Jack of All Genres

What happens when a writer changes genre? Are readers confused? 
As I see it, there are pros and cons. At my last count, I have two main genres but have broken away several times. Let’s see…a definite pro is freshening up. You get out of a rut and can’t be labelled or pigeon-holed. You explore your versatility. A definite con, in my case, is that I set up a website entirely devoted to Anglo-Saxon historical novels. Whoops! I tried my hand at Mystery/Thrillers with my 9 Metropolitan Murder Mysteries. So, I had to add a page to my website with that title. I also had to open a fresh Facebook page dedicated to them and modify the title to Metropolitan Murders and More. 
 
Is it a question of self-discipline? A dear friend was always rattling on about how aliens created us, not God and that they, the Annunaki, would also bring the world to an end. The temptation was too great, so I wrote my apocalyptic novel, The Remnant. It’s hardly Anglo-Saxon history, is it?
 
While I’m on the cons, which I see are becoming heavier by the minute, my latest ventures have been with more recent historical-fantasy novels. First, inspired by the region where I live, I wrote The Aspromonte Riddle – oh, it’s Calabria in Southern Italy, by the way. Then, yesterday, I finished my latest venture set in Renaissance Italy. Am I writing this blog in the midst of an existentialist crisis?
I have now produced 50 novels, so I admit to being prolific. But are chameleons visible or do they camouflage? Should I have stuck to my first love… Anglo-Saxon novels?
 
To answer this question, I think I have to look at a writing hero of mine—Ken Follett. This writer first attracted me with his medieval books…The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Now then, how do we pigeon-hole him? He wrote his World War II novels and they’re brilliant, but not medieval. Then, he wrote such titles as The Modigliani Scandal and Code to Zero. Take a look at his bibliography, it’s all over the place and they’re all good. Now, I’m not jumping on his bandwagon, far be it from my modest self! He’s a great writer, but he didn’t have problems changing genre. What can I conclude? Well, if he can be versatile, so can we all. 
 
However, changing genre does mean you’ll have to adapt your brand image. I’ve remained with my logo because as I said above, Anglo-Saxon history is my first love, but frankly, my mysteries sell better and I’m free of the pesky (but enjoyable) research that historical novel writing necessitates. Conclusion? Throw off the shackles, but be prepared to sit, head bowed, wondering what the devil do I do next?