Labeling genres, sub-genres and… yikes you could have mentioned there was Mpreg… O.o

Labeling genres, sub-genres and… yikes you could have mentioned there was Mpreg… O.o

So I bought this book on impulse during Rainbow Con after having shared a panel with the author. The Story, as described to me, interested me so I grabbed it up. Now, I haven’t actually gotten the chance to read it yet, (Such is the case with a hundred other recently purchased books). But I was just on Amazon and the same books floated past my screen and there’s this sudden adjustment to the title.

It’s Mpreg.

A factor that never at any time was mentioned, described or brought up about the book previously. It also was never listed in the book’s sub-genre or blurb. Now, I know there are lots of readers who are just nuts over this type story and they scoop them up as quickly as they hit the book stores. And that’s all fine and dandy. But for me it’s a huge ICK factor. I just CAN’T! And before anyone jumps my shit about this, I can’t do girl-preg either. In fact, I don’t want to read anything remotely prego.

Again, this my opinion of what I like and don’t like and this is just YUCK. It’s not about the quality of the book’s story. Like I said, I haven’t read it. But now I CANT read it. And I feel duped because I have purchased something that I cannot attempt to enjoy.

I’ve seen discussions often of varying topics over labeling warnings, and authors fall to one side or another about adding them or skirting to avoid having too many. But what about labeling genres and sub-genres? I’ve seen comments before from some about:

“Why can’t we just say it’s a book and drop all the genre labels?”

—Sorry, but that’s like the most moronic question ever. Try telling a vegan to just order something off the menu that only has a number and no foody details and see how well THAT goes over. (Brace yourselves… the 1 star reviews are coming)

For me, I tack on quite a few main & sub genre labels on my books and include them in the blurb wherever my books are listed. Some of my past sub-genres listings have included labels such as:

Gay or MM (if it has both its kinda on the fence between the two) / mature men / war-time Romance / Erotic Romance /  Sport Theme /  Dystopia / Bdsm  / Adult Content (this usually means the book is not geared toward erotica or romance but may still contain adult content) / Adventure / Artist Theme / Blue-Collar

I choose to do this so readers know what they are picking up. I find it helpful to let them know, so they can better find the stories they are in the mood for at that time. It has also dropped the returns down to next to nothing. Sometimes I have seen authors list HEA in the genres, they hate to give ity away but if an author’s main reader audience are sticklers for that, its best to go ahead and hand that dish over.

For me, Mpreg should have been listed from the get go. I don’t mind buying books. Sometimes I buy them knowing I’ll likely never get around to reading them, but do so to show support. Yet there is always that underlining that I might still get around to reading it one day. What I don’t like is buying something I won’t ever touch. I could have bought a different book from the same author and showed support that way.

I guess my point I am wanting to get to and not just ranting is… When you are about to publish your next book, consider this… some readers are allergic to peanuts… some LOVE peanuts. So it’s best to label your book to show if there are peanuts in the ingredients. This way you get more peanut lovers buying your book and fewer peanut haters wishing they could return it.

 

HAPPY READING