Marketing Cross Genre Books - Question from an author

Had a question come in today that has a lot going on it so I wanted to answer it here for the author.

My manuscript incorporates three genres (New Adult, Historical, Paranormal) and culminates in a series akin to a Family Saga. I'm very interested in the New Adult line, due to the opportunity for growth and development while holding onto that fresh perspective that comes with learning, falling in love, and sacrifice. It's a great avenue to explore. However, I feel that the combination of genres confuses. The line blurs and it's harder to market.

So, first of all, we have a novel that is crossing a couple of genres. The key here is to identify what the main focus would be and that is your target genre. In this case, it would seem that the author would be focusing in on the New Adult market since this is really an age specific audience. In this case, this is a maturity issue for the audience.

As far as the two other genres, again, an author has to ask what the primary element is. In this case, (and please note I have not read this) it would be the paranormal aspect and the historical element, I am betting is more of the setting.

The key here is to think which shelf you would put your book on in a bookstore. Book buyers WILL NOT put it on multiple shelves. Essentially, you have to think A) who would be your target audience; and B) how would they find this. 

Now, let's look at another element in this question that I think is really important. The author has asked " due to the opportunity for growth and development" I am not exactly sure where the author is going with this, but it honestly sounds like a person diving into a genre because it is hot right now, and not because the author really understands the genre. You need to write in a genre you read and fully understand. Without really immersing yourself in a genre and understanding all of the nuances of it, you will not find success. It will come across as a very shallow attempt at a genre.

The next thing I want to note here is the comment "that fresh perspective that comes with learning, falling in love, and sacrifice. It's a great avenue to explore." The issue here is that this is pretty much a universal theme found in a great many of novels, plays and such. This theme, in itself, is not unique. What the author does with the theme and the author's approach to that theme is what makes it unique. 

I am going to take a pretty obvious one here to explain this point. If you think about the TWILIGHT series, the unique perspective in this new adult novel, that does explore that same theme, is how the characters are not just having to deal with that standard theme, but how they are also dealing with essentially racial (or in this case paranormal) differences that make a relationship difficult. 

It is really important that if you are thinking of blending genres, you still need to know what the central genre would be, and more importantly, how you target your audience.