I have to admit it disappoints me when a successful writer of adult romances chooses to write YA fiction. I know I won’t be reading any of the books.

One thing that does annoy me when done badly is the tone of the characters. Some authors just don’t put across the YA voice well – it’s either not believable because it’s so exaggerated, or the characters seem maturer than their supposed years. It’s the same issue I have when you see thirty-year-olds in TV shows/films portraying teenagers.

I’ve only read one of Kelley Armstrong’s Summoning series, but I much prefer her adult books. I know Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy books are popular, but I’d gotten sick of vampires by then and stuck with her Succubus books which are amazing.

Interesting side note: Julie Kagawa was a RITA finalist with her YA fiction Iron King printed under Harlequin Teen. The fact that Harlequin has a teen lable says something to me about the link between romance and teen novels.

In the article Jean said: Based on some comments I’ve read, my suspicion is that some of the wagon jumpers thought of most YA/Teen books as simplistic, superficial, and a dash in the park.

I think that is a problem YA shares with romance. They attract writers who are trying to earn a living at writing and turn their hand to whatever is profitable at the time. They have no love for the genre they choose, they are simply looking for the largest market. For many years that market was romance. I am sure I am not the only person who has picked up a book written by an author who clearly has no love for the genre and who would read anything other than romance if stuck on a desert isle. But they want to write, romance is a huge market and they feel “stuck” with pumping out harlequins to get the bills paid. It amazes me that these people are amazed they never become best sellers. Regardless of how technically good a writer you are if you don’t have a story to tell that you love, that communicates itself to the reader.

I have started to notice that in YA as well. When the market first exploded a few years ago, some of the works were amateurish but they were all heart felt. Now many of them are well written but lack heart. As a reader I choose the former over the latter. I want a story teller, not a polished reciter of tales. I have no doubt many of these ladies will find the same lack of success in YA that they did in romance.

My advice to writers as a reader is tell me the tale you want to tell me. Don’t find the market and force yourself into it. Work a day job (probably more lucrative in the long run) and tell your heartfelt story. Then worry about publishing. That certainly worked for Rowling. Maybe it can work for you too.