Murder She Writes

I’m the keynote speaker for the upcoming Moonlight & Magnolia conference in Atlanta the first weekend in October. I like writing speeches about as much as I like plotting—which is to say, I’d rather walk over hot coals in bare feet being chased by a pack of hungry, man-eating arachnids.

Rocki, of course, thought I was insane two years ago when I told her I wasn’t going to write a speech for the Emerald City conference. For those of you who have had the privilege of hearing Rocki speak, you know she’s an amazing public speaker. She’s poised, polished, professional, and . . . and . . . and . . . I’m trying to think of another “p” word that means “everyone who listens to Rocki is in awe and talks about her fabulous speech or workshop.”

You get the point.

Rocki writes, rewrites, and practices her speech a gazillion times. She lectured me (and yes, it was a lecture, because I felt if I didn’t follow her advice I would be buried to the neck in the desert and have honey poured over my head) that I had to do the same thing.

I . . . can’t.

But I tried.

For Emerald City, I wrote bullet points. That didn’t work out so well because I was so paranoid about those bullet points and the speech I should have written that I started taking notes before the speech, and ended up with a mess. It wasn’t my finest presentation, but they didn’t throw tomatoes.

So, when I spoke to New Jersey RWA last year, I wrote a speech. It wasn’t bad—I actually had a theme (You’re Not Normal) and had fun writing it. No, I didn’t practice it over and over again (though I did read it out loud once to make sure it sounded natural) but I did print it out in large font and have all 10 or 11 pages there for me to read. And I knew the material well enough that I didn’t really want to read it, I was just going to use the opening lines to seque into what I wanted to talk about.

The problem? I digressed. A lot.

I think the speech ended up being pretty good, but God knows I have no idea what I said after page two. All I remember was Madeline Hunter giving me the “time” signal, though I didn’t know that at the time ☺ I looked at my speech, realized I hadn’t really given it, and jumped to the last page so I could have a conclusion.

So as I started thinking about what I would say to the Moonlight & Magnolia conference goers, I knew I’d need to find a happy medium between the bullet points and the full-length speech that never was read.

But what would I talk about? What would I say? How can I inspire people while also being realistic about writing and publishing and the whole enchilada?

That’s where I am now. I’m using the conference theme as my springboard: Master Your Story, Master Your Destiny. First, I have to figure out what that means.

I like my “You’re Not Normal” theme. My kids have told me that I’m not like other moms, and I take that as a compliment. Why be normal? What’s the fun in being like everyone else? So I’m thinking of a “Master Your Story Because Your Family Already Thinks You’re Crazy” approach.

Or maybe a Star Wars theme, where the Padawan turns into a Jedi Master because it’s his destiny . . . and the force is what we learn that makes us better storytellers, and the dark side is the negative people who try to stop us from achieving our goals.

Or not. :/

So I have a few questions for MSW readers. What types of speeches do you enjoy listening to? Do you want to learn something? Be entertained? Be inspired? Or learn something while simultaneously being entertained and inspired? (Whew, big shoes to fill! I hope Rocki hasn’t spoke to M&M yet because I don’t think I can reach her bar!)

Do you like journey stories? (What I did to get from point A to B.) Or not? What’s a recent speaker you’ve heard where you think, wow, that was fabulous! And then remember something about the speech later. What is that tidbit that stuck with you?

I’m very interested in your comments and opinions, so please share . . . and if you honestly have nothing to say, say “hi” because I’m giving away books to commenters! Three people will win any backlist title of mine they want.

I’m committed to giving away over 200 books between now and the release of LOVE ME TO DEATH on December 28. I’m giving away a book every week to my Facebook Fans and to my Twitter Followers, and a book a day in December. Plus other days with special contests and fun things through those two venues and my newsletter. So follow me, like me, whatever you want, and you will get more chances to win free books in my #lovemetodeath giveaway!

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I am thrilled to have as our guest today the talented and successful author of twenty-eight books, Mariah Stewart! (Applause, whistles.) Mariah writes both romantic suspense and women’s fiction for Ballantine, most recently her Chesapeake Bay series that launched last March with COMING HOME. Book two, ALMOST HOME, was released on July 27th. A native of New Jersey, Mariah now makes her home in Chester County, PA which, as you’ll read below, puts her much further from bookstores that most of us would prefer! Mariah has generously agreed to give a signed copy of COMING HOME to on lucky commenter, and she’ll pop in throughout the day to chat and answer questions, so please give a big, warm MSW welcome to Mariah Stewart!

Thanks, MSW, for inviting me to chat! I spent way too long trying to decide what to write about, but kept getting pulled back to Laura Griffin’s 8/13 blog about book stores.
I love book stores. While I do admit to loving the convenience of ordering books online – we live 24.7 miles from the nearest book store – for me, there are few happier ways to spend an hour or so than wandering around a good book store and picking up books that catch my eye and chatting with a knowledgeable staff.

All of which makes me think about book sellers.

Is it me, or does it seem that real book sellers are hard to find? Does anyone share my frustration with the stores whose staff don’t seem to know books beyond the latest best seller? Not to knock anyone, but I’ve asked to be directed to the latest J.D. Robb only to have the book seller ask, “What does he write?”

Sigh.

I want to talk about the book sellers who are worth their weight in gold. I’m talking about the book seller who really hand sells books – the one who, when you say, “I want a dark suspense novel”, knows what to show you – or who, when you say, “I want a romantic suspense that’s both darkly suspenseful yet sexy and romantic”, immediately responds, “Have you read Allison Brennan? Roxanne St. Clair?”

That kind of bookseller.

Oh, and one whose upper lip doesn’t curl into a sneer when you ask where the romances are.

Yeah, that book seller.

I’ve been lucky to know several such book selling stars. RWA’s Bookseller of the Year, Gail Link (who is also a published author), is one. When I first met Gail, back in the early 90’s, she was working for Waldenbooks in Granite Run Mall in Lima, PA. Now she’s hand selling for Barnes & Noble in Wilmington, DE, and running a terrific romance readers group there. If you’re a published author and you’re going to be in the area, you should put this B&N on your list of stores to visit.

Another local (well, if you consider a 65 minute drive local!) book store where they know their customers and cater to them, is the fabulous Borders Express in the Springfield Mall in Springfield, PA, where Maureen Downey as manager and Jennifer Wilson as assistant manager really know their stuff!

Maureen and Jenn not only sell romance and romantic suspense and mysteries and thrillers by the boat load, they read it. They know which customers read which authors, and when a new author comes on the scene, they don’t hesitate to let their customers know about it. Their customers rely so heavily on their recommendations, that several of them have standing orders for the store to put aside books they think the customers might like. That might be my new definition of trust, folks!

Chester County Books & Music in West Chester, PA, has a whole slew of real book sellers on their staff. Imagine, if you can, an entire store full of people who love books and love to talk about books and love to help you find just the right book. It’s tough to single out anyone at this store, because the staff here is all pretty wonderful, but I can’t think of CCBM without thinking about Joe Draybak, who is one of the best book sellers I’ve ever met: a man who not only loves books, but loves writers and readers alike. I’ve spent many hours in this store, sometimes shopping, sometimes signing my own books. It’s no accident that this large independent book store is a book tour “must”. It seems that everyone who’s anyone has signed here – I mean, name a really big-name author, and chances are, they’ve been here at least once or twice. By the way, CCBM has a huge mystery and thriller section – more authors than I’ve seen represented anywhere else.

In my experience, book sellers like these are too few and far between, but those who are out there, are a reader’s (and an author’s) best friends.

So my question to you all today: Is there a store where you love to shop for books because the staff knows you and knows what you like to read? Do you know any book sellers like Gail, or Maureen and Jenn, or Joe and his remarkable co-workers? If so, give them a shout out – tell us who they are, and where their store is.

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I’m in New York and was gone all day, so this is a short blog, but should be fun!

I usually don’t like doing those meme things, but while I was waiting for my flight @popculturenerd on Twitter posted this link and challenged us to come up with answers. Using 2009 books read is not cheating, I’ve been told, and because I’m having a hard time answering these with the books I’ve read in the last 18 months (I swear, I used to read 4 books A WEEK; I’m lucky to read 2 books a month now) it can be any book you’ve read. (Yes, I’m changing the rules. Why? Because there are no rules, only guidelines.) Okay, one rule, the sentence has to be a truth about you.

So below are my answers. If you post YOUR answers, you’ll be entered in a drawing for any title in my backlist–winners posted on Sunday. (and you don’t have to post all your answers, just what comes to you!)

Ready?

In high school I was DYING TO PLEASE
People might be surprised I’m THE GUNSLINGER
I will never be DEAD WRONG (at least, that’s what I tell my kids!)
My fantasy job is ONE POLICE PLAZA
At the end of a long day I need SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
I hate it when (it’s) ICE COLD
I wish I had THE VILLA
My family reunions are (an) ANIMAL FARM
At a party you’d find me with KILLER INSTINCT
I’ve never been to HARVEST
A happy day includes COMING HOME
Motto I live by TELL NO ONE (well, most of the time!)
On my bucket list GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In my next life, I want to be CHARMED AND DANGEROUS

Okay, your turn!

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In December of 2005, I received my box of author copies of THE PREY, my first book.

There is nothing as exciting–except maybe holding your child after birth–than holding your first book. Months, sometimes years, of work to create a story that someone loved enough to published . . . and there it is, right in your hand. A story that started with an intangible idea, a spark of an idea, now a real book.

Long ago, a multi-published author–I can’t remember who–told me to savor each moment of publication, not just for the first book or the second, but every book after that. Because eventually, I may become complacent, or disgruntled, and I won’t take the time to simply enjoy holding a new book for the first time.

On Friday I received two copies of my fourteenth book–CARNAL SIN. It didn’t matter all the anguish that went into this book both during the writing and during production; it didn’t matter that we had cover changes and ended up with something I didn’t particularly want; I love this book. Holding it reminded me of everything I loved about writing it; I remembered my characters, the storyline, the decisions I made and the characters made. And even though this is #14, it feels like the first time.

I turned in my revisions for LOVE ME TO DEATH, the first Lucy Kincaid book, this weekend. A completely different story than CARNAL SIN. Not forgotten the book or the fact that it goes on sale in less than three weeks, but I’d put the world I’d created out of my head. Maybe that’s why seeing CS in print was so exciting–I was so immersed in my latest story that I’d put aside the paranormal.

I was probably more excited–at least I showed it more–when I received a box full of THE PREY. But my heart still pounded and I couldn’t help but smile when I held the first physical copy of CARNAL SIN.

Sometimes, the business of writing is almost unbearable. And there’s a lot of things about the business–everything but the writing part–that is frustrating or completely out of your control. That’s why enjoying the simple things–like holding the first copy of every book–is so important. It reminds us why we write, what we love about this story, and that even with all the pain and anguish of writing and production and the business of writing, the most important thing IS the story, exemplified in the final book.

What’s one thing you do that always feels new and wonderful? No matter how small . . .

Comment for a chance to win an early copy of CARNAL SIN!

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Catholics aren’t supposed to be superstitious. (I can hear a lot of you laughing out there, because the Irish are mostly Catholic and the Irish are very superstitious!) I suppose it doesn’t help that I’m Irish Catholic. :/

Writers also tend to be a bit neurotic. Some of us never read our books after they are published. Some of us have little rituals in the morning to help lure the muse out of hiding. Some of us simply write off our entire career as rubbing the right lucky shamrock at the right time when all the moons are aligned.

I don’t know any writer who doesn’t feel that what they are writing is the worst drivel on the planet. Self-doubt is part of this business–I think all creative people doubt their talent because the final product, be it a book or a movie or a painting or a song, is subjective. Some people will love it. Some people will hate it. Also, we feel guilty (or maybe it’s just us Irish Catholics who feel guilty, though some of my Jewish friends say their mothers have the market cornered on wielding guilt as a weapon.) Why guilt? Because if we LIKE the book we’ve written, is that too arrogant? What gives us the right to deem our novel worthy?

I have a few more chapters left of my page proofs for CARNAL SIN, which I need to FedEx this afternoon. Reading the page proofs is the last time I’ll see this book before it is printed. And now I’m scared. Because I really like this book. For those who know me, I tweak extensively in the page proof stage, cutting repetition, changing words, sometimes adding or deleting whole paragraphs–sometimes even adding in an entire scene! But not this time. I’m being hypercritical of everything because I like it. I really, really like this book–and I’m terrified that I’m going to jinx it. That if I LIKE the book, everyone else is going to hate it. Or worse, that I’m blind to the story’s flaws.

The same goes for my career. When someone congratulates me on my success, I want to say, “Don’t jinx it!” Instead, I’m gracious and smile and say, “Thank you.” Because what do you really say to that? Every writer is crawling up the side of an hour-glass, and once you start on the upslope, you’re hanging on only by the sheer force of your will, your perseverance, and even a little luck. Talent matters, but talent isn’t the ONLY thing that matters.

Three months and CARNAL SIN will be on the shelves. No matter how well it does, or doesn’t do, I know I wrote the best book I could write at the time. And really? That’s all any writer has control over. The story on the pages.

I’m giving away books! A copy of ORIGINAL SIN, book one of the Seven Deadly Sins series and a copy of COMING HOME by Mariah Stewart (I thought I ordered two copies, but I ordered three from Amazon, so I have an extra! My mom gets one.) And the two winners get to pick a friend to win, too! Those friends will win any title from my backlist, your choice! Just post a comment, any comment. But what I’m really interested in today is your superstition. Do you throw spilled salt over your shoulder? Avoid walking under ladders? Do you have a special ritual when you write? What about before you fly or go on a car drive?

Other than my fear of jinxing myself if I expect something good to happen, I have a little superstition related to gambling. Long ago, I won $500 at Craps in Lake Tahoe. That day, I’d played Roulette for the first time, right when I walked into the casino. Now, I can’t go to a casino without playing Roulette first because I have this subconscious belief that it helped in winning Craps (though I lost $20 on Roulette.)

And now, you’ll be the first to see the cover for CARNAL SIN. Drum roll please . . .

My eighth grade daughter Kelly is an avid reader and will soon be launching her own blog when her mother finds ten minutes to put it together for her . . . she’s well-read in YA, loves historical, paranormal, and contemporary, and has well-formed opinions about a whole host of things, including what makes (and doesn’t make!) a good story. She prefers stories on the darker side, as you can see from her recommended YA reading list below. Like mother, like daughter perhaps? I saw this in her at the early age of eight, however, when she started reading the Lemony Snickett SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS books and said she loved them “because bad things happened and they didn’t have a happy ending.”

Here is what she thinks you should know BEFORE writing YOUR YA novel . . .

As an avid YA reader, I’ve read a wide variety of YA authors and story plots. I’ve seen vampires, witches, werewolves, romance, history, teen drama, you name it. I’ve been reading YA since I grew out of Junie B. Jones, and I appreciated a lot more when I was younger. But now the YA market is really driving me up the wall! I don’t know if it’s the authors people are choosing to rave about, publishers publishing books in that market that really weren’t meant to be there, or just less respect for the really good novels targeted to my age group. But the biggest fad I’m really noticing, is adult authors writing for YA. Done well, this could be a good thing. But more likely than not, it leaves a lot of young people annoyed. Adult authors, I’ve noticed, who do well in the YA market are the Fantasy type, because their main focus is that: fantasy. But I’ve yet to find a romance writer that can really pull off a fairly decent YA novel. Why, you ask? Well, before you even consider stepping near the YA genre, read this first …

For starters, if your writing successful novels for adults, and ADULTS love them, that’s probably a good place for you to stay. If you find that a younger audience is attracted to your work, than yeah, YA is something to consider. But here are a few suggestions from someone in your target audience:

Don’t Talk Down To Your Audience

One thing that I get extremely annoyed with is when adult authors (usually romance) talk down to their audience. It’s sort of like reading a how-to book in origami when you’ve been doing origami your whole life. Authors often ‘over enunciate’ plots, meaning they will repeat things over and over, and the plot seems babyish. Everything is over described, from what they’re doing at that very moment to every movement and hand gesture they make when talking. Big page filler for sure.

Basically, authors are afraid to really delve into the story and make it interesting, because what’s going through their head is “YA YA I’m writing for YA.” They will sugar-coat life and make it flowery, and sometimes just write it the way they remembered life at that age. They’ll cover the basics. I sometimes would really like to love an author’s story telling ability, because most of the time, it’s pretty good. But it’s this talking down to that really has me at my hair’s end. One thing I can’t stress enough is to not think about your audience! I would, and probably a lot of other readers, rather read an author that is complex and interesting that should be pulled back a little than an author that sounds like they’re writing for 3rd graders. If you think you’ll struggle with this, I suggest writing a smart ‘clean adult novel’ and then fixing it up a bit for YA, or if you think you’ll do better writing for a “lower” audience, market for the younger kids’ section.

Avoid Too Much Dialogue

Again, something you should not do is make your book entirely dialogue based. It usually is boring and uninteresting.

Language Dos And Don’ts

My parents are usually pretty ok with what I read as long as it’s not super explicit, and probably a lot of other parents too. And I’ve yet to find a YA book that shows anything like explicit sex and language. But as writers repeat the mantra “YA I’m writing YA”, what comes to their mind is using language that they think teenagers are more likely to use. For example, instead of saying, ‘bull shit’ they’ll use “bull poopie” or instead of “fucking” they’ll say “effin’” Things like that aren’t terrible, except when they’re overdone. I think most people would be surprised at the language us youngin’s use today. Adults tend to think that they need to modify every word that comes out of their character’s mouth to be ‘acceptable’. That doesn’t mean throwing curse words all over the page, but it also doesn’t mean sugar coating it the way you think teens should talk, because, more likely than not, we don’t talk like that. Instead, think about your character. Are they more likely to swear (big time), use clean swear occasionally, or not at all? If you’re making all of your characters look like little kids trying to be like their big sisters, it not going to be interesting. My one piece of advice about language is to either use it, or don’t use it at all. What I don’t mind is when authors, trying to get their book to be appropriate for every audience, will say lines such as:

As I was about to tell him to go to a place he wouldn’t need that fat mouth of his to go to…
She spat some colorful language and then doubled over…

Or if you’re going to use it, use it:

Shit, that asshole totally fucked with her.
What the hell are you doing?!

You get the idea.

Write Believable Characters

As in any novel, characters are the most important part of a great story. Writing characters in YA books is no different than writing about adults. The worst thing you could possibly do with character development in a YA novel, or any novel for that matter, is to make every character stereotypical to the role they play in the book. For example, making your main character the ‘average’ girl and pushing that factor farther than it needs to go. When there’s nothing different or interesting about the characters and they don’t grow and develop as the book(s) go on, then the plot will go nowhere. Like I said with the language concept, every character is different; they talk, react, and act upon certain situations than maybe another 16 year old girl in the story would. Stamping a label on your characters isn’t real at all because in real life, everyone knows there’s more than just one label on a person. Teenagers change and mature in their lives, so if your series goes on long term, be sure that the reader sees how they’ve changed in a relatable way. They could change by the way they speak, react, and handle situations. Otherwise, it’s just boring, and again, a little babyish. Some of you may be thinking “Well, duh, of course I wouldn’t write my characters like that!” but you’d be surprised at how many books do this. If you’d like an example, here’s an average scenario I’ve seen in too many YA books to count:

Average, everyday girl with long dark hair, doesn’t really fit in, not popular but not geeky either, has best girl friend who is super pretty and popular and gets all the guys. Has cute kind of nerdy guy friend who she is or will fall in love with and thin pretty mom who has done so much that she’ll never do. [insert tramatic experience here] happens and they are trying to deal. Oh, look! Super mysterious super-hot guy comes along! She’d never have a chance with him but she is oh-so intrigued and drawn to him…but look! She discovers she has some mysterious scary power herself!

If any part of your story resembles three or more of the scenarios above, I would consider thinking your story through a little more.

You might ask why authors reuse and reuse this plot, and trust me, it’s definitely not just adult authors who do it. Two words: It’s easy. Not many authors realize this, but it just shows that the author is not creative enough to think of a hard-core, complex story. Why is it so easy? You have the average girl, who can relate to all readers. Every reader can see themselves inside that girl, no matter who she is or what clique she’s in. The reader can relate to not always being in the spotlight, or being in it when she doesn’t want to be. Having a huge crush on the guy friend she’s known all her life, being jealous of other girls, stress with doing well in school, living up to parents potential. All just a part of puberty and growing up. And once you get to the mysterious hot boy aspect, you should do successful with non-avid readers, young adult and adult for sure. Because every person wants to be that girl. To bring themselves up from where they are in life even if it’s kind of hard. Doesn’t everyone want to discover something they would never know could be possible about themselves? Whether it’s power to see the dead, becoming a vampire, getting magic witch powers, and in the end falling in love. That’s what every girl wants to see happen in her life. Basically, it’s her own fantasy, the fantasy no one every talks about with their friends, =is always in the back of her mind, hoping that she will be that Bella Swan and fall in love and make something of herself. It’s human nature.

So, back to book selling, what will happen when girls can relate? It will get published and sell. But it will never stand out from anything else out there. Never give anyone a different ambition. So, this was not to persuade you to write or not write this basic plot, just to show why it sells and why authors do it, and most importantly, why you should step away from that and write something more creative.

If you didn’t realize it after reading this, which you most likely have, is the fact that readers don’t want to see a cut-and-paste life with sprinkles on top. So many YA authors are great story tellers, and I want to love their stories, but just the fact that they’re writing isn’t for the right market brings it down. A lot of it isn’t even the writing itself, just the plot. A lot of authors, even though they can argue otherwise, are following the Twilight suit. More than ever adult authors are trying to make it into YA hoping for the success of Stephenie Meyer (I’m not saying this literally, if you’re a writer, you write to write, not for fame or money) and even though they don’t realize it, most of them are following in her footsteps.

Paranormal Romance is pretty much the genre dominating all things YA. And let me tell you: It. Is. So. Annoying.

Have you walked into the YA section of Borders lately? If so, you’ve seen the huge TWILIGHT-dedicated shelf, and right below, the sign that reads, “If you like Twilight you’ll also like…” and all the not-paranormal-romance-books are crammed into a corner, on their own lone shelf, while everyone rants and raves about the writing that’s just, well, not always as great. My point is, if you really have your heart set on this genre, do it WELL. Make it different from all the other pop culture books dominating the high shelves. If you’re more interested in the romance than the paranormal, write romance. Do NOT just throw the paranormal in as a side note, because a lot of fantasy lovers will be very disappointed. If you love the fantasy aspect, again, do not throw the romance in because it will more likely than not just seem awkward. Make the reader say “Hey, I didn’t think of it that way…” and make it a challenge for yourself. But, if I were writing, I’d step away from that sparkling, inviting market to do something more interesting.

Now my whole point of this blog was not to trash authors trying to make their way into YA, not at all. This is just what I‘ve found annoying in a lot of authors that do. I guess you could call them Tips from a Reader Who Knows. If you think you’d be more successful with adults, just stick to that market, but if you’re making your way to YA, make it different, make it new, interesting, and consider some stuff I’ve said here.

Books I like and why I like them

My mom told me I could not post books that I didn’t like and why I disliked them, but that she wanted to me to be positive instead. I’m fine with that (ha ha.) One thing that would be helpful if you’re writing YA, is to do your research and read lots and lots of YA novels, such as the ones I list here.

GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray (class of its own)- This is one of my recently favorite books of all time. It’s a genre all its own. All crazy unexpected twists and turns full of laughs and tears, it’s the perfect YA read. I highly suggest this to anyone looking for a really good novel.

Libba’s Gemma Doyle trilogy (fantasy/historical), beginning with A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY, is a great historical/fantasy story, another one of my favorites that I’ve re-read.

UNWIND and EVERLOST by Neal Shusterman (sci-fi/thriller)- Definitely another one of my favorites, his books are placed in a sci-fi fantasy world that perfectly mixes real life issues that teens go through everyday in a smart and fascinating way. Yet they’re so broad pretty much all ages can read them. I highly recommend him.

BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves (fantasy/romance)- I reviewed this one for RT magazine and gave it 4 stars. This is a perfect example of paranormal romance done right. Hanna is most definitely not your average girl, and the romance doesn’t over power the dark, thrilling, horrific fantasy. Comes out January 2010. Definitely an author to watch for!

LAMENT and BALLAD by Maggie Stiefvater (fantasy)- A mostly fantasy based story, but definitely written in a beautiful, lyrical way, with a little romance thrown in perfectly. Both books in different POV’s, the first Dee, an introduction to the faerie world, and her best friend James, which gets more in depth with him and his relationship with Dee and the fay.

CITY OF GLASS trilogy by Cassandra Clare (action/fantasy/thriller)- an action packed demonic trilogy that’s definitely one of my favorites. A great example because for one, she’s an adult author, and on her website, she says the series was originally for adults, but the characters evolved into teenagers.

Any of Sarah Dessen’s novels (romance/drama)- If you ever even consider writing anything in the YA genre, you must read her books first. Her books are unique and address problems that any teenager can relate to and understand. Typically, her books have the same idea (girl struggling, meets different and unique guy who helps her through it, finding he has problems of his own) but each one is so unique, and the characters evolve in such a way that her stories are such a pleasure to read; anyone would adore her.

SPEAK and WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson (drama)- If you haven’t heard of her, you must be living under a YA rock. A wonderful and talented writer, her books are wonderfully crafted in a wonderful yet tear-jerking way, the first with a girl struggling to find her voice, the other with a girl struggling with eating disorders after the death of a friend. Must reads.

EVERMORE (The Immortals series) by Alyson Noel (fantasy/romance)- Again, paranormal romance done right. Ever is not your average girl, being a popular blond before an accident that killed her family and gave her psychic abilities. Her relationship with Damen balances the fantasy in a perfect way, never overriding it but combining it. In RT, I gave SHADOWLAND, the third in the series, a Top Pick.

THE FETCH (historical/paranormal) and A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT (Paranormal/drama) by Laura Whitcomb- Great writing and original, interesting stories.

Kelly has to go to school–mid-terms this week!–but she’ll be back tonight after basketball practice to talk more about books and what she likes (and doesn’t like!) Feel free to ask her (or me) questions–she’s very well and widely read in the YA genre (and younger books as well) When considering trying out for the middle school basketball team, Kelly said, “I’m just afraid that practice will take away from my reading time.” Gotta love that girl!

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At present, Young Adult titles are hot. Hot, hot, hot. Have you been in a bookstore lately? (Yes, dumb question for this group!) The YA section is bigger than the Romance section and the Mystery/Thriller section at my Borders, and wonderfully laid out. Bigger in floor space, but not titles . . . but close. And you want to spend time in the YA section because it’s a bit roomier, has more freestanding displays, and the books are more artfully arranged.

I’ve been trying to get my #2 daughter, Kelly, to blog for me. But when I thought of it tonight (I do procrastinate and wait until the last minute on oh, so many things. . . ) she was already in bed reading. I’ll try to give her enough warning before my next blog, because she has some very interesting insights into YA books. When I say Kelly is an avid reader, I’m not joking. She’s in honors English and has to read 1800 pages by the end of the year. She read over 1800 pages in the first QUARTER. And that does not include the books she had to read for class.

The reason I’m so interested in YA is because Kelly is an avid reader and bringing YA books into the house. I know a lot of adults who read YA, but I’m not one of them. Not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t have time to read all the books I HAVE to read, followed by the authors I WANT to read when they come out. I’m still two books behind in the JD Robb series, and that’s practically a sacrilege because I buy them in hardcover. Preorder them because I have to have them right when they come out.

But, there have been a few I’ve picked up off her shelf and started reading and not wanted to put it down. Neal Shusterman, for example. He draws the reader in, YA or adult, immediately.

I started thinking about what was available specifically for the YA audience when I was growing up, and honestly? Not much. By the time I was Kelly’s age (13) I had moved pretty much into the adult book market. Stephen King, for example. I read a lot of mysteries because my mom had a lot of mysteries on her shelves. Ed McBain and Joseph Wambaugh, for example, were standard fare. I (cough) read all my mom’s Danielle Steele some of which were less appropriate for me than others . . . and the big 80s glitzy books like Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins. I know, so not me, but when you read a lot and can’t afford to buy books and your mother has this huge library, you start working your way through it . . .

When I was a pre-teen and younger, there was Judy Blume and Paula Danzinger and Lois Duncan, and of course Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. Fabulous books, though mostly outdated now (though I saw at Borders a reissue of FOREVER with a new cover.) That was probably the raciest “YA” book I read. What I loved about Judy Blume, though, was that she dealt with pre-teen issues. Fatherless daughters, starting your period, weight, and more.

There were of course fantasy and science fiction which is not specifically YA, but appealing to most of us in the 70s and early 80s, like Robert Heinlein and C.S. Lewis and Tolkein, which I read as a freshman in high school. But when I look back on my childhood reading, there was no true transition. No “YA” targeted market like there is today.

Poor us. Because I look at Kelly’s bookshelf and I’m damn jealous! Where were these stories when I was growing up?

Kelly has always been a reader, but it was THE SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS that I think was the turning point for her. For Christmas, right before she turned nine, I bought her the first three books of the series. She devoured them. I got her the rest for her ninth birthday, and she lamented that she had to wait for #12 to come out that October, then another 9-12 months before the last book came out. By that time, she’d outgrown the series, but Lemony Snickett? THANK YOU! Luke is up next (if I can get Kelly to let him borrow her books. She is incredibly anal about her books–considering her clothes are all over her room, her bookshelves are pristine. What’s with that?)

I bought A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY for my oldest daughter, the one who doesn’t love to read. (I did find some books she loved–Jax Abbott/Alesia Holliday now Alyssa Day’s SUPER 16 books; Gena Showalter’s teenage alien huntress series; and RL Stine’s Fear Street. So if you have a 11-14 year old who doesn’t love to read, try those. Katie is now nearly 16 and only reads if she has to. Sigh. I swear, she IS my daughter.)

So Katie didn’t read it, but Kelly picked it up one day and started it. Loved it. The second book was out by that time, and she had to wait for the third, THE SWEET FAR THING, which she said was the best. She recently finished Libba Bray’s GOING BOVINE, a contemporary story about a boy with mad cow disease. She could not put it down.

And of course she read the TWILIGHT series. Again, I bought TWILIGHT for Katie, thinking she’d like it. She read the cover copy and said, “This is about vampires. Yuck.” (Okay, I’m picking on Katie, I know, but she’s not shallow. She dreaded summer reading for school, but once she started FAHRENHEIT 451 she was hooked and we had some great discussions about that book. Katie likes books to be to the point, fast-paced, and action filled. She gives the author three pages. Kelly doesn’t mind detail and description. She gives an author 100 pages, and then figures if she’s already invested that much time she’ll finish the book. Katie likes contemporary; Kelly will read anything, but has an affinity for historicals. Like, she’s read the LUXE series.)

Kelly is now reviewing YA books for RT Book Reviews. When she got the ARC for SHADOWLAND by Alyson Noel you’d have thought she’d won the lottery. The sheer joy and excitement on her face, the fact that she finds books she can not put down, reminds me of when I loved to read. (BTW, she “discovered” Alyson Noel before EVERMORE came out. I bought one of her books because I’d met and liked her, and gave it . . . again . . . to Katie who didn’t read it, but Kelly loved it. So she was anticipating EVERMORE before it because a hit.)

Don’t get me wrong–I still love to read. But since I’ve been published, my reading time is limited, and I find that I don’t risk my reading time. I read the tried and true authors, writers I know won’t let me down. Before I was published, if I started a book, I finished it. ALWAYS. Now? I give the author about three chapters. If I put it down and think, ho hum, I don’t care, I’ll never pick it up because I have far too many books to read–books I have to read (galleys for blurbs, the Thriller Award entries) that I’m not going to waste my time on something that doesn’t hold my interest. But I used to read every day. I read fast, and I’d read 2-3 books a week. I’m lucky to read one book a month for pleasure–solely because I want to read the book.

There is not a day that goes by that Kelly isn’t reading something. She can’t go to sleep without reading first. Over the weekend she finished BALLAD by Maggie Stiefvater (she loved it). Tonight, it’s EVERWILD by Neal Shusterman. She’ll be done by the weekend, then she has about ten books to choose from, all that have been released in the last few months. (BTW, Kelly created her first fan book trailer for Shusterman’s book UNWIND which she says is one of her all-time favorite books. He posted it to his website, isn’t that cool?)

We didn’t have those kind of choices when I was growing up. The authors we did have targeting the teenage market were fantastic, but there weren’t many. Now? Exploding and getting bigger every day.

I’d thought it might be a fad for awhile. The huge success of HARRY POTTER and TWILIGHT, among others, would go by the wayside after those kids grew up . . . but . . . it hasn’t.

New readers are coming in and excited by the choices, and authors are responding.

I always tell people DON’T WRITE TO THE MARKET. Write what you love, otherwise there will be no passion in your work. It’s not a secret that I started getting burned out writing romantic suspense. I didn’t want that, because I love romantic suspense. But after 12 books in a row, I was burning to write something different, and since my Seven Deadly Sins series had been on my mind for six years–and already sold–I itched to write it. I love supernatural stories, and I wanted to write a supernatural thriller, going back to the classic stories I loved growing up. And while ORIGINAL SIN may appeal to the Young Adult market like Stephen King does to some, it’s not a YA book.

Kelly always asks me if I’m going to write a YA. I tell her, if I come up with an idea I love. But I’ve listened to her talk about the books she reads, and one thing she doesn’t like is when an adult author changes and writes YA and talks down to the reader, dumps down the book, or doesn’t “sound” like a YA author. Voice is important in every book, but doubly important in YA. And thus, I don’t think I have a YA voice. I said that to her tonight, and she said, “Well, if you write something, I’ll tell you whether it’s any good. I’ll critique it. Harshly.” I told her she could read ORIGINAL SIN, but now I’m scared.

But . . . I’ve been thinking about it lately because Kelly talks about her books all the time. What WOULD I write if I wrote a YA series? One of the themes I’ve always loved to read was about Utopian societies (which are all really dystopias in disguise, but that’s a whole ‘nother blog.) Kelly read THE GIVER by Lois Lowry in school this year, which is a classic “utopian” society. I won’t say that’s what I WOULD write, but it’s close–a near future or alternate future “urban fantasy”/dystopian society with a teenage protagonist. Yes, it’s being done a lot now and I have no time. My other love is mysteries, a modern day Nancy Drew–like Veronica Mars meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer or something fun like that. But . . . I’ll never say never. Because I can’t change my voice, and I honestly don’t know if I have a YA voice.

So what is the future of YA? I don’t think it’s peaked in any way. But as with all genres, there is blending all the time. Urban Fantasy is moving into YA, Fantasy and Romance. Paranormal can be in thrillers, and YAs could be divided even more, some moving into adult genres, like romance, or fantasy, or mysteries. I don’t know if we CAN know what’ll happen, but right now I think the exploding YA market is great for the teens of today, and the adult readers of tomorrow.

So as an adult, do you read YA books? If so, why? How do they differ from adult books, or rather, what do they provide that maybe books for the adult market don’t?

Kelly’s UNWIND book trailer (the first trailer she did–the summer before last, when she was 12!). I’ll get her to write a blog soon; I’m sure it’ll be interesting!

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So. Um. As you read this, it is my birthday. 

(An aside, when I was very little, I thought that it was an absolute TRAGEDY that anyone had to work or do anything on my birthday that wasn’t a celebration of MEEEEE. How on earth could that happen? And then, as I got closer to the double digits, I finally comprehended that absolutely every single person had a birthday. I cannot tell you how disgusted I was when I learned that mine was not, actually, special to everyone else on the planet.)

I love birthdays. I am one of those curmudgeons who hate all of the manufactured holidays and forced gift-giving that is the guilt-fest of Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Wears Bermuda Shorts Day. But birthdays? They are fun. Wonderful to celebrate. (And I honestly do not mean with gifts. My family and I do not exchange gifts on birthdays except for the little kids among us.) (Did I mention I’m still a little kid?) (Ha.)

My husband cracks up laughing because every year, I start thinking about my birthday in April, and I automatically adjust my age a year up. And then sometime along about the end of May, because I’ve been saying the higher number, someone will inevitably ask how old I will be on my birthday and I’ll think of the number I’ve been saying and then add one more, since my birthday would be on the horizon. Then a few days later, on or right before the day, I’ll realize my math mistake and have to subtract a year. This happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR. And not on purpose. You’d think after 47 years, I could learn simple math. Then he’ll laugh because he knows I’m going to stay up ’til midnight (because I have to ring my birthday in with a wish) and the next night, I’ll stay up ’til midnight (because I want to end the day with reflection and evaluations and a prayer.) This is my own personal New Year, where I think about who I’ve been, parse through the failures, look at what I’ve achieved and resolve what I’d like to become over the next year. 

Plus. BIRTHDAY CAKE.

You know, what’s not to love?

My absolute worst birthday was when I was eleven. 11. My birthday is June 11th (in case I haven’t said that enough times yet) and being 11 on the 11th was THE COOLEST THING EVER. I may have said that about sixty quibillion times leading up to that birthday, and I might have possibly implied that I was going to be the Supreme Commander of the Universe as a result of being 11 on the 11th… I don’t know what it was, exactly, that set the wheel of doom in motion, but I can still remember in crystal clarity how much my little brother COMPLETELY SUCKED and RUINED THE DAY and yes, I am 47, and am over it. (Almost.) I am not kidding when I tell you that he pulled out Every. Single. Annoying. Mean. Thing. He. Could. Do. And did them, over and over and over. My parents were at work, there was birthday cake for the evening, plenty of favorite snack foods available, a book I was looking forward to lazing in the bed all day and reading (still my favorite birthday habit), and he DRUMMED on my door. For hours. (Which was only the beginning of my personal hell.) The only reason I did not go out of that room and beat him to a pulp was that I was wearing a brand new shirt and I didn’t want to get blood on it. Seriously. He totally owes his life to a little blue t-shirt.

My absolute best birthday, though, was in 2006. I am not sure anything can top standing in a bookstore for the first time as an author and seeing my book at the “New in Fiction” table. It was real. My dream was real. I was an honest-to-God author of a novel. 

So today, my oldest son and his wife are coming in to town and we’ll visit and probably go out to eat with them and the youngest group and basically, be lazy. It will be a terrific birthday, because everyone is safe. Healthy. Working toward their dreams. It doesn’t get much better than that.

How about you? I know you have a birthday, so what day is it? (You are not obligated to tell the year, or how old you are.) What was your worst birthday? And your favorite? Or what would you like to do to celebrate your next birthday?