Crossover novelsAnd what about marketing to the public? Here you need to coor-
dinate carefully with your publisher. In all likelihood, you will con-
tinue to push your book in one category and let other readers dis-
cover it. That is what happened to a science fiction author that I rep-
resent, Richard Bowker. His great post-holocaust detective novel,
Dover Beach, was published as science fiction and sold mostly to sci-
ence fiction fans—or so we thought.
Only later did we discover that mystery readers had found it, too:
the Drood Review's annual reader poll ranked it one of the ten best
mysteries of the year, along with books by Tony Hillerman, Sara
Paretsky, Jonathan Kellerman, and James Ellroy.
Surprise!
Overall, though, be aware that crossover novels present martv
pitfalls. They can be slow to find their audience, and that can be
dangerous in today's unforgiving publishing climate.
I doubt that today many novels would be allowed the long ges-
tation period given the crossover novel whose plot I described at
the top of this chapter... you remember, the one in which Satan
hires a private eye? That is Falling hngel by William Hjortsberg.
The novel did not have an easy time of it. It was underappreciat-
ed when first published in the late seventies, and was slow to be
reprinted. A few people today remember that it was the basis for the
blood-soaked, nearly X-rated movie with Mickey Rourke called Angel
Heart, but mostly when I mention it, people say, "Wow, it sounds
good. Why have I never heard of it?"
So, new crossover writers, be bold but beware. You have a daunt-
ing task ahead of you. Think hard in advance about the problems
you will face, and plan solutions. If you do, you may have a shot at
success.