: Re: If one's first book is one genre, will publishers be less likely to accept books of a different genre by the same author? I currently have two books, both roughly the same length and at the

@Kevin153

Vote Up Vote Down

It's very hard to get any book published. But it's much easier for an published author with a successful book in the same genre, because (1) there's hard evidence that this author can be successful with that kind of book and (2) fans of the first book will be hoping for more of the same. For the same reason, the publisher will try hard to get the author to stick to one genre, rather than hopping genres.

However, that same author can be published again in a different genre, if the new book is good enough. They just lose a lot (but not all) of the "published" bonus. It's almost, but not quite like starting all over as an unknown quantity. You're also running the real risk of angering existing fans. So you're best off picking a particular genre and sticking too it. But you're at least a little better off with the second book with a successful book under your belt, even in a different genre, than without it.

The plain truth is that most authors excel at one genre over another. But some authors are successful in multiple genres. Isaac Asimov, for instance, had a primary career as a SF great, and a secondary career as the author of multiple nonfiction bestsellers. It does also help if the genres are related --science fact and science fiction, for instance, or picture books and middle grade novels. That's not the case for you. But you do have one advantage as an unknown in non-overlapping genres --you can shop both books at the same time to different targets, and see which one hits.

(0)

Login to post a comment!