It is a Puzzlement: Genre Identification

Defining fantasy reminds me of that old commercial for Parkay margarine. 

Fantasy is many things.  Query Tracker has one take on the genre:

Fantasy. Fantasy stories are set on other worlds or in other realities. You can have vampires, werewolves, or fairies, but in general, fantasy creatures tend to be more…fantastic, mythological – dragons, gryphons, three-headed dog beasts. Magic is a huge element of fantasy stories. Here is a little test: if you can take away the “weird” in the story (i.e. the beasts, the magic) and the world you are left with is still not the normal, everyday world you know, it’s a fantasy story. Lord of the Rings is a fantasy. 

Urban Fantasy. This genre is actually closer to a paranormal than a fantasy. These stories deal with magical or paranormal elements in a real world, contemporary (or urban) setting. Many paranormal books could also be classified as Urban Fantasy, including Twilight, Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series, and The Dresden Files.

In the interest of keeping my sanity, I've compiled the following: 

• Epic or High. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
• Arthurian. Mary Stewart’s The Crystal Cave
• Swords and Sorcery. Gauntlgrim by RA Salvatore
• Bangsian (about the afterlife). The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The discussion is personal since my drug of choice is a sub-genre of fantasy.  That is where my confusion starts.

Wilder Mage is set in the real world about events that can’t possibly happen. So what is it?

The categories are:                                                            

• Paranormal. Nope. The romance is a part of the canvas and not the whole paint.
• Urban Fantasy. Trying to nail this term down has resulted in a bleeding forehead and mangled keyboard. Some say it is the modern world in a city setting, note the above QT quote. Others say it is any time period as long as it is this world.
• Speculative Fiction. This one *really* confuses me. Since my publisher, Musa, defines Urania imprint as Spec Fic, I use the term also. But really? I mean isn't all fiction speculative?
• Contemporary Fantasy. I like this one best. To me it says it all.

Excellent sites that helps to clear/create the fog:

SFSite. Invaluable. Definitely bookmark material.

Fantasy Subgenres.

So what genre is Wilder Mage if it is about a wizard living in Iowa?

Wilder Mage – Cover Reveal

“I know who you are,” she said 

“Who am I?” Justus asked.  

“You are the one they call the wilder, the one who got away.”

Justus Aubre is a wilder. A mage unbound to the Imperium, and therefore a dangerous wild card in their eyes. The Imperium wants him, wants his power, but Justus has hidden for many years and now has some semblance of a normal life. All that’s about to change when Sable Rounds walks through the door of his antique shop, looking for work. Justus instantly knows what Sable is, he just doesn't know the danger he’s in.

Alone, also on the run from the Imperium, Sable longs for a normal life. For somewhere to belong. She finds this when Justus hires her, but she knows it’s temporary and fragile, an illusion. Though she hates to think about it, she knows that one day she will have to move on.

The Imperium is always behind her, waiting. When they finally find Sable, they find Justus. And all hell’s about to break loose.

Release Date, August 30

The Earthquake Wasn't his Fault. Not this Time

Please tell me, when did it become real for you?

After you sign the contract? 
Saw the cover?

Or get the release date?

August 30, 2013

Reality hit me last week. Until then I figured I'd wake up soon, discover that it was a good dream but definitely a mistake. Then I'd find another reason to write.

The Magic Withheld - urban fantasy, release date 8-30-13 by Musa Publishing, Urania Speculative Fiction.

Book Trailer:

Holy Talking Cats, I'm gonna be a Published Writer.

The Greystone Series and Alex Verus

Two book series. Two different authors. Great reading in different genres. 

Taylor Longford writes YA and Benedict Jacko’s world is in urban fantasy. Both authors gave me fantastic writing, suspenseful storylines, and sleepless nights of reading until two AM.

Ms. Longford continues her Greystone saga with Dare, a tale of gargoyles and their introduction to the modern life of TVs and the internet.

Enclosed in a British building, turned to stone, and unable to reach sunlight to return to their normal selves, the gargoyle brothers are discovered and sent to Colorado. Valor is the first gargoyle to touch sunlight and becomes a living, breathing young man who falls for a modern teenager.

When his brothers arrive in their stone form, they also transform and follow Valor’s transition from the days of horse and buggy to cell phones, computers, and EBay.

Valor’s brother Dare continues this storyline. His past dogs his footsteps after a severe injury curtails his existence as a gargoyle. Without any expectation of healing, Dare isn't optimist about modern life. But he finds a soul mate who thinks differently and the journey to recovery is remarkable.

Reason’s story begins after he saves a young woman from drowning. He returns to his brothers in Colorado but the young woman isn't so easy to lose. She follows him to discover who – and what – he is.

The Greystone series is a surprising treat. Well-written and always surprising, it is a page-turner. Don’t pass up this author and books.

A big Thumbs Up.

***

Fated by Benedict Jacka begins the saga of Alex Verus, a mage diviner living in modern Britain. His past comes knocking at his door and soon he is tossed into a jumbled mess of quests and magic.

If you like Kevin Hearne’s early books or my personal writing god, Jim Butcher (seriously, I burn incense and sacrifice small animals by his photo), you’ll love Benedict Jacka.

Cursed and Taken follows this book with the release of Chosen in August.

Don't miss this series.

Two great storylines. Two great genres. Check them out for a cool week's worth of reading.

Death of a Genre

Mangled Manuscript Monday

I got the sad news today. My favorite genre, urban fantasy is dead.

How can this be? I read and write nothing else. I didn’t even know it was ailing.

But there it is for all to see. Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary says editors and agents have reached the saturation point of UF submissions. She recommends epic fantasy as next big-time seller.

Well yeah. If only I had one tucked away in my Word docs I’d submit it…hm, there is the 5000 word Epic that I started three years ago. It was background noise for the URBAN FANTASY I WROTE.

*shakes self* Pardon. I got lost in the rejection heap of ‘what ifs’.

By the time I finish the Epic, maybe Urban will come back to life.

Or then again, maybe I’ll change the genre to ‘Speculative Fiction’ and call it new.

Hm.

Lucky Seven Meme

Chandara tagged me with the Lucky Seven.

• Go to page 77 of your current MS
• Go to line 7
• Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. 
• No cheating

"Like the credit card."

I wasn't the only one startled when Faelan's words cut through the tension. His hooded eyes gleamed from under dark brows.

"Priceless," he said with a wry smile.

June sputtered then stalked toward him. "Looking for a sugar momma are you youngster?" Her face twisted in malice. "You need to stay out of this and keep..."

Her voice died. She came to a quivering stop.

Faelan hadn't moved.

 What is the title of your current WIP? Tell us about it.  

THE ADAMANT is about blacksmith Shamira Kelley a woman possessed by a pendant made from a unicorn’s horn that seeks payback from mankind for its millenniums-old death.

When did you start blogging and why?  

Two years last month. Blogging is a much better solution than a website, easier to keep fresh and update.

If you could do anything tomorrow, what would you do? 

I’d love to see the Northern Lights.

Describe your happy place. 

Sitting in my front yard, warm sun on my face and a dog under my hand.

What was your first happy memory?  

After coming home from work, my tired dad drove me ten miles to see the Christmas lights in town.

What was the scariest thing you've ever done? 
After I toured a wax museum in Hannibal, Mo, I was shaking. I don’t know why, but those wax figures totally freaked me out. I was about to go Hattie Hysterical on ‘em and use my fingernails to claw my way out.

Where is the strangest place you ever had an idea for a story?  

Driving seventy down a busy interstate. The idea for a climatic ending smacked me upside the head and I nearly lost control of my pickup.

Where do you write? 

Messy, paper-strewn computer table in the living room. Try writing with the spouse yelling, “Hey, come see this. ESPN’s top plays are on.”

If you just won a ticket to anywhere in the world and you had to take me, where would you take me and why?  

Scotland. The British Isles fascinates me. I love me some castles and ancient history.

The five Lucky Seven recipients that I admire most are:

Jenn (Substitute photography for writing)

1000^th Monkey

David Powers King

Tara

Magan

Clarissa

Honorable Mention goes to

Angela since *drat* someone beat me to her.