Whether in novels, films or comic books, modern storytelling is often divided into Genres and Sub-Genres. One of the challenges I’ve faced as an author is understanding what “Genre” my novel falls into as I’ve included elements from more than one. In terms of marketing, every writer needs to understand where their story sits whether you’re traditionally or self-published. The more of a “Mash-Up” your novel is the more complicated it can be to categorize. Genres actually help readers find your book as people go looking for what they like first and foremost. And if you mis-categorize your book you can end up with a lot of disappointed readers and poor reviews.

Using my own story as an example, I would categorize it as a Paranormal Historical Thriller. I recently heard of the sub-genre “Gaslamp Fantasy” which I feel would also apply. There’s magic and monsters and evil spirits set in 19th century England. So, you see what I mean”Gaslamp Fantasy” can be said to be related to “Steampunk” or maybe “Historical Fantasy“.

Though I wouldn’t use Steampunk to describe my book it could be said to contain Steampunk elements. So, maybe that’s its “Sub-Genre“. Which leads then to the term “Mash-Up” where we can throw together different tropes or characteristics from numerous genres to create something unique and, one hopes, cool. Unless, if possible, you go too far…

Think Lady Renalda Crosswise – Post Apocolyptic, Space Pirate Princess Mage Detective has a future? Don’t like to see fantasy and science-fiction mashed-up too closely together or are for piling it in on? Now, the doodle of Lady Renalda Crosswise doesn’t have any relation to the story I’m working on but you get an idea how some writers love to stretch a readers’s expectations. Gothic Horror can now encompass Urban Fantasy elements and procedural mystery. A detective story can have a science-fiction setting with a romantic subplot. A political thriller can involve zombies and alien invasion. Not to mention the plethora of Shapeshifter Romances out there these days. I guess there can be almost any combination as long as a writer or artist has the creative chops to follow through. Yet, is there a boundary to such mash-ups? I haven’t seen it but wonder if someone else has. Do you think that genre-expanding, mash-ups are a mess cluttering up literature or they’re just another trend that pushes the boundaries of the genre envelope?

We did a bit of the genre-bending with our graphic novel adventure series The Adventures of Astrodog by taking the trope of kid detectives and transporting them to the moon and having them led by an investigative dog. You can pick up a copy of those colourful stories right here. Keep pushing those creative boundaries and join the adventure!

For a couple of my current favourite writers in the “Gaslamp Fantasy” genre, check out:

C. J. Archer at: https://cjarcher.com or Tilly Wallace at: https://tillywallace.com