This is the first time I have tried to link my blog to others and to be honest I’m not sure what I’m doing is correct, but here goes–
The topic was–
‘Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?’
I read somewhere that there are seven different types of stories:
- Overcoming the Monster. This type of story goes back through Beowulf to David and Goliath and surely a lot further than that. …
- Rebirth. A story of renewal. …
- Quest. …
- Journey and Return. …
- Rags to Riches. …
- Tragedy. …
- Comedy.
I believe the role of a writer is to deliver a different angle on whatever is the chosen genre. My writing would, I hope, include various bits from each of the listed seven which in itself would be far from original, but here’s where a comic would say; it’s all in the telling.
As far as–to deliver to readers what they want, this is the most difficult part and one we can never really know unless millions of copies are sold and the quantity is taken as the justification of it. Personally, I write what I want to read. I love a good mystery and being brought up around the intelligence community of the War Department in London where my father was seconded to at the end of WWII, that is what I base my storytelling on.
Espionage is not the most popular theme for a book, I believe that to be sex. But even if I received a hefty advance from my publisher I could not write sex for the life of me. Well, depending on the advance, I might be able to if I had enough time for the research. I’m English and we just don’t write sex!
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About Daniel Kemp
Daniel Kemp is a seventy-four-year-old member of The Society of Authors. He is also a bestselling writer. He writes stories that appeal to those who like challenging themselves to solve mysteries that are set out before their eyes.
His introduction to the world of espionage and mystery happened at an early age when his father was employed by the War Office in Whitehall, London, at the end of WWII. However, it wasn’t until after his father died that he showed any interest in anything other than himself!
On leaving academia he took on many roles in his working life: a London police officer, mini-cab business owner, pub tenant and licensed London taxi driver, but never did he plan to become a writer. Nevertheless, after a road traffic incident left him suffering from PTSD and effectively—out of paid work for four years, he wrote and self-published his first novel —The Desolate Garden.
Within three months of publication, that book was under a paid option to become a $30 million film. The option lasted for six years until distribution became an insurmountable problem for the production company.
All ten of his novels are now published by Next Chapter Publishing Company which has added an edition titled The Heirs And Descendants Collection, which holds all four books of that series, alongside an edition titled The Lies And Consequences Collection which contains all four volumes of that series.
He is the recipient of rave reviews from a prestigious Manhattan publication and described as—the new Graham Green—by a highly placed executive of Waterstones Books, for whom he did a countrywide tour of book signing events. He has also appeared on 'live' television in the UK publicising his first novel.
He likes to write quotes and it's on Goodreads where you can find them--- https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/list/72612151 An example of these quotes opens his novel--Once I Was A Soldier:--There is no morality to be found in evil. But to recognise that which is truly evil one must forget the rules of morality.
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Daniel Kemp 
Yes, sex sells for sure. I have a book with the word ‘sex’ in the title, and it always sells more than the others. Like you I hate writing about it, but endure and think of England…
That’s good. In the past, I have endured being English, especially when in Cardiff and the Welsh were beating us.
I am posting my review of your book with “sex” in the title tomorrow, Stevie. I wrote my first sex scene this past weekend. It wasn’t that difficult actually.
Thanks Robbie!
I thought this was most interesting, Danny. I suppose none of us have the secret key to what readers want, but a lot of it is about getting the book in front of those readers isn’t it.
Exactly, Robbie! Tom Clancy’s book The Hunt For Red October somehow found its way into Ronnie Reagan’s hands during the Cold War. It was exactly what Reagen wanted. Clancy had sold that book for $5000 in1984, but after Reagan read it Tom Clancy was a household name in espionage literature. It’s all luck. But perseverance is the only weapon we have towards getting that luck.
That is very true, Danny. I remember The Hunt For Red October, the book and the film.
Daniel, if you had fun with this, I invite you to join us on a regular basis.I think we are connected on Facebook, so if you message me, I’ll add you to the group where we post the topics.
I’d love to, thank you.