Comments on: >Counting YA http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/ Publications about books for children and young adults Tue, 14 May 2013 13:27:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Roger Sutton http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11275 Roger Sutton Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:26:04 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11275 >Yes, Carol, and with true kid-pleasers like Twilight being crowded by shelves of wannabees, I worry (not that this is anyone's fault or anything that can be done about it) that a more generic concept of "vampire + hot virgin" becomes the cultural trope rather than a book lots of readers have in common. >Yes, Carol, and with true kid-pleasers like Twilight being crowded by shelves of wannabees, I worry (not that this is anyone's fault or anything that can be done about it) that a more generic concept of "vampire + hot virgin" becomes the cultural trope rather than a book lots of readers have in common.

]]> By: Carol Edwards http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11273 Carol Edwards Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:42:44 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11273 >I'm on Yalsa's Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee, and I have read 213 YA novels since January. There are some terrific titles being published, and my worry is that they'll all but two or three be thought of as yesterday by 2013.<br /><br />Kids need time for their affection for something to grow. This is much more true than for adult, where critics have more instant power. In YA, it's word of mouth, excitement from teen to teen that counts. Even with Harry Potter that didn't happen overnight. It's quicker than it used to be, but still there is a time lag. >I'm on Yalsa's Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee, and I have read 213 YA novels since January. There are some terrific titles being published, and my worry is that they'll all but two or three be thought of as yesterday by 2013.

Kids need time for their affection for something to grow. This is much more true than for adult, where critics have more instant power. In YA, it's word of mouth, excitement from teen to teen that counts. Even with Harry Potter that didn't happen overnight. It's quicker than it used to be, but still there is a time lag.

]]> By: Melinda http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11266 Melinda Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:46:30 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11266 >Roger, do you think your complaint over YA books might stem partly from having to read a zillion of them every year? It must be similar to studying an area of knowledge intently for a while -- you start seeing the same things over and over, and it's hard to find information you haven't already heard about. <br /><br />Maybe if authors read as extensively, they'd be more compelled to find ways to avoid the trite and humdrum. Or not, because that also means more work on the author's part. :p >Roger, do you think your complaint over YA books might stem partly from having to read a zillion of them every year? It must be similar to studying an area of knowledge intently for a while — you start seeing the same things over and over, and it's hard to find information you haven't already heard about.

Maybe if authors read as extensively, they'd be more compelled to find ways to avoid the trite and humdrum. Or not, because that also means more work on the author's part. :p

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11265 Anonymous Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:20:26 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11265 >Roger said, "What will we do when the kids age out?"<br /><br />Do you think they will? Whereas in my generation, people are proud to say disdainfully that they "skipped" YA and went directly to the adult books, it seems that now YA are so appealing, that kids hit the genre and then never leave. Lots of adults seem to be moving back to YA, too.<br /><br />I love the genre, but I don't really want all of publishing to be all YA all the time.<br /><br />colkood >Roger said, "What will we do when the kids age out?"

Do you think they will? Whereas in my generation, people are proud to say disdainfully that they "skipped" YA and went directly to the adult books, it seems that now YA are so appealing, that kids hit the genre and then never leave. Lots of adults seem to be moving back to YA, too.

I love the genre, but I don't really want all of publishing to be all YA all the time.

colkood

]]> By: TWG http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11264 TWG Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:05:05 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11264 >Well, if writers would simply stop writing and submitting bad and mediocre books, the problem would be solved.<br /><br />Oh. Cripes. That might mean me, too. Better rethink this..... >Well, if writers would simply stop writing and submitting bad and mediocre books, the problem would be solved.

Oh. Cripes. That might mean me, too. Better rethink this…..

]]> By: Andrew Karre http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11263 Andrew Karre Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:51:13 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11263 >I fascinating numbers study would be to compare age brackets as a percentage of overall population and corresponding book categories as a percentage of overall kidlit publishing.<br /><br />To your specific concern, Roger, I would say that there have been signals in the marketplace for at least a year regarding that population (as well as signals in my home--I have a three year old). We'll see what happens. >I fascinating numbers study would be to compare age brackets as a percentage of overall population and corresponding book categories as a percentage of overall kidlit publishing.

To your specific concern, Roger, I would say that there have been signals in the marketplace for at least a year regarding that population (as well as signals in my home–I have a three year old). We'll see what happens.

]]> By: Roger Sutton http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11262 Roger Sutton Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:33:51 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11262 >Elizabeth and Andrew both know a lot more about this than I do, so I'll fold. And I remember having the same complaint about the over-publishing of picture books twenty-five years ago. What drove both trends is something we haven't talked about--where the youth population is greatest at any given time. Those babies swamped with picture books in the late 80s became the Goosebumps readers of the early 90s, with Harry Potter and mucho YA coming to get them in their turns. And, as they became older YAs, YA grew up with them. What will we do when the kids age out?<br /><br />I know we have a healthy population of babies and preschoolers right now and am a little spooked that it doesn't feel like they are getting their book bulge due. >Elizabeth and Andrew both know a lot more about this than I do, so I'll fold. And I remember having the same complaint about the over-publishing of picture books twenty-five years ago. What drove both trends is something we haven't talked about–where the youth population is greatest at any given time. Those babies swamped with picture books in the late 80s became the Goosebumps readers of the early 90s, with Harry Potter and mucho YA coming to get them in their turns. And, as they became older YAs, YA grew up with them. What will we do when the kids age out?

I know we have a healthy population of babies and preschoolers right now and am a little spooked that it doesn't feel like they are getting their book bulge due.

]]> By: Andrew Karre http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11261 Andrew Karre Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:10:41 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11261 >What Liz said...<br /><br />All publishers try (with vastly varying degrees of success) to find the sweet spot between title count and per-title profitability. I'd say that's in the top five of critical decisions a publisher has to make. If a house can do six and generate the same revenue as twenty, they do. That's a regularly recurring conversation everywhere I've ever worked. >What Liz said…

All publishers try (with vastly varying degrees of success) to find the sweet spot between title count and per-title profitability. I'd say that's in the top five of critical decisions a publisher has to make. If a house can do six and generate the same revenue as twenty, they do. That's a regularly recurring conversation everywhere I've ever worked.

]]> By: Elizabeth Law http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11260 Elizabeth Law Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:55:01 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11260 >Oh Roger, Roger, if only it were that easy—run a financially successful publishing company just by publishing distinct gems and never following any trends. Without realizing it, you sound an awful lot like publishing executives who themselves are not in editorial, and always comment “We would be more profitable if we did fewer titles and they sold well.” I agree with Andrew—we make our publishing decisions carefully, and I agree with you, Roger—there is some copycat publishing going on. BUT kids also read that way. They finish a book they like and don’t, for the most part, say “Now I want something really different.” They say “What else can I read that’s like this?” So booms happen. I don’t mind saying that we have two very successful werewolf trilogies on the Egmont list—should we not publish these because the Horn Book thinks there are too many? They are good novels, too, ones we are proud of. Like other publishers, I assume, we think the ones we select are really juicy and strong and will strike a chord with teens. <br /><br /> Of course, just like the stock market, it’s very hard to time trends and everyone will have some books still waiting to come out when sales really taper off. But go to Barnes and Noble this summer and you’ll see a “Dark Fantasy” section. Believe me, it wouldn’t be a section if the books weren’t moving.<br /><br />Here is a list of the major trends that I remember since working in publishing: RL Stine-like horror, fantasy, chick lit, paranormal and now dystopian and Wimpy Kid-like illustrated humorous books. And all of these started because one book was really popular, and kids wanted more. At least that’s my theory. >Oh Roger, Roger, if only it were that easy—run a financially successful publishing company just by publishing distinct gems and never following any trends. Without realizing it, you sound an awful lot like publishing executives who themselves are not in editorial, and always comment “We would be more profitable if we did fewer titles and they sold well.” I agree with Andrew—we make our publishing decisions carefully, and I agree with you, Roger—there is some copycat publishing going on. BUT kids also read that way. They finish a book they like and don’t, for the most part, say “Now I want something really different.” They say “What else can I read that’s like this?” So booms happen. I don’t mind saying that we have two very successful werewolf trilogies on the Egmont list—should we not publish these because the Horn Book thinks there are too many? They are good novels, too, ones we are proud of. Like other publishers, I assume, we think the ones we select are really juicy and strong and will strike a chord with teens.

Of course, just like the stock market, it’s very hard to time trends and everyone will have some books still waiting to come out when sales really taper off. But go to Barnes and Noble this summer and you’ll see a “Dark Fantasy” section. Believe me, it wouldn’t be a section if the books weren’t moving.

Here is a list of the major trends that I remember since working in publishing: RL Stine-like horror, fantasy, chick lit, paranormal and now dystopian and Wimpy Kid-like illustrated humorous books. And all of these started because one book was really popular, and kids wanted more. At least that’s my theory.

]]> By: Roger Sutton http://www.hbook.com/2011/08/blogs/read-roger/counting-ya/#comment-11258 Roger Sutton Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:49:58 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3728#comment-11258 >I agree that no reader complains about having too much put in front of him, but I would add that the curation problem extends to publishers as well: are they publishing (say) twenty YA novels in an "okay" way when they might do a better job with the right six? >I agree that no reader complains about having too much put in front of him, but I would add that the curation problem extends to publishers as well: are they publishing (say) twenty YA novels in an "okay" way when they might do a better job with the right six?

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