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Based on my most recent review, apparently my book, Cyberdrome, is in the wrong genre: Instead of "Science Fiction Thriller" it should be "Science Fiction Romance" because there is a love story involved and my protagonist told his ex-girlfriend, "I never stopped loving you." Okay, when it is brought to my attention, it does sound a little cliché, but hey, it's 5 words out of 90,000--I don't think it should define the book. 
Anyway, I'm not here to trash the review, but actually to use it to bring up a pertinent point. Choosing your genre, sub-genre, or cross-genre is a fairly important decision that many of us Indies (myself included) probably make without giving it much thought. I didn't choose high-tech science fiction, and scifi thriller because I studied what was selling best, I just guessed that they matched my book's general themes and went with it.
However, this particular reviewer's comments reminded me that while I have always aimed my promotions, book covers, and descriptions, towards the hard-scifi, predominately male demographic, the majority of my real "fans" (based on reviews and lots of emails) have all been women. So maybe I need to either rethink my genre-placement for the next book, or reconsider who my audience is. I did write Cyberdrome as a love story in a believable science fiction background, and maybe I need to admit that the love story part of it is more appealing, and start talking to a different audience.
So, what about you? Is there a chance your book is in the wrong genre? Might it sell better, or get better reviews in another?
Anyway, I'm not here to trash the review, but actually to use it to bring up a pertinent point. Choosing your genre, sub-genre, or cross-genre is a fairly important decision that many of us Indies (myself included) probably make without giving it much thought. I didn't choose high-tech science fiction, and scifi thriller because I studied what was selling best, I just guessed that they matched my book's general themes and went with it.
However, this particular reviewer's comments reminded me that while I have always aimed my promotions, book covers, and descriptions, towards the hard-scifi, predominately male demographic, the majority of my real "fans" (based on reviews and lots of emails) have all been women. So maybe I need to either rethink my genre-placement for the next book, or reconsider who my audience is. I did write Cyberdrome as a love story in a believable science fiction background, and maybe I need to admit that the love story part of it is more appealing, and start talking to a different audience.
So, what about you? Is there a chance your book is in the wrong genre? Might it sell better, or get better reviews in another?