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Marketing Analytics Without Pulling Your Hair Out

I FINALLY WAVED THE WHITE FLAG WITH GOOGLE ANALYTICS

I tried so many times to understand Google Analytics but I never go much further than creating an Analytics property, putting the code onto my website and being able to pull up some information in Google Analytics. Sounds good, right? No, it wasn't.

As a self-publisher, I don't need to know which of my one million customers (I wish) were coming from where and what their other interests are. I want to know how my self-publishing business is doing and if I'm covering all my bases.

What it took me too long to figure out was that this is not a job for Google Analytics, but of a customized analytics setup to look at everything in my self-publishing business to see if my marketing is paying off and how my books are doing.

HOW CAN I KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING BY CLICKING FROM INFOMATION PAGE TO INFORMATION PAGE?

I did a video about this and demonstrated how I use one private page on my website to set up links so I can open each of the sections with one click to get the specific information I want. I will explain what information these sections give you and how you can use each link as a gauge regarding how your book publishing business is going.

If you click open this image of a Word document above with two columns of links, you can see that I have organized my links into sections. Each section has a link that takes me to one specific page where I can gather one data point that I need to give me an overview of my books. By adding up all the data points, it creates an overall picture of how the entire business is doing.

I'll explain two examples below:

MARKETING DATA POINTS EXAMPLE ONE:

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY BOOKS? In order to know how my books are doing, I have four targeted links. One link shows me the actual sales/downloads. Another link goes directly to the page to tell me how many pages are being read according to KDP. This answers the questions: How are my books selling? Are my readers reading through my series or stopping at Book 1? And it also gives me an idea of how much they are reading and when.

Another link in this section goes to my KDP Dashboard so I can keep track of my Ranking (where I am in the pecking order at Amazon.com), my Ratings (how many five star, four star, etc. ratings I'm getting), and the last link goes directly to the page that shows me the last reviews that are posted about my books.

By reviewing these few links, I can get a idea in less than five minutes about how my books are doing and even some future marketing ideas.

MARKETING DATA POINTS EXAMPLE TWO:

I do still use Google Analytics, but after isolating the specific links I need, I no longer use the menu along the left side of google analytics. Just the sight of it is enough to give me a headache. I simply click on the links that I set up so I can get a few bits of specific data information as described below:

TIME OUT FOR A SECOND:

TIME OUT FOR A SECOND: Before I go into any details, be aware that I shortened all of these google analytics by copying the address bar, going to tinyurl.com, using an alias of RTC which stands for Read First Chapter, and creating a shortened link.

If you go to tinylink.com, it's free and you can get shortened links for any of the long links with the crazy question marks or percentage signs, etc.

BACK TO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMING:

By looking at the page entitled Engagement Overview, I can see what pages are being viewed by website visitors and which pages and subject matters are the most popular. I can even see what cities and countries are getting traffic.

The second link, Demographics, give me the names of other countries that I may want to add to my marketing budget as I go along. If you're a new author or publisher, you will want to spend most of your budget in the USA.

Pages and Screens: This page allows me to see the top 50 pages and which pages are the most popular and what kind of action and/or engagement they are getting. This answers the questions: Where am I putting my marketing efforts? Where am I putting my marketing dollars? Are my efforts working? What topics do my viewers especially like?

Traffic Acquisition: This page shows me which social media website is sending me the most traffic. This helps a lot because I don't do that well on social media. In other words, I have very few followers and the quest to get more leaves me cold. I don't particularly like social media, I think aside from posting business ads, it's kind of a waste of time -- with a few exceptions.

However, I have been posting about 4 to 6 social media posts (ads) for my books and writing information for over a year now and I do get quite a bit of organic traffic for someone with not that many followers. Organic traffic is free traffic which is the best kind. I don't get a huge amount of traffic, but I've only been at this extensive marketing for going on two years. So I'm happy that I am progressing, going in the right direction. Keeping track of these numbers allows keeps my confidence up because it's easy to feel you're wasting your time when you have so few followers. It's slow but I'm heading up the chart.

MAKE YOUR OWN CHEAT SHEET:

Using the Word doc above, make your own cheat sheet with links taking into account all of the same areas. This way, you can keep track of all of these areas and you can be assured that you're keeping an eye on everything on a weekly basis and extracting all the information that will be helpful in keeping you on track.

Be sure to make your links open to a blank page. WordPress allows you to click on the gear icon and choose open in a new window. But if you are using google sheets or some other document, be aware that the code for opening to a blank page is to add target="_blank" to the end of any link. Be careful with the quotes, spaces and underlines, because if there's even one typo, it won't work.

A normal link to W3Schools.com looks like this:
<a href="https://www.w3cschools.com"> This means, however, when you click on the link, you will automatically abandon the page you are on and go right to W3Schools.

But if you use add the "target="_blank"> code after the link, it will hold open your page on the tab you are on, and open the new page in a new tab. That's what you want. I have created a picture of the link in case WordPress does something crazy with these codes I've just typed out.

A TEN MINUTE OVERVIEW OR AN HOUR ANALYSIS:

I will use this system to take a snapshot, a five to ten minute look at the end of each week to see what is going on and to make sure that all of my bases are covered. This sounds easier than it is because a self publishing business is like a one man band. You're responsible for everything surrounding the production, marketing and sales of the books.

From the latest I've heard from inside professional publishing gossip channels, even authors who sign with big publishing houses -- unless you are one of their already-established big guns -- you will be expected to do your own marketing too. So hopefully, this will be helpful even to this group of authors.

Movie Reviews – Rosemary’s Baby

ROSEMARY'S BABY MOVIE REVIEW FOR AUTHORS

SPOILER ALERT - QUICK SUMMARY OF THE MOVIE:

Rosemary and her husband move into an apartment in NYC next to an eccentric but interesting old couple who are a big pushy. They are friendly enough and Rosemary agrees to meet them for dinner with her husband Guy. Guy is an actor and he is struggling. He lost a part to another actor and is disappointed but tries to remain upbeat.

After Rosemary agrees to have dinner with the elderly neighbors, Guy is reluctant to go because they are an old couple. They go out of politeness. After their visit, Guy is enamored with the couple and becomes best friends with them.

Guy decides it's time to have a baby and she is thrilled. Guy gets a phone call that the actor who got the last part has gone blind and now he has the part. He is sorry he had to get the part in such a way, but he is happy to be working.

The neighbors, now being so close with Guy, begin to take over Rosemary's life in what appears to be a caring parental way. They insist she got to the best obstetrician in NYC, a friend of theirs and Minnie makes a call to set an appointment.

THE PREGNANCY:

Minnie makes a fresh vitamin filled drink for Rosemary to consume everyday. Instead of gaining weight, she loses weight. Sapirstein tells her it's normal. Just keep drinking the herb drinks and things will be fine.

Strange things keep happening throughout her pregnancy and a friend Hutch has a book sent to her about witches. He has done background research on her neighbors and finds out that Minnie's husband is a descendant of a famous satanist. Rosemary is now scared that they want her baby for rituals.

There is a chase as Rosemary now tries to save herself and her baby but in the end the coven of satanists capture her. She gives birth and is told the baby was stillborn.

She hears a crying baby through the paper-thin walls in the apartment and even though she is told it's a new tenant who has a baby, she believes it is her baby. She enters Minni's apartment and sees the whole coven of satanists around a bassinette. THereis an upside down cross hanging off the front of it. She peaks inside and is horrified by what she sees.

She asks what happened to his eyes and is told he has his father's eyes, his father is Satan. She is scared and wants out of there. The leader asks her to consider mothering the child even if she doesn't want to join. She is reluctant but when she sees another woman rocking the bassinette too hard, she responds to her motherly instincts and approaches and rocks the bassinette.

WHAT I LEARNED AS AN AUTHOR:

This is a great movie to see foreshadowing in play. There is a huge dresser and a closet that seem unimportant. Rosemary has an older man who is a friend, I believe, who turns out to play more of a role in things. The lucky charm necklace, the scrabble board, etc. If you want to see examples of foreshadowing, this is a great move to watch.

Motif: The locket with the fowl-smelling herbs (tannis root) kept showing up, first with the neighbor who jumped or was pushed out the window, then it was given to Rosemary as a gift, then later on, Dr. Sapirstein's nurse secretary said he had the same smell of tannis root on him.

The mention of tannis root occurred several times and each time only a tiny bit of information was given about it. It kept the viewer guessing. I learned about how to break down the significance of an item and only reveal one tiny puzzle piece. It allows you to keep the thread of mystery going.

CHARACTER ARCS:

The character arcs were very subtle and well-orchestrated. The acting was fantastic and this added to the character arc. An example: First the husband is turned off by being around a bunch of elderly neighbors. Then he wants to go back the next day and he is suddenly best friends with them. Not much is said about it and it was believable that they were just interesting people.

Guy didn't present as a religious person at all, nor did Rosemary, but they appeared to be "normal" in that Guy did not seem at all the kind that would get into satanism. He was interested in success but not spirituality. This character description helped to hide his participation in anything untoward until the last 25% of the movie.

RUTH GORDON:

Ruth Gordon plays Minnie, the neighbor, and as usual, her character is hysterical. She appeared funny, quirky and harmless in the beginning of the movie. This added to hiding what was really going on.

SPOILER: It turns out her husband sold their baby for fame. He met with the other actor, did a tie swap so the witches could have an article that belonged to the victim and that's why he is now blind. This came much later in the plot where it had a much greater terror impact. When this was revealed gave it it's best horror value.

The rest of the group of weirdo characters were all great. This same group of characters could have been an ensemble in a romantic comedy with a different script. Ruth Gordon was her eccentric self. She was as funny as she was weird. Her husband appeared normal but there was something a little off about him. He stood too close and seemed to have that same pushy personality as his wife. The actors had the fake smiles and pretentiousness down pat.

GUY THE HUSBAND:

Her husband Guy admitted to being selfish but he loveable for 3/4 of the movie because he was always so apologetic and caring towards Rosemary about his selfishness. He was always committing to being better. He came across as wanting to be a good husband, wanting to start a family together, and maybe he had a little selfishness that went along with it. It didn't take away from his likeability.

ROSEMARY'S FRIEND HUTCH:

Hutch was an older man, about the age of the neighbors, and he was a friend to Rosemary. He warned Rosemary of a dark past for the Bramford building where this apartment was. But Rosemary and Guy blew it off as suspiciousness over nothing.

Hutch seemed to be a father figure to Rosemary in the beginning of the story probably because of his age. He seemed to be finished with his part when he warned them about the building and they blew him off. Then he made another appearance to acknowledge that Rosemary looked horrid during her pregnancy. Again, as a viewer, I figured he was done.

But he went on to call Rosemary and want to meet to tell her something, but he fell ill and then went into a coma. The next few scenes were not about Hutch, so again, I thought he was really done. But no, Rosemary meets a friend of his who passes on the book and the cryptic message that helps to enlighten Rosemary to what is really going on.

This was a great lesson is showing how a character starts out with a definitive character portrayal (fatherly friend) and later one he is revealed as the one who has the biggest clue to drop in terms of moving the story into the chase and the ending.

THE BIG CLUE DROP:

Hutch wanted to meet with Rosemary at 11 AM at a spot in NYC. He never showed up. She called and found out that he got sick and slipped into a coma. No one on the other end gave her any messages about anything further. As a viewer, I felt that that whole line of help was now a dead end. However, later on at the funeral, a woman handed Rosemary a book from Hutch and a statement that the name was an anagram.

Rosemary, with her scrabble tiles, found out the author of the witches' book was none other than her neighbor by another name. This confirmed in her mind that this was a group and they were all in it together.

FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER TO THE CHASE:

The last quarter of the movie takes place when Rosemary is two days from her delivery date. She knows that Dr. Sapirstein is involved with the witch's coven, so she no longer wants him to treat her baby. She figures out from reading the book she was left and another book she got on witches that they make sacrifices with children. They use the blood and even the flesh. She believes this is the fate of her baby.

She tries to get away and go back to her original doctor, but he thwarts her plans. I won't reveal how he does it, so as not to spoil the ending.

She is told by Sapirstein and her own husband that her baby died and they will just try to have another one. She doesn't believe he's dead but they insist. She then hears a baby crying through the walls and she goes into the closet and looks through a keyhole and can tell the group is all together. She knows the baby crying is coming from this apartment.

She enters the apartment with a knife and sees the baby and is horrified. She is told the baby's father is Satan and she was chosen to be his mother. She is horrified and wants nothing to do with it. Her final word to her husband as he tries to gloss over the whole thing (as he is enjoying his new found fame and success) is to spit in his face.

The head witch, her neighbor, tries to get her to consider being the child's real mother as the other women are too old. She refuses. But one of the older women is rocking the cradle too hard and the baby is crying. Rosemary tries to tell her she is rocking too hard, but the lady won't listen. The head witch dismisses the other woman and Rosemary approaches the bassinet. Although she is horrified, it is the cry of her own flesh and blood that is calling to her. The movie ends with her approaching the baby carriage.

WHAT CAN AN AUTHOR LEARN:

Plot development, especially in terms of creating a character that will morph into someone else in the storyline like Hutch and even the neighbors. I plan to watch again to see the subtleties in how this actual transformation took place.

With free streaming and books on eReaders, viewers are quicker to bore and it's too tempting to skip to the next movie on the streaming service or click to another book on the eReader. I think all scenes have to be tight.

Foreshadowing is done extremely well in this movie and can teach a writer a lot about presenting clues as 'little nothings' and even wrapping them up in romance or marital domestic stuff.

Psychological horror - The entire story is based in psychological horror. There's no dark rooms, jump scares, or footsteps in the dark. This entire story was about pure psychological horror. So if you are focusing or studying psychological horror, this is a good movie to watch and analyze.

MY ONLY COMPLAINT:

The movie was a little long and there were scenes that went on too long by today's standards. In the 1960s, people probably had an attention span of 3 minutes. Today, it's down to about 30 seconds, so as an author, I would tighten all the scenes, especially those that are just showing domestic bliss or Mia's emotions.

How to Create an Author Page on Amazon Author Central

SELF-PUBLISHERS NEED AN AUTHOR PAGE ON AMAZON.COM

All book authors want readers! Many readers are curious -- either before reading your book or after -- about who wrote the book. Many of them only want to see what you look like or where you live.

An Author Page on AuthorCentral.amazon.com is the equivalent of a mini website right inside the Amazon bookstore. Think of it as a corner display in the section of genre you write in. You want it to be as professional and interesting as possible.

It's easy enough to put one together and I'll go into what snippets of information and other items you will need to put together a professional author page.

WRITING A NEW AUTHOR BIO:

You will need a bio with a picture. The picture will be reduced to an icon or avatar size, so be sure to have one that is crisp and clear and mainly of your face and shoulders. Otherwise, it won't look professional.

Besides your name and avatar, feel free to add a bit about what you write, why you write or anything else that might be of interest to the readers. Besides the basics, they like to know if you were a life-long teacher or an ex-cop or ex-lawyer; things like this. Or if you have an interesting hobby or two.

If you are not a famous author, I would suggest keeping the bio short, maybe two to three short paragraphs -- or thereabouts. Once the reader has seen you and knows a little about you, you're no longer a stranger to them. You are officially an author that they know and would recognize. Feel free to ask them to follow you.

Let's look next at the actual Amazon Author Central Page setup.

THE POWER OF AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL:

If you only have one or two books and aren't ready to build a full website, think of the Amazon Central Author page as a website. Besides adding your avatar picture, Amazon will pull in all of your books onto the one page. Each viewer is given an opportunity to click on the FOLLOW button. So if they really like your work, they can sign up to follow you and then will get notice of any new books released by you. So there is this little bit of marketing built into the Author Central page.

BOOK MARKETING 101:

If you are self-publishing a book, setting up an Author Central page is first and foremost. This is the first step in building your own personal readership and brand. Establishing a presence at Amazon and using the Author Central page as a mini website is the best marketing you can do until you're ready to put up a dedicated website and really start marketing.

AMAZON CENTRAL AUTHOR HOME PAGE:

An Amazon Central Author page is created automatically behind the scenes when you upload a book. To find your actual page and the link to it, after uploading the book at KDP, go to authorcentral.amazon.com. You may be asked to log in or you may go to the page automatically. Record the link in the address bar because this will be the same as a website link if you're a new author.

I have a video posted below where I go into this in a little more detail, but if you are the type that wants to see the steps written out, this section is for you:

When you log into the page, it will show you the books that are getting the most action. These will change from time to time, especially if you do Kindle Countdowns or give them away for free a few times.

The screen shot above is what the page looks like when you open it. This is the left side of the page . It has the books that are doing the best and there are three links to the left of the best sellers. The top link is to see all of your books.

VIEW SALES RANK:

The View Sales Rank link brings you to a section where you can track the ranking of your books at Amazon. These numbers can be very discouraging at first, so don't take them to heart when you are brand new. It takes time to get soaked up by the algorithms and start climbing the ranks at Amazon. These numbers don't really tell you anything that can be easily tracked. In another blog post, I will show you how to keep track of your reviews, if you want to do that.

If you click into the rankings page, you can at least see if your book is trending up or down. They all tend to go up and down so don't take anything to heart as a beginner. Your books will begin to go up when you start marketing them, promoting them or giving them away.

VIEW CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

The customer reviews link goes to your written reviews. That means if someone takes the time to go to Amazon and write a full review, it will appear here. However, many people read on tablets or eReaders and Amazon doesn't make it easy for them to leave reviews, so you may just get 5-Stars but no words. That is considered a rating but not a review. That's why it's important to know a different way to keep track of actual ratings and reviews. That will be for the next blog post.

AUTOMATIC UPDATE AT AMAZON:

As state above, the Author Central page is created automatically by uploading a book. The page is associated with the author or pen name who uploaded the book. This page has three links to follow your Sales Rank and Reviews. It shows you what your most popular book is. It also presents visitors with all of your books, with links to purchase.

TO CHANGE YOUR AUTHOR PAGE NAME:

In case you choose to write under a pen name or want to update your page name in any way, here is a link with information on how to do that: https://author.amazon.com/help/GRGZ458YRBZBYBDH

Below is the video where I go into all of this information and a little more. I hope you enjoy it.

WRITING EXERCISE YOU CAN DO WITH A SPOUSE

CHANGE THE WAY YOU WATCH MOVIES:

Turning the viewing of a movie into a writing exercise will change the way in which you watch the movie. For your spouse, it won't change anything. Most people love to go into the story not knowing anything. There are some who any hint of a spoiler will ruin the movie for them. You may be one of them now!

However, in order to watch through a writer's eye, you will need to watch not only the unfolding story, but you want to know ahead of time what action will be playing out. This way, you can watch for the subtleties. In other words, you will be on the lookout for foreshadowing and tiny insignificant clues that are being dropped that will wind up being the clue that solves the mystery.

I started to watch movies in this way several months ago and I have to say it didn't ruin my movie watching, it has enhanced it greatly. Knowing what will happen doesn't ruin a movie for me. I have always been that way, but I get so much more out of the movies I watch with this technique, that I will continue to watch in this way.

So how does it work?

WATCHING A MOVIE WITH A PURPOSE:

Find a summary of the movie on Wikipedia. Most movies have a page about them and it gives all the technical information about who wrote the original story, the producer, director, stars, etc. But there is a section entitled PLOT. This is where the plot is laid out for you.

If you are scheduled to watch a horror movie, decide ahead of time what you will look for. It's important to notice how the movies create a spooky atmosphere. Is it done with fog or lighting? Or maybe sounds of footsteps. These will all come in handy if you write horror yourself.

If you are watching a mystery, watch how some clues are planted but made to seem insignificant. This is slight of hand that is required in writing mysteries. Seeing this play out in a movie will give you many ideas on hiding clues in your books.

For any movie, notice how much information is dropped in the beginning to set the stage. Do they show a panorama of famous buildings to let you know you're in New York or Paris? Do they show carts and horses to let you know you are going back into the 1800 or 1900s? Notice how much information is conveyed with just the presence of certain props and locations. Almost every scene is a lesson in itself.

WON'T KNOWING THE PLOT RUIN THINGS?

To be honest, most plots are too long to even remember or put together with one reading. I can usually follow the plotline for about the first four paragraphs. After that, I can't remember who is who but it doesn't matter. As long as you have a gist of an idea of what will take place, it allows you to watch for it.

You can see whether the drama plays out slowly or whether there is a jump scare to introduce a twist in the plot. All of this is what you will feed on as an author. You are getting an up-close look at how the script writer and the director have choreographed the telling of the tale.

WHY I CHOOSE THE OLD MOVIES:

I choose to watch old movies from the 1960s and 1970s because the method of shooting movies was different back then. The directors tended to fill the scene and writing fiction requires you to 'fill the scene' too. In modern movies, although they spend a fortune on sets, you see the set once in a while, but most scenes are one close-up of one star with a quick move to show a close up of another star. It's not as rich for a writer.

EXAMPLE MOVIE: THE GORGON

This is one of the Hammer Film Production movies that I have recently fell in love with. They are old movies from the 1960s but so charming. These are easy to follow as an author and you can learn a lot about adding suspense, atmosphere, how people show fear, methods of showing distrust. These movies are short and shot on or in one set at a time, so there's a lot of action and background for you to pick up hundreds of tips.

You can even watch with a notebook and pen. Jot down the things you see that would be helpful to you in your writing. If you watch mystery movies with police work, you can write down the specific terms for things that come up over and over. For example, the words having to do with arrest warrants or fingerprint evidence, etc.

A WRITING EXERCISE AFTER THE MOVIE:

CAPTURE A SCENE: If you are watching on a computer, pause the movie in the middle of a great scene. Take a screen shot of the scene for later. If you're watching on a TV, pause and take a picture on your phone.

WRITING EXERCISE: Next time you are sitting down to write, pull up the picture and create a scene in your head -- not from the movie, but from your own imagination. Using this setting as inspiration, think of something that is about to happen in the room or what just happened in the room. Be sure to include a description of the room and/or the main elements in the room. This exercise alone will improve your descriptive writing and could even lead to a short story! You never know.

CONCLUSION:

Read the plotline -- at least three quarters of it so you can be on the lookout for all the techniques of storytelling.
Think ahead of all the information you will want to keep watch for. Make either a mental note of all the techniques you see or write them down.
If you watch police procedurals and write them, jot down all the technical names for things so you have them at your fingertips when you are writing your own fiction.
Take a picture of a great setting in the movie for later. Using that scene as inspiration, think up your own small plot for what is going to happen in this room, what could happen, or what just happened. Be sure to describe the setting adding all of the emotions and/or mood elements you saw in the movie.

So that's it. Follow me on social media and let me know if you like this method of watching movies to learn.

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING WHILE WATCHING MOVIES

THIS IS AN EXERCISE IN IMPROVING YOUR NOVEL WRITING BY WATCHING OLDER MOVIES:

gorgon-picture — Screen Shot from "The Gorgon"

I've been doing this exercise for about six months now and it has turned into my favorite way to experience movies. This allows me to experience the movie as a normal viewer but also watch it with an author's third eye.

I choose to watch mostly movies from the 1960s to the late 1970s for a few reasons that I'll go into below:

OLD MOVIES VS. NEWER MOVIES:

FIRST: Classical Hollywood Style: The old classic Hollywood style focused on clear storytelling, three-act structures, and a focus on character development. The writers and directors infused their work with a fresh perspective, but there was a reliable style to the storytelling. I believe this style is easier to learn from as a new author.

SECOND: The Pace of the movie. Modern films tend to have a faster pace, driven by shorter attention spans and the need to engage audiences immediately and constantly. It's common to see the camera move back and forth shooting so fast you can't keep up. As a writer, there's nothing to learn with this.

THIRD: Classic films relied more on dialogue, staging and backdrops to tell the story. This is the richness that I find most helpful to see and learn from as an author. Modern storytelling is worried about the 3-second attention span. Older movies assumed the audience was grown up and could sit still and pay attention for a few minutes without intense stimulation.

FOURTH: The older movies were 'agenda free'. There wasn't any heavy-hand pushing politics or debauchery at every turn. In my humble opinion, this ruins even the best of movies.

FIFTH: Newer movies have upgraded post production technology and CGI, so they are now focused on movie effects, jump scares and gore shocks. Although many of you may enjoy this type of thing, it really doesn't have much to teach a new author.

SIXTH: Even though the costumers and set designers have come so far and their work is breathtaking, the gorgeous backdrops seem to be shown one or twice and the rest of the scenes are filled with quick close-up shots to showcase the facial acting. Whereas, in the older movies, the directors would set up a whole room, have the actors roam through the room while acting. They were constantly doing things, picking up a cigarette, or stoking a fire -- action that you can learn from. This is the type of action that keeps fiction dialogue from being boring. These small movements keep the scene real in the readers' minds.

SEVENTH: There's nothing more irritating than the movies that were made with hand-held cameras and watching it is the equivalent of being on an unattended rollercoaster ride. There is a chaotic feel to the entire movie. This was unthinkable in old Hollywood. Again, you may like this type of film to watch and just enjoy, but there's nothing to be gained as an author from it.

WHICH MOVIES SHOULD I WATCH?

Everyone has to find their own subgenres whether it be old gothic movies or old mystery movies. But a good place to start is at Wikipedia. Below are two links to the 1960s and 1970s in film. Movies made in these years would fall into the categories I mentioned above.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s_in_film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970s_in_film

SO HOW DOES LEARNING FROM MOVIES AS A WRITER WORK?

It requires you to know ahead of time what will happen. If you are the type that hates to know what will happen first, then watch the movie first to enjoy it as a viewer. Then you can go onto the next section where I talk about the process:

Look up the movie on Wikipedia. Most movies have a full pages with all the information about who wrote it, produced it, directed it and starred in it. It also has a section called Plot. Read the Plot before watching the movie.

Knowing the plot ahead of time doesn't ruin the movie for me because it allows me to watch the movie as a viewer but to also watch for how the writer and director choose to dramatize the action of the plot. You will learn how they do foreshadowing, how they create red herrings, how they hide the true culprit.

You will also learn about tropes. For example. I've been watching Hammer Horror movies from the 1960s and they all have gothic settings. Every gothic movie has the carriage and horses. They all have the castles and fog. THey all have the candelabras. These are the tropes that readers and watchers want. Some tropes never get old.

As the plot unfolds, you can see how it all comes together and how they placed and showcased the final clue or the comeuppance or the final chase, etc. I find this so helpful in seeing the story elements handled by the script writers and the directors.

paragraphs describing this WHILE describing an imaginary character interacting in this setting.

TAKE THE EXPERIENCE ONE STEP FURTHER:

If you are watching the movie on a computer, take a screen shot of a scene and then set up an imaginary happenstance that occurs in this setting. Describe the setting in words, attempting to capture the essence of what you saw on film. Doing this a few times will help you get better and better in describing backgrounds and scene settings.

This type of experience can even lead to an actual short story. Just think up what type of problem could go wrong in this setting and take it from there.

10 Minute Exercise - Watch the first ten minutes of any movie or TV show to see how much background and personality info is dumped just by the background, music and setting. Every movie or show assumes viewers are starting out in the dark. There is always a lot of good ideas in the first 10 minutes of a movie on how to convey information from background and props without dialogue or info dumping.

How to Research & Prepare to Order a Book Cover from Fiverr

IT'S EASY BUT REQUIRES PREPARATION:

In this blog post and video, which I will post below, I'm going to go over all the steps you should take in preparing to contact an artist at Fiverr to purchase an eBook cover. These tips will be helpful to both those who have money to publish but no time and also those on a shoestring budget.

It's all about organizing your thoughts, your examples, and asking for exactly what you want. That's what this blog and video will be all about.

FIRST STEP IS TO FIND A SIMILAR BOOK TO YOURS AND/OR ONE AMAZON CATEGORY.

I'll use my own book entitled Darius - A Vampire Story as a reference. Although the story in Darius is a modern-day contemporary story and differs greatly from the classic Dracula story, the 'low fantasy elements' like the vampire powers and magic rules are about the same. My book also has references to sex but nothing happens on the page. That is true of Dracula as well. So that's why I have chosen Dracula as my 'guiding light' book.

I go over more in the video what a 'guiding light' book is, but it almost speaks for itself. It's at least one book you are sure would fit with your book. In other words, the same readership that likes your guiding light book, those readers would most likely like your book too.

The first goal is to find the three best categories at Amazon.com. It sounds easier than it is because there are now dozens and dozens of subcategories and new genres everyday. So a little research is needed to make sure you choose the best three categories for your book and this choice will also dictate what your book cover should look like.

GENRES AND SUBGENRES:

All Fantasy books contain make believe and magical powers but the subgenres differ from one another in many ways. I have an infographic that notes what the subgenres have in common and what the names of the most popular subgenres are and how they are different from each other. If you want a copy of this, you can download it here.

If you can pick out your fantasy genre from this list, you can start there. If your book is other than a fantasy book, continue reading as I will show you how to use AI to find your categories.

HOW TO USE AI TO FIND CATEGORIES:

ONE TECHNIQUE:

You can start with a guiding light book, or a solid category. I use gemini.google.com as my go-to ai tool. I've used it several times regarding best sellers and also book categories and it's surprisingly quick and knowledgeable. Go to gemini.google.com and type right into the prompt box and then enter. I'll post three example prompts below:

Can you create a list of the top ten low fantasy vampire books like Dracula?
Can you create a list of the top ten cozy fantasy books? Please include all classics in the list.
Amazon has a book category called Occult Fiction. How is this different from Low Fantasy and Cozy Fantasy?

SECOND TECHNIQUE:

It's possible to also write up a short but concise outline description of your book and ask Gemini to suggest the top 3 categories at Amazon for your book. This may be easier for you.

Either technique will work.

Another tip I can pass on is that if you choose a classic as a guiding light book, or a popular book that has been professionally published, by analyzing those books and seeing where they are positioned, in a way you are getting the advantage of the marketing department that is behind this bestseller. The publishing companies have a marketing department and they work all day positioning books. By watching those bestsellers, you can profit, so to speak, from all of their education and know-how.

THE PROCEDURE:

STEP ONE: Start researching the books you find using AI or using the keywords for your category. Open each book and scroll down to see what categories the book is listed in. You will see categories you have never heard of and didn't know existed. If you think the category would be a good fit for you book, click on the link and it will open an Amazon Best Seller's List in that sub-category.

This Bestseller list will give you a scrolling view of what kinds of books are positioned in this category. It will also give you a lot of information about what kind of book covers are popular in that subcategory. Pay particular attention to the colors used, are there more popular colors than others? For example, in Gothic Fiction, black and red are dominant colors as are gothic fonts. Make note of these.

As a new writer, it is tempting to want to have a "scene" on the front of the book that will represent the story, but this can be a newbie trap. It's better to have a book cover that fits the category than one that is in your favorite colors with too much action going on. You will see what I mean when you do this research.

STEP TWO: Keep notes on the names of books you find that are similar to yours. Keep notes on any categories you feel are a good fit for your book. Remember, in this process you are looking for best categories and you are also finding 3 or 4 book cover designs that you want to use as examples for the Fiverr artist.

Just a word of caution about not taking notes. You will not be able to use your memory only. By the time you open several books and categories, you will not be able to keep them all straight, so take notes!

GATHER EVERYTHING TOGETHER:

Try to put all the pictures of the books on one page. You can do this in Word. If this seems like too much work, you can save the inspirational covers and keep them all in a folder so you can upload them to your fiverr Request.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FONTS:

I go into details in the video below about why it's important to know which font you want to use. If you hire a Fiverr person today to make a book cover for you for $50, when you go back for a change in two months, or you have another book in the series, his or her prices could have skyrocketed. They only start out at $5.00. This happened to me and I always make it a rule to choose my own font.

Here are three websites that have free fonts:

fonts.google.com - they are all free.
dafont.com - These are more advanced fonts, at least in the gothic style, but only some are 100% free. You need to check the small print.
elements.envato.com - This website is one that I subscribe to, but I believe you can make one-time purchases from them. They have very fancy fonts.

THE FIVER APPROACH:

Here's what you should have:

One sheet of pictures of books you like and what you like about them. For example: The top 3 I like the format, the layout. Numbers 4 and 5, I like the atmosphere, the mood of the artwork. Number 6 and 7, I like the shadows in this book cover. And the last one has a font that I love.
Then give them a short synopsis of the book so they are on the same page as you.
Give them the exact three categories the books will be in and tell them it's important that your book fit within these three categories.
Give them the name of the font you want to use and where to get it. If it costs money, then you can purchase it and upload the zip file that you will get upon purchase.
Give the artist plenty of time so you don't get a rushed order.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE: I want an eBook image that is 1600 pixels by 2560 pixels in 300 dpi delivered in a svg file with 3 revisions. I want it to be similar to the pictures submitted and according to my written specifications.

Be aware that an artist can create any artwork in 300 dpi with as much ease as in 72 dpi. It's only the change of the settings when they start. So don't allow them to intimidate you or tell you that will cost more money. I've never had this happen, mind you, but I just throw it out there as a protection. I have had nothing but good results working with artists and technicians at Fiverr.

HERE'S A VIDEO THAT COVERS A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION THAN THE BLOG POST:

Book Genres – Cozy Fantasy – Magical Realism – Historical Fantasy

In our last installment, we covered the top three book genres: Urban, Dark and Grim Dark Fantasy. Now we will drill down into the Fantasy sub-genre categories.

As stated in previous installments on learning the various sub-genres, knowing all the categories and what makes them different from one another will help you either find the very books you love to read. Or if you are an author, it will help you find the best genre to position your book in the marketplace.

And if you are looking to 'write to market' as some authors do, knowing the expectations and subtle differences between the various genres can help you zero in on what expectations your readership will have.

💥💥 COZY FANTASY 💥💥

Cozy Fantasy is a new sub-genre that was not a thing when bookstores were popular. They are fantasy books but are lighter and less dark. There's often murder and/or other mishaps, but the level of horror is non-existent. Often the story is told with tongue in cheek or a whimsical narration.

Unlike Dark Fantasy or Grim Dark, the characters in a Cozy Fantasy may be flawed but they generally have good hearts. There may be problems being wrestled with, but there is aren't any mean and wretched Charles Dickins like characters. The stories have a general feeling of warmth.

Cozy fantasies are also low stakes stories with small-town charm. There is more focus on interpersonal relationships than elaborate or complicated plotlines. The stories often iinvolves magical elements but in a gentle, inviting or playful way.

They (almost) always have a happy and satisfying ending. Law and order and goodness win the day.

A few classics that would fit under the category of Cozy Fantasy:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: While primarily a children's book, it features elements of magic, healing, and a strong sense of community, aligning with Cozy Fantasy themes.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: This classic novel offers a warm and comforting story focused on family and personal growth, with a touch of magical realism in its depiction of dreams and aspirations.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: This heartwarming tale of community and friendship, set in post-war Guernsey, evokes a cozy atmosphere and gentle magic.

💥💥 MAGICAL REALISM 💥💥

Magical Realism is a newer subgenre too. Magical realism are low fantasy stories as they are rooted in our own world with only one or two fantastical elements -- usually at least one form of magic. They take place in an often-recognizable place and the contemporary world.

Books written in the magical realism genre mix a fictional narrative with a little magic. The elements of magic are often introduced into the story without explanation. Characters often react to magical events with indifference or normalcy.

These stories are more realistic than fantasy and this is why often these books are also contained within the literature & fiction category as well.

Although the stories contain a little magic, the narratives are serious and the stories themselves are very realistic. It is a blend of realistic narrative and fantastical elements often presenting them in a matter-of-fact manner. They tend to blur the line between fantasy and reality, creating a sense of wonder and/or disorientation.

While Cozy Fantasy and Low Fantasy also blend magic and reality, Magical Realism is more focused on the unsettling or surreal aspect of the magical elements, often with a sense of underlying mystery or unease.

Three magical realism classics:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez: A seminal work of Magical Realism, this novel seamlessly blends fantastical elements into a realistic narrative, creating a rich and unforgettable world.
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel: This popular novel combines magical realism with a coming-of-age story, exploring themes of love, loss, and family with a touch of the extraordinary.
Beloved by Toni Morrison: While primarily a historical novel, Morrison incorporates elements of magical realism, particularly in its depiction of Sethe's character and her relationship with her deceased daughter.

💥💥 HISTORICAL FANTASY 💥💥

Historical Fantasy blends historical fiction with fantastical elements, creating a narrative set in a specific historical period such as medieval Europe, ancient Rome, or the Victorian era, with magic, mythical creatures, or other supernatural elements. It strives for historical accuracy as it weaves the magical elements and creatures throughout.

It differs from High Fantasy by grounding the story in a recognizable historical context.

Three classic Historical Fantasy books:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke: This novel is set in early 19th century England, a time when magic is believed to be lost. Two magicians emerge, bringing magic back into the world, but with unexpected consequences. This book masterfully intertwines historical events with magical realism.
The Once and Future King by T.H. White: Although often categorized as Arthurian legend, this retelling of the King Arthur story incorporates elements of fantasy and magic. The novel explores the life of Arthur from childhood to his reign, blending historical figures with mythical creatures and magical occurrences.
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker: This book takes place in late 19th century New York City. It follows the stories of a Golem, a creature of Jewish mythology, and a Jinni, a spirit from Arabian folklore, as they navigate the challenges of their new world. This novel beautifully blends historical fiction with magical realism.

💥💥 ROMANTASY 💥💥

Romantasy is a blend of romance and fantasy genres, where the romantic relationship is as central to the plot as the fantastical elements. It often features strong female protagonists, complex love interests, and immersive fantasy worlds. Equal emphasis is placed on romance and fantasy; in other words, both elements are integral to the story, with neither taking a backseat.

These stories are similar to high or epic fantasy in that they can have a richly detailed fantasy world, but there is as much emphasis put onto the romance. The romance is not just a subplot.

It can be a little harder to isolate three actual romantasy books as this genre is almost too new. But I will list three classics that no one would argue with:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: While primarily a gothic romance, this novel incorporates supernatural elements and a passionate, tumultuous love story that echoes the intensity often found in romantasy.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Though not overtly fantastical, Austen's wit and sharp social commentary, combined with the complex romantic relationships, align with some romantasy tropes. It's a classic example of a love story set against a rich social backdrop, a common element in the genre.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett:While primarily a children's book, it features elements of magic, mystery, and transformation, often present in romantasy. The blossoming of the garden mirrors the characters' personal growth and the budding romance.

💥💥 STEAMPUNK FANTASY 💥💥

Steampunk Fantasy is also a more modern 'separate book genre'. The classics I list below have been around for sometime and lived under either the general Science Fiction category or historical fiction, depending upon how much Victorian history the story contained versus how much science fiction it contained. .

Steampunk is similar to Urban fantasy but has the addition of Victorian-era technology, in particular, steam and steam-technology. What fog and forests are to gothic books, steam and steam-based technology are to Steampunk. They tend to also add some narrative about Victorian era industrialism, either good or bad. It combines historical events, science fiction and fantasy elements. Stories are usually set within the 19th century or a similar era.

Three classic books are:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: This classic adventure novel features advanced technology and underwater exploration, elements often found in Steampunk.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells: Though primarily a science fiction novel, it explores themes of technology and time travel that resonate with Steampunk aesthetics.
From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne: Another Verne classic, this novel showcases imaginative technology and space exploration, aligning with Steampunk's fascination with invention.

💥💥 HOPE PUNK FANTASY 💥💥

A new subgenre for those who like the steampunk aesthetic and/or urban fantasy, Hope Punk Fantasy contains these elements but without all the hopelessness or grim outlook. The story is more hope and/or happiness based.

These books are popular Hopepunk although not quite as old as some of the other cited classics:

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers: This novel beautifully captures the essence of Hope Punk with its focus on community, healing, and environmentalism. It presents a hopeful vision of a future where robots and humans coexist peacefully.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers: Another work by Chambers, this novel explores themes of diversity, acceptance, and cooperation, creating a sense of optimism in a challenging universe.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: Although not explicitly labeled Hope Punk, this novel showcases themes of resilience, empathy, and building community in the face of adversity, aligning with the genre's core values.

While these works might not be considered classic bestsellers in the traditional sense, they are influential and widely acclaimed examples of contemporary Hope Punk literature.

Writers Research – How Crime Actually Works

WHAT EVERY AUTHOR SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HOW EACH CRIMINAL ENTERPRIZE WORKS:

Book Review and Crossword – The Indian Fan by Victoria Holt

DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON.com:

A gothic thriller full of romance, murder, and mayhem. It begins with a priceless heirloom that turns into a horrible curse…

A parson’s daughter, Druscilla Delaney is enthralled by her wealthy, glamorous neighbors—the Framlings—and their handsome son, Fabian. They gift her a priceless heirloom, a beautiful fan, but what happens when this fan turns into a curse? Everything changes.

Beautiful as its peacock feathers may be, the fan hidden deep in the Framling mansion has a legacy of death and destruction. Druscilla has no idea she’s been marked by it. Her life is in danger.

Will the fan’s dark past prove less of a danger than Fabian Framling himself though? Dark, brooding, and dominating, could he be the one to save her from the fan’s cruel fate or do the opposite: cause her death?

Including elements of historical romance and romantic suspense, The India Fan is a spellbinding tale from the Queen of Gothic Romance. Fast paced and gripping for fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Stewart, and Daphne Du Maurier.

“A mesmerizing story of blackmail, romance, and deception.”—Associated Press

REVIEW AS A READER:

cartoon-cat-reading-chillin I purchased this book based on reading another of Victoria Holt’s books. I wasn’t instantly in love with this book but the author’s writing style is so beautiful, that alone kept me going. However, I slowly fell in love with the characters — but not because they were great people, most of them were flawed in one way or another. I fell in love with the story itself and how it all unfolded to the main character, Drusilla.

Although this was not a classic gothic story, it was a story about aristocrats and the working class, the differences between them, and how it affects everyone involved in the story. So it had a gothic feel to it because there was a mystery or two that laced all the way through the story.

The story contained a few historical elements but only in a general way. The drama took place at a time when the British ruled India and the Indians had enough of it. There was tension in the air and this added to the suspense of the book. Without too much dry historical information, the conflict between the two sides played out in the drama among and between all of the characters. It’s a story wasn’t political at all. It explained only in a cursory way both sides of the conflict. Ms. Holt presented the story from characters on both sides of the conflict.

This was a family saga. The narrative took place over half a lifetime, and the characters grew and changed within the changing drama. There were two love interests on Drusilla’s mind and it wasn’t revealed which way she would go until the last few pages. I was guessing the entire way through.

This is the third book I’ve read by Victoria Hold. The book was as beautifully written as the other two. The story is filled with interesting characters right out of Hollywood. The narrative was gripping, suspenseful, mysterious and hauntingly sad at certain times. I absolutely loved this book and I would give it 5 stars and will read it again I’m sure.

MY REVIEW AS AN AUTHOR:

I learned quite a bit as an author from this novel. I didn’t realize it would be a saga when I picked it up but the story was so riveting that it went fast. It wasn’t until about three-quarters of the way through the book that I realized the story had covered decades of time.

It was interesting and enlightening to see how Ms. Holt handled the passage of time. She cleverly and sometimes casually mentioned the passage of a few years here and there, and the story continued its natural flow.

The story was also broken into sections that made it easier for the reader to remember where the drama was taking place. There was a section called India; and then another section titled England when they returned. Even if a reader put the book down, it would have been easy to figure out where everyone was with a flip of a few pages.

Ms. Holt had a way of adding just enough historical information to enrich the story and yet, not enough to call this a historical fiction. This was a big eye opener. I’m so used to reading these big research dumps in fiction that I was surprised but pleased by Victoria Holt’s brevity. She used no real dates or formal event names. There was only a passing mention of what was in the air around them and how it was affecting everyone. As an author, I stood in awe of her ability to write with this type of know-how and flair.

HOW I KEEP TRACK AS AN AUTHOR:

I wanted to pass on my technique in case this blog post is being read by other authors. I would love to hear other authors’ reviews of books as a reader and author.

I read on the Kindle app on a 10 inch tablet. I use the yellow highlighter to underscore any character names, story-changing action and anything else I want to remember. Then I use my blue highlighter as a author to highlight my favorite turn of phrases, which I will post below. I use blue to also keep track of any words or historical terms I want to note in a large file I’ve been nursing lately.

Reading in the kindle app allows you to look up any word that comes up that’s unfamiliar. I love this technology and I highlight in blue if I want to make sure I put this on my list of words to learn and yellow if I manage to add a note with the definition if it’s only a word or two.

Occasionally, I will use my orange highlighter to point out something that is unusual about the book or a section I want to make a note about or revisit after I finish the book. This allows me to go back and take the time to see what captured my attention during the read and take another look after I finish the story.

ANOTHER EXERCISE I THINK IS HELPFUL:

I plan to write a bit more gothic romance myself when I’m done with my present book – the fifth and final book in my Newport Vampire Series. As I read through gothic books at this time, I’m keeping a running list of architectural terms, castle-part terms, gothic atmospheric terms, anything that I may want to reference as I enter into this new area of writing.

I would love to know if anyone else does this!

I’ve already rated the book five stars as a reader and I would also rate this book as a five star as an author read. It is a great book to see how an author adds history to enrich the story, how to handle the passage of time, character development, how to present a decade’s long family saga and more. So if you’re just breaking into the gothic romance area or you want to see the difference between adding a little history verses writing an actual historical novel, this is great choice.

MY FAVORITE TURN OF PHRASES:

She was spoken of in hushed whispers as though those who mentioned her feared they might be taking her name in vain; in my youthful mind she ranked with the Queen and was second only to God.
I looked fearfully at the portraits. They seemed like real people regarding me severely for having trespassed into their domain. This shows the author giving the pictures a personality while passing over background information.
There was a lump in my throat. I did not cry. Crying for me was for lighter emotions. Something within me was deeply hurt and I believed that the wound would be with me forever.
She did not mention Him because he was dead, and when people died, I realized, their sins were washed away by the all-important respect.
It was what is referred to as the cockney spirit; and it certainly seemed to be a product of the streets of London.
She had small hands and feet and sailed rather than walked, her voluminous skirt making a gentle swishing noise as she moved.
I thought of a sharp retort, but I spoke gently, for there is something more than ordinarily pathetic about the arrogant when they are brought low. I was looking at a very frightened girl, as well she might be.
It was a bitter blow to my pride rather than to my deep emotions.
He looked at me rather conspiratorially . . .
. . . poor old man who seemed nothing but rags and bones.
Often great beauty will disguise emptiness and sometimes evil.
Then there was a shattering explosion. [spoiler removal] threw up his hands. I heard the knife fall to the ground; he reeled drunkenly before he collapsed in a heap at my feet.The fact that we were women and children and elderly people would not save us. This was a war against a race, not against individual people.

CROSSWORD BASED ON THE INDIA FAN BY VICTORIA HOLT

Crossword-Indian-Fan-Victoria-Holt Click here to do the crossword puzzle online

Click here to download the crossword, the clues and the answers as a pdf from Google Drive

Book Genres – Urban Fantasy – Dark Fantasy – Grim Dark Fantasy

In our last installment, we covered the top three book genres: High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy and Low Fantasy. Now we will drill down into the Fantasy sub-genre categories.

If you're a reader, knowing all the categories and what makes them different from one another will help you find the very books you love to read. As an author, it will help you find the best genre to position your book in the marketplace.

💥💥 Urban Fantasy 💥💥

Urban Fantasy is similar to Low Fantasy with one or two exceptions. One exception is the setting. The story takes place in our world and in a modern city setting. It can be at another time in the past or in the future, but it takes place on Earth in a city.

Urban Fantasy blends the mundane with the magical, setting fantastical elements within a modern urban environment. It often explores the hidden world of supernatural beings coexisting with humans.

The other difference between low fantasy and urban fantasy is that the environment and characters are grittier, edgier and tougher. Low Fantasy takes place in secluded environments like castles, or rural or suburban environments so the world can be almost fairytale like. Urban fantasy takes place in the bustle and grit of a city.

What distinguishes Urban Fantasy from Low Fantasy is there is a grittier environment and there can be violence. The characters are more human, grittier and they can be morally ambiguous.

Three books that are examples of Urban Fantasy are:

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher: This series is a modern classic of Urban Fantasy, featuring a private investigator with magical abilities in a contemporary setting.
Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton: A popular series blending romance, horror, and fantasy in a modern urban setting.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman: While not strictly Urban Fantasy, it explores the coexistence of old and new gods in modern America, blurring the lines between myth and reality.

💥💥 Dark Fantasy 💥💥

Dark Fantasy is a subgenre of the Low fantasy genre. Dark Fantasy blends elements of fantasy with horror, with more of an emphasis on the horror aspects. Think Cinderella vs. Dracula. This genre explores themes of darkness, supernatural elements such as magic, ghosts, vampires, werewolves and other fantastical creatures who enter our world.

There is also a focus on the psychological, how this is affecting one or more characters in the story. Due to the emphasis on horror, there is an underlying sense of fear, unease and dread running through the story. These stories tend to focus on the darker aspects of the human psyche; think accidental manslaughter vs. Jack the Ripper.

Characters often face internal struggles, psychological struggles, madness, or obsession. Magic, demons, ghosts, or otherworldly creatures are common in this genre.

Ambiguous morality: The lines between good and evil can often be blurred, although not always. Sometimes good wins out, but in dark fantasy, you can't count on it.

These stories also takes place in our world, but unlike urban fantasy, they usually take place in secluded environments like castles, forests, rural or isolated settings.

Three examples of Dark Fantasy:

Dracula by Bram Stoker: A quintessential work of Gothic horror, Dracula blends elements of horror and romance, creating a dark and atmospheric tale.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: While often classified as a psychological horror novel, it incorporates supernatural elements and explores the darker aspects of human nature, aligning with Dark Fantasy themes.
The Shining by Stephen King: Though primarily a horror novel, The Shining delves into psychological horror and explores the supernatural, making it a strong example of Dark Fantasy.

💥💥 Grim Dark Fantasy 💥💥

Grim Dark Fantasy is a rather new genre and it is a sub-genre of Dark Fantasy. What distinguishes a grim dark fantasy from a garden-variety dark fantasy is that the world it takes place in is bleak, often violent and brutal. There can be gore alongside the horror in this genre too.

This genre always focuses on morally-ambiguous characters, anti-heroes and it can be an environment where evil triumphs. There's no promise of a happy ending. Grim Dark fantasy also has a cynical voice running through the narrative, a hopelessness, even despair.

Three books that fall into this category are:

The Black Company by Glen Cook: Often cited as a foundational work in the Grimdark genre, this series features anti-heroes, morally ambiguous characters, and a gritty, cynical world.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin: Though not exclusively Grimdark, Martin's series showcases many Grimdark elements with its morally complex characters, brutal violence, and bleak worldview.
The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie: A modern classic of Grimdark, this series is renowned for its anti-heroes, dark humor, and unflinching portrayal of war and its consequences.