As some of you may already have noticed, I’ve created a new Substack Publication, and a new author identity: Dansinger. In this newsletter I’ll tell you everything you need to know about this change.
Readers want clarity
If you’ve been following me for a while and read (some of) my novels and short stories, you will no doubt have noticed that they are different from most fantasy stories. And that’s a problem. One I can no longer ignore.
Readers want clarity, yet what they got was confusion. Because all this time, I was really serving my fantasy readers literary fiction dressed up as fantasy. And, no matter how much I wanted it to be otherwise, it doesn’t work.
Not only was I disappointing my fantasy readers who expected more plot-driven action, and less introspection, but worse: I wasn’t even reaching my intended audience: literary readers. One look at my covers would be enough to turn them off immediately.
The remedy
I’ve been agonising over this problem, unwilling to give up on writing fantasy. Unwilling to leave my current series unfinished. But, no matter how much it pains me, I will no longer be writing fantasy. That series will never be finished.
To be true to myself and upfront with my readers is more important. I write literary fiction and poetry. That’s who I am. I will never be able to give fantasy readers what they expect.
But I will be able to give literary readers their hearts’ desire: thoughtful, introspective stories. Smooth, elegant prose—but nothing over the top. The elegance of my prose lies in flow and rhythm. Not in big words.
Any new poetry I publish will be attached to my new author identity, too. It’s simply a better fit.
New name
I present to you, my new author identity: Dansinger, a pen name I’ve been using on my poetry forums for years already.
Plain and simple. Dansinger. No first name, no initials, no obvious gender—because with gender come expectations. Expectations I might not be able to fulfil.
This new author identity—it feels right.
What happens next
You’ll still be able to buy my existing novels and poetry bundles on Amazon and several other online retailers, but I won’t be adding any new work to Daan Katz’s oeuvre. I also won’t be actively marketing his books any more.
My social media presence as Daan Katz will slowly come to a halt, but again: I’m not deleting those profiles. I might even update them occasionally.
That said, my main focus will now be on my work as Dansinger, who takes over from Daan Katz. Literary fiction that no longer pretends to be fantasy. Poetry in all its riches.
What this means for my subscribers
This newsletter, Scribbled in Ink, will go dormant. What’s here now, will remain, but I don’t expect to write any new newsletters as Daan Katz.
If you truly enjoy my writing—the psychological depth, the complex themes, the musical prose, the poetry—I invite you to subscribe to my new publication Dansinger’s Literary Den.
Please note that I will not automatically migrate my current subscribers. I don’t want to take that choice away from you.
If you choose not to subscribe, no hard feelings. I know my writing is not for everyone (and it shouldn’t be), and I’d really much rather have a handful of truly interested subscribers than several thousand who’ll never even open my emails.
Here’s your invitation. Only if you truly want to.
What Dansinger’s Literary Den offers
If you subscribe to Dansinger’s Literary Den, you’ll get:
My monthly newsletter
Poems (with or without background notes)
Literary Fiction (short stories, teasers…)
Invitations to be Beta or ARC readers
Plus…
Feel free to follow Dansinger (dansingerauthor) on Instagram and Facebook, for up to 3 weekly posts. I’d love to see you there and engage with you.
Last but not least
Thank you so much for hanging out with me and supporting my work so far. I truly hope to see you at Dansinger’s Literary Den, but again: only if you really want to.
Thank you for reading Scribbled in Ink. Please ❤️ (below) if you enjoyed this piece. It really helps others find it.
PS: If you like my poetry, you may enjoy DAAN! Poems without Pretence
Get your copy today: https://books2read.com/b/3GV2lK
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And it's interesting because I've made just the opposite choice -- to go all in on my noir fantasy world after realizing I just don't have anything to say on the nonfiction side any more!
That's an honest assessment of what works and what doesn't -- for you. And an inspiration for other genre-confused writers out there. Making a choice means leaving something behind, but it serves you better in the end.