False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge

What to Do When You Don't Fit Any Mold?

What surprised me most about the publishing world today was the fact that unique stories that don't fit a genre, established niche, or Amazon category, have a harder time getting sold to publishers or hit best seller charts. Everyone says they want something fresh, unique, but in reality the publishers and often times readers themselves want something familiar, safe, that they know it is popular and sells. That is why so many authors now are "writing to the market." Do you as a reader have a hard time finding something that really stands out from the pack? When I started the Maryland Equestrian series, I couldn't find the best fit for marketing it. Yes, it was YA but most readers were older women. Yes, it was contemporary, but it had touches of magic without being fantasy. There was a romantic story line, but the point was not teen romance. The series follows teens grappling with life issues while competing in the gritty horse show world, but as one reviewer said: It's a different kind of horse story. Where does it fit? I think I'm going to have to invent a new Amazon search category. How about "Magical equestrian?"