What genre are the Horizon books? I’m often asked that question, and while they solidly belong on the shelves next to other science fiction novels, they’re actually much more! I first heard the term “space opera” at a pitch slam a few years ago. A pitch slam is like speed dating with agents. The writer gets three minutes, live, in front of an agent, to enthusiastically rattle off all the important facts about her novel, while making it sound so compelling that the agent simply must ask to see the manuscript!
“Ah, you have a space opera,” one agent nodded at me, smiling.
“Yes. Yes I do,” I agreed, and then proceeded to google space-opera at the next break!
Turns out space opera is a sub-genre of sci-fi, hence the “space” part, that also contains elements of warfare, drama, and adventure. Think Star Wars! Horizon and Infinity certainly fall under this category. But even with this added scope, I still struggle to classify the series as such - mostly because I think the story will appeal to readers of many genres, not just sci-fi.
I was once asked to describe my story in ten words, and here’s what I came up with: Science fiction meets romance meets survival fiction meets military thriller! It’s a human story, painted on a science fiction canvas. But to tell it the way I wanted, I had to worry less about genre and more about authentically creating my characters and their worlds. The relationship between Caeli and Derek, the two protagonists, is central to the story. I didn’t want to water it down or put less of a focus on it to please a segment of my audience. On the other hand, I didn’t want to lose or disappoint readers who were counting on a sci-fi action adventure.
Ultimately, my goal is always to tell a good story, and I think readers are willing to give something a try if they believe that’s what they’ll get. So, step aboard the starship Horizon, and join Caeli and Derek as they fight for their lives, their people, and their love. And, please, let me know what you think!