The year 2020 is an exciting year for book lovers. While certain reads from the previous decade will continue to delight readers, new stories and book trends await book worms this year.
The rise of self-publishing over the last decade paved the way to great stories and trends both in eBook and print format. The total number of self-published titles grew up from 1.2 million in 2017 to over 1.6 million the following year. As the decade closed down, authors and publishing continue to produce quality books from various genres. For this year, we will be seeing old trends and new ones on the rise, making 2020 a great year for authors and readers alike.
Mythopoeia. The term was used by J.R.R. Tolkien in one of his poems to defend the art of myth-making. Today, mythopoeia is a genre that is a modern version of mythology whose stories cater both to young and mature readers. The last years of the previous decade produce some of the remarkable books in the tradition of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Often labeled as high-fantasy, works like A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan, works by J.K Rowling, and Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere and American Gods all made a huge mark in the literary world. It is safe to say that high-fantasy novels are here to stay.
Climate Fiction. A new sub-genre is becoming popular today. Cli-Fi or climate fiction is gaining attention following the rise of the global warming issue. Cli-fi was first mentioned by eBook writer and blogger Danny Bloom. Despite being a relatively new term, cli-fi can be associated with the post-apocalyptic genre but with emphasis on the effects of global warming. Paolo Bacigalupi’ The Water Knife published in 2015, Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2017 novel New York 2140, and Odds Against Tomorrow by Nathaniel Rich are just some of the interesting titles under the cli-fi fiction. We think that cli-fi will continue to flourish because of its relevance in today’s glaring issue of climate change. Many readers would want to have a peek of the possible future in store for humanity.
Adult and Romance. If there’s one genre aside from children’s books that has always attracted readers, it is romance novels. It is a billion-dollar genre. Romance genre closed over 3 billion in profit last year. This year, we can expect great romance novels to again top the charts. The Moral Compass by Danielle Steel, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver, The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang, and the Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory are some of the anticipated best-sellers for 2020.
Crimes and Thrillers. Thrillers always have a great following. It is one of the biggest book genres in terms of scope and sales. From psychological thrillers to crime and mystery, this genre rake in billions of dollars each year and has produced some of the greatest best-sellers and blockbuster movies of all time. Recent years saw the rise of mystery crime novels and the comeback of military thrillers in the tradition of Tom Clancy and John le Carré. One notable work is that of Paul Shemella. His thrillers about drugs and thugs are interesting and relevant to the times. The Jungle Rules reminds us of Rambo waging war against a drug cartel and a treacherous government. The second book of the trilogy deals with domestic terrorism. For 2020, there are many books to watch out for including Cutting Edge by Ward Larsen, The Deceivers by Alex Berenson, and The Terminal List by Jack Carr.
Sci-Fi Fiction Fantasy. There is no stopping sci-fi. This decade promises to be a great year for one of the most stable genres in all of literature. Last year saw the rise of dystopian novels and the zombie apocalypse novels. This year, we can expect a lot more space and near-future sci-fi novels such as The Companions by Katie M. Flynn, The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez, The Last Emperox by John Scalzi, and Mary Robinette Kowal’s The Relentless Moon: A Lady Astronaut Novel.
The past decade served as a transition period for the publishing industry and this year will mark the start of something big- more platforms, easy access, and an ever-growing market. This will translate to more stories published which will surely benefit book lovers and readers across the globe. Indeed the year 2020 is a great year for publishing stories as well and ReadersMagnet self-publishing is excited to be a part of this.