Authors, Expand Your Horizons

Imagine my surprise when I ran into one of my favorite authors in the elevator at a recent writers' conference. Imagine my surprise when it was F. Paul Wilson, bestselling horror and action author, and the convention was a romance writers' convention.

I didn't really get the chance to chat with Paul that day, but I followed-up by email because I was curious to know why he was there. After all, the RT Booklovers Convention is a hardcore (no pun intended) romance writers convention, complete with plenty of "man candy" walking around (i.e., the models who are often featured on the covers of romance novels) and a faery ball one night. And if you've ever read an F. Paul Wilson novel, you know these are fairly "manly" novels. I still remember reading THE KEEP years ago, as well as one of the earlier REPAIRMAN JACK novels.

I've often thought F. Paul Wilson was one of publishing's most underrated authors. He's a rock-solid writer and entertaining as hell. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up one of his books if I actually had the time for recreational read. But I was still stumped as to why he was at a romance writers' convention. So I asked him the question in an email, and here's his response:

I realized on tour that half the people at the stops were female.

Heather Graham convinced me to go to RT. I arrived 3-4 years ago with 500 copies of an RJ book to give away. To that time my website had been logging 1.8 million hits/month. After my 1st RT it jumped to 2.8 and hit 3.5 by the end of the year. My backlist soared and I've returned every year since. These are voracious readers.

So what's the lesson here for authors? Expand your horizons, if not in the type of book you write (Paul's not writing bodice rippers just because he's found an audience among romance readers), then in the way you market your books yourself. Perhaps join RWA and attend a few conferences. Consider playing up the romantic subplot in your book a bit more. Add a few tasteful sex scenes (an art for sure!). In the end, as always, give the reader—especially the romance reader—what she or he wants and you will be rewarded.

Z