The YA Mind: readers, writers, thinkers

Whether you're of young adult age or years beyond, if you read or write or think about topics that affect the tweens, teens, and young adults of today, then you have a YA Mind.

And what better way to explore that then by asking questions of ourselves and others? So I'm here today to recruit your help. I want to accumulate a mountain of questions to send to our YA Expert Board to keep them busy for the summer. It's been a while since I've sent them any, so I believe it's time.


You may ask any question that you feel is pertinent to the YA world. It can be about reading, writing, or living the tween/teen life of today.


Here's a few suggestions:

• Relationships - parent/teen, teen/teen, teen/teacher or other
• Romance - age, behavior, seriousness, fickleness, etc...
• Tween/Teen outer appearances vs. inner conflicts
• Settings
• Plots & subplots
• Tween/Teen emotions & emotional gauges
• Contemporary vs. Paranormal
• Action vs. Literary
• Fashion, music, television, technology, sports, activities, the arts, etc...

I'm sure you can come up with more to explore.


Now, when I say I want a mountain of questions, I do mean a mountain. So to help perpetuate this and simply because you all totally ROCK, I'm offering prizes. Yes, prizes, with 5 lucky winners. 

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be included in the giveaway!!  The only requirement is that you leave a question for our panel. (Don't leave your question in the comments or you won't be entered. PLEASE leave your question in the Rafflecopter form, so you'll be entered with 2 chances to win.) I would, however, love it if you'd spread the word about this giveaway and challenge. Pwwease.... ;D Thanks so much!!  I'll compile the questions and send them to our board. Winners to be announced on July 17th so you have plenty of time.


And just an FYI: I will be having a massive, gaugantuan, bigger-than-a-shopping-mall giveaway with an announcement very soon, probably after I take my summer blogging break but not sure just yet. I'll need your help then too. ;D (So if you'd be willing to offer up any prizes like critiques, a book, or anything, please let me know with your comment or feel free to email me. I'm willing to return the favor.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YA Expert Board Tells All!

For another edition of Young Adult Teen Tuesday, I'm giving you a gift. A surprise. Well, really not a surprise, but a long awaited post!!

It's finally here! My amazing YA Expert Board, comprised of fabulous teen writers, have answered some of your just-got-to-know questions.

YA Expert Board: 

Jacob Milhouse

Riv Re

Rhiannon Pelletier

Jenna Gustafson (our newest teen member & pubbed author)

FYI: Know of a teen who'd like to be a part of our board? Have them email me or leave a comment below. I'd love to add to our board!

Kelly Hitchcock asks: at what age do you feel you outgrow books marketed as young adult?

Jacob: Even at 19, I am still very much enthralled by YA lit as long as the story in itself is engrossing enough. I don’t even think that I will outgrow it, to be completely honest. There’s an intrigue with the genre that cannot be replicated with any other. I especially love seeing the development of YA characters, now more than ever. I can look back at my own growth and see how far I have come as a person, and to see that process take place in a fantastic book really keeps me turning the pages.

Riv: I wouldn't know. I'm still a YA. (Though people I know generally focus more on the "Y" when it comes to me.) Um...102, 103..maybe?

Jenna: Teenagers’ interest in young-adult marketed books may dwindle after age seventeen, simply because they begin to look for something more solid, tangible, and practical as they enter the “real world”.  Although some imagination is lost from our childhood years due to maturity, a mid-teen’s world still is full of dreamy possibilities, what if’s, and prince charming’s.  Books bursting with wonder, creativity, and unlikely events fit like a puzzle piece into their lives.  As the teen years flick by our ride on the magic carpet of dreams sputters to a halt one day around the beginning of senior year, when we realize life is not about looking towards a fairytale future anymore, but living life to achieve it….and surviving.  Suddenly these teens are too grown-up for silly tales, and replace them with self-help books.

With that said, I know many adults who are NOT restricted by young adult labels.  No one is ever too old to experience these spell binding tales while taking a small vacation back to the land of ungrownuphood, before reality.

Hart Johnson asks: What I want to know (in a very real way, as I have the issue looming for a book I wrote) is: Common wisdom is teens like characters a year to several years older than they are. Are you ever interested in MCs younger than you? And what does it take to secure this interest?

Jacob: Great question. I use to have issues with this when I was growing up. In my mind, back then, I didn’t want to backtrack because I was gladly progressing in my life so I didn’t want to go back and relive being a “youngster” with characters younger than myself. I took pride in saying I wanted to read about older characters. The age isn’t so much the problem for me now, it’s the maturity level of the character and their unique voice and plots that hook me. I have to admit I doubt I would read about a character younger than fifteen; age range would have to be older than that. But, like I said, it’s all about the voice of that character and the story itself. If it speaks to my interests and is wonderfully written, I’m all yours regardless of how old I am and possibly how old the character is.

Riv: I just want a teen I can relate to. Often 14-17 is ideal. Younger is too little to be relateable, older is to...mature. (And I'm far from mature. ;) )

Susan Kaye Quinn asks: How much romance is too much for the boy teen reader types? :)

Jacob: I don’t have too much of a problem with romance as long as it isn’t too overbearing. I think that’s when the red flag starts to wave, and I take my leave. If the character spends ten pages describing how beautiful a guy (or girl) is, has no sense of self-identity away from that person, or the two are just unhealthily obsessed without any real reason to love one another, I just can’t do it. We always love a good love interest, but there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed with guys. Which is very important with distinguishing your target audience. 

Jenna: Many teen boys that I know can handle sprinkles of romance woven into a story, but I don’t know any who have an affair with romance novel’s.  As long as the plot is not primarily love and the poor kid is not drowning in gooeyness, I think you are safe. 

Could they be anymore fabulous?!! 

I'm looking for more YA questions from you. Please email me your questions or leave them in the comments below. Please spread the word, so our board will have plenty to chat about. We'll have our next YA Q & A segment soon. 


For more YA, go visit these YATT Supporters:
Margo Berendsen
The Write Game
Julie Musil (not every wk)
Rosewood Pencil Box
Misha Gericke (not every wk)
Fairbetty's World
Concrete Pieces of Soul

ALERT: There will be no Featherbrained Friday, this week. I'll be leaving for the pageant on Friday, and I have a ton of preparations to finalize before than. I'm also teaching a writing workshop on Thursday to some middle grade students. Yikes!! Can't wait to write that post!! 

Wish me luck, and say a few prayers for me for the pageant. I'll leave you with this final image of me.Thank you for your amazing support. I HEART you all!!

NEWS and Q & A with a YA

I do have NEWS. But first, read this:

It's been a while since the Alleyway has heard from our teen board. They've been busy with high school, studying, reading, and doing what teens do. But the time has come to welcome their return.

For those of you who write YA, just leave a question (or more) in the comments below for our young adults to answer. It can be about what they'd like to read, about the publishing industry, or maybe ebooks. Libraries. Their studies. Even a question about a character or scene you're currently writing: how would you (the teen) react or is this believable to you?

Ask them anything.

They are awesome.

In the coming weeks, I'll compile your questions and post the answers.

'K, for the news. About three weeks ago, I decided to submit one of my picture books to a publisher's contest. There are approximately 300 entries. *Shiver* Yes, I know. But someone has to win. And if I'm one of the top five, my book gets itself a shiny illustrator and a hardcover!! Hee...

It all starts out with reader votes. I've NEVER asked you to do anything like this for me before, so if you feel awkward about it I will not hold it against you. But if you don't mind, I'd LOVE for you to head over HERE and read my story. If you feel it's worthy of your vote, PLEASE VOTE for my story. (If you click on Author at the top of the page, I should be on page 10. Thank you~!!)

Thank you!! I'm forever grateful for your support!!

YAers Want 2 NO!!

I've got double the YA for you today!! Firstly there's that little business of my bestest teen, Jacob Milhouse, answering another one of you fangtabulous questions. Then, in honor of Banned Books Week and in conjunction with Tamarah over on Grab a Pen, I'm reviewing a classic book that I cherished during my junior high years.

It was at this point, while I was writing this post, that I actually thought about inserting a picture of myself from junior high. Then I realized this is a family post, and I'd have to put a big'ole XX over such a photo. Trust me; any picture of me from that era could blind an eye.

Everything you want answered one question at a time...

Today our YA question comes from Elana Johnson, author of Possessions due out in 2011.

What do you struggle with the most in your life? Managing your time? Self-esteem? The opposite sex? What do you do when you have free time? Are the stereotypical "jocks" and "cheerleaders" and "nerds" real?

Answer: I struggle with a bit of it all, and it all kind of ties in to one another. You like someone but not confident enough in yourself to approach them. In other words, afraid of rejection…or humiliation. When it comes to time, there’s so much you want to do, but so little time it feels like. Or maybe that’s just me, lol, I’m overly ambitious and get agitated when I can’t do everything at once.

As far as stereotypes, books have always taken this to the extreme in some cases. To be honest, where I’m from the most popular/most beautiful girl isn’t a cheerleader; she’s an A-student. I would be considered a “nerd” in most places, but I talk and get along fine with anyone and everyone. Jocks, on the other hand, tend to be the ones that fall within the same guidelines. I know jocks that are intelligent and have a future besides sports, but there are also those who partake in sports for the attention or because, academically, they don’t excel. They need something that makes them feel good about themselves.

Thanks, Jacob!!

Here's my contribution to Banned Books Week: THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton

Brief Synopsis: 

When two poor greasers, Johnny, and Ponyboy are assaulted by a vicious gang, the socs, and Johnny kills one of the attackers, tension begins to mount between the two rival gangs, setting off a turbulent chain of events.

It is beyond my comprehension how anyone could ban this book. The story is magnificent, real, and raw: all that the teenage years are notorious for. The inner evolution of the characters is so profound, one can't help but tear up, empathize, and relate. Through the tragedy of an accidental killing, the loyalty created between these young men is admirable. The relationships are deep and binding.


S.E. Hinton gives these boys--and all teens--a new window to view their world through, learn, and connect.

Anyone remember this scene from the film? I mean, excluding the fact that I was a tweenie, junior high girl who was staring at really cute boys, I couldn't help but relate to their plight. Sure, I'd never gotten in a fight and accidentally taken someone down. But the struggle to fit in and find yourself during those years is a universal one.

They each found a place to belong among each other. When one is attacked; they all are attacked. When one suffers; they all suffer. Although most of the boys come from broken homes or no homes at all, the essence of a true family is shared between them. There is a brotherhood that young people of any era can learn from these printed words.

And what more could an author want than to have his/her printed words teach a lesson about youthful humanity: the real blood, sweat, and tears of growing up. I have recommended this book in the past, and will continue to do so for years to come.  

And this is how I'll always remember them. <3

Do you have a favorite Banned Book and why is it your favorite? Even better, why do you believe it was hexed?

And don't forget to CLICK and head over to Tamarah's blog to see who else is participating in this Banned Book Week Event!

2 Teens Answer Your Questions

Hi everyone!! Firstly, I want to give a major splat shout-out to my new Alleywalkers. Awesomesaucesome to have you here.


Everyone say 'Hi'.


'Hi!' The crowd rips out their spray cans and gives the new Alleywalkers a full body painting initiation. 


Welcome to today's edition of Q & A with a YA!! Although today it should read Q & A with 2 YAers!!

As you know, Jacob Milhouse is the lead teen who answers your questions. Today he's invited a guest to help him out. Please give Riv Re a warm Alleywalker welcome. Hi, Riv Re.




Hey guys! As you so far gathered, I'm Riv Re; writer, reader, high-schooler and blogger extraordinaire. And I'm also a teenager. So, out of the goodness of my big-and humble!-heart, I'm meandering over to help Jacob with Q and A with a YA!



Lisa Gibson asks: What do you see in YA literature that bothers you? Or do you see anything that just doesn't ring true to you?


Jacob: I don’t see enough strong-minded/strong-willed characters. That really bothers me. Growing up, it’s nice to see characters that have it together to some degree and aren’t all about being the victim. I also would want to see more flawed characters. I never buy a book if I feel like I’ve read something like it before. Give me something new, something fresh. I don’t like recycled. I guess I just am bothered when MC’s are the chasers in the romance game and they don’t own up to their own sexuality in a sense. Be the one to be chased sometimes. It’s a little more fun that way.


RR: One thing in particular that gets on my nerves is coincidences. When stuff is happening right now, when the protag is doing just this. Take Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn. It's a great book, but there just happens to be a war on the horizon at the same time as a human and dragon become friends. And of course, Jacob is right about needing flawed characters. And no, being clumsy and biting your lip does not count, Bella. And of course, vampires are so last year. Fortunately, we seem to be witnessing a Fey take-over.


Susan Kaye Quinn (love her name) asks: Would you read a book with a female protag, even if it didn't have the compensatory mega-action of a Hunger Games type book?


Jacob: Absolutely. I don’t discriminate. Maybe it’s me, but I feel boys don’t really care if the character is male or female, as long as they’re hooked. However, what draws me away from female characters is when they chase after broody guys who always seem to hate them and then like them and they fall in love within two days. It’s repetitive and annoying. I’m use to female characters like Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She kicks ass and can take care of herself. I think that’s something I’d like to see more of.


RR: Well, I don't feel competent to answer that, being a girl and all (minor detail, of course) so I'll say my opinion on male protags with action but no romance. I love to get a different perspective, and sometimes I see writers who can do the view tastefully and well, bringing the reader into the boy's head without any awkwardness or girliness. And about the action...I'm the type that appreciates fighting scenes. I love to write 'em, I love to read 'em. So personally, if a book is all about the action, I'm thrilled. All though, if the character has no depth is just some mindless killer, that's another story... Of course, many girls will beg to differ (often with a squeal as they reapply their lipstick.) 

~ Upcoming Events to Make Note Of ~

~ a different book review in a totally new ballgame

~ guest bloggers visit

~ a hauntingly sophisticated book review *wink*

~ an emergency post next Friday

~ the hubs adventures in S. Korea revealed

~some awesome author interviews from a few of your favorite YA legends-in-the-making

~ introduction to Grammar Ginger

~ my synopsis series with Paula B.

~ a series of insight from Agent Natalie Fischer

~ the official announcement of my Freaky-Fright Writing Fest!! loaded with prizes and staring eyeballs <3

~ Oh, and probably a few surprises in between

STAY TUNED!

Let me ask you YA writers out there: what is your most favorite YA scenes to write and why? And don't forget to leave more questions.

Teens Want to Read WHAT?

Today we have Episode #3 in our segment: Q & A with a YA, hosted by Jacob Milhouse.

Welcome Jacob. Take it away.

First, I want to thank everyone who participated! If you have any more questions feel free to post below or contact either ME or Sheri directly. Keep the questions coming! Here to help! Oh, and to my fellow YA’s, if you want to answer the questions as well, also contact either me or Sheri. Alrighty, let’s begin!

Question 1 comes from Kittie Howard and Dianna K. Salerni:  Who's driving the YA market, the teens or the authors? Is it the publishers? Is the market driven by what teens want to read, what authors want to write, or what publishers think teens want to read?

Great question! I wish I could give a definite answer, but it's one of those things that's a system, you know? We all work together to make this industry thrive. I don't even need to explain how this system works, because, as writers, you know just as well as I do. We all have an invaluable part to play. The important thing as a writer is to write what you enjoy, what makes you uncomfortable, what makes you cry, what makes you laugh. Hell, I started writing because I couldn't find books that I liked. I wanted to cater to YA's like myself who want that perfect combination of adult and YA. Hopefully, a publisher will take that work and deliver it to the readers who will appreciate it.

Question 2 is brought to us from Candyland: What are teens actually reading these days as opposed to what YA authors are writing?

Our tastes are really rather eclectic. Personally, I’m very into horrors, thrillers, and mysteries. If it has a supernatural spin on it as well, I’ll definitely read. I would also read—or try to read—what my friend’s recommend to me. We make it a habit to exchange good books with one another. I actually venture into “adult” books because YA books are dealing with a major trend: girl meets (insert creature title) boy, girl likes boy, boy hates girl, girl still pursues, boy admits he likes girl, but could hurt her…you catch my drift. I prefer books with more assertive characters, less “I love you” and “save me.” A little action never hurt either. This is really lacking these days. Where are the strong-willed characters?!  

Hope this segment of Q & A has been helpful. See you next week!

ALERT: We have an Alleyway Splatter

Well folks, yesterday was the official launch of my first blogfest!! I want to thank all the participants and those who visited, commenting and encouraging our writing community to grow. So cool! For those who missed it, I've linked it HERE as well as linked two of my most awesomemostest blogging buds and amazing writers who--due to circumstances beyond their control--could not post their article yesterday. That's Write (code name Leigh) & The Q.Q.Q.E (code name Matt). Give them some love and visit them today, instead. Would'ya???

YA Questions Answered

Last Wednesday, we launched Writers' Ally's latest endeavor: Q & A with a YA! I say 'we' because I have my regular guest blogger and aspiring YA teen writer, Jacob Milhouse, strutting his teen views and opinions all along the Alleyway.

Let's hear a warm welcome for Jacob! *many thanks*

We were so pleased with the number of you who left questions. Jacob collected the questions and has chosen one to answer this week. I know we'd indicated that you would have answers to your questions last Thursday. But Jacob and I got our lions crossed, forgetting that he'd be in school the next day. *slap myself in the forehead*


Question 1 comes from Natalie Aguirre who asked this: How much do you think teens check out author blogs, websites & Facebook? Is there a way we can get them to interact with us more?

Answer: I think teens check out author social sites regularly. Overwhelmingly so, maybe not, but enough to fill us in on what their work is about or what they’re currently working on. Contests and book giveaways always get me interested in returning to the different sites. That’s actually how I found out about Lisa McMann’s WAKE trilogy. Purchased both books right after and the next as soon as it was available.


Thanks, Jacob!

Please don't forget to leave more questions in the comment section. Jacob will continue to collect them as they come in and answer them weekly. On occasion, we'll have other teen bloggers join us. Thanks, Alleywalkers, for your support and for desiring to deepen your understanding of the genre we all love so dearly ~ Young Adult Literature.

Q&A with a YA!!

Yesterday morning:

My heart is breaking. Yeah, I didn't think it would but it is. The hubs and I just dropped off the 1st grader and the 6th grader at school. CJ is our littlest guy. This will be the first time ever that he's alone in a school building. I know he's not technically alone (there are plenty of other little, snot-nosed pukes running around that elementary school of K-5), but he's MY little puke. I know I'm being silly. I mean, with being kid #4 in our family, everyone pretty much knows him anyway. He actually said 'Hi' to more kids and adults than I did as we marched him to his classroom.


But for me--Mom--he feels alone.


And then there's Kate, the 6th grader. She's off to her first day in junior high school. Remember junior high? So much changed after that point in time for me, for all of us. The circle of life is really a cruel joke. Just two days ago Kate complained about taking a shower. But this morning, she was armed with nailpolish, deoterant, earrings (vamp earrings no less), and a hair dryer. She DRIED her hair. WHAT? My eyes glazed over as my tomboy morphed into a girl right before me. The least she could have done was warn me. Geez....


Living with four males is tough on both Kate and me. We pledged years ago to be faithful, forever pinkie sistahs. When I made her that promise, I hadn't thought about her getting older.


Okay, that's enough groveling for 2day. I need to save some up for tomorrow. The other two, Josh and Jake, will be headed for school too. So now, let's move on to bigger and badder subjects....


EVER want to ask a teen unabridged questions and get a REAL answer? I thought we'd give it a try here on Writers' Ally. I'd like to introduce a guest blogger who has a few quick words for you, so please read on. Welcome Jacob Milhouse, an aspiring YA writer who has been featured on the Graffiti Wall HERE.

Ever wonder what it would be like to really get the perspective of a young adult? Ok, this started off like an infomercial, but really?! Whether you wanted to know about true and current YA voice, what we think of the market, what we want to see more of, what frustrates us in writing, what draws us to certain stories? The list could go on and on. I think everyone has a question—one or many—that they would want answered to further their work or just out of curiosity.


Well, here’s your chance! My name is Jacob Milhouse, a 17-year-old (writer), and Sheri has been kind enough to let me drop by every Thursday to answer questions by you guys! We’ve been sitting on this idea for a while now, and we’re so stocked to launch this segment which is really Q&A with a YA.


Every Thursday, starting September 2nd, I’ll be crashing in to answer a few questions submitted by you! More YA’s will join to give you more than one person’s perspective when this segment takes off. So, any questions you want answered? Well, type them below in the comments section and a few will be answered!


Can’t wait to hear from you!


Can you resist?? Please leave Jacob and his friends a few questions in the comments or email him at milhousejacob@yahoo.com. He's excited to give you some answers.