Kyland has searched Earth-side and all the other realms, looking for a missing Fae child. A child his Queen prophesied would be able to one day save the Fae people from the Danshue, as the evil Fae threat tries to overwhelm the entire Supernatural Community. A child that would know nothing of her blocked gifts, or her Fae heritage waiting to be claimed. A child that has grown into a curvy, delicious morsel he would love to taste

Together Marin and Kyland will fight Fae assassins, overcome betrayals, and if they’re lucky … they will find the Danshue responsible for their plight. That’s if Marin doesn’t shock him to death with her erratic new gift, and her out of control emotions.

Buy your copy today!!

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014UA6XV0/

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shocking-finds-tracey-clark/1122614922

Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/shocking-finds-a-finder-s-keepers-novel

Indigo:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/shocking-finds-a-finders-keepers/9781310309090-item.html

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/574301

Excerpt: (from chapter two Shocking Finds)

Marin needed answers. Like why had they been targeted? The parking lot hadn’t exactly been lacking for vehicular violence victim contenders. There had been a group of at least four women, standing by their cars, chatting. If there was a target more deserving of vehicular rage, it had definitely been that group of women. They had finished shopping, and courtesy demanded that their parking spots were to be relinquished as soon as possible. Why not them?

The man—and Marin was only guessing that the driver was a man—had bypassed those without parking lot etiquette and zeroed in on Lindal. If she had continued her slow progress through the parking lot, would Marin be in this horrible room with its beeping monitors and bleached air instead of Lindal.

Staring down at her aunt’s unmoving form, Marin tried to find a place to rest her hand. She needed to touch her. She needed to know that the only person willing to take her in, after the death of her mother, was really here and still alive.

“They will find him, Lindal. He won’t get away with this,” Marin made her vow as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Lindal’s recovery.

Glancing up to keep tears from falling from her eyes, Marin noticed something swinging off of Lindal’s oxygen line.

“What the…” It looked like a Barbie doll with wings, perhaps six inches tall. The odd little creature wore a loin cloth and sported some overly obvious male attributes. Was it wrong to be checking out the abs of someone no larger than a child’s toy?

His arms tugged and his muscles bunched as he attempted to make a knot in Lindal’s oxygen line. His silver skin tone went beautifully with his tri-colored wings— a mix of light purple, maroon, and gold. The little man didn’t seem to realize that Marin was staring at him.

“Stop,” Marin shouted. Dammit, this was a hospital. She needed to lower her voice. She also needed to go upstairs to the psych ward. Head trauma, shock, or hallucinations…something wasn’t right. If she told Lindal about this, her aunt would call her every kind of fool.

Hallucination or not, she grabbed the little man by the wings, pulled him from Lindal’s oxygen line, and tried to speak more calmly. “What do you think you’re doing?”

She finally had her figment’s attention. A striking, though small, pair of lavender eyes glared at her through overly long sandy brown bangs. On closer inspection, she could see that his hair was actually multicolored. It seemed to go from crystal white sand to bronzed gold.

“Well, answer me. What do you think you’re doing?”

“Waiting for you, of course.”

“What are you?” She was losing it. The buzzing in her temples was increasing. And she was now speaking to a figment of her imagination. Yep, she needed to be medicated.

The creature put its tiny fists on narrow hips. “A Sprite, of course. Don’t you know anything? I have my work cut out for me.” Now she was being insulted by her imagination. Great.

“Nope. Too Much,” Marin said and tossed the little man with wings out of the hospital window. She needed coffee. Either that or a large dose of Thorazine. Maybe both.

All About Tracey Clark!!

I am a country-twang gal from the bluegrass state. Kentucky is a hot bed of horses, cave systems, and whiskey. And I love all three. With my pugs and bossy kitty cat, I spend my days writing and working social media. I write with the help of the voices pushing me to create worlds for them to live in. Fantasy Romance, Contemporary Romance, and eventually some cowboys (because cowboys live in a group all their own, yummmm)… These are the genres that I love best. Oil paints, crafts, dealing with Multiple Sclerosis, and writing into the dead of night… this I my life!!!

To Find out more about Tracey here are some links…

Author Page (Main):
http://traceylclark.com/

Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/103301.Author_Tracey_Clark

MS Page:
https://multiplesclerosisnewsblog.wordpress.com/

Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/traceyclark.finderskeepers/

Anddddd…. Twitter Page:
https://twitter.com/traceylclark11

Now… without further ado… here is Marin Yarthine…

Interviewer: You’ve had quick the introduction to the Fae world, Marin… Can I call you Marin..

Marin (reddened cheeks): Uhh… sure… I mean, that’s what most people call me… Kyland has been call me, Minzet, but I’m pretty sure that’s something just between us since it means Sweet One… but…yeah… Marin would be best.

Interviewer (light chuckle): Great. Well, I nice to finally get to sit down with us… and as the new Princess to the Fae people, with such an odd upbringing… the Fae would love to know a little pit about you… Tell us a little bit about day to day life in the royal world…

Marin: Pfft… Most of the time I think they have the wrong girl… I mean… I was home schooled, and have worked at Finder’s Keepers since I turned 17… for the past four years I have been slipping into Finder’s Trances in order to locate everything from pets to abduction victims… from car keys to family heirlooms… it sounds like important work but really, I mostly had to pull a bunch of information together so that other Finder’s could go out on Mission to locate whatever the client had misplaced…

Interviewer: That sounds like important work to me… also, something that would take a toll on your emotions… do you have someone to cuddle up to at night to help you get through the day???

Marin (Cheeks now flaming red): Kyland… he came out of nowhere and changed my life… and he doesn’t even mind when I accidentally shock him with this new power that has a tendency to get out of control when I’m upset…

Interview: …. (shuffles through questions) … (scoots chair back and grits her teeth)… What goals and hardships do you face… what do you want for the Fae?? I mean… what are your plans to keep the Fae community safe?? (scoots back a little further…)

Marin (head cocked to the side): I’m still learning about the Fae world.. but I would say my goal is to keep as many people safe as I can… (fists clench) … if the evil Fae, those Danshue ********… sorry for my language, but if they would just stop getting in the way, I could learn a little faster… someone needs to stop the Danshue before this community I’m just getting to know dies out…

Sparks light up on Marin’s hands, but Interviewer merely gets a white
Knuckled grip on her set and continues…

Interviewer: One final questions and we will let you get back to your new duties as Princess… Can you tell us what fears you are facing in this new chapter of your life???

Marin: … (Deep Breath…) Lindal… that the woman that pretended to be my only family, that kidnapped me as a child (sparks on her fingertips) … that she will find a way to finish what she started… (more sparks) … that she will find a way to hurt the people I am coming to care about… that she will hurt KYLAND … (small explosion blowing out all the lights)

Interview warily pulls herself up out of the floor, where she dove to avoid flying glass…

Interview(voice shaky) : Alright… I think that’s all we have time for… thanks for stopping by Princess…

#EggcerptExchange: R.O.S.E. Riders of Sins Eternal by Lisa Ann

I am participating in the Author Helping Authors – Egg-cerpt Exchange.

Throughout the months of February and March, I plan to delight you with exciting information about books and authors who are or could become your favorites. So make sure to check this out and let each amaze you with their ability to write awesome stories.

Today, I am featuring Lisa Ann, author of R.O.S.E Riders of Sins Eternal.

Title: R.O.S.E Riders of Sins Eternal
Release Date: March 11 (re-release)
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance (18+ due to language, sex scenes)
Author: Lisa Ann

Riders of Sins Eternal have only one law: Always pay your debts

Blurb:
Riders of Sins Eternal have only one law: Always pay your debts.

Alexandra Scott was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Striving to become a reporter in the fast paced world of journalism, she can’t believe it when she becomes the ‘breaking news’ after a night out with her best friend.

Garrick Donovan had come to terms with the deal he had made over a century ago, he had been able to get his revenge and nothing would make him regret that. While out cruising, he comes across a bunch of hoods attacking a young woman, something he can’t ignore.

Alexandra finds herself immersed in a world of dark secrets that could destroy both her and Garrick. It is now up to her to decide if what she and Garrick may have is worth the consequences or to get out while she still has time.

Add to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28937181-r-o-s-e-riders-of-sins-eternal

Author Information:
Webpage: http://lisaawritesreads.com/
Email: lisaawrites@gmail.com
Twitter: @lisaawrites