posted on October 10, 2013 by Ann Lawrence

Coloring Outside the Lines

lordofswordsWriting in more than one genre is great!  I love the variety.  I love the opportunity to time-travel in my imagination and create my own worlds.  Contrary to what most people think, there isn’t that much difference between writing historical romance and writing paranormal romance.  A romance is about two people falling in love no matter what world they live in.  No matter which genre I choose, I need to give my characters conflict so the road to the happy ending isn’t easy.  I also need to create friends and enemies to complicate their lives.

I like to compare the two genres to a kid’s coloring book and a blank sheet of paper.  Writing historical romance is the coloring book, the paranormal romance is the blank paper.

virtualwarriorSo for my analogy, you would think that historical romance would be colorin within the lines and paranormal romance would be coloring outside the lines.  Again, not true.  Historical fiction does have a more formal framework.  History documents people.  Inventions occur on a timeline, as do births and deaths.  When I’m writing my historical romances, I have to keep the real history in mind.  I have to do my research and color within those lines.

When writing paranormal romance, I can’t just grab a sheet of blank paper and scribble all over.  I can make my own rules for my paranormal world, but once I do, I’ve created lines!  I have to stay within those lines just as I would in my historical romance.  Once I create a society, I have to respect that framework.  I have to color within those lines.

christmasinsavagebayWhat makes the writing experience different is not the lines, it’s the crayons.  I can peel those crayons, lay them on their side, and shade large areas at once.  I can sharpen the crayon and make precise swirls, dots, and even scribbles.  I can press down hard or very lightly.  I can even switch to markers or paint.  The color I use is the plotting, the characterization.  I have an infinite combination of shades I can use to help my characters solve their conflict, make love, kill an enemy, make a friend, and forge a partnership the reader will believe continues after the last page.

So the real key to writing in more than one genre is how the writer applies the color within the lines.

I feel so comfortable writing in two different genres that I’ll be adding a third–contemporary–in December with a holiday novella called CHRISTMAS IN SAVAGE BAY.  Please visit my website for excerpts of all my books.

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Ann Lawrence

Ann Lawrence

I was born in Gillingham, Kent, England, and then moved to suburban Philadelphia where I still live. I have a great husband who always picks up the slack for me! I also have a handsome son and a beautiful daughter . . . they take after their dad!

I love reading and writing both historical and paranormal romance, but whichever genre I choose, I like to include a puzzle for the reader to solve along with the characters.

I’m super excited that my books are being reissued as ebooks. As someone who is addicted to reading, I’m never without my ebook reader. Here’s what’s happening with my books . . .

My “lords” are coming out now. You can download the books by clicking on their titles.

LORD OF THE KEEP

LORD OF THE MIST

LORD OF THE HUNT

My “Tolemac Wars” series is coming this summer and fall:

VIRTUAL HEAVEN in August

VIRTUAL DESIRE in September

VIRTUAL WARRIOR in October

I want to thank my many readers who kept in touch with me during my hiatus from publishing while I was undergoing a battle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. I’m happy to say I feel great and am in remission again. If you ever need a charity to adopt, I highly recommend the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The medicines I received did not exist five years before I was diagnosed! They are making strides against blood disorders every day.

Check me out on Facebook and if you join my mailing list, I’ll let you know as each of my books becomes available for download.

Warmest Regards,

Ann

“Ann Lawrence. . . captures the reader on the first page.” —RT Book Reviews

“Ann Lawrence has shown her versatility as a writer, alternating between a virtual fantasy series and her medieval historical romances. The common denominator between the two is the strength of her heroines, and the courage of her heroes, as they fight seemingly insurmountable odds to grab the brass ring.”
—Leslie Tramposch, ParaNormalRomance

http://www.annlawrence.com

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