  Mystery
This week: Mystery As A Sub-Genre Edited by: Jaeff | KBtW of the Free Folk  
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
-- Carl Sagan
Mystery Trivia of the Week: Hugh Laurie isn't just the actor and comedian most of us know from House, M.D. or his earlier comedic work with Stephen Fry. He also happens to be a talented musician (plays the drums, piano, guitar, saxophone, and harmonica) and a mystery writer. His first novel, The Gun Seller, became a bestseller and Laurie is reportedly working on a screenplay for a film adaptation, as well as a follow-up book called The Paper Soldier (which currently appears to be on hold).
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| ASIN: B07YJZZGW4 |
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MYSTERY AS A SUB-GENRE
If you look at a Barnes & Noble shelf or on an Amazon.Com page, you might be inclined to think that Mystery (or at least Mystery & Thrillers) are their own genre. And technically, you'd be right. There are enough books that are straight mysteries to warrant their own genre section in most bookstores, just like romance, children's, science fiction and fantasy, etc. But what about mystery as a sub-genre?
Mystery, generally, is defined as a genre of fiction that deals with either the investigation or commission of a crime. But that definition technically makes it more of a plot-centric genre rather than a thematic genre like, say, fantasy, where it's defined by things like world-building, imaginary creatures, magic, etc., that may not necessarily be related directly to the plot of the story.
The great thing about the mystery genre is that since its conventions are plot-centric, the genre can become integrated into other genres without taking them over completely. For example, the "Gentlemen Bastards" series of fantasy novels by Scott Lynch are most definitely fantasy novels because they take place in a mythical world, involve magic, and everything that you'd expect in a fantasy novel... but each book also has mystery elements to them because the stories revolve around characters who are thieves and con artists trying to pull off a crime. It would never go in the mystery genre of the bookstore because of those prominent fantasy elements, but the stories are most definitely mysteries wrapped within a fantasy framework.
Romance is a similar plot-centric genre because romance elements can be included in other thematic genres like fantasy, westerns, or horror. When you're writing your next story, consider the benefits of adding a little mystery (or romance, even!) to your existing story. Genre-crossover stories can appeal to audiences for both genres, and often put a unique or interesting spin on a traditional genre story.
Until next time,
-- Jaeff | KBtW of the Free Folk
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I encourage you to check out the following mystery items:
Genre of the Month: Mystery
Five people sat at a table in a dilapidated mansion in the Colorado Rockies. They had all been invited there by the same person, and none of them knew why the others were there. The French maid, Phoebe, served them a three course meal. They were just finishing dessert when Jamie Collins felt a tickle in his throat. He tried drinking some water to wash down any stuck particles of food. He felt his throat tighten, and he gasped for his last breath. The others stared in shock as Jamie fell out of his chair, and hit the floor with a sickening thud.
My name is Morris W. Superczynski. If you are reading this letter, please believe me, I need your help. If you cannot believe me, please pass this letter on to someone else.
“Oooh! That hurts!” Don exclaimed spontaneously as he watched the TCU wide receiver leveled by the Oklahoma safety at the end of his crossing pattern. The ball bounced around on the turf for a second before a Horned Frog lineman pounced on it, not yet knowing that the pass had been ruled incomplete.
Kevin Stine could hear the screams from a mile away. The moon was bright and the sky was cloudless. Placing a cigarette in his mouth, he lit it and took a drag before heading off into the night towards the screams. West Haven was a town that was seldom boring. The screams seemed to be occurring much more frequently. This was the third one this month. Up until then, he would hear the screams maybe once a month if not once every two months.
Lou spilled the coffee he was pouring when Gloria stormed into the office. She was bawling her eyes out and using words a lady shouldn’t.
| | | OLD [13+] #1997834
He wasn't in the present, at least the one we were in, but he needed to grieve her.
by Ms. Jones  |
He woke up as if someone gave him a gentle shake. He simply opened his eyes and scanned the room without moving his head. He had become accustomed to a careful scan of the room upon awakening since she left. When she was there he didn’t do that, he would just jump up and proceed to the bathroom. No good morning sweetheart or anything of that nature, just a beeline to the bathroom. He felt a twist in his stomach that had been growing into a knot for months since she left.
The stifling air hit Lexianne in the face as soon as she opened the door. She walked ahead of the couple here to look at the house, wondering why it was hot since she had left the AC on last week when she showed it. As she reached the thermostat she caught scent of a foul odor coming from the hallway leading to the master bedroom of the foreclosure.
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Feedback from my last newsletter about evolving your writing:
Quick-Quill  writes, "OH MASTER, you have truly spoken the truth! STEAMPUNK immediately came to my mind. When the norm changes tweek it and see what you get. I am enamored by the effects this genre has on people. The amount of realism they go to in order to SHOW what this genre is. Is it mystery? yes Is it drama? Oh yes. A little fantasy and sci-fi thrown in for good measure. I think this new genre will become more and more popular with the above two genre crossing over to pick the best of the best. "
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Mystery: July 02, 2014 Issue [#6413]
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