What do I read? I used to like suspense technothrillers, but I haven’t been reading them as much in the last few years. Cozy mysteries are always good. I’ve been following a few romance series writers — Valerie Comer, Karen Rose Smith, Shannon Stacey, and MJ Fredrick come to mind. Sometimes the cozy mystery and romance get mixed together.

Of course, I have a tall pile of non-fiction on a variety of subjects as well as biographies and memoirs. I keep chipping away at them.

I’m working my way through Sue Grafton’s alphabet mystery series. I try to expand my horizons. I have several writer friends who write in areas I don’t, but I try to support them by buying their books as well as reading what they write. As a result, I read a smattering of historical, steampunk, and retold fairy tales.

That’s a summary of what I read. What do I write?

When I write about anthropomorphic animals (polar bears and cats), that seems to fit into the fantasy area. I have a draft technothriller that needs help on the thriller side of things. The rest of my fiction attempts to explore the lives of characters who don’t fit in and how they resolve those disconnects in their lives and American culture of the last fifty years.

I’ve tried romance, but when you don’t fit in, the romance falls flat. I’m attempting to plan a suspense/mystery series, but I’m struggling with figuring out what the mystery is. I’m not sure anyone will buy “How does this life turn out?”.

I’ll keep experimenting. Something is going to click in this thick brain of mine. Eventually.