Stephanie, the covers of your books are fabulous! They look so colorful and fun – very appealing to YA readers. Can you tell me if most of your readers are teenagers, pre-teens or both? Have you had any adult readers to write to you and comment about your novels?
Thank you! Didn’t the covers turn out great? The team at Revell did a great job, especially at picking the model. She’s the PERFECT Skylar.
All of the readers who have written to me have been teenagers. High school, mostly. I’ve had one mom e-mail me, but it sounded like just her daughter had read my books. So far, the adult readers have mostly been people I know personally. Many of them then recommend the Skylar books to teenagers they know, so I assume they enjoy them!
What made you choose YA fiction? Is this your favorite genre to read?
I LOVE reading YA fiction. Even though I read a variety of genres, I find YA books are the ones I really gobble up.
In high school, I wrote books about high school students, but I assumed I would grown out of it. After I graduated and decided to pursue publication, I wanted to write “serious” novels, like you’d study in English class. But I couldn’t think of a single idea. The only ideas I ever had were for YA books. Finally, I gave in to what was clearly God’s calling. Now I love what I do so much that I can’t remember why I didn’t want to do it in the first place.
I read the first chapter of both of your novels on your website, and you have the gift for a distinctive YA voice, which I’d think would be hard for an adult to master. Do you have any advice for writers wanting to pursue a career writing YA fiction?
First, thank you!
Writing YA fiction has its own mix of challenges because you’re writing for teens, but you first have to sell it to adults (editors, agents, etc.) Also, parents are often the ones who buy the books.
This may sound stupid, but I’d recommend watching and observing a few TV shows geared toward teens. You’ll notice quickly that the teens on those shows don’t talk like teens in the real world. Instead, they talk like adults. Teens are drawn to snappy, intelligent dialogue, and I think that’s a key element of writing for them.
Another thing I would say is get ready to be vulnerable and genuine. I put a LOT of my middle and high school emotions/doubts/fears on the page, and boy does that get uncomfortable sometimes. But if anybody can sniff out a faker, it’s teens.
Who are your favorite YA authors?
In the general market, I’m a huge Sarah Dessen fan. She writes “quieter” books like I do, where descriptions sound like, “Well, it’s about this girl … and she’s not quite sure who she is … she meets this guy….” She writes fabulous stuff. I wish I knew about her when I was a teeanger.
In the Christian market, hands-down my favorite YA author is Jenny B. Jones. I laugh like crazy through her books.
***Okay, I couldn’t resist asking:
Have you read the Twilight series? If so, did you enjoy it?
So, I finally caved and bought the first two Twilight books because I’m a YA author, and it’s kinda expected. I started the first one when I was sick … and 24 hours later I closed it and started New Moon … and 24 hours later I dragged my toddler along to the bookstore to buy Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, which I finished a few days later. I couldn’t believe how gripping they were.
If you’re aspiring to be a YA author (or if you already are one), the Twilight Saga is mandatory. At school visits, girls ALWAYS ask if I’ve read Twilight. And if I’m Team Edward or Team Jacob. (Jacob.)
Thanks for being on my blog today, Stephanie! We’re doing a book giveaway: A copy of Out With The In Crowd!
Leave a comment with your email address if you’d like to be entered into the drawing!
~Cecelia Dowdy~
I read and reviewed the first one so I’m game for reading the second. 🙂
joyfulhutch[at]msn[dot]com
a great interview/posting. please include me in your fabulous giveaway 🙂
karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com
Please enter me!!! This book sounds FABULOUS!!!
Blessings and hugs,
Molly
Thank you so much for having me, Cecelia!
Fun interview! I love learning a new little tidbit with each one of these you do, Stephanie. =) And Cecilia, you have a lovely blog! (Though I already have the book and plan on buying a few more, so no need to enter me.) (And go, Team Jacob!!)
This comment has been removed by the author.
Great interview! I haven’t read the Twilight books, but if I chose Edward or Jacob — uh, Jacob, thank you very much! 😛
I’d love to be entered into the draw, my email is girlz4god.G4G@hotmail.com
Luv,Emii
Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!
ohiobuckeye91[at]gmail[dot]com
Writing teen fiction and getting the dialogue right is a huge challenge. In my new YA release, Angela 1: Starting Over (the first in a series of three), I followed a few rules of thumb. (1) Dialogue in books is not, and cannot, be exactly as in real life (too many starts and stops, incomplete sentences and ideas and on and on). (2) Whatever is cool vocabulary now will be old by the time the books get on the shelves. (3) Teenagers like to think of themselves as older than they really are, so the characters need to talk as if they were a few years older. Then, (4) as Stephanie says, keep it snappy and intelligent. I opted for having my central characters in honors classes so they would be mover-type people with good social skills. If you’re interested in knowing more, just follow the link to my website. Thanks!
Sounds good, I’d like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com
Oh, my teenage daughter would love it if I won this book. Thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I would love a chance to win this book!
Kelly
(kjm1987)(@)gmail(.)com
wow! great interview!
delarny@gmail.com
Wonderful interview! Would love to read this book. Please enter me in the drawing.
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
Writing for teens and young adults must be tougher than writing for adults!
mystica123athotmaildotcom
Probably just depends on who you are, Mystica. Anytime I’ve tried writing for adults, it’s been a real struggle. My voice tends to naturally bend toward teenage narrators.