I think there is a little Sally Field in every author; we all want everyone to really, really like us. Or, more to the point, to really, really like our books. But, after 15 novels in 5 different genres, I’ve finally had an epiphany: It’s okay if they don’t. Because here’s the thing: our books might be their raisins.
I have a hate-hate relationship with raisins [although I’m proud to report that I’ve grown beyond calling them “fruit of Satan”]. They are, to me, completely unpalatable. I don’t care how you dress them up (cinnamon buns, cake, pie, cookies), I cannot abide them. [I understand there are those of you who enjoy raisins or grow raisins or are part of the California Raisins song and dance team. My apologies to you for the metaphor.]
Why am I talking about raisins? Each of us has our own raisins—in the form of book genres we just can’t stand. It doesn’t matter how well they’re written, or how beautiful the prose or brilliant the plotting, pacing, and characterization. Those books are raisins, and no amount of cinnamon icing swirled on the chapters is going to do it for us.
For me, about five years ago, historical romance was my raisin. Could not read it. Could not stand the annoying mannerly drawing room chit-chat of Regency; could not bear a western (I’m allergic to horses. Seriously, worse than cats); and could not read a medieval without shuddering because of my image of the serious lack of hygiene back then:
“Kiss me!”
“Um, maybe in hundreds of years, when toothpaste is invented?”
As so often happens, though, I changed my mind. I picked up a historical romance written by a friend. Then another, then another. I adore Sophia Nash and Kathy Caskie and Cindy Holby and Julia Quinn, so I had to at least pretend to read their books, right? But the craziest thing happened! I liked them. No, I loved them. So, slowly but surely, historical romance changed from raisin to chocolate chip to me. Sweet, creamy goodness.
Because that’s the thing about our raisins: they evolve. We evolve. This goes both ways, of course: What we love now might become a raisin in the future. For example, I know there are amazing books out right now set in post-apocalyptic timeframes. Great, great writing, terrific reviews, wonderful buzz. But to me? Raisins. Can’t read them. I have a husband in the military, so I know how real some threats are, and I have two small kids, and I want to see them grow up to live on an undestroyed planet. The potential future in those books is too real for me. Right now—and this may change–they’re my raisins.
Paranormal romance is a “Whoa Nelly!” raisin for some readers right now. There has been an awful lot of it out there. As we all know about publishing, every time something is successful the market seems to become flooded with it. So some readers are worn out and burned out and would be happy to never, ever in their LIFETIME read another furred, fanged, or demonic hero doing anything happy in his pants with a heroine. EVER. “Get those supernatural raisins away from me!!!”
(There are also those readers who didn’t burn out; they just never liked any of it to begin with. Vampires, and shapeshifters and witches, Oh, My. It’s ALL raisins to them.)
And you know what? It’s OKAY. It’s okay if people love us (or even kinda like us, or, actually, don’t know us from Bupkus) but they can’t read our books because of the high raisin-to-pages quotient of our genre for them. As Sarah Wendell tweeted yesterday, “It’s none of our business what people think of us.” That’s very wise, and I’d go a step further to say, “It’s none of our business what people think of our books.” [Unless they want to share. Reader mail welcome. LOL.] 
My Atlanteans might be your raisin. Your were-armadillos or vampire koala bears might be mine.
Think of this: for every book on a bookstore shelf, SOMEBODY out there loves it. Lots of somebodies, if we’re lucky.
All I can say is, “THANK GOODNESS!!!” If we all liked the same kind of book, bookstores would be awfully boring. Libraries would have entire rooms filled with books by only one author. Diversity is divine. So let’s applaud the humble raisin and recognize that our raisin might be someone else’s chocolate chip!!
Now that I’ve beaten this metaphor TO DEATH WITH A GIANT SWORD (like the one on my new book cover, see how cleverly I slid that in there? Heh.), does anybody want to share what subgenres or genres have been raisins to you in the past, but now hold the sweet scent of deliciousness? How did you discover you’d made that mental switch? Or are there any you’ve loved before but, suddenly, WHAM! Raisin.
I’d love to hear that I’m not alone in this. Or at least not crazy?
Hugs,
Alyssa, who is suddenly concerned I’ll be bombarded with actual raisins in D.C.
ps sorry this is late; Comcast exploded in our neighborhood last night so I’m posting from Panera after taking our darling pug to the doctor for surgery to see if she does, in fact, have cancer. Because of that rain/pour/freaking deluge thing.
Alyssa Day is the RITA-award winning and USA Today bestselling author of the Warriors of Poseidon series. Her newest release, ATLANTIS UNLEASHED, is in a store near you TODAY!! Please visit Alyssa online or watch her TV interview about being a Mom and a Navy wife with a husband on deployment and a writer .
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Vampires as heroes are my raisins (or liver with onions, if you will). Strangely, they don’t ping me in film or television, but on the page, they make me nuts. They are blood-sucking soulless creatures! I want them to have edge and be evil. Or at least morally ambiguous.
I went through a phase where I loved historicals, then didn’t, and now, thanks to some great authors, I’ve edged back into loving them.
“Or at least morally ambiguous.” rofl.
Thanks for sharing my banishment to Panera’s this morning!
I’m like Barbara – I used to love historicals, then I think I overdosed and couldn’t read them. Now I’m slowly starting to pick them up again.
I blogged two years ago about how I couldn’t figure out the attraction to vampires. Then a friend introduced me to JR Ward, and then I found Lynsay Sand’s Argeneau series, and Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series (not that I LIKE her vampires, but I love her world.)
Leah, I really love Briggs, too. Nice ordinary folk who just happen to be supernatural.
Well, the only thing I won’t read is Horror or Erotica, Stephen King being the exception.
My raisens are tropes, character types, and such which are *done to death* in my favorite subgenres. I mean, sure, I like Twinkies, but more than two and I’m ready to throw up.
Kimber An, I used to read horror like crazy (loved the early King), but it has all become a big fat raisin to me. I can’t take that much violence and gore any more, I guess.
I haven’t read King in a long time either, but it’s more due to time constraints and an abundance of chocolate chips to be found elsewhere.
My raisins are international playboy billionaire business mogel/virginal mistress stories. And pregnant heroine stories. And inspirationals. And stories where the hero or heroine has a young child/ren.
Wow, I kind of have a lot of raisins, don’t I?
Lynn, I tell my husband that one of us should have married a billionaire and could keep the other as a hot love toy. LOL.
If I’m starving
(and too lazy to go to the store),
I’ll eat whatever is in front of me,
raisins or not.
And since I speed read, I mean eat,
(that too)
I end up in that position quite a bit.
Heck, I find myself reading cereal boxes.
Kimber Chin, I thought it was just me!! (the cereal boxes)! Did you know there is a Star Trek cereal out now? LOL.
Having been brought up as a forced member of the ‘clean plate’ club, I’ll try just about anything. In some cases, I keep trying, hoping someone will have a new recipe so that I’ll actually like beets. (I happen to love raisins).
Maybe it’s because I’m reading too many of the coattail riders, but I have yet to find a werewolf, shape shifter, vampire, demon, that I’ve been able to savor. I admit I haven’t read Ward.
I didn’t like historicals until I found time travel–Christina Skye, Lynn Kurland, Diana Gabaldon, Karen Marie Moning. I’ve expanded my horizons in that genre, and even found a few delightful Regencies.
I like contemporary romance until I found Susan Wiggs.
However, even in the sub-genres I don’t/didn’t like, I’m a very picky eater. I’ll read by author, not genre for those.
OOPS! Deleted an important word in my post. I DIDN’T like contemporary romance until I found Susan Wiggs. Sorry — my blooper made it sound like she turned me OFF, not ON, to contemporary.
We knew what you meant.
Terry, I always try new things too, in food as well as books. I have found AMAZING new authors and genres across the spectrum.
My raisins is romantic historical, (and I’m a historical writer, just not romance) and Erotica. I just can’t get my teeth into Erotica..Another really big one for me, which I have to go with the liver & onions metaphor, sweet romances with the baby makes three story line. Won’t even glance at the cover…
Lee, I think I have a dirty mind after only 3 hours’ sleep. Because this cracked me up: >>I just can’t get my teeth into Erotica..<<
Hee.
And isn’t it interesting how some readers go STRAIGHT for the babies books and some can’t even look at them? Very bright dividing line there.
I’d have to say that werewolves are my raisins. I just can’t handle the whole animal aspect of it. Come to think of it I don’t read many paranormals unless the furs and fangs are the bad guys. Love the Atlantis series coz I love guys with big swords (ahem) who speak snark.
Now my chocoholic love is scifi romance. Give me Linnea Sinclair and Ann Aguirre and its like I’m sitting in the middle of a hot fudge brownie delight.
CINDY!! My little chocolate chip, you. It’s your fault I started loving historical romance!
(((Alyssa))))
Here’s hoping things calm down soonest. Keeping you all in my thoughts.
Raisins: well, it used to be first person narrative. Then I read Ann Aguirre’s Grimspace and realized it can be done and done well, and have enjoyed several more since.
Azteclady!!! thank you. Just got the call from the vet and Peanut did well in surgery and I get to pick her up at 5 pm; will get pathology results by Monday. Fingers and toes crossed. She’s only 3 and my baby.
I wrote most of my comedy in first person and it was so nice to get those “you converted me” letters. LOL. But to some people, first will always be their raisins. I think you miss out on a lot of great books by narrowing choices by POV, but that’s the whole point of raisins: personal preferences.
Oh and can you tell Comcast finally came through??
Great points.
I must start calling raisins “the fruit of Satan” because that seems an extremely apt description…although, if I remember correctly, figs aren’t loved in the Bible either.
I agree with Lynn M. about the “international playboy billionaire business mogul/virginal mistress stories.”
Keith, let me just warn you now that “fruit of Satan” is not a phrase to drop at a family reunion in front of your Aunt Clara about her carrot raisin salad. Just in case you were planning to do so . . .
So… you’re saying I should tell Aunt Clara her carrot raisin salad is full of “rabbit-dropping-abominations-from-Satan’s-pet-bunny.”
Works for me. ^_^
Keith, I think you and I would be very good friends. mwah ha ha.
My raisin is bad or boring writing.
I’ll read anything if it’s good. There are definitely some subgenres that I avoid unless I get a recommendation I can trust, and those are pretty much the ones that have been mentioned here: vampires (give me something new and interesting, though, and I’ll eat it all up!), historicals (unless you’ve got the details right), babies (and yet I’ve read one or two that worked smashingly), international playboy blah blah (still waiting for the recs on that one).
I don’t believe in limiting myself to certain genres or subgenres. I gravitate to the ones I like, but welcome any good book with open arms, no matter what it’s about!
Dayle, YOU are a dream reader. Because this?
>>I gravitate to the ones I like, but welcome any good book with open arms, no matter what it’s about! <<
is what every author dreams that readers will believe. Thank you!!!
It was Barbara Hambly who made me realize this. I’d always been a fan of her fantasies, and then she started an historical mystery series–a time and place and character I never really would have looked twice at if her name hadn’t been on it. Turns out, I love those books, too. I would’ve missed out if I’d limited myself or said “I don’t read that type of book.”
Then again, I write in so many different genres myself, how can I limit what I read?
My “raisons” are pretty much any historical in a U.S. setting. I’ve never enjoyed westerns, stories set on the prairie, or civil war stories. I don’t even enjoy revolutionary war stories. I’ve read individual stories in those genres that I’ve really enjoyed but I never seek them out. I like contemporary U.S. settings or U.S. set urban fantasy. I’m not sure what the turn-off is but… I guess we all have our raisons to bear.
Thanks for a great post, Alyssa – I quite love your cover – big sword and all.
P.S. I hope your pug is okay.
Francesca,
Thank you so much! Peanut came through surgery well and now we wait and see. If it’s cancer, well. That’s going to be very tough.
War stories are tough for me, too, and again perhaps it’s because of all that time during deployments walking the floors worrying about Judd’s plane and missile fire. I have read some I enjoyed, so it’s not an automatic no, but it’s a little harder for me to become engaged.
My best wishes to Peanut and I hope the docs find healthy dog and nothing else. Good luck. Give Peanut a gentle rub from me.
I’ll have to admit that I completely avoid the plain contemporary romances — I like my fiction to be something more imaginative than everyday life. Give me the vampires, werewolves, demons, witches, and Atlanteans. I still love the paranormals and hope they don’t fade away.
Linda,
Yay!!! I hope they don’t fade away, too. For more than the sake of my own career; I love to read them, too. I do enjoy a good contemporary, too, though, as long as it’s not miserably depressing. No dead protagonists for me, Nicholas Sparks!!
Before I worked in a bookstore (starting 13 years ago) I didn’t read much genre–not from snobbiness, just lack of interest. But I eventually tried out mysteries, thrillers, sci fi, fantasy and romance. Haven’t tried westerns yet. But I theorize that I can like at least one author in any genre.
However, I agree with the basic point. There are still plenty of books that I think are fine, but they just didn’t grab me, or just weren’t *my cup of tea.* I felt that way recently when I read Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, and From Hell by Alan Moore.
Miss Mabel, I think that’s the way I should look at it:
>>But I theorize that I can like at least one author in any genre.<<
The more diverse the experience, the better!!
Alesia,
Fabulous post. I absolutely loved your insight. What a great reminder to keep an open mind concerning sub-genres. I’m not too proud to say that my “raisin” is literary fiction. I hate tragic endings. Hmmm… maybe I should try one again. OR….maybe not.
Renee, I didn’t read much inspirational romance until I started to read you and Merrillee Whren. Now I enjoy it! But I’m with you on tragic endings. And stupid UP made me cry 3 times at the theater last night!!! Stupid Pixar.
But it was VERY funny!
hilarious post! i’m never going to be able to look at raisins the same way.
hope your pug gets well soon!
Thank you! She is resting right now, very dopey from the anesthesia, in a nest of blankets at my feet. Sweet little puggy.
I love raisins but to go with the analogy paranormals are rapidly falling off my reading list. I have a few authors that I am still following but they are fewer and fewer. I find myself reading regencies again – go figure.
SandyH, I’m like you, I tend to switch between favorite genres. And LOL on loving raisins! I knew there must be SOME of you out there!!
I don’t have many raisins (though for me, it’s liver I can’t abide).
Like Miss Mabel, there’s usually at least one author in a genre I can like. Except maybe horror. I’m a wimp. Don’t like to be too scared. Which means there’s a fair bit of romantic suspense I can’t read, ’cause it’s too scary. Don’t like those serial killers At All. But I like a lot of romantic suspense–just not the too-scary stuff.
Which is maybe why I don’t care for the paranormal romances that grew out of the horror genre–vampires were originally Horror, you know… Though I’m the reverse of Cindy H. because I prefer werewolves/shapeshifters to vampires. But I really like romances with roots in the fantasy/science fiction world.
If a hooky series romance is well done, I really enjoy it. If the hero’s a jerk, not so much. And there are far too many heroes in some of the series lines who fail the “asshole-to-doormat” ratio for the hero-to-heroine relationship. If I spend the whole book wanting to slap the hero upside the head, that’s liver.
I rove all over the genre, and dip my toes outside into “straight” science fiction and fantasy, and cozy mysteries. If it’s there, I’ll probably read it.
>>If I spend the whole book wanting to slap the hero upside the head, that’s liver.<<
Gail, I am right there with you, and it goes for heroines, too. I write strong heroines and I have been known to yell at a heroine to “grow a spine!” LOL. Of course, I’m the assertive type, myself, so . . .
This is so bizarre – I made a post about this exact same subject today (only not as eloquently and perfectly explained). My focus was more on my inability to read my proof and approve it for sale because I was afraid no one would stroke my inner Sally Field. I’ve been carrying that proof around in my purse for a week then leaving my purse places. I’m lucky no one stole my wallet.
A friend of mine gave me a firm kick in the metaphorical pants and your post reinforced the point that I need to stop letting my subconscious fear of being a raisin as you put it rule my actions. I’m going to submit this comment and go pull my proof out of my purse – if I can find it.
Thank you for writing this. I’ll be printing it out and hanging it above my desk.
Kim!!! You made my day. I don’t know about eloquent, LOL, I sure beat those raisins to death, but I’m so glad my thoughts helped you move forward! Good luck!!
For me, it’s romantic suspense. So many people write it, but I can’t really connect to it. Not sure why it’s my raisin, but there you go. I’ve read some, back in the day, and while there were some I enjoyed (Lisa Gardner), in general it’s not a genre I’m into.
Maybe that’ll change with the right author?
Michelle, there is some rom susp that I can’t read, either, if it’s too graphic or gory. (Of course, what the heck, right? I expect serial killers to be polite and neat? LOL).
My raisins are raisins! And then the other day I made my son some oatmeal raisin cookies, in the hopes that I had finally found a homemade treat he would love and I wouldn’t. And they were delicious, sob.
In the book world, the right author can always make raising delicious for me. Which is why my TBR pile is approaching terrifying levels.
My raisins are category romances and urban fantasy. Read way too many of the first back in the day and have a hard time connecting with the 2nd. I did read my first real sci-fi/fantasy romance recently w/Susan K Butcher’s Burning Alive and just luved it! I am just recently getting back on the historical romance raisins, just cause I burned myself out on them. But Pamela Clare brought me back to the genre. My mainstay though is Comtemp romance and suspense with some horror thrown in.
I’m way late on this one, but I felt compelled to add that I feel the same way about raisins.
For me, the only place raisins belong is in raisin bran. That’s it. Period.
For me, historical romance are my raisins. I used to be fine with them, until I took a good survey of my parts and realized that as a black woman, there’s no fantasy powerful enough to ever allow me to be in these heroine’s places. And I don’t need to celebrate that. That killed the dream.
The power of story might bring me back, but it’s not looking too good right now.
Venus: Ah yes, definitely a problem.
I am not crazy about the billionaire types either, especially with virginal heroines (sorry to all the fabulous Australian writers who write them! Love you, love your work, just not your subjects!) And I cannot abide those wretched princes! Again, read a few that were well written (Oz authors again) but after Diana, I just can’t see that marrying a prince can be seen as a fairytale. Not in a contemporary, anyway. Maybe in a historical. Even then, though, being a royal must have been something of a nightmare. Now, you couldn’t pay me to do it. No amount of money! Then again, I am a seriously low-maintenance woman. Being on show all the time would be part of the nightmare for me – but I guess for some people, given the budget, it would be part of the dream. Each to their own raisins! Vive la difference! ;>