The wonderful Barbara Hannay had a thought provoking post about Author Branding a few weeks ago which really got me thinking. The word 'brand' in itself suggest a semblance, a similiarity and a regularity which I think is at odds with the books which say, M&B writers like Barbara or Liz Fieling write.
True, you've writers like Betty Neels, probably one of M&B's bigger successes, who was famous for her gentle tales of Danish doctors, but then you've got the other famous M&B writer Penny Jordan, who in the last 12 months alone has written books featuring Sheikhs, Greeks and English aristocrats. In mainstream, you've only got to look at Nora Roberts or Jayne Ann Krentz who write a huge variety of tales ranging from paranormal to romantic suspense to historical to family saga. So, does an author have to be a "brand" to be successful? I can't help but think that the answer is NO! Writing books about say, Greek doctors, might immediately make readers think as soon as they spot your name on the book shelf, "Oh, there's Sadie author, the Greek doctor writer!", but it won't achieve the success of Penny, Nora, Liz, Barbara or countless others because as a reader, I don't care if I'm reading a book set on the moon, what I want is an engaging story which will move me and with these authors I always get this.
Have a lovely week!
4 comments:
Hi Julie! I didn't know you were blogging but when I found out, I just had to come by and say hello.
And now that I've found you I'll drop by and keep up to date with you this way too. You know so much about books and romances I'm sure you'll have plenty that's interesting to say.
love
Kate
Hi Julie
I think you're absolutely right in that authors don't have to limit themselves to subject matter or themes. But in many cases when I read, say, a Jayne Ann Krentz book (by whatever name) I know I'm reading her. There is a voice or a world view that is just "Jayne's" no matter what her topic or her focus or her setting. Same goes with Liz Fielding or Kate Walker or Anne Gracie or lots of others.
It's voice, I think. A world view, perhaps. Something that is uniquely hers.
So glad you are writing your own blog now!
Anne
Julie !
I found out from Kate W that you were blogging. How wonderful.
I am looking forward to reading your thought provoking comments.
Hey Julie! How cool to find your blog. :) I had no idea you'd started this but now that I do know, I'll be stopping by often to keep up with you.
love,
Lee
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