Story genres help readers get a sense of what to expect from a book. For instance, science fiction can imply space, mystery can imply a crime that needs to be solved, and romance can imply a love story. It is crucial for a book to be properly classified into its designated genre so it can connect with its target readers.
Within the fantasy genre, there are several sub-genres which help to categorize stories based on their content. Some examples of these sub-genres are epic fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal fantasy, and historical fantasy to name a few. The fantasy genre is so wide and far-reaching that there are numerous classifications. I enjoy writing fantasy because it is a category where anything can happen and my imagination can run wild. The only rules put in place are the ones you allow or create.
The Genesis of Seven is a fantasy book, but more specifically, it is an urban fantasy book. Urban fantasy usually applies to stories where extraordinary, paranormal, or imaginary events occur within a real world setting. I particularly like to write urban fantasy because it can be easier for readers to connect with the plot and characters since the world is familiar, recognizable, and reflects the one they live in.
However, that's not to say I don't like create my own worlds, ones that are unknown or do not geographically exist. This ability is known as worldbuilding, and is a key element to epic fantasy. I enjoy writing epic fantasy just as much as urban fantasy, although I must admit it sometimes takes a little longer (at least for me) to create my worlds because I like to focus on the details, trying to make the world real, authentic, and something the reader can connect to even though it isn't familiar.
In The Genesis of Seven, I somewhat blend the two genres of urban fantasy and epic fantasy together because while most of the places featured in the book are known continents, countries, and cities, there are also components of the plot that occur in Heaven and Hell. These parts in particular required some worldbuilding since these settings are unknown and can be interpreted in many different ways. I gave a structure to Heaven and Hell, one that seemed right to me and worked for the purposes of the story.
That's what I love about fantasy though. Since anything can happen, it's one genre that is open to the most interpretation. Authors can interpret elements in their own way, and so too can readers. Not one view is right or wrong. All just exist in an imaginary landscape, no matter what sub-genre the book falls under.
I can't wait for July to come so you are all able to read The Genesis of Seven and form your own interpretations of the world, the story, and its characters.
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