Why YA Revisited

Ex Libra by Michael Parkes

In 2017, five years ago to the day, I asked you all for a show of hands - how many over 18'ers read YA (Young Adult) Fiction?

STATS

The stats then were clear: 55% of YA Fiction readers were over eighteen. Now, it's more like 70%. 

This expansion of the YA market boils down to the reasons stated before - YA Fiction tends to:

have a fast pace

undergo rigorous editing

deal with real-life issues

portray visceral emotions

be more affordable

- and five years later, with the help of researchers like Monica Hay,  we have additional reasons to consider.

More Reasons why Adults Love YA

1.  Escapism - This is where you get to leave your everyday life behind and experience a land of fantasy and adventure. Those over 18 may actually have more responsibilities to escape from, making the other benefits of YA especially enticing.

@acourtofcoffeeandbooksblog

2.  Less Graphic Triggers - Even though YA immerses readers in real-life topics, the sex, violence, torture and profanity are not as overpowering as they are in some adult books of the same genre. If there are triggers, a warning is often given by the author about what kind of potentially triggering content is contained in the pages. Some readers really appreciate the heads-up.

3. Idealism - YA books tend to be hopeful in their philosophy. They have, if not 'happy endings' then an element of fulfilment and satisfaction not always seen in Adult fiction. 

4. Nostalgia - There are a lot of firsts in YA fiction, first love, first kiss, first conflict, first betrayal, first success... to remember what those moments were like, and how far we have come, can add a whole new level of fulfilment to the adult reader.

#5 Pushing the Edge - YA as a whole was one of the first to embrace diversity in characters in writers. As well, YA books can bend the rules of genre, formatting and POV (point of view). 

We see genre blenders embracing crossovers between contemporary fantasy, SF thrillers, SF Fantasy, LGBT Historical, you name it. 

There are also YA books coming out in unique formatting such as verse, diaries, and social media instant messaging. 

And, talk about multiple point of view characters handled in unique ways. For example, in one story, the main protagonist is written in the first person: "I woke up with a knife to my throat." But all other POVs are written in the third person: "He waited for the right moment to speak." It's quite intriguing!

How about you? 

Are you reading YA for any of the above reasons, or perhaps one not mentioned yet? We at the sup would love to hear about it! 

xxKim

***

Kim Falconer, currently writing as A K Wilder, has just released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows coming out December 6, 2022.

Kim can be found on  AKWilder Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Throw the bones, read your horoscopes or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site 

The Quirky Magic of Book Journaling

 

Brittybook on Instagram and Goodreads

As we embrace the Lunar New Year of the Ox (check your horoscopes here), it might be time to do something that is both creative and practical, fun and therapeutic. I'm talking about starting a book journal, or #bujo for short.

Jessie Reads Too Much Instagram & Blog

Why a Book Journal

Book Journals can:

1. Encourage you to read more, and that is healthy for you and everyone around you.

2. Activate your imagination through engagement with books 

3. Allow for more creative flow

4. Help organize your thoughts

5. Become life journals reflecting personal growth and insights

6. Get your writing more

7. Structure key thoughts for detailed book reviews

8. Offer a therapeutic process for recording your feelings and experiences

9. Keep favorite characters alive in your heart, also very good for your health. (Read more about social surrogacy and parasocial relationships with fictional characters.)

Brittybook on Instagram and Goodreads

Starting a Book Journal

Are you convinced to start one yet? All you need is a notebook, pens, paste and possibly a printer, tape and glue. 

Here is an inspiring YouTube Vid on getting started: 2021 Reading Journal Setup | Plantmas Day 10.

You can use a plain notebook, or go for something more like a leatherbound dream journal. It's up to you, but if you want to use watercolours, sumie inks or other more potent materials, make sure your pages can stand up to it.

You also might want to print cover images, quotes and reviews, author images and tips from websites to bring in a collage effect.

Mochibujo TBR Page 2021

For Readers and Writers

Book Journaling content doesn't have to be confined to books you read and want to review. As mentioned above, the #bujo ('bullet journal' as tagged on Instagram and Twitter) can be a life journal filled with inspirations, visions, tarot spreads, dreams of note and import, quotes and fresh ideas.

The #bujo may even become your grimoire with spells, recipes, herbs, moon guides, manifesting techniques and wisdom gained from higher guidance. In essence, your book journal becomes a part of you, a collaboration with the Muse to acknowledge and honor the experiences of life, large and small, fictional and real.

Reading Journal Setup - 2021

If you have already begun your book journal for 2021, let me know. I'd love some tips and trick or just plain old encouragement as I begin this multimedia journey.

If you haven't considered it, I hope you do.

See you in the pages.

xxKim

* * * 

Kim Falconer, currently writing as A K Wilder, has just released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy.

She can be found on  Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Throw the bones or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site

Five Reasons Why YA

Mermaid's Secret by Michael Parkes

Show of hands, how many of you adult readers enjoy YA (Young Adult) books?

STATS

It surprised me to learn that over 55% of YA readers are over eighteen. Of that 55%, most are actually over thirty. There are good reasons for this, which I'll get to in a moment, but to start, you might like to watch a brief history of how the YA genre got started.

Epic Reads - A Brief History of Young Adult Books

Why Adults Love YA

#1 Rapid Pace

YA books are page turners. The genre is know for high readability, the unputdownable quality that keeps readers engaged, pages flying.

#2 Quality Control

YA books tend to have rigorous editing. Most published are immersive stories with powerful characters and plots. The personal, and global stakes are high, themes deep and complex.

#3 Addressing  Issues

No matter if the YA is contemporary, fiction, Dystopia, SF, Fantasy or Romance, you can bet the author won't shy away from issues of life, death, sex, drugs, gender, bullying, self-worth, suicide, rape, physical and mental health. For the most part, these topics are handled honestly, without judgment or ulterior motives (preaching).

#4 Emotions switched on

Most YA have some elements of romance, or awareness of feelings. The language tends to be visceral, allowing readers to feel what the characters are experiencing. Less "He felt scared," and more, "His heart pounded ..." Frequently, YA is written in the first person making the connection to the main character more intimate.

#5 Pushing the Edge

YA books can bend the rules of genre, formatting and POV (point of view). We see them embracing genre-crossovers like contemporary fantasy, SF thrillers, SF Fantasy, LGBT Historical, you name it. There are also YA books coming out in verse, diaries, social media instant messaging. I'm reading a YA series right now with multiple point of view characters. The main protagonist is in the first person: "I woke up with a knife to my throat." All other POVs are in the third person: "He waited for the right moment to speak."

There are other perks to YA, including the price. Most YA books are priced below their Adult fiction cousins.

How about you? Are you reading YA for any of the above reasons, or perhaps ones outside the box.

Is it something you feel a little awkward about in public, or is that stigma finally dead? With the number of adults reading YA, I certainly hope so!

xxxKim

Kim Falconer's latest release is out now - The Blood in the Beginning - and Ava Sykes Novel.

Learn more about Kim on Facebook and chat with her on Twitter. Check out her pen name, @a.k.wilder on Instagram, or visit AKWilder on FB and website.

Kim also runs GoodVibeAstrology.com where she teaches the law of attraction and astrology. 

Kim posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month, hosts Save the Day Writer's Community on FB and posts a daily astrology weather report on Facebook.