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YA GROWS UP: 6 Bestselling Young Adult Authors Discuss The Most-Misunderstood Genre
What fiction gets the least attention from readers? YA. This long overlooked, sorely underestimated genre has some of the most thought-provoking, creative and adept prose out there today. So, why hasn't Oprah come a-calling for Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak or Walter Dean Myers' Monster? Read on as best-selling novelists Laurie Halse Anderson, Meg Cabot, Chris Crutcher, Sarah Dessen, Walter Dean Myers and Garth Nix discuss the trials and triumphs of Young Adult literature.
Meet
the Authors:
Questions
1.
AOTW: Since none of you are in the demographic of your primary reading audience, how do you find your voice and ensure that it stays fresh?
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2.
AOTW: What do you think of the YA genre? Is the category too limited by its name? If you could rename the genre what would you call it, and how would you promote it differently?
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3.
AOTW: Do you feel there is a stigma attached to reading YA fiction if you are an adult? Do you feel that there should be more promotion to adults of these titles?
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4.
AOTW: Knowing that what you write is reaching a younger audience, do you ever censor yourself? Do you find editors are harsher on the content of books targeted for teens? Is there any subject you feel is just inappropriate to address in a YA book? Conversely, are there any topics you think should be addressed more often?
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5.
AOTW: Some of the major, overarching themes in teen literature are alienation, love (the good, bad and ugly) and family dysfunction. Do you find yourself writing a lot about these things? If so, how do you keep your stories new and fresh?
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6.
AOTW: Are teen books, more than any other genre, expected to deliver advice? Do you get letters from your readers asking for your take on their daily problems? How do you respond?
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7.
AOTW: Journaling and writing in diaries is a huge pastime for teens, especially web journaling. Did you write as a young adult?
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8.
AOTW: What were your favorite books as a teenager? Did they influence your decision to become a writer? Was there a particular teacher who was encouraging?
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9.
AOTW: Do you read teen books? If so, which ones are you currently reading? Are there any standouts in the new crop of YA authors?
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10.
AOTW: Do you or your publisher use the web to promote your books? Have you found the web to be a useful tool for research as well as promotion?
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