by Julie, already wearing green in Somerville
This past Monday Liz Mugavero and I went to Porter Square Books to see Elle Cosimano. She’s celebrating the fourth book in her Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice. Hers is a fun series, and she was a wonderful speaker. As a writer, I was grateful that she talked about her writing journey a bit. How Finlay came to be. The importance of her critique group. How little authors have control over covers and titles when traditionally published. She also referred to the Finlay Donovan series as genre bending.
She’s right on that front. The series (about a writer and single mom who gets mistaken as a hitman, and then shenanigans ensue) isn’t cozy, but it isn’t hard boiled either. The suspense is intense (so well done), but there’s also mystery. And romance. And humor.
I’ve come to think of these sorts of books as mashups. We’re taught, as writers, that agents and editors don’t love mashups. They need to know which shelf to put the book on. I get it. But at the same time, I love it when writers embrace the genre of crime writing fully. And maybe add a dash of romance, a twist of paranormal and a smidgeon of magical realism. The delight of reading these books is because of the unexpected.
Some books are by their nature mashups. Historical mysteries are a great example. Part historical fiction, part mystery. More and more I’m hearing about writers taking even that mashup and adding more. Maybe fantasy, or horror.
Young adult novels embrace the mashup more than adult fiction. I’ve been reading YA lately, enjoying the worlds these books suck me into. I can’t help but think that the people growing up reading these books will want adult fiction that offers the some opportunities of creative mashups.
The publishing business is tricky. Rather than following trends, writers need to create their own while at the same time understanding the business, and what will sell if they are pursuing the traditional route. Indie published books have more freedom, while at the same time face some of the same marketing challenges.
I enjoyed reading about Finlay Donovan’s adventures over the past couple of weeks. And I am grateful that I went to hear from her creator. The idea of bending the genre intrigues me, and I’ve been thinking about the opportunities ever since.
Readers, what books do you love that mash things up?
The Wickeds 
I haven’t read those books yet, Julie, but they sound good. The first magical realism I read was Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and I was delighted. And Susan Boyer’s Low Country Mysteries have ghost who pops up now and then, also a delight. If historical mystery is a mashup, then I have written it! But no time traveling…
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I should have mentioned Ashley Poston in this post. She rethought time travel in THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP. Her books are definitely mashups, and delightful. Time travel could help you slay the abandoned contemporary part of Dot & Amelia’s story…
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Julie, don’t even, LOL!
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I love the Finlay Donovan series.
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Isn’t it fun?
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Isn’t Elle fabulous??? I had the pleasure of being her conversation partner during her stop here in the Pittsburgh area. And Finlay is so much fun. So relatable on many levels.
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I would have loved to be at your event. I bet the conversation was wonderful. And yes, relatable. Especially about Panera conversations with crime writers, LOL.
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I’ve had Elle’s books on my list for a while. Seems I need to move them up. I guess I do a mashup if historical mysteries are that. I love a mystery with a good splash of romance or even a little paranormal as well.
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Mashups with a twist are my new writing goal.
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I think mashups are becoming more the norm. Authors are no longer walking lock-step down genre way, instead they are giving a nod to creative divertissements that keep readers delighted.
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Delighting readers is the goal. Agree, there are so many ways to do that.
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I’ve talked a lot here with my pandemic obsession with Outlander. Those books are historical, sci-fi, romance, paranormal, war stories, travelogues. You name it. The first book was shelved in romance, but part of Diana Gabaldon’s publishing deal after that first one was that they were to be branded and shelved in general fiction. Nothing wrong with romance, but she thought more people would find them in general fiction and she was right.
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She was right! A great example.
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I get why mashups can be hard to sell, but I miss the creativity of books for kids, where the mashup is much more the norm. Give me something creative and well written, and I’ll get lost in the pages.
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Isn’t it wonderful to get lost in a book?
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I love thinking about this, Julie! For me, historical and suspense are favorites. I also love paranormal and historical. And, I love humor with just about everything!
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I was on a panel with Elle and she is a force. And I’m another fan of her series.
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I like mashups! I like to read just about everything and I switch it up between a crime book then a romance book then a cozy, etc. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
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