[Oskari]

Thanks Slack,

Ooops! I'm glad there is an intro section.

I'm definitely not an elitist, but I find writing free of genre is, generally, more satisfying. A couple of my modern favourties are JM Coetzee (Disgrace) and Kate Grenville (The Secret River).

Another way to look at this really effectively is asking yourself how often really good science fiction movies come along (or fantasy or crime or ... ). Yes, there are quite a few good ones out there, but I've lived long enough now to be quite wary and discerning. And when it comes to books, could someone please explain the popularity or credibility of a writer like Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code). Okay, interesting premise, but the actual story and the writing - aarghooschlop!

I can understand comments like mine making me seem elitist, but, like I said, I've lived through enough trash to learn to be more discriminating. And, of course, having said that, it might also come across as elitist. Oh well, my loss. The worst part of making statements like this, of course, is the pressure it puts on me as a writer!