Identifying Your Genre

Is the Early 2000s Historical Fiction?

Kate Belli — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:59:45 GMT

Current Revision posted to Identifying Your Genre by Kate Belli on 3/2/2026 3:59:45 PM

Kate Belli, author of The Gallery Assistant and the widely praised Gilded Gotham historical mystery series, explains how she's had to reconceptualize her novel as a post-9/11 period piece. This twisty and sinister thriller follows a New York art gallery assistant reckoning with her past as she is trapped in a web of deceit after an up-and-coming painter is murdered—perfect for fans of Katy Hays and Julia Bartz.

For more on this author, gallery director, and college professor visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Kate-Belli/232602393.

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Tags: fiction, Thriller & Suspense, video, mystery, Historical Fiction

Is the Early 2000s Historical Fiction?

Kate Belli — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:59:34 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Identifying Your Genre by Kate Belli on 3/2/2026 3:59:34 PM

For more on this author, gallery director, and college professor visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Kate-Belli/232602393.

www.youtube.com/watch

Tags: fiction, Thriller & Suspense, video, mystery, Historical Fiction

How a Lifelong Love of Science Fiction Inspired This Novel

Lincoln Michel — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:07:20 GMT

Current Revision posted to Identifying Your Genre by Lincoln Michel on 8/11/2025 2:07:20 PM

Author Lincoln Michel discusses how a lifetime journey through science fiction inspired his new novel Metallic Realms.

Lincoln Michel’s previous books are the story collection Upright Beasts and the novel The Body Scout, which was named one of the 10 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2021 by The New York Times and one of the 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time by Esquire.

For more on this critically acclaimed author visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Lincoln-Michel/216701549.

www.youtube.com/watch

Tags: fiction, video, Science Fiction & Fantasy

How a Lifelong Love of Science Fiction Inspired This Novel

Lincoln Michel — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:07:03 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Identifying Your Genre by Lincoln Michel on 8/11/2025 2:07:03 PM

Author Lincoln Michel discusses how a lifetime journey through science fiction inspired his new novel Metallic Realms.

For more on this critically acclaimed author visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Lincoln-Michel/216701549.

www.youtube.com/watch

Tags: fiction, video, Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Art of the Slow Burn Romance

Penn Cole — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:24:55 GMT

Current Revision posted to Identifying Your Genre by Penn Cole on 2/10/2025 3:24:55 PM

Author Penn Cole loves to read AND write a slow burn romance! Penn Cole is an internationally bestselling author of magical worlds, feisty women, and angsty romance. Her debut series, The Kindred’s Curse Saga, has been sold in sixteen languages to date. For more on this author visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Penn-Cole/228975783.

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Tags: fiction, Romance and Erotica, video

The Differences and Similarities Between Romance Novel Subgenres

Aleatha Romig — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:55:30 GMT

Current Revision posted to Identifying Your Genre by Aleatha Romig on 9/1/2023 6:55:30 PM

New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig writes in a variety of romance subgenres because as a reader, she enjoys reading a variety subgenres. While stories in the romance genre have commonalities like ending with "Happily Ever After", there are many subgenres that have different tones and tropes. Romig is known for her dark romance stories that push boundaries and cause discomfort, but that are appealing on the page. She is also known for her lighter romance stories that are fun and contemporary with low angst. Many of her popular romance series have a lot of twists and turns with layers of suspense and deeper plots. This variety gives her more to write and more for her readers to follow.

The key to success with writing in different subgenres is making sure you set up reader expectations. This includes any advertising, the book cover, the blurb, and more. Romig says it's important that readers know what they are getting.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheDifferencesandSimilaritiesBetweenRomanceNovelSubgenres.mp4

Tags: Romance and Erotica, Subscriber, Thriller & Suspense, video

The Differences and Similarities Between Romance Novel Subgenres

Aleatha Romig — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:54:52 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Identifying Your Genre by Aleatha Romig on 9/1/2023 5:54:52 PM

New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig writes in different romance subgenres because as a reader, she enjoys reading a variety subgenres. Romig is known for her dark romance stories that push boundaries and cause discomfort, but that are appealing on the page. She is also known for her lighter romance stories that are fun and contemporary with low angst. Many of her popular series have a lot of twists and turns with layers of suspense and deeper plots. This variety gives her more to write and more for her readers to follow. The key to success with writing in different subgenres is making sure you set up reader expectations. This includes any advertising, the book cover, the blurb, and more. Romig says it's important that readers know what they are getting.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheDifferencesandSimilaritiesBetweenRomanceNovelSubgenres.mp4

Tags: Romance and Erotica, Subscriber, Thriller & Suspense, video

The Differences and Similarities Between Romance Novel Subgenres

Aleatha Romig — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:45:27 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Identifying Your Genre by Aleatha Romig on 9/1/2023 5:45:27 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheDifferencesandSimilaritiesBetweenRomanceNovelSubgenres.mp4

Tags: Romance and Erotica, Subscriber, Thriller & Suspense, video

The Differences and Similarities Between Romance Novel Subgenres

Aleatha Romig — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:01:17 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Identifying Your Genre by Aleatha Romig on 9/1/2023 12:01:17 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheDifferencesandSimilaritiesBetweenRomanceNovelSubgenres.mp4

The Importance of Reading and Research in Writing Authentically and Meeting Reader Expectations

Cara C. Putman — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 23:56:48 GMT

Current Revision posted to Identifying Your Genre by Cara C. Putman on 6/30/2023 11:56:48 PM

Award-winning, bestselling author Cara C. Putman has over 40 published titles in several different genres including legal thriller, romantic suspense, historical fiction, Amish fiction, and Christian romance. Before she switches gears between genres, Putman spends some time reading and researching books in the genre she plans to write. This provides her with valuable information about the elements, themes, and structure the readers of that genre expect. In fact, Putman reads well over 100 books a year across many genres!

This in-depth research shows her what works and why, and what doesn't work. She can then incorporate the elements into her story that appeal to her as a reader. Putman will go even deeper with some books and do a chapter by chapter analysis to understand the pacing and overall structure. These steps go a long way in making sure she is writing authentically for the genre and meeting reader expectations, especially when writing in a genre that is new to her.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheImportanceofReadingandResearchinWritingAuthenticallyandMeetingReaderExpectations.mp4