"New Adult" Niche: Interview with Jessica Park (and E-book Giveaway!)

I'm happy to welcome Jessica Park, author of the New Adult novel Flat-Out Love, to the blog today for an interview! You can read my review of Flat-Out Love here.


First, a bit about the book and the author:

"Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.

When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.

And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.

To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer." (from Goodreads)

"Jessica Park is the author of the young adult novels FLAT-OUT LOVE and RELATIVELY FAMOUS; five Gourmet Girl mysteries (written as Jessica Conant-Park); and the e-shorts FACEBOOKING RICK SPRINGFIELD and WHAT THE KID SAYS (Parts 1 & 2). Jessica grew up in the Boston area and attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After spending four years in the frigid north, including suffering through one memorable Halloween blizzard, Jessica hightailed it back to the east coast. She now lives in (relatively balmy) New Hampshire with her husband, son, bananas dog named Fritzy, and two selfish cats. When not writing, Jessica indulges her healthy addictions to Facebook, Rick Springfield, and super-sweet coffee beverages." (from the author's website)

 And now for the questions...

1.) Unlike most books about someone's first year in college, Flat-Out Love doesn't involve dormitory or apartment life, but rather a homestay–style situation. What inspired you to go this less traditional route for Julie's college experience? How much do you think living arrangements affect a student's time in college?

Getting Julie into the Watkins household was integral to the story. She just had to become enmeshed enough in their lives to be able to see and feel what no one else could. Plus, I love that it gave her “real” time with Matt… Had they met outside of this situation, odd are that neither of them would have really been themselves around the other. Living together the way they did allowed so many walls to come down.

Living off-campus vs. living at the dorms has got to be a different experience in so many ways. You may still be in a parent’s house and therefore still under some degree of house rules… College is a pretty fun time to make your own rules! If you’re in an apartment off-campus, I think it’s a great opportunity to develop strong independence and responsibility while being able to escape some of the chaos of dormitory life. Dorms give you instant access to a social life, but it can be draining and hard to find anything resembling private time.

College is housing is always going to be a mixed bag, with good and bad aspects of all options. I can, however, guarantee you that you will eat some incredibly disgusting things for four years. True story: I used to microwave white rice with peas, ranch dressing, and curry powder from the salad bar at my college’s cafeteria. And I thought it was spectacular compared to what was offered to me at the potato bar. 

2.) The focus of Flat-Out Love isn't the classes Julie attends, but the time she spends with the Watkins family. Why did you choose to make this the central storyline? Which "New Adult" themes do you think this plot highlights?

Yes, her attending classes is the backdrop to the larger story. I wanted to do a strong romance but have that tied into other complicating issues with this damaged family. The complexities of the family’s history help to make the connections between the characters all the more powerful.

Making Julie eighteen and having left home for the first time was important in terms of how she would respond to the other characters. She’s an adult… sort of. But she’s also still a kid. She’s flawed and finding herself the way that most of us are at that age.

I don’t believe in “rules” for New Adult books… I ignored all of those when writing Flat-Out Love. :) But it covers romance, pain, angst, hurt, loss, hope. I think it’s got a good degree of guts, too, which is part of what readers have really responded to: this is not a light, superficial book, although there are some readers who have seen it that way. On the surface, one could boil it down to a superficial level, but it’s really a layered book. What you see is not what you get.

3.) What's been the most common reaction when you tell people you've written a "New Adult" novel? Have you ever had to defend your choice of publishing in this category?

Readers are thrilled to pieces to see so many New Adult books. There has been a ridiculously large gap in this market for reasons that I’ll never understand. It’s why no big publisher wanted Flat-Out Love; they said that a story about a college freshman would never sell. That thinking is incomprehensible to me and readers have shown that they can’t get enough of stories about characters in their late teens and twenties. Indie authors are proving those rejections by publishers wrong over and over, and finally we are starting to see pubs snag up some of these stories.

4.) You originally self-published Flat-Out Love. What were some of the obstacles you bumped into along the way, and how did you deal with them? 

I’m not sure that I encountered obstacles so much as I encountered exhausting work. I had no built-in audience so I was really marketing my book all on my own. It was not easy, but bloggers and readers were extremely generous in taking a chance on Flat-Out Love. Dealing with formatting, covers, and editing are also piles of work--and not always entirely successful--but I also liked being in control of those.

Trying to go to any of the major book conferences, like Romantic Times or BEA would be really challenging on my own, not to mention expensive. Now that Amazon Children’s Publishing is taking over, they’ll be able to send me to all the fun conferences that I’ve been dying to go to. 

5.) If you could pick one memory from your "New Adult" days to relive, which would it be and why?

Can I pick all of college? No? Well, I’m going to cheat a little bit and say that some of my favorite memories are grounded in the friendships that I made in college. I’m still incredibly close to my friend, Alexa, who I met during the first few days of freshman orientation. Friendships that you make in New Adult years can be unbelievably powerful and long lasting.

If you want one specific memory, I could tell you about a 2 a.m. trek across campus in sub-degree Minnesota temperatures that ended with… Well, no, never mind. Probably not an appropriate story.

Thanks so much for these thoughtful answers to my questions, Jessica!

Now for the giveaway... Jessica has generously offered up Smashwords coupon codes for Flat-Out Love! 

The rules:

- There will be 3 winners, who will each receive a coupon code for the Flat-Out Love e-book
- Entrants must be 16 years or older.
- Open internationally 
- One entry per person. But anyone who's officially signed up for my New Adult reading challenge gets an extra entry! (You must have already filled in this form, prior to the posting of this giveaway, in order to qualify. Please mention that you're a participant in your comment and leave the e-mail address you signed up with.)
- Following and tweeting are not necessary but always appreciated!
- Ends August 25, at 11:59 pm EST.
- Winners will be selected randomly.

To enter, please leave a comment with your e-mail address.

 

"New Adult" Niche: Interview with Melanie Card (and E-book Giveaway!)

I'm pleased to be able to welcome Melanie Card, author of the New Adult novel Ward Against Death, to the blog today for an interview!

First, a bit about the book:

WARD AGAINST DEATH

CHRONICLES OF A RELUCTANT NECROMANCER - Book One

Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

And now for the questions...

1.) Many of the New Adult books being released these days are contemporary, featuring protagonists dealing with issues arising from living on their own/having their first full-time job/going to college/etc. Ward Against Death, in contrast, is a fantasy novel. Is there a reason you chose to make your characters older than those found in a typical YA fantasy? Are there some commonalities that are shared between New Adult books, regardless of genre?
 

Thanks Danya for inviting me here today. In all honesty I wasn’t thinking about YA or New Adult fiction when I wrote Ward Against Death. Historical and Epic Fantasy has a long tradition of young protagonists with books solidly placed on the adult fantasy shelves. I think one of the reasons for this is the “quest” which is often about growth and self discovery and young protagonists lend themselves well to “learning” about themselves and their world. That “quest” for fantasies can be interpreted (sometimes loosely) as the metaphoric journey into adulthood. This theme has been studied a lot in the academic world. One scholar, Joseph Campbell, did extensive research into world mythologies and wrote a fascinating (although sort of dry if you’re not into text books) study on how this “quest” theme from youth to adulthood transcends cultures. He called this universal story a “monomyth” and out of that came “The Hero’s Journey”.

At the time I wrote Ward Against Death I only had a vague idea about all that. What I wanted was a book like the others fantasies I loved reading and a hero, Ward, who just wouldn’t get out of my head.

That rather long theoretical explanation about fantasy can also explain a part of the genre of YA and New Adult books as a whole. In these genres we have young protagonists (be they in a historical setting, a modern day setting, or a futuristic setting) who are trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and how they can be independent of the adults in their lives. In New Adult fiction, that independence might be won but it’s still tentative, and the certainty we hope to have in ourselves when we’re adults isn’t there yet. These are the characters I find completely fascinating. For me, these characters have the potential for such growth and so many surprises. It’s that potential for growth and self discovery that I think is the commonality between books in the genre.

2.) How do you think the story would have played out if Ward was 16 or 17 instead? Would he have made different decisions that could have set the plot on a completely separate path?

This is a tough one and I’m not sure if Ward’s age would change things. Ward is determined and untested when the book opens. He’d be just as determined and just as untested if he was 16 or 17. I suspect he’d be even more suspicious of Celia’s attentions and that might take the story in a different direction.

3.) The New Adult category has been doing quite well in e-books, but hasn't yet managed to carve out a spot for itself on physical bookshelves. Do you think this pattern will continue? How do you see the future of NA unfolding?

I wish I did know what the future of New Adult would be. If you figure it out could you please tell me? :)

4.) Are there any NA fantasy books you can recommend to my readers?  

I highly recommend the Study series by Maria V. Snyder.

5.) I understand Ward Against Death is the first in the Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer series. Do you have any ideas for future books once the series is completed?

So many books so little time! I have a lot of ideas for future books, some New Adult, some Adult, some in the same world as Ward Against Death, some not.

6.) If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring New Adult writer, what would it be?

Write and write lots. Don’t be afraid to write badly - that can be fixed when you go back and edit. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that how we learn. Write the stories you want to read, about the characters that interest you. There’s a lot to know about the craft and business of writing, and yes that’s important, too, but in the end it always comes down to writing, to putting words on the page and exploring worlds, and characters, and stories.

About Melanie Card:

Melanie has always been drawn to storytelling and can't remember a time when she wasn’t creating a story in her head. Her early stories were adventures with fairies and dragons and sword swinging princesses.

Today she continues to spin tales of magic in lands near and far, while her cat sits on the edge of her desk and supervises. When she’s not writing, you can find her pretending to be other people with her local community theatre groups.

Connect with Melanie:  
Facebook  /  Twitter@melaniecard  /Goodreads / MelanieCard.com

Get your copy of Ward Against Death at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books On Board | Diesel | iTunes | The Book Depository

Thanks very much, Melanie, for answering my New Adult questions!

Now for the giveaway...courtesy of Melanie and her publisher, there is an e-book of Ward Against Death up for grabs!

The rules:

- Entrants must be 16 years or older.

- Open internationally

- One entry per person. But anyone who's officially signed up for my New Adult reading challenge gets an extra entry! (You must have already filled in this form, prior to the posting of this giveaway, in order to qualify. Please mention that you're a participant in your comment and leave the e-mail address you signed up with.)

- Following and tweeting are not necessary but always appreciated!

- Ends August 10, at 11:59 pm EST.

- Winner will be selected randomly.

To enter, please leave a comment with your e-mail address.

"New Adult" Niche: Guest Post by C. K. Kelly Martin (and Giveaway!)

I'm very happy to welcome C.K. Kelly Martin to the blog today! She's guest blogging about her recently released New Adult novel, Come See About Me. 

First, a bit about the book and the author:

"Twenty-year-old Leah Fischer's been in a state of collapse since the moment police arrived on her Toronto doorstep to inform her that boyfriend Bastien was killed in a car accident. After flunking out of university and cutting herself off from nearly everyone she knows, Leah's saved by Bastien's aunt who offers her a rent-free place to stay in a nearby suburban town.

Initially Leah keeps to herself, with no energy for anyone or anything else, but it's not long before her nurturing neighbours begin to become fixtures in Leah's life and a much needed part-time job forces her to interact with other members of the community. And when Leah is faced with another earth-shattering event, her perspective on life begins to shift again. Soon Leah's falling into a casual sexual relationship with Irish actor Liam Kellehan, who has troubles of his own, even as she continues to yearn for her dead boyfriend. Clearly she's not the person she thought she was—and maybe Liam isn't either." (from Goodreads)

"Currently residing near Toronto with my Dub husband, I became an Irish citizen in 2001 and continue to visit Dublin often (although not as often as I'd like!) while working on novels. My first book, I Know It's Over, came out with Random House in September 2008, and was followed by One Lonely Degree, The Lighter Side of Life and Death and My Beating Teenage Heart. My next young adult novel, Yesterday, will hit shelves September 25th and I released my first {new} adult novel, Come See About Me, as an ebook in June. You can read more about the novel and 'new adult' fiction in general on my March 26th blog entry or visit Come See About Me.com for additional info." (taken from the author's website)

And now for the guest post!

“The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.”

Those are my favourite lines from the much maligned M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Village, because they are both beautiful and true. Romantic love, like all love, is universal – people across the globe experience it – but it also marks one as lucky, in a special state of being. On crowded buses and subway trains strangers may rearrange themselves to allow an obviously happy couple to sit together and who doesn’t swoon a little when encountering the Robert Doisneau image “The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville.”? Who isn’t warmed by the sight of an old couple walking in hand in hand (love that has lasted!)? This enduring love is the most revered, most sought after, and it’s what the main character of Come See About Me, twenty-year-old Leah Fischer, believes she’s been fortunate enough to find early in life only to lose just as quickly. When her live-in boyfriend Bastien’s the victim of a fatal accident Leah goes into a total state of collapse. She withdraws from friends, flunks out of college and ignores her parents’ pleas to leave Toronto and fly back across the country to be with them in British Columbia.

When I began writing this book I knew it would be filled with much sorrow and a fair amount of sex. It may seem as if the two things don’t go together, but Leah (who had a very fulfilling sexual relationship with Bastien) comes to realize that losing her boyfriend doesn’t mean she’s permanently lost all physical desire or that there’s nothing left to care about in life. Does she feel guilty and conflicted when she finds herself drawn to Liam, an Irish actor trying to escape aspects of his old life? Definitely. Does that stop her from sleeping with him? No.

What I didn’t fully realize when I began writing Come See About Me was how little space there is for twenty-year-old main characters in traditional publishing. Considering Leah’s age, situation (living away from home with her boyfriend while they attend college) and the book’s sexual content, I knew Come See About Me wasn’t YA like the other books I’ve written, but that it still had a very youthful energy to it. I assumed that Come See About Me would require an adult publisher, but that it would have some kind of chance in the traditional publishing realm. Instead the agent who submitted it to New York publishers for me over a year ago found, "Almost every editor was concerned that Leah is too young for this to be adult, but too grown for this to go back to being YA." This brings me to the present where, thanks to the rise of e-books, I’ve been able to release the novel myself. While traditional publishers aren’t yet convinced copies of ‘new adult’ books can be shifted in any great numbers, I think they’re wrong and that there are countless great stories yet to be told about young people whose high school years are behind them and who are finding their way in the world. Since I began Come See About Me in 2010 the publishing landscape has changed significantly and indie and self-publishers are filling this void. I believe in time these publishing avenues will prove new adult titles successful enough that traditional publishers will have to reconsider their own approach to books featuring characters in their late teens and early twenties.

Here are a few things that I, as a YA author, appreciated about focusing on a slightly older character:

1. Still possessing the immediacy and intensity of a teen protagonist’s point of view while also having the chance to explore a more independent life. Leah’s parents are still very concerned about the depth of her grief but technically she’s an adult who can make her own decisions.

2. More freedom in writing about sex. There’s usually some kind of sexual content in my YA books too but it comes along with an awareness of the readership that I didn’t feel I had to worry about here. Because the sexual scenes between Leah and Liam are very important to Come See About Me this is a huge bonus. It really wouldn’t have been the same book without these scenes or if they’d been watered down.

3. Novel length. Most YA books are typically on the shorter side, unless we’re talking about fantasy or sci-fi. Come See About Me checks in at roughly 102,000 words.

You can read the first two chapters of Come See About Me on my website. Watch the trailer:

Thanks very much, C.K., for sharing your thoughts on writing a novel featuring college-aged characters!

C.K. Kelly Martin has generously offered up a giveaway! There will be 4 winners: one winner of a signed paperback copy of Come See About Me, and three winners of e-book copies.

The rules:

- Entrants must be 16 years or older.

- Open internationally

- One entry per person

- Following and tweeting are not necessary but always appreciated!

- Ends July 10, at 11:59 pm EST.

- Winners will be selected randomly and contacted by e-mail. Your information will be passed on to the author so you can receive your prize.

To enter, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. Anyone who's officially signed up for my New Adult reading challenge gets an extra entry! (You must have already filled in this form, prior to the posting of this giveaway, in order to qualify. Please mention that you're a participant in your comment and leave the e-mail address you signed up with.)

"New Adult" Niche: Interview with Jennifer Echols

I'm pleased to welcome Jennifer Echols to the blog today for an interview about her book Love Story and the category of New Adult!

First, a bit about the book and the author:

 

"She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true." (from Goodreads)

"Jennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written eight romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy Major Crush, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama Going Too Far, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Her next two teen dramas, including Such a Rush, will appear in 2012 and 2013, with her adult romance novels debuting in 2013, all published by Simon & Schuster. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son." (from her website)

And now for the questions...

1.) Several of your previous YA novels have been set in high school. Since Erin and Hunter attend college, how did this affect the writing of Love Story? Did you approach certain elements, like voice or dialogue, differently than you would for your younger YA novels?

I would say the real difference is in subtlety. I let readers draw their own conclusions rather than bashing them over the head with mine, and though the ending is happy, I imply that these characters are going to have to work harder on their relationship than most of my characters do. The characters are more mature, and the story is too.

2.) Love Story provides the reader with insight into how college creative writing classes are conducted. Is this portrayal based on your own experiences? And if so, which aspects did you take from your own life, and which are pure fiction?

The class is conducted as one of my creative writing classes was conducted. The assignment for the class is to read other students’ stories that are put on reserve in the library. Then the stories are discussed in class as if the author isn’t there. Authors can’t defend themselves until the end—they just have to sit there and take it—which of course builds lots of tension and resentment.

3.) Erin and Hunter have a complicated relationship, and both seem to struggle with expressing their feelings to each other. Under the guise of their writing assignments, they communicate with stories that hold special meaning for the other person. Would you say this is typical behaviour of creative writing students in college?

God, I hope not.

How effective do you feel this strategy is?

I feel that this strategy is startlingly poor. But you know, it’s all these characters have to work with. They love and admire each other so deeply. There is so much baggage between them. Both of them think they’d be better off if they started over fresh with a new person and a new love, but they can’t let each other go, and they can’t even admit this to each other except in a way that is open to interpretation—the creative writing assignment—so they can still deny how they feel and avoid getting hurt.

4.) Most traditional publishers are hesitant to take a chance on books that fall into the "New Adult" category, and will tell writers to age their characters younger or older so that they fit neatly into either YA or adult. Have you come across this attitude? What is your response?

I have been told that readers don’t buy books set in college, and they don’t even buy books in which the characters are preoccupied with college. For instance, I had a plot shot down about a high school senior who desperately needed to get to a college interview on time.

And then there’s The Novel I Love So Much That I Will Just Die If It Doesn’t Sell. It was a New Adult with 21-year-old characters. I sent it to the one publisher I knew of who was actively seeking New Adult, and they turned it down. Then I got a new agent, and she suggested that I change it into a YA, because New Adult wasn’t selling. I did, and everybody rejected it anyway. It didn’t sell. I didn’t die. I still love it. And I still think it was a much stronger book as a New Adult.

I wish New Adult would take off. I would be its biggest fan. But publishers are chasing sales, plain and simple. Look at the example of 50 Shades. All my friends who write erotica are suddenly experiencing a resurgence in their careers because stores are rushing to carry more books like the runaway best seller. Likewise, if a New Adult ever makes a splash, the market will break wide open. Until then, my YA characters won’t get any older than 18.

5.) You've now had a couple books published that feature older YA characters. What would you say stories about characters in their late teens offer that YA books set firmly in high school do not?

I’m writing two different YA genres—romantic comedy and romantic drama. In the comedies, the problems are important to the characters, but they’re not life-and-death. If they were, the books wouldn’t be very funny. It’s fine to make those characters 15 or 16 and set those stories in high school, where there’s lots of drama that isn’t too serious. When things go really bad for these characters, they have a safety net in the form of their parents.

For the dramas, the problems need to be more intense. Characters aren’t as likely to encounter problems like that until they’re pushed out into the real world and onto the cusp of adulthood, and that’s why those stories tend to hover around high school graduation. Forget You is set at the beginning of senior year, Love Story is set at the beginning of college, Going Too Far and Such a Rush are set during spring break of senior year—the last time the characters will have a free week while they’re still in high school—and the book I’m writing now is set the week after graduation. Adulthood hasn’t set in, but it’s looming right there, and the characters can see it.

Thanks very much, Jennifer, for these thoughtful answers to my questions! Now you've got me curious about "The Novel I Love So Much That I Will Just Die If It Doesn’t Sell" :D

"New Adult" Niche: Interview with Sara Daniell (and Kindle Giveaway!)

Sara Daniell, author of Visions and Secrets, is on the blog today for an interview about New Adult books!

Here's a bit about Visions, the first in the series:

"It is Holly's first year in college and the most exciting thing in her life is her classes. She doesn't have any luck with dating and doesn't have many friends.

Her life is terribly boring until she receives a text message from a unknown person. Life as Holly knows it will forever change by responding to that one single text. She isn't too thrilled but will soon find herself falling in love with a complete stranger from another world." (from Goodreads)

And about Sara herself, from her blog:

" 26 year old mother, wife, self-published author, teacher, college student, saved by grace, sarcastic (extremely), love to laugh, hate fighting unless it is for something I believe in. Well that about sums me up. :) "

Now for the questions...

1.) Visions is set during Holly's first year of college. How much did you draw on your own time in college in creating Holly's experience? Are there any incidents that are autobiographical?

I actually attended college completely online with no dorm experience.  It's funny because nothing from my college experience relates to Holly's. It is all totally made up.

2.) What is the most common reaction you receive when you tell people you write New Adult novels?

They ask, "What is that? I have never heard of that genre."  I always tag my trilogy as new adult as well as young adult. I do that because this trilogy will appeal to both genres.

3.) Many traditional publishers are hesitant about taking on NA books. Why do you think this is? Do you see this changing in the future?

Probably because young adult is so popular and taking on a new genre would take time to catch peoples attention.  Traditional publishers are ready to sell and don't like waiting. Plus, a lot of traditional publishers try to appeal to the younger generation of teens.  Teens may not want to read something that says "New Adult" because they want to relate in some way to what they read.  

4.) What, in your opinion, sets New Adult novels apart from YA? From adult? Would you say it's strictly a matter of the characters' ages, or do NA novels differ in other ways?

It only differs slightly, as in the plot.  New Adult, in my opinion, focuses on characters on the "independent" time of their lives.  Not in high school living with parents like most YA novels are. But, like YA, New Adult has drama, romance, and everything else a YA novel as.  Just takes place in a different time in the characters lives.

5.) You're currently in your twenties. What's been the most interesting/exciting/memorable "new adult" experience you've had so far?

Getting married, having children, and graduating college! And of course - self publishing a trilogy!

Thanks very much, Sara, for sharing your thoughts on the New Adult category!

The giveaway:

Sara has kindly offered up Kindle e-books of both Visions and Secrets, so if you would like to be entered to win, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. Anyone who's officially signed up for my New Adult reading challenge gets an extra entry! (You must have already filled in this form, prior to this giveaway, in order to qualify. Please mention that you're a participant in your comment and leave the e-mail address you signed up with.)

The giveaway ends on June 25 at 11:59 pm EST. I'll randomly pick one winner who will receive both e-books.

"New Adult" Niche: Interview with Lauren Hammond (Insanity Blog Tour)

I'm pleased to welcome Lauren Hammond, author of Insanity, to the blog today for an interview about "New Adult" books!

First, a bit about the book:

Released: May 8th

Series: Asylum, book #1

"Sometimes love...can drive you crazy.

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't be more opposite.

Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.

Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.

And they had a plan.

They were going to run away.

Be together forever.

And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.

Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...

She wants out.

And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.

And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...

That one true love never dies."

And the author:

"It all began with a dinosaur, a T-Rex to be exact. He was the main character in my very first short story. Me and T, well, we went places. He is the reason I won my first essay contest at age ten. And he is probably one of the number one reasons, I pursued a career in writing.

Throughout highschool, I was what you would call a rebel. Someone who had convinced herself that she had life figured out at age sixteen. Still, writing was my only safe-haven during that time. I wrote notebooks full of poetry, even writing fellow classmates papers for them.

Unbeknowest to me, creative writing, seemed to be my one, true calling, my passion in life.

At age twenty, I began writing my first novel. After that, everything seemed to fall into place.

I won Best Poets and Poems of 2007, and The Editor's Choice award for my poem, Summer Days.

Also, during that time I wrote or co-wrote fifteen different screenplays, some which earned me finalist spot in various screenplay competitions.

In 2010, I've come full force, with my novel Love Sucks, that was released by Punkin House Press, in August of 2010. On top of Love Sucks, I have six novels that are slated to be released through the next five years. Also, doing some various marketing work for authors and publishers.

I pride myself in telling fellow writers to always follow their dreams. Who knows where I would be if I would have given up."

And now for the interview questions...

1.)    I understand Insanity fits into the “New Adult” category. Was it always your intention to make your protagonists, Adelaide and Damien, at this stage in their lives? Or did it just naturally end up New Adult as you wrote it?

Actually, it was always my intention to make this a New Adult novel. Mainly because it switches back and forth from the past and present and also because I felt it was going to be to risque, brash, and boundary pushing for the YA market.

2.)    How do you think the story would be different if it was firmly “YA”  or “adult”? Are there some events or experiences in Insanity that are intrinsically New Adult?

Honestly, I’d feel like I’d have to remove some of the profanity and intimate scenes. It goes a little too far in some areas.

3.)    A lot of traditional publishers are skeptical about New Adult books. What would you say to convince them to give the category a chance?

Honestly, this is something I’m not too sure of. New Adult is genre that’s like a middleman. It’s not  YA and it’s not fully adult. So where would it sell? What would publishers be able to classify it as? That’s what I think the major issue would be. Do I think the older teens and adults would read New Adult? Yes. But there is so much more that comes into to play when it comes to publishers giving the category a chance.

       4.)   Some people argue that New Adult books don’t have a “universal experience” the way YA books do. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

        I do disagree here. I think  the universal feel of a book depends on the writer, their writing style, and the story.

 5.)   Are there a few New Adult books you could recommend to my blog readers?

Absolutely! Easy by Tammara Webber & Because of Low by Abbi Glines

Both are great reads!

Thanks so much for having me! If you get a chance check out my New Adult novel, Insanity and the sequel White Walls on June 19^th!

Lauren’s Links:

Website    -    http://laurenhammondnovelist.blogspot.com/

Goodreads    -   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4115682.Lauren_Hammond

Twitter    -    https://twitter.com/#!/NovelistLauren

Facebook   -   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Hammond/100755776636370

Purchase links for Insanity:

Amazon ebook    -    http://www.amazon.com/Insanity-The-Asylum-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B008173I62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337796479&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble ebook  -   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/insanity-lauren-hammond/1110620686?ean=2940014360340

Thanks very much for stopping by the blog and answering my questions, Lauren!

"New Adult" Niche: Guest Post by Chachic

I'm very happy to welcome Chachic from Chachic's Book Nook to the blog today for a guest post! This is part of the "New Adult" Niche feature I'm doing for my "New Adult" Reading Challenge. Chachic is the blogger who created this awesome Goodreads list last year, which I have now been using as a reference list for the challenge! 

As much as I love reading contemporary YA novels, it saddens me that there aren't as many New Adult titles out there. I keep looking for well-written novels with characters in their late teens or early twenties because I enjoy reading about their experiences: adjusting to college life, trying to figure out what to do after graduating and looking for a job that's a good fit for them. Those things remind me of what I went through at that period in my life and I keep hoping that more authors will realize that readers are just as interested in New Adult as YA. So when Danya invited me to write a guest post for her lovely blog, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the New Adult titles that I've thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller Travis is only nineteen but he signed up to become a Marine right after high school and he's been assigned to Afghanistan so Something Like Normal has an older vibe than other contemporary YA novels. Travis is dealing with some serious issues because of his experiences in the war.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta I love Melina Marchetta's writing, her characters just feel so alive. The Piper's Son occurs several years after its companion novel, Saving Francesca, with characters that are older but not necessarily wiser. The book has two main characters: twenty-one-year old Tom Mackee and his aunt Georgie.

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar Instead of studying in university, Carly dropped out and works the night shift in a cafe so she can surf as much as she wants during the day. So she definitely doesn't have typical high school worries. And her love interest? Twenty-six-year old Ryan, who's also a surfer.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols This is a classic story of bad girl meets good boy but with much more complicated characters. Going Too Far has such a great slow burn romance between wild girl Meg and young cop, John After.

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park Yay for novels set in college! I could relate to Julie's excitement at starting college and it was a lot of fun seeing her get to know the quirky members of the Watkins family. I also loved that social media sites (like Facebook) were an important aspect in this novel.

Jane by April Lindner In this modern-day retelling of Jane Eyre, Jane is a young college student who works as a nanny for the daughter of reclusive rock star, Nico Rathburn. If you're a big fan of Jane Eyre, then you should check out this retelling. But I have a feeling readers will enjoy this even if they're not familiar with the original classic novel.

These New Adult titles are installments in series so I won't say anything about them to avoid spoilers but I do recommend that you go through the earlier books so you can check these out:

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White

Thank you, Danya, for inviting me to write a guest post for your blog. Feel free to recommend New Adult titles that you think I'd enjoy!

Thanks, Chachic, for sharing your favourite New Adult reads with us! The Piper's Son is definitely on my TBR list (in fact, it's sitting on my shelf right now, waiting to be read!)

Readers, have you read any of the books Chachic has recommended? Do you have any New Adult suggestions for her?

 

"New Adult" Niche: Interview with Jennifer Comeaux

I'm happy to welcome Jennifer Comeaux, author of Life on the Edge, to the blog today for an interview! This is part of the "New Adult" Niche feature I'm doing for my "New Adult" Reading Challenge. 

First, a bit about Life on the Edge and Jennifer Comeaux:

 "Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history. 


Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily's dreams of gold." (from Goodreads)

Jennifer's bio (from her Goodreads profile):

"Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working in the corporate world, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life On the Edge, her first published novel.

When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see another side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author."

And now for the questions...

1.) Your novel Life on the Edge features a 19-year-old protagonist and can be considered New Adult. Was it a conscious decision on your part to set the story during this stage of Emily's life? Did you consider lowering her age to fit the conventional definition of YA, or raising it to appeal to older adult readers?  

I always envisioned Emily as a 19-year-old at the beginning of the story (the book spans almost two years of her life). Since the story focuses on a romance between Emily and her coach Sergei, who is in his mid-twenties, I wanted to make sure she was an appropriate age for the relationship. I also liked the age because she could be living on her own and tackling issues without her parents around for constant guidance.

I knew if I tried to shop the book to agents, they would probably want me to change Emily’s age, so that’s one of the reasons I went with a smaller publisher. I had more control over my story, and the publisher believed in it one hundred percent. No one who’s read it and has given me feedback has had an issue with the age, so I’m glad I stuck with my instincts!

2.) In what ways do you feel that the challenges and issues Emily faces as a "new adult" resonate with readers? Have you noticed that readers of a certain age or demographic gravitate towards Life on the Edge?   

I think so many readers can identify with Emily’s feelings of falling in love for the first time–that true, passionate love that you know will last forever. Emily doesn’t lead the typical “new adult” life–she’s not in college or working at a full-time job because figure skating is her career–but she still discovers new things about herself through her skating, her part-time coaching job, and her relationship with Sergei. I think a lot of people go through that kind of self-discovery when they’re in college or just starting their professional careers.

What’s been great about the reader response so far has been the wide variety of ages that have enjoyed the book. I’ve received great feedback from teens, readers in their early twenties, and lots of older adult readers, too. There hasn’t appeared to be one demographic that’s picked it up more than another. I love that adults are enjoying YA and new adult books so much!

4.) Do you read New Adult books for fun? If so, what are a few you could recommend? 

I do! A couple that I’ve enjoyed are The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld and Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan.

5.) How do you see the category of New Adult progressing over the next few years? 

I think with the surging popularity of YA novels, New Adult books can also gain popularity. Teens are reading now more than ever, and they’re going to want books that speak to them as they transition into “new adulthood.” I’d love to see more publishers embrace the genre.

6.) It has been argued that college students don't have time to read for pleasure, and so there isn't a market for New Adult books. How would you respond to that? And do you think that New Adult books might appeal to readers other than college-aged individuals? 

I think college students need an escape from their required reading! I definitely think New Adult books would appeal to readers other than college-aged individuals. As a reader in her mid-thirties, I enjoy those stories quite a bit, just as much as I enjoy young adult books. I like the added maturity of the characters in New Adult novels. They’re more mature than the teens in YA books but still haven’t quite found their way in the world yet. Just like adults enjoy reading YA books, I think they would also enjoy New Adult books if more of them found their way to the market.

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for dropping by and talking about New Adult with us! 

Readers, what do you think about the argument that "college students don't read for fun"? 

Also, it's not too late to join the "New Adult" Reading Challenge! To sign up, fill out THIS FORM.