Who says you have to be pigeon-holed?  You hear actors say all the time that they don’t like to be up for the same kind of roles–they like to be challenged, not wanting the audience to think it’s all they can do.  I feel the same way as a writer.  I never know what my next novel will be about. Will I write a feel-good, small-town novel set in Linden Corners?  Or will my snarky side emerge and suddenly I’m laughing out loud as a Todd Gleason crime story emerges?  Or will it be something completely unexpected…like the high-school reunion relationship drama, BEYOND THE STORM, or the forthcoming HIDDEN IDENTITY.

Years ago, a publisher might have asked me to create a pseudonym to help differentiate between styles of writing.  The author of TILTING AT WINDMILLS couldn’t possibly publish LONDON FROG.  The idea was that you didn’t want to confuse the readers. But back then the publishers took care of much of the marketing and promotion of the books on their list.  So it made sense.  Today it’s hard enough to grab attention for yourself and your books without having to create an entire new personality.  So much of spreading the word about your books is left to the author.  So, I am Joseph Pittman, and I write whatever pops into my mind.  It’s more fun that way.  I think it’s more fun reading that way, too.

I think today’s readers are more savvy than ever–after all, in a world where lots of people get their entertainment from watching movies or television, or just surfing the net and playing video games, there are still people in this world who will automatically chose a book first.  So I like to hope that these same readers will forgive me for changing styles and genres from time to time.  But if you look a bit more closely at my stories, you’ll see a common theme, and I think it’s one we can all relate to.  Whether it’s Brian Duncan or Todd Gleason or Matt Clark, or my new creation Jimmy McSwain (my, I do love my Irish names, don’t I?), everyone I write about is on a journey.

So too am I, and in this blog I hope to capture part of that journey. Check back often, Dear Reader, and see what other insights, thoughts, and features I’ll post about.  Thanks for visiting.