I'm a multi-genre author - good idea, or big mistake...?

So, yeah, I'm a multi-genre author, and that isn't unusual, a lot of authors write in many different genres, but sometimes they use pen names. Pseudonyms. They separate their books, and those different genres out by writing under different names, and whilst I did do that, once, for my One More Chapter-published domestic thriller The Wife, all of my own self-published books are all written under the one name. Because, quite honestly, to separate them all out I would've needed about four different names and that, in my opinion, is even more confusing. 

So, what genres have I actually written, then? Well, my first two books were what I like to describe as Hollywood bonkbusters. And considering my absolutel idol is Jackie Collins, that was always where I was going to start, with a story that had lived in my head for decades before I finally found the confidence to write it, and then publish it. 

I've also written romcoms; rock star romances; erotica; dark, romantic suspense involving biker gangs and drug cartels; super-sexy romances and Christmas novellas. The only thing I haven't delved into, because I don't think I'd pull it off and the competition out there is ridiculous, is crime fiction/physchological thrillers, and historical romance because I don't think I've got the attention span necessary for the sheer amount of research that's needed. Oh, and horror. I just couldn't write horror, I wouldn't know where to start. I'm sticking to what I know, and all those genres I mentioned above, I love writing them all. But, is it confusing, to have them all written under the one name? Does it alienate readers? As an author, I can't put myself into any particular category, so, is that a bad thing? A mistake? It means readers can't rely on me to churn out the same kind of book time after time, because I just don't work like that. Now I'm back self-publishing I can write what I want, when I want, and that's kind of what I'm doing. The days of me trying to write what I think readers want, they're gone. So, yeah, I guess a lot of readers may avoid authors like me because they never know what they're going to get, and when it comes to marketing I don't really have a core audience to target, so, that makes that job a lot harder too. 

But, in reality, do readers really just stick with one genre? People have favourites, of course they do. I myself love reading horror, but I also love a good Jackie Collins/Jilly Cooper-esque dose of pure escapism. I read a lot of physchological thrillers, and I'm always up for a good old romcom, sometimes even a cosy romance every now and again. Just as I write to suit my mood, it's the same when it comes to the books I choose to read. Surely I'm not the only person who feels that way? Or the only writer who works that way?

So, is writing multi-genre books under the same name a big mistake? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I have readers out there, in fact I know I have readers out there who read all of my books, and have enjoyed them, and they are the very readers who keep me motivated to carry on doing what I do. So, what does it really matter? Every author is on their very own, very personal writing journey, and this is the way I've chosen to go with mine. I love the fact that, I can be listening to a song, or watching something on TV; I can overhear a conversation at the checkout in Aldi, that's all it takes, sometimes, to inspire me: kick-start a new story, and I love that. I can't work any other way, so, I guess I'm going to continue writing all those multi-genre books, and just hope that all those very different stories reach readers who'll enjoy them, and maybe even be compelled to pick up another, very different book of mine. 

Anyway, talking of writing, I have a brand new book almost ready for publication, and a brand new story I'm about to start writing, and yes, both of those books are very different genres, but that's just the way I roll... 😉

Michelle x