As
a reader I enjoy a variety of genres. While I don’t tend to go for romance or
horror, action-adventure, contemporary, fantasy and science fiction can be
found on my list of novels completed each year.
As a writer, I’ve discovered, at least anecdotally,
that readers don’t tend to cross genre boundaries when it comes to my works.
Speaking with other authors and listening to author-related podcasts, I am not
alone.
Yes, I have a small but solid core of readers that
pick up, read and enjoy my works, despite the genre. But for most readers that
have enjoyed at least one of my works, they tend to stick with that series. I’ve
discovered this through tracking sales figures, especially when I have a new
release or my publisher engaged in a focused advertising campaign. The same
trend can be found through observing what newsletter recipients click to
explore further, exchange of emails with readers, and talking to readers at
conventions and other book events that I have attended regularly over the
years.
For example, with my standalone science fiction
novel, Thunder Wells, readers that
picked it up and indicated they enjoyed it, didn’t shift to the Crax War Chronicles (also SF)—and vice
versa. Some of the reason is that the storylines are quite different, despite
both falling under science fiction, and may even be loosely classified as
Military SF. Speaking with readers directly at signing events, for many they ‘like
what they like’ and tend to stick with it.
I co-authored two novellas (Rock House and Cavern)
with David Wood as part of his popular Dane
Maddock Adventures series, and released through the Kindle Worlds program.
Both have sold very well. The novellas are best categorized as action-adventure
(sort of a pulpish Indiana Jones in a modern day setting). Yet ‘tracking’
reader migration from the Maddock series to my other works, it appears to be a
trickle.
That said, I am giving it one more try. My newest
release, Monsters, Maces and Magic: Outpost is the first in a new LitRPG
series. (LitRPG is fantasy or SF that has a connection to games, either
fictional video games, or role playing games similar as Dungeons & Dragons.). A second novel in the series (Monsters, Maces and Magic: Betrayal) is finished and is available
for pre-order.
I wrote the new series so that it straddles the newer
LitRPG fantasy subgenre and the more mainstream tastes of fantasy readers. In
other words, people who enjoy RPGs will recognize those elements, but readers
who are unfamiliar with such games will note that those elements play a part in
the storyline, but don’t dominate it. My target audience isn’t the ‘hard core’
LitRPG readers that are sometimes hyper-focused on character stats and game
mechanics translated into novel form. Readers totally unfamiliar with RPGs will
be at home with the characters and story.
Will my new series catch on with readers? I hope so.
Will it bring potential readers to my already established First Civilization’s Legacy Series? I hope so. Even if not,
providing intriguing stories for readers that prefer only a segment of what I’ve
written (and continue to write) is still worthwhile.
Why am I doing it? I’ve always wanted to write
stories that, if I hadn’t written them myself, I could still find them on the
bookshelf. The Monsters, Maces and Magic
series is something that’s been on my mind, possibly even longer than the First Civilization’s Legacy Series.
In any case, I hope you’ll take a look at my works,
and find something keen to your reading interests. If you do, don’t hesitate to
share your thoughts.
Author Bio:
Terry
W. Ervin II is an English teacher who enjoys writing fantasy and science
fiction. His science fiction novels include Relic Tech and Relic Hunted
(part of the Crax War Chronicles),
and Thunder Wells, a
post-apocalyptic alien invasion novel.
Rock House
and Cavern are his co-authored
action adventure novellas (with David Wood), and Genre Shotgun is his short story collection, that includes SF,
mystery, horror/suspense and inspirational tales.
His
post-apocalyptic fantasy series, First
Civilization’s Legacy, includes Flank
Hawk, Blood Sword and Soul Forge.
Terry’s
newest series (Fantasy/LitRPG) Monsters,
Maces and Magic includes Outpost,
with Betrayal slated for release in
April of 2018. He is currently working on Relic
Shield, the third novel in the Crax
War Chronicles.
To
contact Terry or to learn more about his writing endeavors, visit his website
at www.ervin-author.com, that of his
publisher, Gryphonwood Press, and his blog, Up
Around the Corner at uparoundthecorner.blogspot.com.
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