It’s a Brave New World–For Women:
I call it FemFic
I want a new category on Amazon that more accurately reflects the changes afoot in our ideation of a woman’s place in the world. In order to do this, I feel I have to branch out in my writing and create stories in genres that are typically male-dominated. Women need in a voice in those, too. Thus, I will be adding this new tag to all my books.
I call it #FemFic. I hope all of you in the Twitterverse will use it, too–help get it going. IF it can gain traction, i will petition Amazon to include it in their categories, so readers looking for this sort of story, will easily find it.
FemFic is distinguished by feminism. (“The radical notion that women are people.”) A classification free of the usual formulas that the less evolved members of society wishes us to focus upon.
It’s a macrocosm in which we see modern women, living their lives, facing obstacles and challenges, but persevering, as in, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” All of my novels, regardless of genre, contain this one theme.
I didn’t have very many good role models in my life, but rather than mimic the shrinking violet behaviors and discernment I was shown, I created my own philosophy. My own golden rules. Compassion is key. Integrity is key. Surviving is key.
It was inevitable that I would imbue my fictional female characters with this sensibility, and so that’s what I offer you, dear reader. Women you can look up to, women who inspire you, but who aren’t comic book heroes. Women who can cry and struggle and fall but still get up again, and still do what needs to be done. Putting one foot in front of the other and never doubting the power of the human spirit; the strength that resides in the female gender.
I’m excited about my new works in progress. Currently, I’m focused on Apocalyptic Women: All Bets Are Off). It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a surge of joy at writing the story of these women who have all the usual personal challenges, but on top of it, have to survive after a catastrophic event that sets off chaos in America. It’s about the bonds of friendship and family–whether biological or extended. It’s about digging deep to find strength, when it’s easier to just give in. In it, I will illustrate how strong women can be, and how we can stand together against overwhelming odds.
And the second in the Samegender Chronicles, TerraNeo, which is far more than just another colonization story. It’s about choices and strength, and fighting for what’s right, for what we dream of, no matter how hard it is.
No matter what setting I place my characters into, my focus is always on relationships and the human spirit. I hope you, Dear Reader, will join me in this new chapter of my journey as an ever-evolving author and be inspired by the women I bring you.
Hi,
Glad you’ve had such success as a self-publisher. But I can’t understand why you would use “chick lit”? It’s such an asinine, deurogatory term. It’s like referring to James Baldwin as “n-word lit”. When you call yourself by the slurs your oppressor (White Men) uses, you are saying their bigotry is valid, it’s not.
Read this: https://heartseamonkeys.blogspot.com/2009/08/dick-lit.html
I call my stories what they are: literature, stories, fiction.
Ursula LeGuin said something about ‘why wall yourself up inside a ghetto when you’re already in one?’
Don’t make it any easier for misogynists in fiction literature than it already is. Keep your work hard-to-define fiction. Don’t volunteer to be put in a box.
https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B014LTU49W/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1485118251&sr=1-2-ent&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true
I agree with some of what you say. After giving it more thought, i have changed that hashtag/genre to #FemFic and am pushing that.