YA Fiction and the Next Big Thing

8 Comments / A writer's life, Conference, Die Trying, YALSA / By

I\’m pumped to attend the 2012 YALSA Literature Symposium, titled: The Future of Young Adult Literature: Hit Me with the Next Big Thing.  The conference is being held in St. Louis, Mo., the proverbial \”hop, step and jump\” away from my home. (Am I dating myself with that reference?) YALSA stands for Young Adult Library Services Association.

While I am not presenting (that will be at the ALA convention next summer) I will be haunting the halls, attending presentation on YA Literature and Fan-Created Work, the Future of Review Guidance, the Future of Whiteness in Young Adult Literature, Contemporary Young Adult Fiction, What Will Guys Read Next, and, of course, a special presentation on  Trends, Fads, and the Next Big Thing in Publishing.

If you\’re hanging around and find YALSA Author B. A. Binns, hit me with the secret words (hint: All The Colors Of Love) to get a free copy of one of my books, either PULL or Die Trying.

8 thoughts on “YA Fiction and the Next Big Thing”

  3. B. A. Binns

    Renee, I write boy-centric books myself. The “What will guys read next” session is all about that, and I have that marked as a Must Attend on my schedule.

  4. Maureen McGowan

    Have a great time, B.A. It sounds like it's going to be fantastic.

    I'd love to hear about the “What Will Guys Read” session after too! I think my book would be very appealing to boys, but the publisher put a very girl-centric cover on it… And a friend of mine has a YA fantasy, written in two male POVs and her publisher put a girl on the cover! It's like they don't think boys read… 🙂

  7. B. A. Binns

    Maureen, unfortunatly publishers do think boys don't read. They also know that the demographics says girls are their number one customer, and they are out to appeal to that, making a self-fulfilling prophecy. I do talks to groups about attracting reluctant male readers (and I will be at the American Library Association summer conference in Chicago presenting on the subject) so I am all too aware of the problem. Guys really do like a good book. But their idea of a “good book” may be different from a girl's.

  8. Lynn Lovegreen

    Wow, sounds like a great conference. People do assume that boys don't read, so they gear most of the promotion to girls which creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    I'd also like to hear more about “quieter” genres like historical fiction. Are publishers open to more than the latest trend?

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