posted on August 22, 2017 by Linda O. Johnston

Writing in Multiple Genres

by Linda O. Johnston

I’ve been talking a lot lately about writing in multiple genres and thought I’d do so here, too.  I had a blog posted about it at another site, plus I talked about it at the Santa Clarita Romance Authors meeting last weekend.

Why talk about it?  Because I do it!  I’ve been writing both mysteries and romances for a long time.  I’ve always said that all my mysteries contain some element of romance, and all my romances contain some mystery or suspense.

My first published fiction was a mystery short story in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and it won the Robert L. Fish Award for best first mystery short story of the year.  My first published novels were time travel romances.  I soon began writing for Harlequin Intrigue, which is romantic suspense, as well as cozy mysteries.

Right now, I’m writing the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series for Midnight Ink.  The most recent was published in May, the third in the series: BAD TO THE BONE.  The fourth will be published next May, and its title will be PICK AND CHEWS.

I’m also still writing for Harlequin–two of its romance lines.  One, Nocturne, which is paranormal romance, will have its final year in 2018.  My last Nocturne will be a November release.  It’ll be the ninth of my Alpha Force stories about a covert military unit of shapeshifters.

I additionally write for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and SECOND CHANCE SOLDIER, the first in my new K-9 Ranch Rescue miniseries, will be published in March.

So, yes, I’ve written and still write in multiple genres.  There are pros and cons about it that I could tell you about–and may do so in the future.

But at least I have a common theme these days that’s in all of them.  Each of my current stories and series involve… dogs!

lindaojohnston.com

Linda O. Johnston

Linda O. Johnston

Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, currently writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Her stories include the upcoming Shelter of Secrets miniseries and the K-9 Ranch Rescue miniseries, as well as stories for the HRS ongoing Colton series. She also writes mysteries, which have included the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series and Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Pet Rescue Mystery Series and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime---with more to come. And nearly all her current stories involve dogs.

https://www.lindaojohnston.com

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4 thoughts on “Writing in Multiple Genres”

  1. You are an inspiration to writers who might have an idea for a second series different from their first venture. You show that it can be done, though I do think I would start confusing my characters if I wrote two different series at the same time. Good for you, Linda.

  2. Linda O. Johnston says:

    Thanks, Gayle. It’s sometimes confusing but always fun!

  3. Neil says:

    I would love to hear your thoughts about the pros and cons of writing in multiple genres. Do you think it makes you a better writer?

    1. Linda O. Johnston says:

      I don’t know that it makes you a better writer, but it certainly helps a writer remain creative–and, hopefully, published. I’ll try to address more pros and cons in a future post here.

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