WORD for Teens

My ideal book blogger convention.

2013-06-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

This post has taken way longer to finish than anticipated.

So after reading a few posts on BEA Blogger Con - The Book Smugglers, Stacked, Parajunkee - I started thinking of my dream blogger con. I won't even pretend to think that the bloggers and speakers I chose don't lean towards the YA side, because they definitely do.

Here's my ideal book blogger convention.

8:45 - 9:15 AM: Breakfast
Why do we need to show up at 8am for the breakfast? Nah; we're gonna start a little later in the day, and everybody can get breakfast during the first half hour of the blogger convention. And not some light appetizers, either - I want to see some hearty muffins on that table, orange juice, apples, whatever we can manage to put on that table. And if I know bloggers, a lot of coffee. Everybody can settle in and get ready for the opening speaker - which, of course, they can eat throughout.

9:15 - 9:50 AM: Opening Keynote
Speaker: Maureen Johnson
Who understands the blogging and reviewing community, is involved in publishing, and can be hilarious enough to entertain a bunch of sleep-deprived bloggers early in the morning? That honor is reserved for Maureen Johnson, author of quite a few YA novels and Twitter extraordinaire. Not only would she be able to hit what we are on the head - she's spoken before about being a person, not a brand; she understands the separation between author and book; she's actually in the industry - but she's bound to make all of us laugh.

Or maybe her and Libba Bray could write an opening keynote together. That would be great.

10:00 - 10:50 AM: Trends in Young Adult (& New Adult?) Publishing
Moderator: Barry Goldblatt
Speakers: Cheryl Klein, Rachael Stine, Tirzah Price

Instead of creating a showcase for editors, let's talk about all of the books in the genre - what's recently come out and what's coming out soon, and what trends are we spotting? What would we like to see more of? What should we keep an eye out for while we're blogging that would make good posts - and what books do we just need to review?

For the young adult section - and tentative new adult section, which could be seen as a trend that we should talk about - I'd like to see Barry Goldblatt as the moderator. (You'll notice a trend where I choose literary agents over editors and such for moderators for these panels; it's not that I don't love and adore editors, but literary agents tend to see all sides of the spectrum, and they can discuss books that aren't specific to one publishing house or to just his clients.) I know Barry's abrasive to some people, but I adore him, and he understands the young adult industry really well - look at his client list! He can definitely drive the conversation in the right direction.

Let's bring back Cheryl Klein, one of the editors of Scholastic - and more specifically, the fantastic Arthur A. Levine Books - to come talk on this panel. She's got quite a few young adult novels under her belt and, being part of one of the best publishing house teams, can definitely talk about what trends Scholastic has been noticing as they move forward in the upcoming year. Cheryl also blogs on her own, so she's an ideal choice.

I'd also love to bring in Rachael Stine from The Book Muncher and Tirzah Price from The Compulsive Reader. Both are fabulous bloggers who are heavily involved with books outside of their blogs - Rachael as an aspiring editor with countless internships under her belt; Tirzah as a bookseller - who really understand the industry.

10:00 - 10:50 AM: Trends in Kidlit & Middle Grade Publishing
Moderator: Danielle Smith
Speakers: Suzanna Hermans, some other kidlit and MG bloggers?

Instead of creating a showcase for editors, let's talk about all of the books in the genre - what's recently come out and what's coming out soon, and what trends are we spotting? What would we like to see more of? What should we keep an eye out for while we're blogging that would make good posts - and what books do we just need to review?

For some reason, we never talk about kidlit bloggers, and there are plenty of them out there! For this section - and tentative new adult section, which could be seen as a trend that we should talk about - I'd like to see Danielle Smith from There's A Book moderating. Not only is she a kidlit book blogger, but she's also a literary agent who sells books in the kidlit and middle grade field. She'd be perfectly qualified to generate discussion and pose questions about both sides of the spectrum - on where what to look for in publishing as well as what bloggers need to watch. (Danielle also spoke at this year's con on the YA Book Blogging Pros panel.)

Suzanna Hermans gets a slot on here. I love Oblong Books and I love her taste in books and she's smart and clever and yes good.

Unfortunately, because I don't often read middle grade or kidlit, I'm at a loss for what bloggers to put on here - but we need at least two bloggers! Who do you suggest?

One panel every section would ideally be in a round-table discussion kind of manner - beanbags on the floor, a more relaxed environment. (In logistics, it means it can fit less, but hey, comfy chairs!) For this section, the kidlit one earns that room, because what's better to talk about kidlit than sitting on the floor like a kid?

10:00 - 10:50 AM: Trends in Adult Publishing
Moderator: Janet Reid
Speakers: Rebecca Schinsky, Jim C. Hines, Mary-Theresa Hussey

Having worked under Janet for several months as an intern, I'm partial to her for the trends in adult publishing - not only is she funny, but she more than knows her stuff. She's a literary agent, plus she runs the blog Query Shark, which I absolutely adore. She could definitely add some great conversation and drive this in the right direction while keeping it all snarky and fun.

Rebecca Shinsky used to run The Book Lady's Blog and now blogs actively over at Book Riot. As funny as she is smart, she has a fairly good knowledge of the some of the adult book industry genres - which, sadly, I know little about, so it's hard for me to pick who I'd want for this section! She was also on the panel for Adult Book Blogging Pros for year's convention.

Let's also bring Jim C. Hines in on this - he knows the fantasy genre pretty well, and as a combination of blogger and author, he's pretty qualified for the position.

And hell, let's bring Mary-Theresa Hussey from Harlequin up on this thing. I like romance, we all like romance, and she's pretty cool herself.

11:00 - 11:50 AM: Critical Posts - How do we write them? Why are they important?
Moderator: Me!
Speakers: Kelly Jensen, Donna, Katie

Critical doesn't mean bad, and it doesn't mean we don't love the book - and it doesn't mean those posts are for everybody. For those interested in the critical and criticism parts of blogging, this panel would be ideal. It's for blogs that focus less on the books they love or don't and focus instead on what makes a good book. (Neither blogging style is better, mind you. They're both very important and very different!)

I love this panel, and considering all I write not is critique posts that look at the industry, and considering all of my reviews fall under the critical category, I'm giving myself the moderator panel. Because hey, I can, damn it.

In terms of speakers: I would normally make make Kelly the moderator, but I want her to talk because I adore everything she has to say. Kelly spoke this year on the Book Blogging and Big Niches panel, but what I love most about her posts on Stacked is her ability to look at things critically - and how she encourages others to do the same. I'd love to here her speak on the topic and how we can generate more critical thoughts in the blogosphere.

I need Donna - formerly from Bites, now over at Bitching, Books and Baking - on this panel, because she's one of those brutally honest bloggers that's full of snark that has, in the past, gotten slammed for reviews. She's critical of the books she reads in a biting, snarky voice - but she's never, ever once blatantly attacked an author or a publisher or anything. She's just criticized the work itself. And I love her for that.

Surprisingly, I'd also like to bring in Katie from Katie's Book Blog, because while she tends to only review books she likes, that doesn't mean her reviews aren't thoughtful or non-critical; they just happen to be about books she liked. It would also bring in a voice that wouldn't be told that they're snarky or something because, uh, she's not. She's just adorable.

One panel for every section gets the round-table discussion kind of manner - beanbags on the floor, a more relaxed environment. The critical reviews and posts section gets this one. As a topic that can cause some heated debate and is taken very seriously by those in it, and by those who are offended by it, sitting comfortably and talking in a circle would definitely help generate some interesting discussion.

11:00 - 11:50 AM: SEO & Coding Workshop
Speakers: Lori, Stephanie Leary

I don't think this one needs a moderator so much as everybody taking turns talking with opportunities to explain and for everybody to take notes and stuff. Thea posted this idea in her BloggerCon recap post and I loved it; SEO and coding workshops, I think, are a great way for both all bloggers to see what other bloggers are doing.

I'd love to see Lori from Pure Imagination here; she has a lot of how-to posts that would be really fun to explain in real life, and she's very talented. Stephanie Leary is a Wordpress consultant who spoke on this year's blogging platforms panel, and considering how obsessed Wordpress is with their SEO stuff, teachings on how to maximize that from her would be fantastic.

I'm not sure who else I'd want - or if I should just leave it at that, and split it up fifty/fifty. Perhaps somebody else who has Wordpress or Blogger or general coding information? Who do you suggest?

11:50 - 12:50 PM: Lunch!
With publicists and such in the audience, there's plenty of time to network with industry contacts, as well as other bloggers. An hour is also plenty of time to run out and grab a snack if you don't want the lunch that we'd provide - which is hearty, full of subs and salads and all sorts of things. (Including vegetarian and gluten-free and allergy-free options.)

Oh, did I mention I'd provide coffee and such throughout the day to pick up during the ten-minute intermissions?

After lunch, for those who don't want to attend various panels - or just need a break - the relaxing room that kid-lit and the critical posts conference took place in is open for mingling. Grab a snack and take a seat, and if there's a few publicists or bloggers in the room, network while you're at it!

1:00 - 1:50 PM: Publishing & Bloggers - What do we expect of each other?
Moderator: Chelsy Hall
Speakers: Faye Bi, Casey McIntyre, Rachel Rivera, Thea James

Chelsy Hall of Big Honcho Media is one of my favorite people to work with, and she was at the Book Blogging and Big Niches panel this year. A member of an independent publicity firm, she works with a lot of publishing houses and has quite a bit of bloggers - as well as the ability to create amazing blog tours. She knows her stuff and can ask the right questions and keep the comments flowing in the right direction.

As for speakers, Faye Bi is one of the publicists right now for Little, Brown's young adult and kids division; she's absolutely fantastic to work with and seems to really enjoy connecting to bloggers. She'd certainly be open about what she wants as a publicist to bloggers. Casey McIntyre currently works for HarperCollins and I'd love to see her there as well for all of the same reasons.

And unlike the normal three-person panel, there needs to be some even distribution of bloggers and publicists here; the two I'd choose would definitely be Rachel Rivera from Parajunkee and Thea James from The Book Smugglers. Rachel's spoken out before about participating in various campaigns and what worked and what didn't and how to make them better, plus her blog rocks. And we all know how perfect Thea and The Book Smugglers are - and how honest!

1:00 - 1:50 PM: Social Media - The most popular platforms & the best ways to use them.
Moderator: Liz B
Speakers: April Conant, Mundie Moms, Alice Marvels?

There's no one "right" way to use social media - but there's no denying that it's a huge part of the blogging industry, and that many people have become successful through their use of social media. What's up with Facebook? Why are we so obsessed with Twitter? Should we copy/paste our posts to Tumblr? Is Pinterest still a thing?

I want Liz B from SLJ to moderate - mostly because I love her on Twitter, and I love her posts, but also because I feel like she would ask questions that are actually useful and helpful to those in the audience.

I love how April from Good Books and Good Wine; she uses quite a few social media sites, and she uses all of them quite well. (Plus she has some great widgets on her blog - I wonder what she would recommend to integrate social media and blogging?)

Let's bring in the ladies from Mundie Moms - they're on more social media sites than I can count and use each one avidly. Combine that with their huge following and I'm sure they'd more likely than not have tips on how best to use various social media sites.

I'd perhaps like to see the owner of Alice Marvels on this panel as well. She uses her newsletter in a really clever way, and her Facebook feed is fabulous, though she has been conspicuously absent on social media the past few weeks.

Who else would you like to see?

2:00 - 2:50 PM: [Missing panel #1]
I can only stare at this list for so long before my head starts to spin. The reason this post has taken so long is trying to figure out the last two panels - but instead, I'm going to cheat and let you guys do it for me! Suggest some panels in the comments, and if I can, I'll add them in here!

2:00 - 3:50 PM: Ethics & Blogging: Negative reviews, online friendships, FTC and plagiarism.
Moderator: Jane Litte
Speakers: Julie Kagawa, Sarah Wendell, Megan, and a lawyer? Maybe? And some more bloggers???

So this is a huge topic, so I gave it two time-slots so everything could be thoroughly discussed and so that questions and answers could be had. (Perhaps with a break in the middle for those who want to go to the other 3:00 panel, and for those at the other 2:00 panel to come in.)

This is a hard topic to talk about. What's wrong with a negative review? (Nothing, so long as you're not attacking the author.) Do online friendships influence reviews, and should you disclose them? (They shouldn't, and if it's relevant.) What does the FTC want with bloggers disclosing book stuff? (Hell if I know.) And what do we do about plagiarism? (Kill it with fire.)

Jane Litte from Dear Author did a fantastic job on this panel this year from what I understand, so why not bring her back to run it again?!

Bringing an author onto this panel seems relevant to me - especially regarding negative reviews and online friendships - and why wouldn't I choose Julie Kagawa? Julie, who has nothing against negative reviews - though she has no interest in reading them, of course - and whose friendship with bloggers online has led to no discoloration of any of the reviews. (At least, not my reviews.) Plus she blogs herself. And she's funny.

I need two bloggers on this panel: Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and Megan from Book Brats. Sarah has spoken actively against plagiarism - including outing a particularly popular blogger back when she plagiarized - and is a supremely talented blogger who probably has lots of things to say about all of the things. Megan I chose because I love all of her posts - they're extremely thoughtful, and I'd feel like she'd have a lot of interesting things to say on the subject.

And I like the idea of having an FTC lawyer on the panel when specifically discussing that - like Kelly said in her recap post of BEA, learning about that was one of the few good things that happened at this year's BloggerCon, and I'd like to spread that knowledge! I'd also like to have another blogger or two on the panel?

3:00 - 3:50 PM: [Missing panel #2]
Like I said above, I can only look at this list for so long before my head starts to spin. You guys suggest some panels in the comments, and if I can, I'll add them in here!

3:40 - 4:20 PM: Bar opens for pre-closing keynote drinks.
Who wants to listen to the final keynote with nothing in their hand to sip from? The open bar has officially opened, and you can run over and grab a drink - plus some pad and paper to write down fantastic quotes from the final keynote-speaker in. It'll keep everybody relaxed.

4:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Keynote
Speaker: Thea James

"But Nicole," you cry, "you've already put Thea on a panel!" Well, in my dream world, she does the closing speaking as well. She could always back out of that panel for speaking here. And let's be real - she understands bloggers, she's awesome, she could so pump us up to go back out and keep blogging. And that's the whole point of the convention, isn't it?

In my dream world, all panels are live-streamed for a small fee for those who can't make it in person.

What do you think? What would you wanna see? Would you attend my dream convention?

Swoony boys v. sexy ladies: does YA market to heteronormative ladies?

2013-06-07T17:00:00.000-04:00

As everybody knows by now, I attended BEA this past week and went to the YA Editors' Buzz Panel. Five books were spoken about: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, about a fangirl entering college; Tandem by Anna Jarzab, a parallel-universe romance; All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, a sci-fi time travel romance which hooked me with the line 'you have to kill him'; Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta, a sci-fi described as a YA version of Joss Whedon's Firefly; and If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan, about a young teenage girl in the Iranian LGBTQ community.

Out of all five marketed, the only one whose swoony male love interest wasn't talked about was If You Could Be Mine - and that's because it doesn't have one.

So I started thinking about when the last time I heard about either a) a sexy female love interest or b) no love interest at all was talked about in marketing. And when I couldn't think of one off the top of my head - and my Twitterverse could only come up with one - I dove into the 150+ YA books that I owned and yanked out all of the ones that featured a) humans and b) had marketing that didn't focus on a love interest.

This was the pile I pulled out.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan was obviously the first one I pulled out; there's no male love interest because the plot revolves around a pair of lesbian lovers - so clearly it can't be marketed like that. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott are both 'issue' books that don't have any romance at all. Stay by Deb Caletti is the story of a stalker ex-boyfriend, and while there is a romantic plotline, it was marketed more as an 'issue' book. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray has an entire pirateship of swoony boys, but is actually a satire on our society and was marketed as such. Jonathan Stroud's The Bartimaeus Trilogy I read a long time ago and only picked up a few weeks ago, but I don't remember a romance, and it certainly wasn't marketed as such. Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell doesn't have a romance plot. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa had no marketing done for the romance whatsoever; it focused on the vampirism and the dystopian world. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan focused on the world and the dragons and not on her adorable husband.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman I threw into the pile because, while the prince certainly was a big focus in the story, I don't remember if it was marketed with a focus on that or with an actual story. The blogosphere was more focused on the worldbuilding than anything.

I almost put The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins into the pile as well, but the marketing for the movie clouded my mind on what the marketing on the books had been. I suppose Harry Potter would also apply, but it's important to note that every canon relationship is heterosexual, and that Harry is supposed to be a hunk that everybody in-canon wants, for the most part.

We can throw all other books that focus on lesbian romances into this category as well, but there are very few of those I can think of off the top of my head - and the gay romances fall exclusively into this category.

Out of the dozens of books that I own, those were the only ones that I knew definitely hadn't been marketed as having a sexy male lead, either the actual protagonist or the love interest.

And it got me thinking.

When people complain that there's no YA books for guys, I think they're stupid. There are plenty of books, both with male protaganists and just books that are interesting, that are very appealing to the male gender and the female gender.

But there's a huge issue in how we market - and it's always towards heteronormative ladies. (Heteronormative means that they are hetereosexual, as expected; they are girls who are interested in boys.) The only time we're really marketing towards boys is when there's no romance in a story which, given that boys worry about their romances as much as girls do, is silly.

But because we know ladies will buy romantic leads - and because it's socially unacceptable for boys to have, you know, feelings and stuff - we market towards that.

And maybe that's why so many people say YA is a female-dominated genre. Not necessarily because of the protaganists and the authors, but because of how we choose to market what we have.

When was the last time we marketed a female love interest or a female protaganist as being sexy and romantic? When was the last time romance wasn't a huge focus of how a book was marketed?

What do you guys think?

BookExpo America: A recap and hyperlinks galore!

2013-06-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

What have I been doing the past week? BookExpo America, all day every day - well, Tuesday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday, which is almost every day, and it wasn't quite all day, but... well, you get my drift.

For those who asked, here's a quick recap of the things that went on in my life the past week - plus a good list of books to keep an eye out for! I'll be picking two books from every section down here to focus on.

And yes, I went overboard on the hyperlinks. Consider it a helpful hint for all of those who wanted to be at BEA and learn about the authors and books. Just read and click for the same experience! ... sort of.

Tuesday, May 28: SimonTeen Blogger Preview Party

Books in the swag bag from SimonTeen.
After almost not finding the building - oops! - I arrived late after walking in the rain to the SimonTeen blogger preview party! And just in the nick of time - enough to get a drink and find a friend before settling in for the presentations of the upcoming novels.

Suzanne Young, the co-author of one of the novels, hosted the entire thing as a casual interview while the authors came on and off of the stage before everybody had a chance to drink and eat and mingle.

The books featured were OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu, which is self-explanatory; When I Was The Greatest by (the very attractive) Jason Reynolds, about a teenage boy living in Brooklyn; Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield, a fantasy with the tag line "sing and the darkness will find you" (eep!); Fire with Fire by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han, the sequel to Burn for Burn; and Just Like Fate by Suzanne Young and Cat Patrick, about two different timestreams of the same girl.

The two stories that stood out the most to me were When I Was The Greatest, simply because of how awesome Reynolds was, and Chantress, whose tagline and concept fascinated me.

I also ran into a whole slew of my favorite bloggers - Mitali and Erica and the West twins (Jeremy and Jeffrey) and Rachel!

Books of Note: When I Was The Greatest by Jason Reynolds, about a teenage boy living in Brookyln; Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield, where if you sing, the darkness will find you.

Thursday, May 30: HarlequinTeen Blogger Breakfast

Editor Natashya Wilson with Elizabeth Scott, Julie Kagawa, Katie McGarry and Amanda Sun.
The HarlequinTeen breakfast was absolutely fantastic! I ran into Rachel again and sat with her and a whole bunch of lovely bloggers (whose business cards I have already misplaced whoops). Natashya and the Harlequin team really know how to treat a blogger - the breakfast was delicious and absolutely fun. The editors and the authors went around the tables round-robin style and gave us a chance to talk to all of the authors individually.

Everybody was SUPER nice - I got my hug from Julie and got my books signed by her, and got a big hug from Elizabeth Scott as well. Katie was super sweet and happy to talk about the hot guys on her covers. As this was Amanda's first BEA, it was exciting to be her first big event of the day and to loosen things up for her going into the day!

Books of note: Julie Kagawa's Eternity Cure, the sequel to The Immortal Rules; Elizabeth Scott's Heartbeat, about a girl whose brain-dead mother is kept alive for the unborn child inside of her.

Thursday, May 30: BookExpo America (Day One)

Books picked up on the first day of BEA.
After the HarlequinTeen breakfast, the first day of BEA really began. I spent a little bit of time wandering around the booths before meeting Julie and heading down to the Young Adult Editors' Buzz Panel. I got to sit with my fabulous boss Brooks Sherman (Fine Print Literary) as well as Chelsy Hall (Big Honcho Media). The panel was hosted by Suzanna Hermans (Oblong Books), who is definitely my favorite bookseller of all time, and runs one of my favorite bookstores of all time.

The buzz panel featured five books: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, about a fangirl entering college; Tandem by Anna Jarzab, a parallel-universe romance; All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, a sci-fi time travel romance which hooked me with the line 'you have to kill him'; Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta, a sci-fi described as a YA version of Joss Whedon's Firefly; and If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan, about a young teenage girl in the Iranian LGBTQ community. Both Fangirl and If You Could Be Mine absolutely rocked their pitches, and it's interesting to see a resurgence in sci-fi with the other three - all of which I'm mildly interested in, but will wait to reviews to see how heavy the love plots are.

I got the chance to wander around with Julie for a little while after that, where I ran into Mitali and Rachael and Katie and Susan and Erica and a whole slew of other fantastic bloggers. (Don't be mad if I forgot you -- I have the brain of goldfish.) I snagged a copy of Maggie Stiefvater's The Dream Thieves as well as an autographed copy of Sarah Maclean's latest. (I'm a sucker for her romances.) I also ran into the fabulous Jennifer Castle on the floor - her new book, though not featured at BEA, releases in a few weeks and I'm super-excited for it.

I stood in line for an hour after lunch to get Veronica Roth's autograph for my youngest sister. Her reaction was totally worth it.

Books of note: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, about a fangirl entering college; If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan, about a young teenage girl in the Iranian LGBTQ community.

Friday, May 31: Penguin Luncheon with Richelle Mead & Melissa de la Cruz

Anna Jarzab, Richelle Mead and Melissa de la Cruz.
I started day two of BEA with a luncheon sponsored by PenguinTeen! Richelle Mead and Melissa de la Cruz answered questions with Anna Jarzab - author of the upcoming Tandem, one of the YA Editors' Buzz Panel picks - moderating.

April sat across from me, and I had a perfect trifecta of bloggers around me - Liz and Julie to my left and Tirzah to my right!

A lot of things were talked about at the panel. Both de la Cruz and Mead are excited for the upcoming adaptations of their books and think the scripts are really true to the books. Mead says that "you need to be very organized and neat in your world-building," which is why she doesn't enjoy it - she's messy in every part of her life - but it's de la Cruz's favorite part of creating a story. de la Cruz finds pressure "paralyzing" when it comes to writing series. Both Mead and de la Cruz are plotters, not pantsers. As Mead said: "I like to be meticulous and make sure everything feels right in the end." And de la Cruz's Frozen starts as an "alien sci-fi dystopia and ends up as Lord of the Rings."

All three authors signed books afterwards, and I got a copy of The Indigo Spell signed for Lucy, whose Bloodlines meta always makes me happy.

Books of note: The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead, the next (heart-breaking) book in the Bloodlines saga; Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and husband Michael Johnston, a pirate and dragon filled fantasy.

Friday, May 31: BookExpo America (Day Two)

Books picked up on the second day of BEA.
I actually didn't spend too much longer after the PenguinTeen lunch at BEA - just enough to wander around the floor and hang out with a few friends. I helped Julie snag a book and talked with her and Mitali and the West twins for a few minutes. I hung out for a little while around the Flux booth and browsed what they had, as well as the Sourcebooks booth. (All of the big six booths I had visited yesterday. It's weird to think that Penguin and Random House will merge their booths one day.)

I ended up over at Bloomsbury and had a chance to talk to my old boss from when I interned there, who was sweet as always. She slipped me a copy of Samantha Shannon's upcoming The Bone Season, which has already sold in 18 countries AND has film rights. (And I know Shannon has already been called the next J.K. Rowling in England!) I had a chance to look at a little bit back when I was interning for them, so I'm excited to see what happened.

A bright spot of the day was definitely running into Catherine, who I had spent time on the Veronica Roth line with, and finding out that she had gone to the Julie Kagawa signing and wanted to read The Immortal Rules herself after I raved about it! I love when people pick up books.

Books of note: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, a dystopian fantasy; Gold by Talia Vance, the time-travel sequel to Silver.

I skipped the last day of BookExpo America - partly due to exhaustion and partly because I had nothing really left to grab, since Mitali was kind enough to try to get me a copy of Gail Carriger's Curtsies and Conspiracies.

How was everybody else's BookExpo America experience? (And if I forgot to add you to the list of bloggers I saw - I'm sorry!)

The Wish List (3)

2013-06-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this month's addition of The Wish List! I'm away at BookExpo America this week, and hopefully I'll be able to pick up some of these books while I'm there!

The Dream Thieves

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle (#2)
Release Date: 17 September 2013

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Lost Covenant
Author: Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures (#3)
Release Date: 2013

It's been six months since Widdershins and her own "personal god" Olgun fled the city of Davillon. During their travels, Widdershins unwittingly discovers that a noble house is preparing to move against the last surviving bastion of the Delacroix family.

Determined to help the distant relatives of her deceased adopted father, Alexandre Delacroix, she travels to a small town at the edge of the nation. There, she works at unraveling a plot involving this rival house and a local criminal organization, all while under intense suspicion from the very people she's trying to rescue. Along the way she'll have to deal with a traitor inside the Delacroix family, a mad alchemist, and an infatuated young nobleman who won't take no for an answer.

All the Truth That's In Me
Author: Julie Berry
Series: ---
Release Date: 26 September 2013

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

The Kingdom of Little Wounds
Author: Susan Cokal
Series: ---
Release Date: 8 October 2013

On the eve of Princess Sophia’s wedding, the Scandinavian city of Skyggehavn prepares to fete the occasion with a sumptuous display of riches: brocade and satin and jewels, feasts of sugar fruit and sweet spiced wine. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, a shiver of darkness creeps through the palace halls. A mysterious illness plagues the royal family, threatening the lives of the throne’s heirs, and a courtier’s wolfish hunger for the king’s favors sets a devious plot in motion.

Here in the palace at Skyggehavn, things are seldom as they seem — and when a single errant prick of a needle sets off a series of events that will alter the course of history, the fates of seamstress Ava Bingen and mute nursemaid Midi Sorte become irrevocably intertwined with that of mad Queen Isabel. As they navigate a tangled web of palace intrigue, power-lust, and deception, Ava and Midi must carve out their own survival any way they can.

What are you guys looking forward to? We all know that I'll be crying in a corner until I get my hands on Lost Covenant!

Leigh Bardugo's SIEGE AND STORM

2013-05-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Grisha (#2)
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
How Received: publisher ARC

Release Date: 4 June 2013

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Alina, let me love you.

Here's the thing: if there were flaws in this book, I was far too caught up in the story to realize it. I loved it, the entire story, the way the narrative was crafted. Even though there's a giant war going on, Bardugo doesn't try to encompass the entire thing -- everything is focused on Alina, and how her decisions affect the world, and how her emotions are completely bonkers, and how she's changing from the young mapmaker we met at the beginning of Shadow and Bone.

And I loved it.

Alina's character arc is totally what I'm here for and why I loved it so much. (To be fair, the setting, the side characters, the plot itself were all beautifully well handled; it's not a small book, but it moved at a fast pace -- the story never dragged.) But Alina's development is fascinating to watch. Her struggle with power - her hunger for power - her refusal to be a warrior - her need to be a warrior - I just - ladies. Power hungry warrior ladies make me happy.

Definitely as good as book one, if not better.

I'll be writing some meta on it on my personal Tumblr at some point - I'm in love with all of the uses of religious imagery, even if it wasn't Bardugo's intentions, and until I write something about it my brain won't turn off. And if I started talking about my feelings about Mal and all of the other characters, this wouldn't be a review - it would be a rambling fangirl mess of feels.

Are you guys excited for this one?

BookExpo America 2013 (+ event list)

2013-05-25T22:17:00.000-04:00

Who here is heading to BookExpo America this year?

For the non-bloggers who follow me, BookExpo America is a yearly convention in New York City where publishers showcase their biggest titles for the upcoming year. It's a three-day professional fest of book love, and I've had the honor of going for the past for years.

For those of you who will be there, hunt me down! Thanks to my shiny new phone, I can respond to Tweets rather quickly - just let me know where you are and I'll meet you! (For the first few people who snag me, I have a very limited number of It's okay to read YA! stickers, so snag them while you can!)

I'll be doing a recap post when I come back on Sunday!

Going to BEA? Check out my compiled list of YA events!
And add if you know of one that I missed - it's editable!

Kindle Worlds 101 (& link roundup!)

2013-05-22T13:45:00.000-04:00

Anybody who spends any time on Twitter might have noticed the buzz about Amazon's most recent announcement: a new division called Kindle Worlds, where works based on other works can be published. (You can read the press release here.)

How Kindle Worlds will work:
Unlike Amazon's self-published division, Kindle Worlds accepts submissions rather than blankly allowing everybody to upload their own work. The works have to stay in the original canon of the story and merely expand upon the already given universe.

There are two two separate arms: one where the original publisher licenses the work, where they've reached out to authors to write for this; and another where the authors can submit work and Kindle Worlds chooses whether or not to publish them via their guidelines. This posts focuses on the second, self-publishing (or, rather, self-submitting) arm.

It can be argued that this is less publishing fanfiction and more licensed works; it's approved by the publisher to expand the universe of stories that are already collaboratively written. Like Chuck Wendig said, it's a mash-up of tie-in licensing and self-publishing.

Licensed works aren't anything new in the realm of entertainment -- all of the Star Wars and Star Trek books you see in the children's section of your local library are licensed sub-works. However, rather than reaching out to writers who do this sort of thing professionally, anybody can submit to Kindle Worlds.

What can you write?
Amazon currently only has a deal with the company Alloy (and Warner Bros. by extension, for those books that have been made into television shows), so you can only write work for those stories belonging to them. For instance, literary agent Pam van Hylckama Vlieg was one of those who fits into the first arm of Kindle Worlds; she was asked to write four licensed short stories in the Vampire Diaries universe, which will be available in June.

As Jon Scalzi explains, "Alloy Entertainment is on board for allowing people to write what they want (within specific guidelines — more on that in a bit). Since that’s the case, there’s probably a technical argument here about whether this is precisely “fan fiction” or if it’s actually media tie-in writing done with intentionally low bars to participation."

Alloy Entertainment is also a company that, by default, creates packaged books - all of their series are collaborative, so having multiple writers isn't an issue for them.

Because of the submission rules, there are things you can't write about - including pornography.

Don't expect publishers like Scholastic to jumping on board with this anytime soon, partly because of how contracts with their authors work - we won't have to pay for Harry Potter fanfiction anytime soon.

The concerns:
There are multiple concerns within the actual Terms and Conditions for how Kindle Worlds works, including:
- the ability of Alloy or Warner Bros. to use your original creations (characters, plots) without paying the author
- Amazon owning the story for the term of the copyright, which allows them to do things with it without paying the author

The contracts and requirements for the authors who were reached out to are rumoured to be radically different from those who will be submitting, but the details on that aren't known. Vlieg was able to confirm that her contract wasn't the same as the ones for the self-submitting process, though she couldn't go into details on the actual differences, and confirmed that there were two separate arms to Kindle Worlds.

As Katie said on Twitter, there's also the issue of people submitting fanfiction that other people have written as their own - how do you know that they didn't just lift it from somewhere else?

While there isn't a huge concern for non-Alloy authors right now, this does lead to potential issues in the future for authors who don't want fanfiction of their work published. Contracts will now need new subrights clauses that focus specifically about this sort of thing.

What does that mean for fandom?
Not much, especially for non-Alloy fandoms. They can't stop original fanfiction from being put on the Internet, especially if it falls outside their guidelines - and given that they're not allowing sex, that rules out about half of the fanfiction on the Internet.

However, it does change some of the ideas of what fanfiction is and what it could be -- if you're staying in canon and in character, there's the potential to make money on your fandom; is that something that should be encouraged by fandom or not? Is it the same as being paid to create fanart of somebody's favorite character? I don't have answers to these questions, but theoretical questions are fun to ask.

If you have any more questions, drop them in the comments -- I'll be answering them as best I can and doing more reading on this as the day goes on! What do you guys think of Kindle Worlds?

More on Kindle Worlds:
Share links in the comments; I'll update the list throughout the day!
- Jon Scalzi
- Cleolinda
- Malinda Lo
- Chuck Wendig
- The Mary Sue
- Jenny Trout
- Diana Peterfreund

A summer vlogging experiment.

2013-05-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

This summer, I'm going to be experimenting with a little bit of multimedia and extending my blogs into a dual system of vlogs and blogs!

What this means is that the blogs will still be running here as normal, but every other week, one of the 'thoughts on' posts will also have an accompanying video -- usually explaining the topic in simpler terms and tackling one issue about it, whereas the blogs will explore multifaceted issues.

I already know I'll be making videos on whitewashing, representations of sexuality and a handful of various other things. I'd love to know what you guys want me to talk about as well! Leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to see - and don't forget to subscribe on YouTube!

Rae Carson's THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS

2013-05-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

Giving up reviews is much harder than I thought. My gosh. I have too many thoughts and not enough space to put them.

So while WORD will continue to be discussion-oriented, if I have things to say about the books I'm reading, I'll review them; if I don't, I won't. We'll see what happens. Unlike before, the reviews can appear or disappear at any given time depending on my life.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns (#1)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
How Received: publisher ARC

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

I really loved the second half of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The problem was getting to that second half.

See, a lot of Elisa's character development has to do with how she views herself and her own weight. In the beginning of the book, she views herself as a useless lump of lard. Literally. In the first eleven chapters, she out-rightly refers to her weight - "I'm a sausage, I'm fat" - 18 times. This isn't including the numerous mentions of eating, of other character's thinness, and of other characters calling her out on her weight. Carson hit us over the head repeatedly with it, and I wish she had lessened that blow a little, because the second half would have been as good without it. Between that and a Godstone located where you would normally find belly button lint, I had a hard time getting through to the second half of the book.

But the second half was great. Fantastic. Took Elisa's weaknesses and made them strengths; let her develop and learn and become strong in her own right, and I loved that. There were scenes where I basically fist-pumped the air because of how pleased I was by her development.

But the problem was still getting there.

If you're willing to wade through the thick and heavy-hitting first third of the book, I highly recommend The Girl of Fire and Thorns - but if you have little patience, it's not the book for you.

If this hadn't been a YAcker book - you can read our discussion here - I probably wouldn't have gotten through it.

What did you guys think?

Nicole's Five BookExpo America Tips

2013-05-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, lovely WORDites! As some of you are fellow bloggers, you might be heading off to BookExpo America at the end of this month!

I've gone to BookExpo America before - this is my third year - fourth year? Some number of years going, and there are plenty of other posts summarizing what everything is about and what to do and all that fun stuff. But I figured I'd reiterate the tips I find most helpful.

01. This is a professional conference. Be professional.
Professional.
Professional.
Professional.

You don't have to be perfect, but try not to look like a hobo, and in the name of cupcakes, please - please - please behave professionally. Be polite. Don't shove. Don't do stupid things. Bloggers have gotten bad names because of this in the past. (My post on professional BEA behavior.)

02. Sneakers are your friend.
Unless you have another pair of more comfortable shoes, just wear sneakers on the floor. Between walking the conference floor and walking around NYC, your feet will be exhausted - and if you wear sneakers, it'll at least be a little better later.

03. Pack snacks and water bottles.
Are you a millionaire? If the answer is no, you really don't want to be buying food at the center, and it's really inconvenient to have to leave the building during the day for food to come back later. I'm a big fan of the granola bars and water bottle strategy -- it always lasts me until dinner, and I'm so busy that I don't have time to do anything otherwise.

04. You don't need every book. Don't pick up every book.
Unless you want to exhaust yourself carrying things, don't pick up every book. It's also just rude to take things you don't need. And taking two copies of a popular book? Just... don't do it. Again, be professional; this is a conference, not a free-for-all giveaway. My rule is if you wouldn't buy it or check it out of the library, don't pick it up off the BEA floor.

05. Talk!
Okay, this seems obvious, but a lot of bloggers are afraid of networking and actually talking to the people around them. Shake it off! Relax! Go talk to your favorite author or that publicist you always work with or that blogger you always admired. They're gonna want to talk to you as well, and that experience is always nicer then book you got quietly.

I'll be floating around at some of the events and around the floor for most of the days. If you'll be there and want to chat in person, just shoot me a Tweet and we'll arrange something!

Who's going? What are you excited for?

The giant post about new adult literature.

2013-05-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

If anybody's been paying attention at all to my twitter feed over the past few weeks, you may have noticed that I occasionally go on rants about a certain age category that has recently been all over the place. Yes, "new adult" is the new big thing. It's even earned a spot in Publisher's Marketplace for new deals.

The problem is... well, a lot of things, actually.

What is new adult?
For those who don't know, new adult is a genre of literature that takes place once a character attends college and slightly after, roughly in the 20 - 26 range. So far, they've been coming of age stories that heavily feature sex and sexuality. I've discussed it before here and here.

New adult as a bildungsroman?
This image has been going around a lot lately.

Image by Dear Author.
There's a problem here. If you cross out new and replace it with young, it also works. New adult novels are not bildungromans. They are not coming of age novels.

This is how categories of books work.

Picture books tell a story to people in pictures made strictly to entertain. Children's literature tells a story that's often didactic - there's a point at the end. (Accept people for who they are, be creative, listen to your parents, etc.) Middle grade novels are the beginning of the coming of age story. By the end of the novel, the protaganist has usually learned something about themselves. Young adult novels are the bildungsroman, that full coming of age story - figuring out who you are and what you believe in.

If we're defining new adult as an older bildungsroman, it doesn't work, because the whole point of young adult literature is that bildungsroman arc. That's why adult high fantasy novels and sci-fi novels (Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey, for example) can have young protagonists and still be sliced into the adult genre because there isn't that bildungsroman. The story focuses on a character who already knows who they are.

I'd love to see new adult do that. What happens after the bildungsroman? What do you do once you know who you are? How do you handle that?

What does new adult mean for the adult genre?
If we're defining new adult by that definition, of course, what does that mean for the adult genre? How will that be defined now?

There's no strict definition for adult as a genre; it's just typically deemed that the characters know who they are and are exploring that in some way - which is the exact definition I described for new adult up above.

So... where does that leave adult fiction?

That's a question I don't have an answer to, but I've gotten some hilarious answers.

The confinement in genre.
Right now, I've seen all but one new adult book set in a contemporary time period. I've seen contemporary romances and paranormal romances and one - one - historical. And that's it, that's the genre.

A lot of people seem to be defining it as a novel that deals with the problems that arise in and after college. Finding yourself in college is something I've been dying to have young adult explore more, and figuring out who you are and then exploring that is something I would love new adult to do. But the current definition seems to fixate heavily on that college atmosphere and that age rather than the actual progression of character after the bildungsroman.

Part of this has to do with what has been published so far, part of it with the definition of the genre as we know it, and part of it has to do with sex. (See below.)

Where does that leave fantasy and sci-fi settings that don't have college? With the current definition of it, it's very hard to escape and make new adult make sense in something that isn't contemporary - because those definitions already are categorized. High fantasy and sci-fi in the adult section often feature what I've described as new adult, and high fantasy and sci-fi in the young adult section often feature what other people have described as new adult. Unless the definition of the genre changes, it's going to end up taking away from another genre or dying quickly because of the fact that it already exists.

Sex?!
And, of course, the biggest thing we've seen in new adult so far is sex. It's been described as YA erotica - and, let's be fair, that is where it started to get big. St. Martin's may have been using the term earlier to court books with the 20 - 26 age range, but it's more frequently associated now with young people having sex. It ties into the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon.

I have no problem with sex in novels where it's relevant to the plot. (This post sums it up nicely, but I have several posts about sex and sexuality on my discussions page.)

In that case, there's two halves to this:
- young people having erotic sex with no point to the plot
- young people having sex with a point to the plot

If the first, well, the books should just be shelved in the erotica section. The characters are older than 18, so it's legal by adult standards, and I have no qualms with people reading about sex and enjoying it.

If the second, it's being argued that having sex in the plot is exclusive to NA. And, uh, it's not. It happens frequently in a young adult setting. It's been argued that it's a common experience for people in college, but I know plenty of people who haven't had sex in college - and plenty who did in high school. It's a weird sort of thing to argue and takes away from both genres.

Authors focusing on sex only solidifies the stereotype that college is the place for sex and parties and nothing else, which I don't think is the case. - @notsnow_white

If there does need to be a focus on sex in the NA genre, it needs to be handled differently - not sex for the sake of romance and newness, but actually exploring sexuality. If you're discovering your sexuality in YA, you should be figuring out how to handle it in NA. Figure out you're bisexual in a young adult novel? Deal with the stigmas with it in NA! Discover asexuality and find a partner who you have to explain it to. Hell, track the experience of a demisexual with a partner who isn't demisexual and see how that works! If YA is finding what you are, and coming of age, and understanding that, NA needs to be about how you handle your coming of age and how you deal with the world around you.

I think new adult has a lot of potential if handled as I wish it would be, and while I worry about how that will reshape the adult genre, I'm curious to see where it goes. But a lot of what's happening right now is problematic and worrisome in regards to its own creation and to its affect on YA lit.

What do you guys think of new adult so far, for those who have seen it?

The Wish List (2)

2013-05-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

The first day of every month will now feature The Wish List, which is a list of books on my wish list. It's like Waiting on Wednesday but, you know, all at one shot.

Curtsies and Conspiracies
Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Finishing School (#2)
Release Date: 5 November 2013

Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a school trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Series: Fairyland (#3)
Release Date: 8 October 2013

September misses Fairyland and her friends Ell, the Wyverary, and the boy Saturday. She longs to leave the routines of home, and embark on a new adventure. Little does she know that this time, she will be spirited away to the moon, reunited with her friends, and find herself faced with saving Fairyland from a moon-Yeti with great and mysterious powers.

Conjured
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Series: ---
Release Date: 3 September 2013

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

What do you think of these bad boys? What books should I be adding to my list?

Top Ten Words That Instantly Make Me Want A Book

2013-04-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Top Ten Tuesday post is ten words that instantly make me want to pick up a book. Considering that two sprang to mind immediately, I thought - well, why not make this a thing?

Dragon.
(noun) a mythical monster generally represented as a huge, winged reptile with crested head and enormous claws and teeth, and often spouting fire.

I love dragon stories. There's basically nothing I won't read if it has the word 'dragon' in it somewhere. They're my favorite mythological creature and honestly, I've never been truly disappointed by a dragon story. (Maybe once, but I can't even remember the title.)

Cannibalism.
(noun) the ceremonial eating of human flesh or parts of the human body for magical or religious purposes, as to acquire the power or skill of a person recently killed.

Cannibalism fascinates me in some weird and strange way, and I've only ever managed to see one book successfully integrate it into the story. (The Inferior, if you're wondering.) But if another book involving cannibalism, particularly a young adult one - maybe a young sleuth trying to solve a murder? - were to appear, I would probably read it. I know, it's weird.

High fantasy.
(noun) imagination, especially when extravagant and unrestrained.

I love high fantasy stories. I'm easily fascinated by new worlds. Seeing what people have created from the back of their imagination is really fun for me. It's why I can get tired of contemporary but never of fantasy. The same story may be told in fantasy, but the world is always different. Contemporary - well, it's this world. How boring is that?

Assassin.
(noun) a murderer, especially one who kills a politically prominent person for fanatical or monetary reasons.

I think assassins are fascinating; lady assassins are some of my favorite things. I need to read a few YA books recently that have come out with assassin characters. Besides, assassins are just fun in worlds in general. You never know what's going to happen.

Thief.
(noun) a person who steals, especially secretly or without open force.

In the same way that I love assassins, I love thieves; Thief's Covenant is one of my favorite books. I love characters who are beneath the law but not amoral, and thieves are excellent at portraying that. They're also just fun characters.

Queen.
(noun) a woman considered the best or most important of her kind.

I love royalty. I love queens, especially power-hungry ones. (Combine them with the words above and I get deliriously happy - hence why I love Daenerys Targaryen!)

Jane Austen.
(noun) 1775–1817, English novelist.

I love Austen and I love Austen retellings; if her name is plastered on it, there's a good chance that I'll pick it up to see how good it is. And usually, it's not any good. But I still pick them up anyway.

Jane Eyre.
(noun) a novel (1847) by Charlotte Brontë.

I also love Jane Eyre; if a character loves her, I'll pick it up. If it's a retelling, I'll pick it up. If the character magically gets dropped into the world, I'll pick it up. I just really love Jane Eyre.

Steampunk.
(noun) a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.

While steampunk isn't enough to make me pick up a book and buy it, it's definitely enough to make me pick it up and look at it. I love the genre, so even though I don't love every book in it, it's interesting.

Beauty and the Beast.
(noun) the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind.
(noun) the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals.

I love retellings of Beauty and the Beast; if it's slathered over the front in some way to make me know that it's a retelling, I'll pick it up.

Do any of these make you want to pick up a book?

Giveaway: THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey

2013-04-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

This giveaway is over.

Penguin's being awesome, and they had some extra ARC copies of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - so they gave me one to give away to you lovely WORDites!

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Quick Recap:
[1] ARC of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey up for grabs
[1] winner in the U.S. only
ends May 1

How To Win:
[mandatory] follow this blog on some medium
[+1] for every additional medium

LEVEL 2's new cover, new name, and why it's not a bad thing.

2013-04-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Recently Level 2 was announced that it was getting a new cover and a new name for the paperback release.

I don't remember who I was talking to about this, but somebody was complaining that it was unnecessary and silly; that it was the publishing house admitting that they've messed up.

That's exactly what they're doing. And that's okay.

I've spoken out against some cover changes in the past - they don't suit the book, which just annoys me, or they change the type of cover mid-series, which is just annoying - but I'm not against them as a whole. I've even called for them when it comes to whitewashing characters. (I'm sure nobody has forgotten my numerous posts on The Immortal Rules cover.)

I will give Simon & Schuster this -- they handled this cover change perfectly. They came out and admitted why they were changing it, and then they gave it a cover that could match the original cover without being the same. The new cover is more elegant, but the photo is actually from the same photoshoot.

I love both covers, and I like both names.

Changing covers IS helpful to getting attention drawn to the book, and that's an important thing. If the cover didn't do it the first time, they do get a second chance. (That's another reason I don't like changing mid-series; it's not going to draw people to the first book, which is what they need to do!) But changing for paperbacks, and still making it beautiful and story relevant, is a good thing. It means more people will be drawn to the book.

And if they're drawn to it, they'll read it.

And I always want more readers.

What do you guys think of the new Level 2 - er, The Memory of After cover?

Alpha-male syndrome & YA lit.

2013-04-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

The alpha male is a very prevalent trope in YA lit. I don't just mean this literally because of the paranormal craze, but in books in general.

The alpha male is a character who usually heads his group. He's manly and macho, ready to jump to a fight at the first scent of it. He's physically powerful and emotionally closed off; he has a need to be in control of everything.

A lot of times, the lady lead sweeps in to try to change the alpha male. She wants him to be more emotionally connected, less volatile; he wants to control her, for her to love him. Many times they end up together, and the woman's always in a position of less power. They're not equals.

And that's why I don't like the trope.

See, I like alpha males; I don't mind characters like this. They have their place in books, and they have their place as romantic leads. (Hello, Soulless.) But it has to be handled in such a way that it works for both characters, not just the alpha male.

There needs to be an alpha female. (Or, you know, another alpha male.)

The thing about alpha males is that, yes, they can be more in tune to their emotion; somebody coming along and wanting to change them isn't going to do that. They need somebody who is their equal to challenge them, to bring out the best, to make them want to showcase their emotion, not to try to force it out of them.

That's why, in a lot of traditional alpha-male YA novels, it doesn't work. Bella isn't on the same level as Edward at all; she's even inferior to Jacob, both of who have alpha-male complexes in Twilight. She's more prey than predator, more pet than partner. And how is that kind of relationship supposed to work?

Power balances have to be equal for a relationship to work, and that's not something often portrayed in YA because of the alpha-male type. They're writing to change the person, not to balance what he already is. You can make him better and be his equal without trying to change what he is.

What are some examples of alpha males in YA lit that you can think of? Do they keep the power balance in their relationship or is it wrecked?

Love triangles and external vs. inner turmoil

2013-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

I've talked about love triangles before. There's no secret that I don't like it.

And I was dwelling on it again the other day and I was trying to figure out why.

It's because love triangles create an external turmoil in the relationship, where the decisions aren't about working problems out between two people within the relationship, but with letting outside factors carry the relationship.

It's a hard thing to describe. I like relationships and relationship troubles where the conflicts are internal: figuring out how to work with different opinions and different lifestyles. One person adamantly believes that this is right when the other person believes in something else; can you live with that? Compromise? Will it all work out?

But with external relationship troubles, there's nothing wrong with the actual relationship except for the things people shove between them to create drama. If the two were left on their own, they'd be fine, but she might love this other person, so there's suddenly drama!

Notice how there's never any problems in love triangles with the relationships besides that she might love somebody else? They're just perfect, besides, you know, that third person.

(There are, of course, exceptions to this rule and it's why I like the Theatre Illuminata series by Lisa Mantchev so much. Bertie loves both Nate and Ariel, but even on their own, there are problems: Nate doesn't like Bertie's strongheadness, Ariel just wants to be free despite his ties to Bertie... oh, it's a beautiful series.)

But I think that's why love triangles always let me down: the relationships themselves let me down. I like relationships that have to fix themselves and work past problems (besides another person) and becoming stronger for it, not just oh my oz, she loves this other dude despite our perfect relationship!

What do you think?

A Natural History of Dragons

2013-04-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

A Natural History of Dragons
Author: Marie Brennan
Series: ---
Publisher: Tor
How Received: gift

Read an excerpt here.

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten...

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

Here's the thing about A Natural History of Dragons: it's a young adult crossover; it can be classified as either adult fantasy or young adult fantasy and it would fit right in. Honestly, it's what I think the new adult genre could be: a story where somebody has come of age and knows who they are and is now struggling with what to do with that.

And it was good.

There's a few little things, of course, that matter in the long run. The book, divided into several mini-Books, let its pacing slow considerably after book two, and that is in part to the focus on non-dragon related activities. (I do wish that dragons had been featured more in the book, but I loved how they were handled when they were there.)

It's also told in a biographical style, meaning it has the tone of an older woman reflecting on her younger stuff -- lots of heavy foreshadowing on what will occur, mentions of other adventures, and reflections on the fact that she made some stupid decisions. A lot of people don't like that kind of style, but I found that it worked rather well for this story.

And that leads me to the most important point:
I, Nicole, am in love with Isabella Trent.

Not the romantic kind of love, of course, but the kind of love that you find in a kindred spirit; it's as if the character was written for me. With the exception of her being much more scientific than I am, I understood her and loved her and her story. Her excitement was mine, her discoveries mine, her pain, her love.

I wanted both to see dragons, and to understand them. I wanted to stretch the wings of my mind and see how far I could fly.

Needless to say, I love this book because of her character. Her own obsession with dragons, of course, is tied inherently to my own, but I loved everything about her: her humour, her intelligence, and how she refused to be trapped within the box of her time. Even her taste in husband - who I also adored - was impeccable.

I liked the setting as well -- the alternate world to ours suited me quite well, though I know there have been complaints about renaming everything. Why not just do it AU-style, like His Majesty's Dragon? But I understood it well enough, so I didn't mind. This, of course, could also have to do with my blind love for Isabella; I highly suggest reading The Book Smuggler's review of this on Kirkus for a more objective opinion.

But as far as I'm concerned - oh, I loved it, and yes, I will be reading it - or at least the first two-thirds! - again.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 8/10. For all my blind love, it has its faults, especially in the slowed-down pacing of the last third -- but I love Isabella all the same.

Have any of you read this yet? What did you think?

What is a likable main character?

2013-04-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Sara from The Page Sage swung by here to talk about likable protagonists a few months ago and Wordchasing was talking about what we talk about when we say we like something and it got me thinking.

Likable characters are great.

But my favorite characters I like... and I wouldn't want to be friends with most of them. They'd get me in trouble or rub me the wrong way or I'd be yelling at them all the time for some terrible decisions they'd make.

Why do we describe characters as likable?

What does that mean?

Are likable characters are nice? Do we like them because they're generic? Do they fit the mold of a person we like: cordial, sweet, tries to make the right decisions, has a relatable experience?

Whenever I hear a character described as likable, they fit the above description.

But those aren't the characters I like.

I like characters that interest me. Widdershins fascinates me, but I'm certain that not everybody would like her. People would undoubtedly be frustrated by Bertie, but I love her stubbornness and her ability to persevere. Lessa is not traditionally likable by far, but she shapes herself to be a queen, and I love reading stories like that.

I feel like saying a character is likable is much like saying a person is likable -- you're not against them, but there's no other way to describe them. "Oh, yes, they're nice. I like them." You don't say they're interesting because of this or that, or that they're funny, or they make you laugh.

They're nice. They're likable.

To hell with likable characters, I think. I much prefer characters I can describe, who interest me because they're fascinating or clever or stubborn or strong. Nice is good, but I want more than nice, more than likable.

What do you think?

The Wish List (1)

2013-04-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

You might have noticed that I decided to phase out my Waiting on Wednesday posts last month; I'm slowly slipping WORD into discussion-only mode. That doesn't mean I'm not going to share books I'm looking forward to! The first day of every month will now feature The Wish List, which is a list of books on my wish list. It's like Waiting on Wednesday but, you know, all at one shot.

A Wounded Name
Author: Dot Hutchinson
Series: ---
Release Date: 1 September 2013

There's a girl who could throw herself head first into life and forge an unbreakable name, an identity that stands on its own without fathers or brothers or lovers who devour and shatter.

I'VE NEVER BEEN THAT GIRL.

Sixteen-year-old Ophelia Castellan will never be just another girl at Elsinore Academy. Seeing ghosts is not a skill prized in future society wives. Even when she takes her pills, the bean sidhe beckon, reminding her of a promise to her dead mother.

Now, in the wake of the Headmaster's sudden death, the whole academy is in turmoil, and Ophelia can no longer ignore the fae. Especially once she starts seeing the Headmaster's ghosts- two of them- on the school grounds.

At the center of her crumbling world is Dane, the Headmaster's grieving son. He, too, understands the power of a promise to a parent- even a dead one. To him, Ophelia is the only person not tainted by deceit and hypocrisy, a mirror of his own broken soul. And to Ophelia, Dane quickly becomes everything. Yet even as she gives more of herself to him, Dane slips away. Consumed by suspicion, rage, and madness, he spirals towards his tragic fate- dragging Ophelia, and the rest of Elsinore, with him.

YOU KNOW HOW THIS STORY ENDS.

Yet even in the face of certain death, Ophelia has a choice to make- and a promise to keep. She is not the girl others want her to be. But in Dot Hutchison's dark and sensuous debut novel, the name "Ophelia" is as deeply, painfully, tragically real as "Hamlet".

Sorrow's Knot
Author: Erin Bow
Series: ---
Release Date: 2013

In the world of Sorrow’s Knot, the dead do not rest easy. Every patch of shadow might be home to something hungry and nearly invisible, something deadly. The dead can only be repelled or destroyed with magically knotted cords and yarns. The women who tie these knots are called binders.

Otter is the daughter of Willow, a binder of great power. She’s a proud and privileged girl who takes it for granted that she will be a binder some day herself. But when Willow’s power begins to turn inward and tear her apart, Otter finds herself trapped with a responsibility she’s not ready for, and a power she no longer wants

The Falconer
Author: Elizabeth May
Series: The Falconer (#1)
Release Date: 19 September 2013

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

18-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined to a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery kills her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season. Between a seeming endless number of parties, Aileana slaughters faeries in secret. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, every night she sheds her aristocratic facade and goes hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But she never even considered that she might become attracted to one. To the magnetic Kiaran MacKay, the faery who trained her to kill his own kind. Nor is she at all prepared for the revelation he’s going to bring. Because Midwinter is approaching, and with it an eclipse that has the ability to unlock a Fae prison and begin the Wild Hunt.

A battle looms, and Aileana is going to have to decide how much she’s willing to lose – and just how far she’ll go to avenge her mother’s murder.

Truly, Madly, Deadly
Author: Hannah Jayne
Series: ---
Release Date: 16 July 2013

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

Not A Drop To Drink
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: ---
Release Date: 10 September 2013

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it...

What are you guys looking forward to? Any books that I should add to this list?

Taking a week-long break!

2013-03-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

You'll notice that there's no posts this week! Don't worry -- it's my spring break, and instead of worrying about getting posts up, I want to delve into the giant stack of books I have waiting for me in my dorm!

I'll still be around on Twitter, and if you really need a YA kick, you can follow the Fuck Yeah! Young Adult Lit Tumblr.

See you in a week!

Blogging In Real Life (7)

2013-03-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

"One can never have enough bookish friends!"

I opened up questions on blogging in real life a few weeks ago -- if there were any questions at all relating to real life or blogging, people were welcome to ask. (And still are, if you want to ask something!)

Is maintaining a blog a necessary first step for someone who wants to break into publishing? If so, why?

The short answer is no, of course not! Publishing was around long before blogging started. While some bloggers are interested in going into publishing, not all are; just like non-bloggers are interested into going into publishing and some aren't. While it's a good way to understand the industry, there are plenty of other ways to get started!

But rather than rant myself about this topic, I decided to talk to Ksenia Winnicki about blogging, not-blogging and publishing!

You work in Macmillan as a Digital Marketing Associate. What does that mean? What do you do?
My primary role as Digital Marketing Associate is working on social media campaigns for our various books/series/brands. But my work also involves blogger outreach for all of our titles: picture books, middle-grade and teen titles.

How often do you work with bloggers? Do you read blogs regularly, or do you just work with them?
Pretty much every day: whether it’s by mailing out galleys, organizing blog tours, interacting with them on social media, or even just e-mailing them about special features and giveaways. I do try to read blogs regularly, because I’m curious to know what other bloggers are reading, and what books they find intriguing. It’s also a great form of market research, for me at least, because I get to see what books are being buzzed about. But I’ve also become good friends with a few of the bloggers, which is wonderful. One can never have enough bookish friends! But we also like/talk about other things, ie. Doctor Who and anything Whedon!

As somebody in the industry, do you think having blogging experience helps when you're trying to get into the industry?
I think it helps in a way, because, in my opinion, the book bloggers will know a bit more about the various publishing companies and what they publish. But at the same time, there are other ways to try to get into the industry (see my answer below). Keep in mind: We’ve had interns that were book bloggers, but we’ve also had interns that had no previous experience with publishing and they were equally wonderful. As long as you’re smart, savvy, and willing to learn, you’re ok. My love for publishing was sparked by an internship. Who knows? Maybe that could happen to someone else, who previously had no interest in publishing.

Do you have any tips for bloggers who are trying to get into the industry?
Read! It’s as simple as that. If you want to work for a children’s book publishing house, then you should have some knowledge of kids’ books. If see yourself at a romance publishing house, then have some working knowledge of romance books. For instance, even if your blog focuses on historical fiction, but you want to try working children’s book publishing, that’s ok. Again, have some sort of working knowledge of what is out there already.

For non-bloggers and bloggers alike, what can people do - besides blogging - to get their foot in the door?
Internships are the way to go! That’s how I got started, way back in college. I honestly had no idea what I would do with a degree in English, but when I went to an interview for an internship at a publishing company in Boston, I realized that publishing is where I wanted to spend my career. But you don’t necessarily need an internship at a publishing company: you could work/volunteer at a library, or work at a bookstore. I think if you do something with books, you can get your foot in the door. Also, anything that shows you have a love of books!

What do you do to keep up with news in the industry?
I definitely read Shelf Awareness, Publishers Weekly, Mediabistro’s Galleycat, but also Tor.com, io9, John Scalzi’s Whatever Blog, the various blogs run by School Library Journal, plus Robot 6 (for comics/graphic novel news). Sometimes, just going to the bookstore to see what books are on the “New Releases” wall/table helps me to see what the newest trends are.

The switch from Google Reader - or, where are you gonna go?

2013-03-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

By now you've heard of the very dramatic death of the Google Reader. The lovely little button on my sidebar that tracks how many of you follow me via Google Reader will disappear in July - because that subscription option will be disappearing!

"Oh no," you cry, tears welling in your eyes. "How can I subscribe to WORD now!?"

Do not fear, dear WORDite. There are other options!

I've always had a direct email subscription and a direct RSS feed via Feedburner available; you can continue to subscribe there, as well as following me on Twitter and Facebook and all that jazz.

"But - but I want your posts with everything else," you moan, clutching your e-reader to your chest.

It's okay!

My personal choice for those looking for a new place to change their reader is Feedly, a Firefox extension that's also available as an app. It will shift your Google list directly into their feed and it's also a really pretty app.

But if you're not interested in that, Parajunkee and Radiant Shadows have created lists of other alternatives, and Data Liberation teaches how to manually take all of your stuff off of Google Reader.

Let me know where you guys move to! I'm curious to see where everybody will be.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart

2013-03-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart
Author: Leanna Renee Hieber
Series: Magic Most Foul (#2)
Publisher: Sourcebooks
How Received: publisher copy

My review of Darker Still.

I'm coming for you.

The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something...unnatural.

Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.

She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity...her soul.

The thing I loved best about Darker Still - besides the ever-increasing stakes and thrills - was the relationship between the characters. Jonathon and Natalie knew that this was instalove, knew it probably shouldn't be, and decided to screw social norms - but be careful about it. They poked fun at the trope that so irritates me and then managed to pull of their own in a way that I didn't feel screwed over.

And like Darker Still, The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart failed to disappoint in the area of relationships - and I don't just mean the one between Natalie and Jonathan. I loved the family dynamics of Evelyn and Natalie and her father and their adjustment to an ever-changing family life. I loved the friendship dynamics between Rachel and Natalie and Natalie and Maggie, and how each needed the other in different ways. I loved the relationship between Jonathan and Natalie and how Natalie worries about their relationship, questions it, questions them, and yet at the end of the day-

well, no spoilers. You'll have to see for yourself if they survive all of their trials and tribulations.

I loved the suspense throughout the story as well; I wasn't certain what was going to happen from moment to moment involving Jonathan's double agenting and Rachel's powers and Evelyn's actions. There was only one predictable occurrence, which is foreshadowed so heavily that even Natalie knows it (and yet she does nothing about it?), but it didn't take away from the rest of the story.

All in all, it was a fairly fast-paced paranormal romp that I rather enjoyed.

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 9/10. A few quirks here and there that irritated me, but an overall great book.

Have any of you read this or Darker Still?

Characterize: A Reflection

2013-03-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

A long time ago, I started a miniseries of posts called "Characterize," where we talked about strong characters and how they could subvert the norms - how 'strong female characters' is a silly phrase, how likability isn't a necessity, and a variety of other topics.

I figured I should write some sort of conclusion post for it, linking to all the posts - and yes, if that's all you want, just skim down and ignore the rest of this post.

But I think the best thing I got out of this, and the thing that's important to me, is that a well-developed character is the best thing you can have to read. Not in terms of if they're strong - because weak characters, and they they're weak, can be fascinating - and not in terms of if you like them - because if you don't like them, they're invoking a strong emotion. It's the ones that don't fall flat, who I don't forget when I turn the page.

Are there characters who stand out to you that don't fit the stereotype of "pretty, strong, likable?" Share in the comments, because that's a book I'll probably want to read!

The posts:
- Introduction
- Sean Ferrell on Neville Longbottom
- Nova Ren Suma on writing Ruby
- Sara from the Page Sage on likable protagonists.
- Julie Kagawa on writing strong characters.
- Donna from Bites on strong character arcs.
- Siobhan Vivian on strong female characters.
- Janice from Janicu Reads on emotionally strong characters.
- Jim Dean from YA Yeah Yeah on the Monstrumologist
- Nicole (me!) on the imaginary 'weak' female character