Everyone tells you in this industry to “stay in your lane”. Choose your genre, your style, your tone, and stick with it. It gives readers comfort to know what they’re going to get.
Well.
This is the list of genres I’ve written, in order:
Contemporary western romcom
Contemporary office romcom
Romantic Suspense (with fairly unbelievable situations)
Erotic Paranormal Romance
Contemporary…survival romance suspense (made up my own sub-genre on this one)
Epic Fantasy Romance
Erotic contemporary romance
Urban Fantasy
Urban Fantasy Romance/Paranormal Romance
Paranormal Women’s Fiction (Shannon Mayer helped me make up another genre, which I guess now is cozy fantasy)
Erotic Romantasy
Portal Fantasy Romance
You could create a roadmap through publishing and use pins to mark where I’ve been. I haven’t done exactly the same thing twice. I get bored too easily.
So now what, you might ask? What more could I possibly do? Where could I possibly go?
I am so glad you asked. LitRPG!
Now, I am not a hardcore gamer by any stretch. I love stuff like Super Mario Bros and its various open-world offshoots. I am obsessed with Zelda. I like it easy to understand, I like to roam around, I like puzzles, and when I fight monsters, I want to whack them with a weapon or jump on their heads. Role-playing and stats and stuff is not for me. I can’t remember why I walked into the room, how am I going to remember what spell goes with what creature in what type of offense? I can’t.
At first, I figured that I shouldn’t write a litRPG because it seems like men writing for men. I can’t give them something they want.
But then I figured…well, people love Zelda (like me!). It won a gamer-type award a few years back. I can’t be the only one who likes the cartoony version of gaming! Also, Link makes me swoon when he guards Zelda in Breath of the Wild. Most importantly, I’m not writing for them, I’m writing for me.
I figured I’d just go for it. Why not? If no one wants to read it, fine. I’d at least get it out of my head.
Introducing, my newest genre pursuit – LitRPG-lite. The Nintendo version of LitRPG.
So I wrote what I thought I wanted…but I wasn’t sure about it. It wasn’t grabbing me like I’d expected. Something wasn’t hitting right and making me want to keep writing.
I refined the hero and how all that looked with the world and the heroine. I went back and revised a bunch, and re-wrote a bunch, to include a little more risk and urgency in the story. But damned if that didn’t totally grab me either. Something wasn’t connecting with the characters. I didn’t like how they met or how their group was formed. I didn’t find that groove that made me want to come back to the story. And if I didn’t want to come back, how could I expect anyone else to?
I scrapped the hero’s backstory. It didn’t make enough sense to the world I’d built. Around this time, I finally got around to watching Squid Games.
Yeah. You can see where this is going.
The world already leaned in the Squid Games direction (with humor, which clearly means I am not normal), but the betting element of the people watching (Season 2) hit me like a piano dropped by Wile E. Coyote. And suddenly things all came together.
I added a little morally gray into the hero, gave him some POVs, and better defined what would work. I chistled out the world. The heroine got more toughness (like Reagan). I also gave the heroine and hero a bestie to play off. Then the characters I’d already incorporated had an easier time working with these rough-and-tumble personalities.
And then I faltered again, because damn man. It turned out to be serious work! I had to set up a faux world-within-a-world with silly challenges and puzzles and obstacles, which wasn’t a huge deal, but it required a lot of out-of-the-box imagination I haven’t done before. But then I had to explain gamer stuff in a very simplistic way, because I know many of you will try it, and it’ll all be totally new for you.
I had to explain how an illegal, galactic betting ring would work and the hero’s role within that (with a bunch of new terminology), to people who also forget why they walk into any given room. Ha! I went over and over the hero’s POVs, explaining things, refining them, simplifying them more and more, boiling them down until it was easy to consume. As easy as I possibly could. <<crossing fingers>>
I also had to somehow make a terrifying event lighter and funny while the character motivations and fear stayed believable.
All the while, the need to write more Magical Midlife was pressing on me. I was taking all this time for a thing I planned to mostly give away for free. Not the best strategy in a job.
I called up Keri and basically asked to quit. I explained what it was about now (she’d read one of the first iterations) and asked if I was mad in continuing to take all this time writing this thing. I expected her to read the room and let me off the hook.
She didn’t. Haha! She told me to keep going (I was like 3/4 way through the revision/rewrite).
I very likely didn’t nail any of this and screwed the pooch. Like…I’m not just creating a world, I’m now creating an intergalactic universe. Can I not just keep it small?? Do I have to go big or go home on everything???
Apparently.
So. I made all the changes. Got the characters to where I wanted them. Got the danger to where I wanted that. Have a firm idea of the world and how I’ll incorporate the very fun challenges/quests and the hilarity of the puzzles and loot/treasure. I mean, the system trash-talks the challengers. Also the hilarity of the crazy monsters I’m creating. A mallet that sounds like a dog’s chew toy when it hits the enemy, for example. Just silly stuff while the characters are fighting for their lives. You know…gallows humor.
This is why I make people nervous at parties.
Anyway, I’ve finished it. I’ve added in a surprise at the end that I just LOVE. And now, after the end, the world has a grip on me. I want to keep going. Even though all the quests and challenges are hard to create, I want to carve out the next phase of their journey. So that’s good.
But. Big but. If everyone is like “what the fucking hell is this trash???” I’ll be fine to walk away and never look back (possibly).
Anyway. All that to say, that world is still living with me, especially helped by one character in particular, and I’m glad I finished it. High five to Keri.
But now I need to do more Midlife. I’ll have to hit the pause button.
A lot of this job for me is intuition. I feel a story out. I feel the character interactions out, and the character commitment (or lack thereof) to each other. Additionally, everything I write has to have full commitment and passion behind it or I don’t see the point in doing it.
I am so excited to read this! This is exactly what I need! Something different, fresh! Don’t get me wrong, I love everything you write, but this sounds exciting!
You forgot “weird” lol
Um.. you had me at, “Everyone tells me..,”!I can’t wait to hear your version of LitRPG! As a fellow Super Mario and Zelda fan I am here for it!! I know you won’t disappoint! You know why?? Cause you are THE QUEEN!! LFGOOOO!!
The gatekeeper boys are going to really hate it, I’m sure. “Where are the STATS???”
In reading all of the above my first thought is can there truly be another character like Reagan? Dang Girl, go for it! Reagan was a hoot!
I’ve never been a gamer, , so explanations woven into the story is a definite plus. Now I’m all in on figuring out puzzles, and collect little clues like Easter eggs.
I would love to read what you have figured out so far. So in the infamous words of Doc Holliday in Tombstone “I’ll be your huckleberry!” LOL
Keep writing. I’m impatiently awaiting your next written piece.
The character isn’t a gamer, either, so the reader will experience the world with her.
Great,I am not a gamer either..
Perfect! I cannot wait!
You write it and we will read it! No worries on that front. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got going on!!
Your updates/posts are almost as entertaining as your books. You are such a relatable and delightful human being. Lady, you write it, I’ll read it. Can’t wait for the new world!
There are not a lot of people who think I am relatable. lol. I’m a misfit, through and through
Aren’t we all just misfits? The older I get the less I care to try and fit in. I’m me in all my gloriously weird self.
But that’s relatable, most of us feel that way too.
me too! that’s probably why you are so relatable!
This sounds AMAZING. I can’t wait to read it!
I haven’t really read litRPG because it often seems heavy but I’m intrigued! I’ll totally read it, especially since the Queen created it.
Agree. I wanted to write something a bit sillier
Floors me that your books (I think I’ve read them and LOVED them all) fall into so many categories??!! As someone else said, you write them, we will read them!!
Yeah. I just kinda write whatever I want and figure out the details when I have to market it.
Omg your name. Love you.
I’m intrigued!! Can’t wait to read this!!
This sounds exciting!!! Can’t wait!!!!
Oh my gosh I am ready to dive in it just sounds delightful!
I am so excited to see this and can’t wait to read it. These are exactly the games I play (currently playing Warriors of Hyrule) and this sounds like a fun read.
I think I just bought that!
No idea what the litRPG genre is but I’m excited for this. I play D&D and a Jane Austen RPG so if this is anything similar I’m so stoked 😁
Granted I’m stoked anyway because I love everything you write but you’re now combining my nerdness ❤️
It’s essentially a story and book form of those things, and also “video” games.
I’m lost!,,, Which is nothing new,
WOOT!
I’ve been meaning to dive into some litRPG anyhow, thanks! Though I love me some cozy games and classic Nintendo games, I do also play some RPGs and action games. I am a side-questing, explore the world moron.
Talking: GTA 5/Vice City, Fallout 4/76, World of Warcraft, Mario Party, classic Silent Hill, Clocktower, Tecmo’s Deception, Pokémon, Stardew Valley, RPG Maker, Final Fantasy X/ X2, Animal Crossing, and Assassin’s Creed.
I can’t wait to explore your world too!
LOVED GTA! I keep seeing Final Fantasy. I wonder if they have that for Switch.
I love that you wanted an out and went to Keri thinking for even a minuscule moment that she’d be like “it’s okay to give up- insert blah face here-“ and you’d dust your hands of it. -in a Mr tom tone- How dare you! Hahaha!
You put yourself in everything you write. I’ve read it all and have loved everything you’ve given us. This will be another world we can dive into and lose ourselves in. Plus weird is where it’s at! If you can make us love a woman who takes a group of kids and turns them into baddies, to another woman who haggles every “friend” she has, to another woman who has a new love of walls vs beds, to a woman who was human then found love again and deals with a gardener who screams whoopee, to another human woman who curses like a sailor but is deadly in her own right… let’s not even get started on all the MMC’s that you’ve gotten us to grip pearls over… I have no doubt that this next adventure is gonna be just as amazing!
Yeah I really thought she’d have my back on that one. lol.
Love love love the e idea. I am a gamer more old school final fantasy than anything new RPGs hurt my head. Morally gray sign me up! Who needs to restate! Really I don’t need to know someone has a strength score of 10 and a dexterity score of 18 to get the idea (DND Role player here I can figure that out). Gallows humor and character like Reagan just tell me when to send my money over! Can’t wait for this now
Thank you for being you. This is one of the reasons you were named Queen Breene. I am looking forward to reading this new adventure.
Variety is the spice of life, eh? I think the fact that you write so many different genres is what makes your books so special. I don’t always want to read the same genre. So having an author I love dabble in so many things makes it easy for me. I love your writing style and your amazing characters. It really doesn’t matter the genre. So you do you. I can’t wait to read this new one!!
A friend of mine got me hooked on Dungeon Crawler Carl (a litRPG series) and this sounds similar. I am really looking forward to it as I too am obsessed with Zelda! I love everything you write and know this will be no exception!
It’ll have a similar humor and end of days vibe, but probably a little sillier and with a chance of redemption (or ruining the planet- could go either way). No classes and less stats and specific powers, though there is an Ambushers Accordion she can level up to achieve Oompah of Doom if she practices that noisy thing enough…
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I’ll read anything you write. Not because of the genre, but because I genuinely love your writing. It’s because of that intuition, that instinct in your writing. It is so uniquely you. So for me – keep making up genres, keep crossing over lanes! Because I’ll read it all, I’ll carry all the books in my bookstore, and I’ll tell all my customers to read them because you’re my favorite author!
<3
Hi 👋
Personally, I’m down to try anything written by you.
This sounds like the least likely thing I’d ever voluntarily pick up, therefore I’m sure you’ve written an absolute BANGER!💥
I don’t really understand why you’re giving it away?🤔
This also, selfishly, freaks me a out a little, as it likely means it won’t have an audiobook. That means I’ll really struggle with reading it, as I can only immersive read nowadays.🙄
So, ‘Kindle Assistive Reader’ it is then.🤦🏻♀️😆
I’m very excited to read this new book. I’m not a gamer but I’m also not a fit, sword wielding, magical person either, so.🤷🏻♀️🤩
You write it, I read it. Thats the contract I agreed with myself, back in 2014, when the Darkness series gripped me by the throat. You are yet to disappoint!😎
Congratulations on wrangling your passion project into something you now love enough to want to write more of it.😍
Bring it on.🎉⭐️🎉
At first it sadly won’t have audio. It’ll be on a reading thing. Eventually I’ll publish it and probably do audio then.
Oh that’s cool.
I’m glad we’ll still get to buy it.
Thank you.💐
I absolutely destroy anything you write. I buy your books in digital, print, and if you decide to do a Kickstarter, I’m buying that as well🤷♀️. I’m unapologetic in my madness. So, write whatever your creatively fantastic brain feels, and I and many others, will buy it and love it!
I am so excited to read this! I absolutely love Zelda. I used to play it with my boys. I still have it on Nintendo 64 and on Super Nintendo lol I have all of the game systems even a Sega Genesis. Everything that you have ever written has been amazing and this is gonna just blow everybody away … we’re gonna love it.
Excited to read this, though I’d read anything you did, even a Jack & Jill (Breene edition) especially because your humor is what makes ppl nervous at parties 🤣 can’t wait
I am SO. EXCITED. FOR. THIS!!!!!
I have purchased every book and audiobook of yours, and willingly talk about how fantastic you and all of your characters are. Recently, my husband has joined the Breene fandom with the Leveling Up series, and he’s working his way through rest.
We are listening to the audiobooks of two distant LitRPGs (he has tried my favorites, so I’m trying his).
Your announcement of a KF BREENE LitRPG series is the ABSOLUTE BEST news for us!!! I will be enthusiastically espousing this news!
Super excited to read it! I love all your versions of, “weird!”
You had me at “I’m writing”. I’m here for you. Fan girl, weird, thought of “my precious”. Yes, in that voice. Yes to more MMM. Patiently (well not even remotely true) waiting. Cannot wait for all you do. Read every book of yours, yes Willow Summers, KF Breene… keep being you and I’ll keep reading.
My husband has been reading litRPG for a while and has been trying to get me into it. I told him that he might like your books. Now, we can have the best of both worlds. I’m so pumped!
I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read by you (which is almost everything…it’s not considered stalking to read through your favorite authors entire works, right??) and I cannot tell you how excited I was to read you initially started this because of a love of Zelda. I grew up on the Zelda games and enjoy Link always helping our girl Zelda out.
I can’t wait to read your journey into LitRPG!! Thank you for taking this chance and for sharing it with us ♥️
As an avid reader and gamer, this sounds amazing! I have avoided everything in this genre because they all sound so *boring!* I KNOW your creative, comical, crazy mind has put on paper something that is uniquely yours and intriguing to your readers. I can’t wait for this to be in our hands!
I will happily read ANYTHING you write! The banter, character arcs, and snarky humor are always wonderfully consistent in your writing. Frankly, you’re like the opposite of Hallmark. With those movies you can guess the ending as soon as they introduce the first character. With your writing the endings bring surprise, satisfying conclusions, and the feeling of a well-earned emotional purge/healing. THANK YOU for not being normal! Normal is boring. You make all us weirdos feel seen.
You do what works for you. I will read anything you put out. In a new genre, it is ok to be unsure. I will definitely share my opinion so you can make an informed choice based on the readers who love you and your work. Can’t wait for text Magical Midlife!!!
Oooh I love games and your books so I don’t know how you could go wrong combining the two!!
Well dang if this isn’t stupid exciting!!! 😃 I love when you go off and do your own thing. Who cares???? I’ll give anything a try from one of my favourite authors !
Interesting and weird and I’m all for it!! Let’s gooooo!
I haven’t read any LitRPG yet but am willing to start with yours!!!
My fave is MMM & love the rest of your series so I’m SURE I will enjoy your new endeavor, especially if there’s humor involved!
PS: TYVM for the birthday & Christmas cards!!!!
Wow! If you wrote an actual game for girls/women, that woul be incredibly cool.
I loved Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I am looking forward to reading this.
You had me at, “this is why I make people nervous….”
OMG I am so down for this. I’m a 65yo grandma that’s played Zelda for 30 years.
Editor: Fun story and very different!
I didn’t warn her. So there you go. Prepare for something different but fun. Go in with no expectations…
I’m so excited about this news! I’ve read (and re-read) everything you’ve given us to read. While waiting for MM12 I got into Dungeon Crawler Carl. As someone that isn’t a gamer I found myself having to ask my husband or brother to explain certain things. I wouldn’t say it detracted from the experience, but it definitely took me out of the reading space when I didn’t understand what the heck a HUD was (apparently it isn’t just the Dpt. of Housing and Urban Development).
I’ve been looking for a book/series that was *kind of* LITRPG but with more humor and romance.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with in the newly created litRPG-lite genre!
Funny enough, “Hud” does appear in this. I also didn’t know what it was when I researching these ideas, so we have the nerdy dude who says these things, and the heroine who needs it explained because it is like another language. lol. Most often, we don’t spend time on them because I couldn’t care less and most of my readers won’t either.
Can’t wait
I am a gamer and it is Great you are doing this! I’m 72 and it’s about time women, not a guy’s dream of one, have a strong viewpoint and a realistic one at that. Please finish! I mean, this might turn into a new thing for you. I love love what I have read so far. I lost my link though, so would you be kind enough to resend please. Right at the spot where Kym, Quinn and the other gal were going through the wall thingy. Anyway, thanks. I really do Love the female viewpoint. I am so tired of wearing a metal bikini to fight monsters.
I’m a big fantasy + romantasy reader and I just got into LitRPG 6 months ago! I don’t play video games but I love isekai anime sooo I was primed for it.
The first few LitRPG series I read were excellent, but all the ones I’ve tried since then haven’t kept my interest past a few books. So many authors in the genre seem to struggle with crafting deeper character arcs / themes / plot structures. When the main characters solely focus on “powering up” (for no deeper reason) book after book…it gets boring fast.
You’re one of my fav urban fantasy authors so I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with a LitRPG-ish series.