To change my genre or not to change! By Madelyn Hill

 

As a writer, I’ve always been drawn to research—the thrill of discovering forgotten details, the way a single historical fact can ignite an entire plot. History has always felt like a living thing to me, breathing color and texture into the stories I create. Melding real historical elements with the characters who wander into my imagination has long been my favorite part of writing. It’s where my voice found its home.

But sometimes characters arrive who don’t belong in the centuries they usually inhabit.

 

What happens when a historical writer feels called to create something new?

A few years ago, I started hearing a different kind of whisper that
grew into a shout—not from the rugged Highlands or Highlanders or centuries-old castles, but from characters who didn’t belong in any century I’d written before. Their stories were modern, sharp-edged, a little messy, and full of potential. I tried to push them aside, force myself to continue working on my latest Scottish historical, but they stayed. They grew louder. And eventually, I realized I wasn’t just dabbling in a new idea—I was shifting genres entirely.

That realization brought equal parts excitement and fear. I wondered how readers would respond. Some have followed me from book to book because they connect with my voice, not just my settings, and I’m grateful for that. Others adore historical romance specifically, and I understand the hesitation: “Will this feel the same? Will the magic still be there?”

 

The honest answer is yes—and no.

The backdrop may change, but the heart of my storytelling hasn’t. I still build characters who feel deeply and love fiercely. I still chase emotional truth, tension, and connection. I still obsess over details—just not the kind found in 17th-century archives.

And I also know this; shifting genres doesn’t mean leaving readers behind. Some will continue the journey. Some may pause and wait. And some new readers will discover me for the very first time.

Creative growth is a sign of a living writer. Stories call to us from where they exist, whether rooted in history or sparked by the present. My joy is simply to follow.

 

I am wrapping up my Endeavor series and can't wait to get it readers.  

Here's a quick pitch - Three sisters. One curse. A town full of magic. The series is about choosing love even when fate—and fear—say run.

p.s. I'm not giving up on my Highlanders! Their story will be written. 

 

 

 

Starting Over: How I Reclaimed My Stories—and Myself

 

A few months ago, I did something that felt equal parts thrilling and terrifying—I got the rights back to all of my previously published romance novels, due to my publisher closing after more than a decade. Years of work, passion, and heartache were finally mine again. No contracts. No gatekeepers. Just me, my stories, and a blank page.

I thought it would feel like freedom. And it did… until the reality hit.

No cover designer. No editor. No marketing team. It was just me, staring at a to-do list that felt a mile long. But despite feeling overwhelmed, I knew I had been given a gift—a chance to reintroduce my work on my terms.

Rediscovering My Words

The first step was reading through every book. Some made me laugh, some made me cringe, and others made me fall in love all over again. I tweaked dialogue, cleaned up pacing, and in some cases, rewrote whole chapters.

It was like revisiting an old version of myself—an author who was still finding her rhythm, her voice. And while I wanted to honor that writer, I also wanted to elevate the work for my readers, old and new.

Learning to Design (and Learning to Breathe)

Next came the covers. I studied genre trends, color palettes, typography—I even got picky about font pairings and image resolution (who am I?!).  I already used and LOVED Canva, so it was an easy decision to use Canva to create my covers. (Not my first book, Wolf's Castle--too sentimental I guess)

There were moments I wanted to cry. But when I saw my redesigned covers—the ones that actually matched the mood and heart of each story—it felt like magic. Like I was finally giving my books the visual identity they deserved.

Becoming My Own Publisher

Once the edits were done and the covers were polished, it was time to figure out Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. Metadata, keywords, categories… ISBNs! I took notes, watched YouTube videos, read posts from other authors who'd met the same fate, and asked a million questions.

Uploading that first book was nerve-wracking. I checked it a dozen times before hitting “publish.” And when it went live? I danced around my kitchen like I’d just won a literary award.

What I’ve Learned

I’m still learning. I’m still tweaking blurbs, trying new marketing strategies, and figuring out what works. But here’s what I know now: reclaiming my books was never just about the business side of publishing—it was about reclaiming me.

Every revised chapter, every redesigned cover, every upload to KDP has been a reminder that I’m capable of more than I thought. That this journey is mine to shape.

So if you’re an author staring down a similar path, let me tell you this: starting over isn’t easy. But it’s powerful. And it’s worth it.

Because you’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from experience.

Madelyn Hill
Romance Author | Self-Published | Reformed Font Snob 💕

 

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