By
Recently my
second indie-published novel Closure, released. This
is my second novel that combines modern day crime thrillers with paranormal and
historical elements.
I’ve been
told that cross-genre is frowned on in the publishing world, as people like to
pigeon-hole books and authors. I have to say that hasn’t been my experience,
and my stubborn-as-a-mule, desperate-to-prove-I’m-right side wants to prove
that I’m not alone.
I have no
objection to writing straight crime as I love reading crime. I was raised on a
diet of Enid Blyton, into Agatha Christie, onto PD James and all the greats.
But some part of me adores adding the little extras that no one expects to get
in a novel dealing with violent crimes and murder. I adore researching into
factual history of the surroundings where I base my novels. And I love creating
fictional characters to work within some of that historical element, and if I
can run a parallel thread with the modern day story, so that the characters
effortless interweave right up to the denouement … then to me I’ve got all the
makings of a good book.
Besides,
even when I listen to publishers tell me that crime readers read crime, horror
readers read horror, historical readers … you get the drift … I’m inwardly
shaking my head hard enough for it to fly across the room.
So far the
majority of reviews of The Charter have been amazing,
better than I could ever have hoped. Eleven five star reviews on Amazon, with
nearly everyone getting exactly what I was trying to achieve. Even after KDP
Free promotions, while ready for a deluge of negative comments, I’ve been
delighted with the feedback, and I am increasingly certain that publishers have
got it wrong. Not everyone wants to know exactly what they’re reading. Some
people like the surprise element, they like experiencing that tilt of
perspective, when what they thought they knew slips away from them.
So, this
month I start the ball rolling again, with my Closure - this time
the paranormal element concerns spirit guides and the hotly-debated topic of
reincarnation.
Again, it
won’t please everyone, but if one person who reads the book and studies the
research I spent almost a year compiling, changes any preconceptions, I’ll
consider it a job well done. If one reader tells me that they were captivated
by this little boy’s story I shall be blown away. And if I manage to create
characters – both real and spiritual – who impact with readers as much as I
achieved in my first novel … well, you just know it’s going to whet my appetite
for my next cross-genre adventure.
______________________________________________________________________
Born in the industrial Midlands, Gillian's heart has always
yearned for the wilds of North Wales and the pull of the ocean.A Company
Director for twenty years, she has written obsessively for over a decade,
predominantly in the crime genre. She has completed six full length novels and
numerous short stories. After completing a creative writing course, she decided
to take her writing to the next level and sought representation. She is a
columnist for Words with Jam literary magazine, a regular theatre goer and avid
reader across genres. WEBSITE : www.gillianhamer.com
TWITTER : @gillyhamer
This is a topic that's close to my heart... Take care! Where are your contact details though?
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