Let's Book Talk: Noblebright

I haven't done a "Book Talk" in a while, and I plan to do more! So here's the first one for the year!

"What do you Write?"

Whenever someone asks me this question, I always hesitate for a bit. I could say “I write fantasy”.... but there are great big number of sub-genres (or sub-categories) under the umbrella of “Fantasy”. Just to name a few:

• Epic / High Fantasy (Lord of the Rings)

• Science Fantasy (Star Wars?)

• Romantasty / Fantasy Romance (A Court of Thorn & Roses -- this is just an example. I DON'T recommend this series for its glorified sexual content)

  
  

• Note: YA (Young Adult) is NOT a genre. It’s an age group. There’s a difference.

• Second note: Fantasy is not the same as science fiction.

So, at first I started labeling my stories as “Inspirational” Fantasy. While I am what you may call a Christian-- aka adopted Daughter of Jesus Christ-- I didn’t want to label as my books as “Christian”. I wanted my books to be accessible to anyone who loves “clean” or inspiring fantasy.

But then, as I grew older... something changed.

You know that feeling of, when you hit your early 30s, you start to change? Obviously, you’re growing up... but did you know that as you grow... your story-art begins to grow, too? Or is it just me?

Anyway, recently, I started to... not like the word “Inspirational”.

I could say “Adventure Fantasy”, but not all my books are or will be “adventures”.

I suppose I could’ve called my stories “clean”.... since my stories will NEVER have glorified gore, sex or smut, or extreme language. But even that term can get...overused at times, in my opinion.*

Plus, as I start to write books target to more older teens/adults (20s-30s and up), I realize that I may need to shift by how I present my stories. Because of that, “inspirational” doesn’t seem to fit the term for my stories anymore, at least not my future ones.

So, what was an author to to do?

Enter... noblebright fantasy

What on Earth is Noblebright Fantasy?

I’m glad you asked, dear reader.

About a year ago, I discovered this term from an article by an author named C.J. Brightley. She didn't invent the term but rather stumbled upon it herself as she was researching how to based "label" her own stories.

You can read her article by tapping the image below! She’s A LOT MORE IN DEPTH than I am.

But to summarize it better, (based on how she described it), noblebright fantasy is a genre that emphasizes "themes of hope, good triumphing over evil, and fighting for what is right".

In other words, the noblebright genre aims to inspire courage, hope, joy, and light in a world dominated by darkness.

To quote a certain favorite hobbit: “there is some good in this world... and it’s worth fighting for.”

Some "Noblebright" Examples:

These are just A FEW examples of some great reads I've enjoyed and would consider them to be "noblebright"!

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So... what do I write?

And now, (in case you haven’t noticed on my

website), I’m proud to say I am “an author of noblebright fatasy... with occasionally horses”.

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Bonus Stuff

This article helped me a lot with how to best "label" my stories.

Read it here!

This is a cool site (made by CJBrightly) where you can subscribe and get all sorts of books and all sorts of bookish goodies straight to your mailbox!

Check it out here!

How about you?

What are your thoughts or opinions? Have you heard of noblebright? If so, what’s your favorite in that umbrella? Care to recommend any?

If not, what’s your favorite genre? (Even if it’s not fantasy!)

Note:

Please keep comments respectful and non-spammy. Also keep comments related to the post. No extra links unless you are recommending a favorite book)