Lessons from my fiction?
Fiction published by the Big Five publishing conglomerates, who now fight over what small number of readers are left, could never be called controversial! First, many of their editors and authors are far from being liberal and are okay with the Big Five trying to appeal to every reader by publishing fiction that’s mainly bland pablum. (I rarely read their books anymore as a consequence.) I doubt that someone like Huxley or Orwell could ever publish anything with them these days where fascism dominates our American lives. Of course, most of those old authors and publishers are greedy and dedicated to making lots of money, so a reader will find all sorts of opinions in the nonfiction books (except in those books written for celebs by ghostwriters).
One obvious positive about being a (mostly) self-published author I’ve enjoyed in my writing career is my freedom to include many plots and themes that no Big Five publisher or author would even consider. My fiction covers social topics like human-, sex-, and drug-trafficking; conspiracies, crimes, and murders; and many fanatical politicians and their policies. I began reading British-style mysteries because of Covid; I continue to do that because those British authors—and a few others, most of them not Americans!—also dare to write about those plots and themes.
One topic that’s often intertwined with those plots and themes is fascism. My campaign against fascism and fascists began with my very first published novel, Full Medical, and hasn’t ended with Fear the Asian Evil, my last published novel (so far). (I’m mostly writing short fiction now and giving it away. A lot of that is anti-fascist too. See the list on the “Free Stuff & Contests” web page at this website.)
Will these plots and themes turn off readers? Undoubtedly some, especially those with far-right and fascist proclivities! In the past, that’s gone from a Midwestern woman who complained about my use of swear words—her email carried the stench of an extreme religious right-wing fanatic—to ardent fascist fanatics—thankfully, no death threats so far. And do I give a damn? Not really! (If it’s any comfort for complaining readers, I have characters who echo their extreme opinions as well. My stories, unlike most published by the Big Five, reflect the reality I observe, not some Big Five editor’s prejudices. And readers have other books to read, including the Big Five’s pablum, if they find mine not to their liking!)
I’m not Superman, but I see my storytelling as one of the only tools I have to fight against what’s wrong in our world. The “fucking moron” in the White House and his horde of MAGA maniacs can try to silence me, but they will fail!
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Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!
