To Add or Not To Add

Historical fiction has always been my favorite genre. For years I read nothing else. I felt the urge to read contemporary novels and found I enjoyed them more than I thought. Imagine my surprise when God gave me a contemporary story.

The novel, Kyria and Mark, working title only, is about half done. I've stalled a bit several times. A total change of plot happened twice and then boom, everything stopped. They are at a happy place in their relationship. Where to go from there. I didn't think the story was over. The conflict wasn't deep enough. The struggles they went through seemed more just those of getting to know one another.

I had to put the story on the back burner. Maybe God didn't want this story to be finished. Maybe it was simply a learning experience for me. I didn't know. I let God know it was fine with me if it never got finished. I like both main characters as well as the supporting cast but maybe I was the only one who was supposed to meet them. All I knew for certain is that I wasn't going on with the novel unless God gave me the direction where He wanted me to go.

During worship service one Sunday while singing the last set of songs God let me know what were going to be the issues for the rest of the book. I won't spill the beans about that but here comes a problem. As Sophie Dawson I write historical fiction. I have five books in two series out and am in the middle of two more with another in my brain waiting to develop further. I've built an readership of those who like historical novels. Now I'm writing a contemporary. Do I spread Sophie into modern times or create a pen name for this new author in me?

Many authors have different pen names for the different genres they write. Most readers have a favorite genre and learn what authors they like and want to read. They stick to it and having the author of a favorite genre change can upset a reader. Also breaking into a different genre with the same pen name can keep possible readers shy away. That lady writes in that genre not this one.

So, I'm deciding whether to choose a new pen name for contemporary. This might be a one novel wonder. I don't know. God does but He's not giving me more stories, well maybe Kyria's brother Turner will become one. He's got some attitudes he needs to work on. So, maybe I should figure out a pen name. I'll think on it and pray a little more about it. God will let me know.

My fear is that I'm into Sci-Fi reading right now with several possible stories rolling around in the vast caverns in my head. That's just what happened before Kyria's & Mark's story appeared.