Maybe I am a bit scattered, or maybe I just like too many genres. I’ve written (or have
book plans to write) in contemporary romance, paranormal romance, historical romance,
science fiction romance, fantasy romance, male/male romance (historical, contemporary),
post-apocalyptic fiction, gothic, and now even horror.
Do you care if an author you likes writes in multiple genres? Some studies say an
author should focus on building a brand in one, maybe two genres. Or use different pen
names for each. Me? I’m lucky if I can keep up with one name!
When the opportunity came up for me to be in the Duran Duran inspired anthology
(COME UNDONE:
Music Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran), I jumped on the chance. The anthology is
multi-genred—there are vampires and wolf shifters, male/male plots, aliens and
assassins, contemporary fashion designers…so many different stories tied together by
one band’s music.
My story, BEFORE THE RAIN, is based on the song of the same name. It’s from a
newer Duran Duran album, but when I saw the video, I was entranced. The haunting melody
of the song, coupled with the video (look it up on YouTube!) really got my creativity
flowing. Whereas the video shows a world where rain is scarce, my story takes place in
a world where the rain never stops. Humans made rainmakers and now they malfunction and
don’t shut off. Trapped in the city in a never-ending rain is so desolate. Can you
imagine not ever feeling the sun on your face? How is love different, and how do you
find your mate in such a dark world?
I really enjoyed writing from a song (especially by one of my favorite 1980s bands). I
think it’s a good exercise for writers—pick a song and allow the music and lyrics to
create the world the musician imagined, with your own take, of course.
Back to multi-genre writing. I decided a long time ago that I would write whatever I
wanted. I think writing to market is very risky. If an author’s heart isn’t in the
book, it shows! (We’ve all read books that come across as the author only going through
the motions).
A couple of times in the last few years, I’ve found myself not liking what I was
writing. I’m not talking just being bored with the story. I mean finding out that the
theme, story, characters are not authentic. I don’t love them. I could murder the
characters and not even remember their names next week. That’s a bad, bad thing.
Putting those manuscripts down is essential. But I will continue to write whatever
story comes to mind—whether it’s science fiction or historical. I have to be true to my
muse, regardless of what “they” say. To me, the more genres, the merrier!
Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived
and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various
small animals, including a panther chameleon. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine
shopping skills.
In addition to writing, she’s a college instructor, artist, costumer, and editor. Her
new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many
adventures.
Kerry is represented by Marisa Corvisiero.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Once upon a time in the 80s there was a band, whose
members stole
the hearts of many a young girl. With their guyliner,
unique fashion
and music that struck through the heart, Duran Duran
changed how we
hear and see music.
Today nine hot romance authors bring you stories inspired
by their
music.
NEW MOON ON MONDAY by Kim Carmichael
Though she tries to experience the world through her
poetry, Luna
Morrow caves to conformity rather than allowing her
creativity to
soar. Pampered and passionate, fashion designer Owen
“Blake”
Blakeney knows he found his muse when he spots a
gorgeous,
alternative waitress at the Club New Moon. After a wanton
tryst,
Luna disappears, leaving Blake following a trail of clues
to find
her. With his sights set, he sets out on a quest to
locate his
mystery girl and convince her to walk in his fashion
show. He never
expected her to walk into his heart.
ORDINARY WORLD by Solera Winters
After a chance encounter at a coffee shop, an accident
leaves
employment agent Tessa Toussaint in a coma, while techie
Yancy
Howard finds his dreams filled with this fascinating
woman. As the
clock ticks on Tessa’s condition, Yancy falls deeper for
the woman
in his dreams.
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF by Louisa Bacio
Janie never imagined her deepest fantasies coming true.
She’d been
flirting with the hot DJ at an ’80s club, but taking the
interaction
to another level seemed impossible. Until she runs into
Tyler, her
high school boyfriend, on the dance floor, and he makes
all the
right moves.
BEFORE THE RAIN by Kerry Adrienne
The war is over, but the rain continues, day and night.
The rebel
faction, Verity, enlists Maddox to safely guide Allana,
an assassin,
out of the city. No problem. He’ll escort her, get paid,
and return
to his life. But the more he learns about the mysterious
and
beautiful assassin, the more something about her
intrigues him and
compels him to learn more. With the world falling apart
around them,
they’ll have to decide if they can trust each other
despite the
deceptions and lies they face. If they can’t, they’ll
die.
WILD BOYS by C. Margery Kempe
It’s the end of the world and Digger’s trapped in a
prison with some
very wild boys. He loves the charismatic Joey, but he’s
too busy
fighting to be leader to notice. What are the odds
they’ll all kill
one another before they can escape?
LOVE VOODOO by Alyssa Breck
After a chance tarot card reading in a New Orleans voodoo
shop,
vampire Luca is intrigued by Collette, an alluring woman
with an
uncanny intuition. Getting intimately involved with a
human is the
last thing Luca has in mind, but Collette wins his trust
and their
friendship grows into something deeper. When Luca’s clan
learns that
he has asked Collette to perform a spell to bind his
psychotic sire,
a deadly chain of events unravels that will change their
lives.
UNION OF THE SNAKE by KC Burn
After his fellow human colonists were virtually enslaved
by the
Hilruda, Zerek, smuggler extraordinaire, made pissing off
the alien
oppressors both a career and a calling. When Essian, a
sexy clan
leader of the planet’s third species, needs Zerek’s help
to fulfill
a prophecy, the temptation of taking down the Hilruda is
too good to
pass up. Falling for Essian is not part of the plan.
GIRLS ON FILM by Linnea Alexis
After years of trying to break into mainstream movies,
adult film
actress Sophie Greene lands a role in a major motion
picture. But
not everyone is celebrating her good fortune. Her lover,
Greg Vega,
wants her to quit films entirely. And when a stalker
emerges and
begins sabotaging her career move, things get downright
dangerous.
RIO by Sabrina Sol
When workaholic CFO Chase Simon is forced into taking a
tropical
island vacation, he sure as hell doesn’t expect to enjoy
it. But
when he finds out that he’ll be spending the next seven
days with
Rio, a sexy celebrity dancer from his past, his doubts
begin to
fade. Will life in the real world ever be the same for
Chase again
after discovering paradise in Rio’s arms?
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