[Many Waters]

Happy Monday, all ya'all.  

"All ya'all" is actually a fairly common phrase when addressing a group of people in the more "rustic" parts of Florida. FYI.

Anyway, I decided to enter my novel into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. My problem is the genre category. Classifying my work into a genre is something I've struggled with a lot.

My novel features elements of historical fiction, mystery, magical realism (which some might call Fantasy), suspense, adventure and even a smattering of confusing words and fancy metaphors that might push it into the realm of literary fiction.  

In the Breakthrough Novel contest, these are the available genre categories: General Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror, and Young Adult Fiction

I'm torn between General Fiction and Mystery/Thriller... General Fiction because my novel covers different genres, or Mystery/Thriller because the plot moves at the pace of a thriller and features a mystery running through the storyline.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Judi Coltman]

This may help
http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,79212.0.html

 

[Satchya]

Well, as an outside observer who has both read and reviewed your book, I'd suggest going with mystery/thriller.

Good luck!

 

[JLH3]

My first thought, from the description you gave, was Mystery/Thriller.  Can't say why, it's just one of those things that fall into the 'you know it when you see it category'.

Although, since I entered in the General Fiction category, I do have some self-interest in trying to steer all other competitors into other genres, leaving General Fiction all to myself.

 

[Many Waters]

Well, as an outside observer who has both read and reviewed your book, I'd suggest going with mystery/thriller.

Good luck!

Thanks, Satchya! I didn't know you read and reviewed the book. Now I will have to try and figure out which review is yours. Given that they've all been pretty good reviews so far, thank you! Unless of course you're that UK reviewer.

Thanks for the genre suggestion. This morning I had it listed in the contest under Mystery/Thriller, and then I changed it to General Fiction, and then I changed it back to Mystery/Thriller. I'm happy I can change it until the contest fills up!

My first thought, from the description you gave, was Mystery/Thriller. Can't say why, it's just one of those things that fall into the 'you know it when you see it category'.

Although, since I entered in the General Fiction category, I do have some self-interest in trying to steer all other competitors into other genres, leaving General Fiction all to myself.

Don't worry, you're safe for now! I think I'll keep it at Mystery/Thriller. I guess my only issue with that genre is it seems to usually make people think of detective stories and novels with a cop or federal agent as the main character. Nothing wrong with novels like that, of course; it's just that mine isn't one of those. But I guess it's a fairly broad genre and maybe mine will stand out a little since it's different.

Whoever entered, I wish you all the best of luck. It would be awesome if someone from this forum wins it.