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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Guest Blog: Sue Grimshaw, Editor, Random House:, flirt, New Adult, Coming of Age -- pffftttt, it's all romance to me . . .





***Sue Grimshaw is the Category Specialist & Editor at Large∙ Penguin | Random House Publishing Group | BBD - Loveswept, flirt.



Kristan Hoffman, whose novel Twenty-Somewhere, described the New Adult subgenre as:

[T]he transition from teen to adult doesn’t happen overnight . . . . There’s a period of time where adulthood feels like a new pair of shoes. The expectations of independence and self-sufficiency are still new, still being broken in. New Adults are the people who have just begun to walk in those shoes; New Adult fiction is about their blisters and aches. (as found in a recent post on Romance at http://www.romanceatrandom.com/flirt-university-new-adult-history-101-with-ruthie-knox-plus-giveaway/)
 Cute! And, it does depict what authors are writing and readers are reading . . . for the most part.

Some popular authors in this sub-genre include - Tammara Webber (Easy), Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Disaster), Colleen Hoover (Slammed), Abbi Glines (Fallen Too Far), and Cora Carmack (Losing It) - these ladies have carved the way for the rest of us --- to feel our way around and maybe even experiment a tad more in the genre --- because after all, this is a new subgenre and hey, we're readers, we don't always know what we're 'looking' for, we just know what we like - right?




So, who's to say a storyline that introduces readers to a soon-to-be college freshman who’s cashing in on her sweet reputation—and the unlikely guy who turns her life upside-down, isn't going to be a hit with readers - a story much like Cassie Mae's, FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI - http://www.randomhouse.com/book/231683/friday-night-alibi-by-cassie-mae





Or,




What about this standard coming of age question - What do you do when you’re head over heels for your best friend’s guy? The answer is in SWITCHED - http://www.randomhouse.com/book/231684/switched-by-cassie-mae 






But really, this is a new subgenre, why box ourselves into what the industry thinks we want to read?  Why can't we tell them what we want . . . I want different - not the same 'ole books that are being stuffed down my gullet - yes, I want angst, I want conflict, I want emotion, but I also want different stories -- I DON'T WANT my only options in books to be the same darn story retold fifty-thousand different times!



What about a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet?  Lauren Layne did this in her flirt debut, ISN'T SHE LOVELY -- http://www.randomhouse.com/book/232144/isnt-she-lovely-by-lauren-layne
Let me just say, you are going to friggin love this book!





And, what about Tracy Wolff's flirt debut in a back to back series set in Park City, Utah, where a hotshot snowboarder whose over-the-top tricks and reckless moves are thinly veiled attempts to turn his emotional suffering into physical harm. Can 'Z' try to let go of the past—and find a future with the new girl in town?  You'll have to read SHREDDED to find out. http://www.randomhouse.com/book/234848/shredded-by-tracy-wolff ; And don't miss book two, SHATTERED. http://www.randomhouse.com/book/235381/shattered-by-tracy-wolff

Subgenres typically offer selection, don't they?  Who is to say that paranormal new adult isn't something that readers will adore?  Hey, dystopian didn't hurt Suzanne Collins career . . . .

Lori Adams will debut in 2014, introducing flirt's first paranormal new adult, FORBIDDEN http://www.randomhouse.com/book/232242/forbidden-by-lori-adams, the first in a connected series called THE SOULKEEPERS, a series that blends ancient legends and new myths with an enchanting mix of thrills, humor, and high drama.  Tell me this does not rock-your-socks?
BLURB:
"When Sophia St. James learns that she’ll be moving from Los Angeles to a podunk town somewhere in Connecticut for her senior year of high school, she isn’t expecting an otherworldly encounter. But there is more to Haven Hurst than meets the eye: it’s home to a family of Guardian Angels, and she is the only one who can see them in spirit form. Sophia soon realizes she wants to see much more of Michael, an irresistible yet volatile Guardian who seems drawn to her too.

As Michael battles his forbidden desire for the beautiful young newcomer, one of Hell’s most notorious Demon Knights arrives. Handsome and charismatic, Dante has come to claim the reincarnated soul of his lost lover trapped in Sophia. Cursed with the demon of Persuasion living inside him, Dante will use his seductive charms to lure Sophia into a dangerous game that ends with the kiss of death—unless Michael, who has captured Sophia’s heart, can now capture her soul."

But, let's not forget some of the authors that have brought us to this subgenre - one of my favorites is Monica Murphy . . . have you read:
                                                                                                                                                                                      Second Chance Boyfriend **On sale soon!  

Monica's books are heartfelt stories, that tell about second chances, forgiveness and redemption *sigh*
But wait!
Is that soooooooooooooo much different than the romances we're reading today?
*pondering*
I think not -- I challenge you all, stop back on November 23rd to debate this question as I introduce to you Loveswept and all of its angst!

GIVEAWAY:
Now, my question for today's discussion is, what is it about New Adult that you can't seem to get enough of? 
Comment now and earn a chance to be randomly chosen for a $15 EGC to the eTailer of your choice.  Happy Romance!

SueG

10 comments:

E. Ayers said...

I think people like the young idealistic love that comes before the more cautious love that a few hard knocks tend to color. There's a freedom with young people that vanishes after a few years of adulthood. I think people have been reading these stories forever. It's just been recently given its own place on the shelves.

Lynn Cahoon said...

First serious love that you could see going all the way, clean slate of life so to speak.

Rose Anderson said...

I've always enjoyed conflict and resolution in romance because life goes like that sometimes. But I have no patience for stupid. To me, the best novels have deep thought and introspection on important issues in the tale. I guess the best way to say this is I'd prefer reading about a Hermione over a Bella any day.

Anonymous said...

Thanks ladies, great comments. It definitely has something to do with that first love. Also, that deep thought and introspection that Rose mentions is key -- and a TSTL heroine just never works -- unless she can wise-up at some point. Anxious to hear what everyone has to say - thanks RB4U for having flirt/me here today.

Cara Marsi said...

Sue, thanks for explaining New Adult. I admit I was confused as to what it is. I agree that a good story with conflict and deep POV is a good story, regardless of the ages of the protagonists.

Sue said...

Thanks Cara -- I think there are many interpretations of the category or sub-genre and it will be interesting to see its longevity and /or if it will get gobbled up into the adult world of romance as just another sub-genre within -- regardless, readers will find these stories.

Sofia G. said...

I like to read stories in the New Adult theme because it's wonderful to experience, again, that time when you're learning your place in the world with the newfound freedom of being a post-teen!

Molly Daniels said...

OMG...just realized my Arbor U series could be categorized New Adult!! College kids learning to live on their own, find love, and learn from their mistakes!

I jokingly call it 'Young Adult Smut', since it's too graphic for YA, yet not graphic enough (with the exception of a few scenes in books #4-7, lol!) to be called 'Mainstream'. An editor told me four or five years ago I was writing Women's Fiction, but I think NA hits it a bit closer.

Going to check out the books mentioned!

Melissa Keir said...

Thank you for sharing Random House's line, Flirt. I haven't read a lot of New Adult but I love the idea of second chances and romance with conflicts.

Thanks!
Melissa
daringzoey at yahoo.com

Julie said...

It's nice to be able to read something from a fresh (and perhaps a bit naive) point of view.

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