Everybody, I’m pleased to welcome Joanne Rock!
There are quite a few milestones in my career that I have yet to achieve. As a starry-eyed unpublished author, I wracked up quite an ambitious list of goals—enough to keep me busy well into my eighties, I’m sure—but I’m proud to say I’ve already started chipping away at those big dreams. One of the accomplishments I’m most excited about achieving is writing in two subgenres.
I didn’t always know this would be a goal of mine. When I started out writing medieval historical on a computer in the basement years ago, I thought I’d be content to just sell one of them. Any of them! The original goal was to simply achieve publication so I could say “I sold a book!” But goals have a way of multiplying like rabbits. Pretty soon, I was so wrapped up in writing and the stories I was telling, I wanted to share all of them.
The problem was—medieval historicals weren’t “the thing” at the time I was writing them. Oh, I’d see a few new medieval authors now and again, but it was a tough genre for a first sale. Contemporaries,
however, were selling like hotcakes. I asked myself if could write a contemporary and the answer was a 100 pages. Seems that I could, indeed, write a contemporary story. In fact, I really enjoyed contemps because there was no research involved and my heroes could speak in modern, fast-paced idioms with the same verve that makes my husband so darn entertaining.
Relatively speaking, I sold my first contemporary story fairly quickly. But I think I had honed a lot of writing skills in the medieval world first, so I had the courage and training to tackle a full romance manuscript by then. I went on to sell quite a few contemps, but I never gave up my dream of sharing my love of medievals with readers. You see, from the moment I first cracked open a file for a contemporary story, there was an unspoken agreement with my Muse that I would get back to finish what I’d started in the historical realm one day.
That’s just what I did. After establishing myself in red-hot contemporaries via Harlequin’s Temptation and Blaze lines, I was ready to see what it felt like to try on my historical voice again. Not that I would ever leave the contemporaries behind! They’d become too much a part of me, too much of a fun outlet for my Muse to forsake. But I had the sneaking suspicion that I could write in both subgenres and really enjoy it. I’d read an article somewhere in which the ultra-talented Merline 
Lovelace confided that writing in multiple genres helped her voice stay fresh and provided valuable creative renewal. I knew this was just the kind of approach I wanted to take to my career.
The stars aligned two years after my first contemporary sale. I sold my first medieval and have been consistently writing one or two medievals a year since then. The change of pace has worked just as Merline suggested it might, providing a nice way for me to creatively recharge each year. I enjoy writing for two romance genres and find that working in one fuels the other. No matter what I’m writing, it feels fresh and new to me.
Don’t forget to leave a comment! Joanne’s got an autography copy of both The Knight’s Return and Always Ready to give away!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Free Stuff!!, Guest Blogging, Joanne Rock
I ADORE Joanne’s Blazes. I haven’t read her Medieval books. I do like that time period. Such a rough life. Such macho men. Looks like I had an add to my TBR list!
Her books sound great! It is my dream to write in two subgenres as well. Historical and paranormal. It’s always good to have another subgenre to write when the other one isn’t doing good in the market. =)
Thank you, thank you, Cyndi!!! I appreciate readers in any genre
. I have had more fun going back and forth between two styles of books that I love. I’ve always read widely, so I guess it makes sense I’d want to write widely too! I’m having fun thinking about the premise for a Blaze Historical that will be out in 2010. I’ll get to merge a bit from both worlds.
Jamie, I think there are a lot of natural ties between historicals and paranormals…. so much world building involved in both!
Hi Joanne,
I really enjoyed “A Night Wicked Delight.” I haven’t read any of your Blazes yet, but “Always Ready” looks great. Do you have plans to write in another historical period, like Regency or Victorian?
Joanne, glad to have you with us today! Writting in genres is something special and rewarding. At times when I finish a wip I think, can I write regencies forever? And then I start a new contemp mystery and I find myself missing my regency voice, but also loving the southern twang my mysteries give me.
Welcome, Joanne!! Can’t wait to pick up copies! I tend to write all over the place as well. If I could just focus! LOL Glad to have you with us today!!
Hi Jane! Thank you for checking out the Undone! I’m working on a new one right now… no word on when it will be released but possibly to coincide with a 2010 Scots Medieval.
As for alternate time periods, I am writing a Viking-era story for my Blaze Historical. If anything, I seem to be writing earlier and earlier settings! No plans to go later as of now, but I wouldn’t mind something set in the Italian Renaissance one day. Thanks for a fun question!
Sounds fun, Keri! I like southern twang
. And I think it’s a very natural response at the end of a book to think– how long can I do this??– because you’re mentally drained from that huge effort of bringing a story together. But it seems like after we walk away from it for awhile, that story itch starts all over again!
Melissa, you keep on enjoying that mixture of tendencies! I’ll bet one day it will blend perfectly into a voice that is so uniquely yours and so signature to your stories, it will make your work really stand out.
Hi Joanne,
I enjoy Your blaze books. I’m going to have to look for your historicals now that I know you write them..
Yikes! I almost didn’t make it – been at the camp catching fish and fussing at boys.
Whew! Exhausted!
I wanted to mention how wonderfully generous Joanne has been to me. I won a critique from her and she was so gracious. She gave me tips and loads of support. She’s a great writer and a great person.
Hi, Joanne -
So glad to hear writing in two genres works for you, too. Don’t you love that Blaze is doing historials? Short, hot and set in such exotic locations. I’m doing one set during the Crusades. Can’t wait to get to it!
Happy writing!!!!
er, that should be historicals, not historials.
I love reading your books but didn’t know you wrote historicals. Can’t wait to read those.
I would love to try your historicals, I am a fan of your contemps.