As the title makes clear, today's post is concerning the 'New Adult' genre.
Sometimes I don't know where to start with this genre because there's a lot that can be said about it. Sometimes my friends ask me what New Adult means as a book genre and sometimes I don't have an answer for them except that they typically all have the same storyline and are about emerging adults, typically college age and older, experiencing sex.
I've had the last freaking straw with all the bullshit.
Maybe it's just me. Personally I enjoy reading books that have this thing called...A PLOT. I also enjoy reading things that aren't just focused on the sex. I feel there are so many New Adult novels that focus on the sexual encounters of the characters and the authors forget that there should be a plot, an adventure, some sort of drama. Take the scope of the Young Adult genre, there are so many subcategories! Paranormal/romance/horror/dystopian/contemporary/--the list goes on. All New Adult novels feel the same to me. Actually, I will be more specific here: all New Adult titles that are contemporary novels feel the same. I have yet to see a major expansion of New Adult into paranormal/romance/dystopian, etc. I will get to that point later in this post.
I've even written an equation about NA: broken character with some bad experience + smooth talking man whore (or some guy along the likes of a 'bad boy' or the 'perfect guy') + sex = New Adult contemporary novels. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
For one, the lead female characters in those types of books need to grow a freaking backbone and learn that THEY CAN LIVE WITHOUT A MAN. Yes, I understand that this is fiction and romance can happen but honestly, these books aren't even about love. They are all about lust, lust, and more lust. Get over yourself! I can't read novels where the female lead can't kick ass once in awhile. Nope. I will drop that novel right there and not bother to ever read it again.
Typically these lead female characters have some sort of secret or traumatic experience from their past that defines them. Excuse me, I would like to point something out here. Yes, bad things happen but I do not think a character's entire identity should be defined by whatever happened to them. The character should grow, learn, cope, whatever to be a well developed character and not sit around and let whatever happened change them and make them a flat character. When character growth does not take place you know what happens? Weak characters happen because BAM the lead guy character enters the scene and suddenly he's capable of changing her and fixing her to be better like she was incapable of surviving until he came along. The fact that the lead heroine, a supposed 'great character', needs to rely on a man to feel better about herself, to feel okay with what happened, and need a man to move on in her life just makes for a pathetic, underdeveloped, and immature character in my opinion. Believe it or not, just because its fiction doesn't mean that there shouldn't be strong female leads who can be independent and in love. Yeah, that is actually possible because last I checked this was the 21st century.
Touching on the subject of traumatic experiences or secrets the lead character hides, I unfortunately see in some NA Contemp novels the almost romanticizing of sexual assaults. There is nothing remotely okay with that on any level. It honestly disgusts me how in some of these NA novels, that instead of the character (typically a female lead this happens to), getting therapy or involving the justice system, they just go about their days until that ONE SPECIAL DUDE comes along and makes it all better and also has amazing sex. Excuse me, I thought the issue was that the female character was afraid of men considering what happened to her but nooooo just this one perfect guy comes along and fixes it all, banishing all her fears away like they never existed. That's not real at all. Sexual assault is NOT a joke and should never be taken lightly, even if being written about in novels.
Now moving on to the typical male lead in a typical NA contemp novel...SERIOUSLY?! Are we being freaking serious right now? Most of these male leads think they're hot-shots, big, bad, and bold; always bragging about their bad boy status and how many girls they've slept with. How would ANY female lead be attracted to that? Um hello, STD's?! Pregnancy? Yes, it's fiction but considering that Contemps are grounded in REALITY, let's try to be a bit realistic here. There is a big difference between a 'bad boy' and a tortured character. Just because he may have had a bad experience doesn't mean he should turn into a man-slut. That is a poor excuse, creates a weak character foundation, and does not create a tortured character with depth. No, there is hardly any depth there. But if you're not looking for character depth then keep reading whatever you want and ignore my opinions here.
Concerning other types of New Adult such as New Adult Fantasy/paranormal/adventure/dystopian etc, I see a significant less amount of but I do come across books that are New Adult fantasy, like The Secret World of Alaina Downs by Rebecca Rynecki just as an example. I feel New Adult novels that are not Contemps have more of this thing called, oh I don't know...a plot! There may or may not be sex in these genre reads but at least the reader gets to go on an adventure with the characters and its not just some pointless read about people having a lusty pathetic relationship.
If NA Contemps are what you enjoy reading then by all means, go forth and read them, but I feel like the NA genre is so restricted in what it has to offer right now. It's clear I've labeled Chosen as a New Adult Paranormal novel. I felt that labeling it NA people might have a certain perception of what to expect when they pick up the novel to read. I will say this right now: Chosen is heavily weighted in the paranormal plot and less so much in the crazy lust like a typical NA. Yes, there is ROMANCE in Chosen but there is a huge different between lust and romance. If that's not what you're looking to read then don't read my book. The story is about a girl who has to save the world, deal, cope, grow up, learn, be independent and the whole lot and I'm sorry but the lead character of Chosen has her priorities straight. Just because she likes a guy doesn't mean there is the need for her to sleep with him on every freaking page of the story. Just saying.
So why did I label Chosen as a New Adult? I decided to put it in that genre because of the strong language that is not exactly suitable for the Young Adult genre. There are also mature themes and yes, some intimate times between some characters. I want readers to know that there is more to the New Adult genre than what is out there. Contemporary literature is huge right now, which is fine, but just know that there are different types of New Adult and I'm one, of a group of those brave authors, branching out in the genre to expand it.
Be open minded to other authors and their styles. Don't expect every New Adult novel to be about sex unless you're reading a contemporary one then yeah, most likely expect a weak character, some man-slut, and sex. That's pretty much how they all go. Call me harsh but that's how I see it.
Embrace change.
Hey everyone! Happy Teaser Tuesday!!
I felt like amping up some excitement for Chosen as it gets closer to June (which is when I'm planning on releasing Chosen but my schedule always gets thrown off by something...let's hope I can stay on track!).
Today's teaser sure is a...tease. I wasn't sure what to first release but I thought this was good. It was also on Have Book Will Read's blog a few weeks back but in case you all didn't see it, here is the excerpt I released!
ENJOY!
Cole, in all his confidence, stared honestly at me. His features were gentle and like I was dumbstruck, I didn’t know what to say. Seeing that I was frozen, Cole took slow deliberate steps towards me and I wrapped my hands around the swing-set ropes so tightly that my knuckles were turning white with my grip. Stepping into the well-worn hole in the earth from years of people kicking off the ground to swing, he came closer until our knees were pressed together and I could feel the tips of his shoes against my boots. I suddenly stood to move away but he then wrapped his hands over mine, his skin was warm and like it transferred heat, my body suddenly felt like it was rising in temperature. I was trapped in by him and the minimal space between us was making me crazy. I glanced up at him and he leaned his head closer to mine, my heart was out of control in my chest.
I should be stopping this. I should have shoved him away and let loose a string of profanities at him for thinking that I would kiss him. I should have done a lot of things, but I didn’t. Swallowing down the insanity of nerves raging in my body, Cole’s eyes watched the movement of my throat until they slowly trailed up my neck and to my lips. Images from last night when he had been this close suddenly forced themselves to the front of my mind. Both of us on the floor, watching one another with hungry eyes, and yet distance still separated us. I would have done anything to twine my fingers in his thick brown hair and pull him tight against my body and never let go of his mouth. A shaky breath escaped my lungs at the thought and I started to realize how crazy he made me feel, especially at this proximity. The desire to kiss him overwhelmed my senses and I caught myself unintentionally wetting my lower lip with the tip of my tongue. Just a taste…I thought.
Cole was the one to swallow this time when he saw my tongue stealthily sweep out over my parted lips. It was like I was beckoning him closer and I could see him slowly giving into temptation in his raw stare. Slowly, his hands ran up my arms, leaving chills across my skin at the heat brewing in my body, igniting my impatience to have him in my arms. Even though we were outside, the air did nothing to cool the electric feeling between us. It was like I had become the sun and he was my sky, enveloping me until the universe had become just him and just me.
The tips of his fingers gently caressed my neck, sending faint tickles down my spine. He inched closer and closer until he stopped, just a breath away, our eyes not leaving the others. As the end of his nose brushed the tip of mine, my eyes fluttered shut, anticipating his touch.
WOOHOO!! Well, I hope you enjoyed that! Meanwhile I am going to return to writing! Cheers!
All right, so obviously I forgot to mention what the big surprise was yesterday. I am such a slacker lately. Anyway, as you saw, yesterday was Cece's birthday! (She's from the Flightless Bird series). Yes, I am one of those people who celebrates their characters birthdays...
In honor of her little birthday bash this was the surprise I was going to reveal, if the post title hasn't already given it away...
FLIGHTLESS BIRD IS ON SALE FOR $0.99 UNTIL FRIDAY!!!
That's right folks, the book that started it all is on sale till Friday! That means 3 days that it will only be 99 pennies. Spread the word, give a shout-out, send some tweets, share the love. :-)
Links to the sale: Amazon Barnes and Noble
Tomorrow I have another surprise...the sequel Broken Wings will be only $0.99!! Can you believe it? Neither can I. (ha, ha, love Wednesday morning sarcasm). Then Friday Fair Feathered will be $0.99!!!! Can you talk about a week of sales?! Share the love for the Flightless Bird series!!
Then I also have a little last surprise up my sleeve....which will be announced most likely next Tuesday because it will be Teaser Tuesday...hmmm....I wonder what that means!
It is also National Poetry Month! I hope some of you have embraced the literary world and have gone to some live poetry readings, listened to some slam or spoken word poetry, or have even written some of your own poems! I always like to encourage literary creativity that is apart from fiction too. Embrace your inner poets people!
Go forth and conquer today with awesome, spread smiles, and high-five your friends. Make it a good day.
Um...what the hell. March is already over? See how long I've been locked in my writing cave? Yeah...long enough to let a whole month pass without blogging except when I interviewed Gabriel. Which by the way was an awesome and hilarious interview. Loved it.
Meanwhile I've been obsessively listening to You Me At Six. I love all their stuff and lately they seem to be my muse for writing a lot. I just turn them on repeat in the background and I sit at my computer and write and write and write. If you haven't heard of them....GO LOOK THEM UP NOW. Seriously. If you like alternative rock, I'd suggest you check them out. They have great stuff.
I'm a little bit upset at the fact that The Walking Dead is over!! Season 3 ended last night with a somber ending and I was sad to see some good characters go. I won't say who in case you haven't watched it yet but this past season has been nothing short of a roller coaster of drama! Now season 4 doesn't come back on until October...it seems so far away...*sigh* Maybe part of the reason The Walking Dead is so good is because you never know what is going to happen and who is going to die. Just when you start to like the character...bam! They sacrifice for the greater good. The suspense is brilliant!
Spring is officially here and with that SHOULD come good weather therefore making it more motivation to sit in the sun and write with a glass of fresh iced tea of course. Chosen is making progress, big progress, though I am still not as far as I would like to be. I've gone back and have been adding more detail and little things that it seems to be offsetting the progress I should be making towards finishing. Thank goodness I have a sweet and very patient editor who is letting me work at a snail's pace on this story. I mean it when I say that I have been working and spending loads of time on this story and I've had a serious lack of sleep because of it. I go to bed late and wake up early then stumble around until I can find caffeine to kick start me into the day. Then of course I have a million and a half things to do in a day before I can sit and write.
So this post today is pretty much pointless. Blah, blah, blah rambling on about nothing. I'm surprised you're still reading this. Anywho, maybe I should announce that there is going to be the first ever Chosen teaser coming very soon!
Seriously. I mean that. A small snippet of Chosen I am planning to reveal as well as revealing another song from the playlist! I need to keep up on these things...now that it's April I will be better about posting. Hopefully.
I need to go make more iced tea now.
