If you aren’t familiar with Brenda’s work, her books are just a fraction as lovely as she is as a person.
Here’s my interview from RT convention last year.
Brenda says the one question she gets most often as a published author is:
Where do you get your ideas?
When I first started writing I had THE GREAT IDEA. It was based almost entirely on a title that popped into my head one day—OF NOBLE BIRTH. This title lent itself to a very specific theme: whether one is noble or not depends on the heart and not the pedigree. That was the message I wanted to deliver, and I knew the best backdrop for a story with such a message would be a historical setting where the caste system was firmly in place, so I decided that my book would be a historical romance set in Victorian times.
The idea for my first novel lived with me for five years while I added two more children to my family, researched the time period, taught myself the craft of storytelling and created characters that would be interesting enough to help convey my theme (the hero was born to a rich duke who rejects him because he’s imperfect–he has only part of one arm). You’ve probably never heard of my first book, so you’ve already guessed that OF NOBLE BIRTH did not become the next GONE WITH THE WIND. LOL But I did get lucky enough to sell the first manuscript I’d ever even attempted, which isn’t all that common, and the publisher let me keep my precious title from which all else had sprung (publishers often change a manuscript’s title to something they feel is more marketable).
As exciting as that was, however, I soon realize it was NOT the only idea I would ever need if I wanted to make my living as a published author. In order to build my career, I needed to write another story, and another, and another. In other words, I had to develop my imagination and turn it into a deep well of ideas from which I could draw time and again.
I didn’t know how I was going to do this but, fortunately, our brains are very adaptable. The more I demanded that my imagination deliver IDEA NUMBER 2, the harder it began to search. Before long, my mind turned into a “sifter.” It sifted through everything that came my way, every conversation I overheard, every funny anecdote I was told, every movie I saw, every newspaper article I read, every true crime show I puzzled over until I could pull an attitude from one character I’d come to know via a TV show, mix it with a situation my mother had mentioned the week before last, throw in some of my personal experience and…I was off and typing.
Some days, I still fear I will run out of ideas. For a time, while writing my last project (a romantic suspense trilogy–INSIDE, IN SECONDS & IN CLOSE), I couldn’t come up with what I wanted to do next. My publisher kept gently nudging me to give them information about the stories I planned to write for 2012 so they could get started on the covers, but I had no clue what to tell them. I thought my sifter had failed me after forty books. But just about the time I finished IN CLOSE, I decided I was ready to change things up. I wanted to return to the small town romances I had been writing in the beginning of my career. As soon as that became clear, I was suddenly able to write FIVE short synopses, all for a small town contemporary series set in the fictional town of Whiskey Creek (in the heart of Gold Country, which isn’t far from where I live). I thought I’d changed gears completely–but then the idea for a whole new suspense series came to me, too, and suddenly I was more stocked up with story ideas than ever before.
Now for the time to spin all them into finished books….
In order to win one of these great books, just answer one of Brenda’s questions in the comment section at the end of the post. Don’t forget to leave me your email so we can contact the winner!This Giveaway is US/CAN only please.
Here’s what Brenda asked her readers:
Do you mind when authors change genres?
How do you think they can write different kinds of stories and still be
true to what you’ve grown to love about them?
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The giveaways for this event will vary every day. There are 2 giveaways that run the entire event, The RomCon Registration and a $30 GiftCard to Amazon or $30 worth of books of your choice from the Book Depository.
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I’m outside Us and Canada so don’t enter me for this giveaway
I don’t mind when an author change genre as long as he is honest about it and dobn’t surprise his (her) readers
all teh best and Happy Valentine day
It doesn’t bother me if an author writes in more than one genre. I like to read more than one so why shouldn’t they like to write more than one genre. The essence of an author doesn’t change just the type of story changes.
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I like reading in multiple genres, so it’s great when a favorite author writes in more than one of them. The biggest thing for me is that it’s a genre the author loves and WANTS to write, not just that they jumped on a trend. There have been a couple authors whose adult stuff I loved, but when they started writing YA…it just didn’t work for their authorial voice. I love YA, but that was a jump I wasn’t willing to make with them.
Thanks for a great post and giveaway! I don’t mind if an author changes up genres. As long as they write with passion and quality, I’m thrilled to get another book! I think that for an author, they have got to change it up sometimes. We see a book when it comes out, they deal with if for at least 1+ years. Even though they love it, they gotta get sick of it after a while. I know I do when I have to work on a project long term. So to “freshen” things up, I can totally understand why they’d want to do something different 🙂
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Some of my favorite genres write in multiple genres and I don’t mind at all. I read from multiple genres myself and still enjoy the stories. I think if authors go where their imagination takes them and write what they love, it’ll show 🙂
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’ve been trying to reply but can’t get it to post. Trying again!
I guess the secret it to reply anonymously! LOL From now on Anonymous is Brenda Novak!
I wanted to say that as a reader (since I’m also a reader) I think I would’ve been less flexible about following an author between genres years ago. It’s become so common these days that’s it’s more accepted, don’t you think?
Brenda Novak
Miki, you make a great point. That’s why covers are so important. I hate when I feel as if I cover of mine doesn’t adequately reflect the editorial. It doesn’t matter if a cover will “sell” if it’s only going to anger the reader. You can’t build a following that way.
Brenda Novak
Na, who are some of your favorite authors who write in different genres?
Brenda Novak
And I was so frustrated that I couldn’t post, I forgot to say HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!
Brenda Novak
I think it depends on the author as to whether or not they can carry a different genre and be successful. Most of the authors who I’ve read that crossed genres, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and loved.
That’s hopeful, Kati! Thanks for your feedback. As an author it’s really nice to be able to change things up. I see it as getting type case, in the way an actor can get type cast, when you can’t.
Brenda Novak
I dont mind an author changing genre or writing in more than one genre as long as they stay true to who they are as writers. I love reading different genres
I LOVE it when authors switch genres! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book yet written by an author who I’m more familiar with in one genre that I didn’t like! I think if I like the author’s writing style, then I will like whatever genre they write in. I think it opens up the door for so many different ideas! Thanks so much for the giveaway, Brenda! I’m a HUGE fan of your books, and I live in the US 🙂
I don’t mind if an author changes genres… keeps things fresh:)
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
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I don’t mind when authors change genres because I read all kinds of genres, as long as the story sounds good. I enjoyed your post.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi Brenda!
I never mind if an author switches genre, chances are usually good it’s the author’s style that draws me and keeps me interested.
But there are many times where I wish they could write both the genre that hooked me, and the one they currently write.
I don’t mind when authors change genres. I may find something else I love besides what I have grown used to in the author’s usual genre.
I would say it’s better for an author to change up genres it makes them more flexible and gives the readers more diversity in reading. At least I think so. I rather follow/love an author that can get me reading all different things.
Mary
This is the post I needed to see. How does one come up with so many ideas? I loved what you said, I do the same thing. I watch a lot of movies and tv shows and they really help me come up with an idea. You see one idea and you go “well, what if they did it this way or added this to the story?” And that just creates your own little thing, I do it all the time. I have a few ideas, but I am yet to get things down packed. Amazing post, I am saving this. Thank you so much for this 🙂
drharleyquinn87 (at) gmail (dot) com
Once again, I messed up, I forgot to anser a question. I really need to stop doing these past midnight, it is messing with my brain LOL!
1) I don’t mind an author changing genres at all. It shows they are willing to spread their wings. As long as they are comfortable with it and have a desire for the genre, people will respond to that. I know I do.
2) This question baffles me. I have seen authors go forever with a series and there is always something new and different. For instance, take the BDB series by J.R. Ward. It is almost on its 10th book and no two men are the same. There is always something new with every book. How she does it is a mystery? But I think this mainly depends on the characters. I think if an author knows their characters inside and out, they can write many stories. I have come across books where it seems the characters are thrown into situations that don’t really relate to them. It then feels disconnected and odd.
Wow, I didn’t think I would write so much there. Ok, I am done. Thank you again ladies 🙂
drharleyquinn87 (at) gmail (dot) com
I like seeing an author change genres as long as they are not doing it simply to expand their resume. Doing something simply to do it isn’t worth the effort. BUT if they truly want to expand into that other genre it can be refreshing.
Oops! Here’s my email:
AquarianDancer at gmail dot com
I don’t mind when authors write in other genres, it gives me more books to read 🙂
Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com