Fri. May 2, 2025 - See Previous Newsletters

The genre labels that you see on books often cause more harm than good.

Back in 1994, when I was struggling to write my first novel, a friend asked me to go see The Shawshank Redemption. The movie had just been released, and I knew almost nothing about it, only that it was a “prison break” type film and was supposed to be good.

After the first ten minutes or so, I leaned over and whispered to my friend, “This feels like Stephen King.” At that moment, I had no idea that the movie was based on a Stephen King story. At the end, when I learned this fact, I was stunned.

I had always thought of Stephen King as a horror writer, yet I had just experienced one of his stories in a different genre—the prison break genre. It was fantastic, every bit as good as his horror stories. Not only that, it had a strong Stephen King vibe that I immediately recognized as his and his alone. That was a key element of what made it a great movie and not just another prison break film.

This led to an epiphany:

The best writers create their own genres.

Exactly the same thing happens in the music field. Fortunately, with music, people don’t pay that much attention to genres. Take The Beatles, for example. Technically, they are classified as a “rock” band, the same way Stephen King is classified as a “horror” writer.

But is that accurate? Were The Beatles a rock band? Is Hey Jude a rock song?Yesterday? Let It Be? Blackbird?

You may find it interesting to know that Eleanor Rigby (“All the lonely people”) is technically classified as “baroque chamber music.” I kid you not.

Let It Be is classified as gospel. Blackbird: a folk ballad.

Those labels are inaccurate. All these tunes are Beatles music, first and foremost.  The songs belong to the totally unique genre that four talented guys from Liverpool created for themselves. Eleanor Rigby isn’t actually baroque chamber music—it’s Beatles music that has the flavor of baroque chamber music. The same goes for all of their non-rock songs.

Just imagine if Beatles fans had paid close attention to genre classifications. “Baroque chamber music? I'll pass.” Millions of people would have never discovered the iconic Eleanor Rigby.

So here's my challenge to you:

Read novels the way you listen to music.

Don’t let a misleading label stop you from discovering something powerful, moving, or unforgettable. If you like a given writer, try all their work—even in genres you don’t usually explore.

If you like my voice, my style, my ride—then trust me, not the label. 

Give Blob a shot. Or Baby Talk. Or Renata’s Revenge. 

Let the story pull you in—not the bookstore shelf label.
 

Blob

Speaking of Blob, new chapters of this romantic sci-fi political action-adventure suspense thriller (ha ha) will be posted tomorrow.  Read the novel free here, serially, until it is officially published.

Video Teasers

I've been cranking out more video book teasers to try to attract new readers. Much to my surprise, one of the recent posts about Renata's Revenge snagged 45,000 views on TikTok and had more than 500 comments.  That's far more reach than I've ever had on any social media platform before with a single post.  And the video only 5 seconds long.

Take a look (you can also watch it on YouTube):

Have a great weekend!

Mike

P.S. Have you read all my books?

Catch Up on the Lust, Money & Murder Series With

These Discounted Trilogy Boxed Sets

More 'Unputdownable' Books by Mike Wells
(Click on the photos for full synopses)

International Crime Thriller - Lust, Money & Murder (Series)
The deeper she goes, the more she risks becoming a criminal herself.

International Crime Thriller - Outback Diamonds
In the Outback, trust is the most valuable gem of all.

International Crime Thriller - Marilyn's Secret Lipstick
The past never stays buried.

Crime/Psychological Thriller
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Crime Thriller - The Drive-By Wife
Takes "home invasion" to an entirely new level.

Crime Thriller - Renata's Revenge
They. Picked. The. Wrong. Girl.

Crime Thriller/Serial Murders - With Mother's Approval
A mother's love is eternal. For some, it's lethal.

Romantic Suspense - Forbidden (Series)
Temptation has its price.

New Adult Sci-Fi Adventure - Wild Child (Series)
You don't choose the green water...the green water chooses you.

Horror/Black Comedy
Babies always know...and they don't forget.

Technothriller - The Tesla Secret
Unlocking Tesla’s free energy secret could power the world...or end their lives.

Technothriller - Blind Scorpion
He could walk away a hero...but for which country?

YA Sci-Fi Romance - The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer 
Lost in between worlds, will his heart lead him home?

Romantic Comedy - Secrets of the Elusive Lover
He plays the field, but she changes the game.

Coming of Age Suspense - The Wrong Side of the Tracks
First love in the teenage hell known as high school.

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