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Young Adult and children's books are a force to be reckoned with in the UK economy.
"Children’s represented a record 24% of the print market in 2014, and for the first time the sector’s full-year value sales eclipsed those of BookScan’s Adult Fiction category"
said The Bookseller's review of the 2014 market. This should be good news for all UK children's authors, but it's the UKYA authors in particular I want to focus on here.
If I heard that said once, I heard it twenty times last Monday night, at #DrinkYA - a party to celebrate the shortlist for the newly fledged YA Book Prize, sponsored and supported by The Bookseller and others including (Movellas, The Reading Agency and World Book Day, and organised by Anna James (@acaseforbooks) along with the fab Bookseller team, the indefatigable Jim Dean (@yayeahyeah blog) and Louie Stowell (@louiestowell). It wasn't the authors there who were saying it, though. It was the bloggers, and in particular the bloggers passionate about UKYA, and determined that books coming out of Great Britain and Ireland should be as big as those in the currently US-dominated market.
It is an indisputable truth that US authors currently lead the YA market. John Green, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins - all have had massive bestsellers, and not only due to the films that have been made out of their books. Why shouldn't UKYA authors have the same success? It's a tricky one. For a start, the UK and Ireland fit into the state of Texas not once, but twice. The US market is huge from a population point of view. They just sell a vaster quantity of books there. However, I firmly believe we can compete.
Last year we had YALC, organised by our brilliant Children's Laureate, Malorie Blackman. It was a stonking success. This year, hopefully, there will be another YALC. But first there will be the YA Book Prize. The shortlist is out, with eleven UKYA authors on it (one of the shortlisted titles, Lobsters was jointly written by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison). What struck me about the list was how diverse it was in subject matter and writing style. There is modern myth (A Song for Ella Gray), fantasy witches (Half Bad), family dysfunction (Salvage), ghostly horror (Say Her Name), contemporary teen issues (Trouble, Goose, Lobsters, Finding a Voice), dystopia (Only Ever Yours) and thriller (The Ghosts of Heaven).
Also, although there are a couple of more well-known names on the list, there are some debuts too, and some who deserve to be better-known than they currently are. This can only be a good thing. The YA Book Prize is a bold initiative, arising from a strong feeling that it was time to celebrate the wonderful homegrown authors we have, to promote them, and to let everyone know that we can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of the rest of the world in terms of quality, and we should all be applauding that.
Those bloggers who were at #DrinksYA (and many more who weren't) do an amazing job in helping to get the word out to readers. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. We need to appreciate their dedication, their passion, and the time they give to writing about (or filming) pieces about what they love and sharing it. There is a HUGE book buying community out there - we know that more than ever now - and the bloggers and vloggers are doing more than their bit to fuel its appetite. I am constantly amazed and heartened by the amount of book chat there is both on Twitter and Tumblr (just look up 'booklr' on the latter, and join in the frequent #UKYAchat, #YAie and #UKMGchat events on the former). There are forums too, and the latest - Bookish Peeps - is a wonderful community (just created by blogger Jesse Owen of Books 4 Teens), all enthusing about books and reading.
In the end, if 2015 IS going to be our year as readers and writers of UKYA, we have to engage, be passionate, talk about the books we love (and yes, put up positive reviews on the dreaded Amazon and Goodreads), and generally support events like YALC and the YA Book Prize. 'Proselytize' and 'Evangelize' are not two of my favourite words. However, I am prepared to be both a proselytizer and an evangelist on behalf of getting UKYA the worldwide attention it deserves. How about you?
"2015 will be OUR year!"
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| Jim Dean and Abi Elphinstone at #DrinkYA |
Last year we had YALC, organised by our brilliant Children's Laureate, Malorie Blackman. It was a stonking success. This year, hopefully, there will be another YALC. But first there will be the YA Book Prize. The shortlist is out, with eleven UKYA authors on it (one of the shortlisted titles, Lobsters was jointly written by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison). What struck me about the list was how diverse it was in subject matter and writing style. There is modern myth (A Song for Ella Gray), fantasy witches (Half Bad), family dysfunction (Salvage), ghostly horror (Say Her Name), contemporary teen issues (Trouble, Goose, Lobsters, Finding a Voice), dystopia (Only Ever Yours) and thriller (The Ghosts of Heaven).
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| James Dawson and Non Pratt at #DrinkYA |
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| Book bags at #DrinkYA |
Those bloggers who were at #DrinksYA (and many more who weren't) do an amazing job in helping to get the word out to readers. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. We need to appreciate their dedication, their passion, and the time they give to writing about (or filming) pieces about what they love and sharing it. There is a HUGE book buying community out there - we know that more than ever now - and the bloggers and vloggers are doing more than their bit to fuel its appetite. I am constantly amazed and heartened by the amount of book chat there is both on Twitter and Tumblr (just look up 'booklr' on the latter, and join in the frequent #UKYAchat, #YAie and #UKMGchat events on the former). There are forums too, and the latest - Bookish Peeps - is a wonderful community (just created by blogger Jesse Owen of Books 4 Teens), all enthusing about books and reading.
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| Anna James of The Bookseller at #DrinkYA |
Out now from Piccadilly Press UK & Grosset and Dunlap USA: Beast Keeper and Hound of Hades (Beasts of Olympus)
"rippingly funny…offers food for thought on everything from absentee parenting to the mistreatment of animals (even immortal ones)." Publishers Weekly US starred review
Coming in May 2015 from Orchard, Cleo (UKYA paranormal/historical novel about the teenage Cleopatra VII)
Follow Lucy on Twitter
Lucy teaches a regular Guardian Masterclass on 'How to Write for Children'
Lucy is represented by Sophie Hicks at The Sophie Hicks Agency
0 Comments on The Power of (UK)YA - Lucy Coats as of 1/19/2015 3:05:00 AM
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Hi there!
I have responded to this post by tweeting you :-)... Though if I am honest, I'm still at the early stages of what on earth do I do with Twitter and what's the '#' all about anyway?!
I've also managed to click a button and have beome one of your followers. (My brother insists that it's real name is the stalker button... but that's just creepy!)
A great post, and one that gives me hope that one day the penny will drop; I will finally understand Twitter and that I will get into that party!
Hi Schez,
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for following/stalking!
Yes, it's all a bit like entering a new world, and a very strange one at that. Hope the penny fully drops soon (sounds like you're well on your way) and enjoy the party! :)
I might be one of your original stalkers! *snorts*
Glad you finally found your place on Twitter. Twitter is a magical place that brings writers and readers together. One big happy family.
What a fabulous way to look at twitter.
My twitter friends have been my support system, my outlet and my pick-me-up. I adore them
Really enjoyed this, Liz - I've been wondering quite what the point of Twitter was, and whether or not to get into it - specially as I don't have a smart phone - in fact my phone is so stupid it won't even accept texts from my family! But this explains it, and in such a readable way. (Was going to say that I downloaded Nicola's book about Twitter a while ago, and would go and read it forthwith - but then remembered I've just lent Kindle to daughter for her holiday, so the Twittersphere will have to wait a little longer for me. Oh well, expect it'll manage!)
It took me just as long to get into Twitter and then like you, it just took off for me. One of the things I like is the 140 characters - often I can't even fill it - that's the minimalist poet in me. I've met a lot of great people, especially loads of people in and around Portsmouth who write or who are involved in the Arts. Great post Liz.
I love Twitter, not been on it for long, and like you have "Unfollowed" those that only self-promote. It's a very entertaining and informative place to be. I follow mostly writers, publishing and agenting folk, and bookshops. It's so much fun and I've found out about competitions and read so many interesting links. What's not to like? (apart from "pornbots" I suppose) :)
I hope you tweeted this! Still finding my way around and things to tweet about, but a refreshing and exhilerating way at looking at Twitterworld. Thanks, Liz
I hope you tweeted this! Still finding my way around and things to tweet about, but a refreshing and exhilerating way at looking at Twitterworld. Thanks, Liz
Thanks for the lovely comments. Glad others feel the same way I do about Twitter. It takes a while, but it's worth it!
Of course I tweeted it, Celia - it was the first thing I did! (And thanks for retweeting it too!)
x
Great post. I have been a complete coward about unfollowing a few people who are driving me mad spamming stuff. But you are right - Twitter should be like a fun party and I follow a few of the type I would absolutely avoid at a party! I will be less of a chicken and hit that unfollow button...
Yay! Great post (I speak as an offender this morning - I posted a link to my book on going up to secondary school... oops!) For me, one of the initial benefits of twitter was as part of learning to SPEAK UP about my books - I needed that - but now I love it most for the social side, like you xx
Abie - do it! Hit that unfollow button!!
Jen - I don't think that's offending at all. That is partly why we're all there of course. The people who make our fingers hover over that 'unfollow' button are the ones who do nothing BUT promote their books! And no one who knows you could ever think of you as an aggressive self promoter!!! xx
My experience of Twitter has been so similar to this! People sometimes ask me why I go on Twitter and what I get out of it and sometimes I struggle to explain it all very coherently. But from now on I'll just tell them to read your blog post! Now, is the sun shining down in Cornwall or what?
Music to my ears! I've had an on off relationship with Twitter for a couple of years - it seems like some people post 4000 interesting articles a day when I can't even drum up one - but relating to it as a party/staffroom puts a whole new swing on it - so thanks - I'll open up a new browser and tell everyone what colour knickers I'm wearing and that I've just drunk a glass of pineapple juice! Love Love xxx
Well, Liz, I'm glad you got there at last, though I have to say that if you'd read a *certain little book* (thanks for the mention, Sue!) you'd have discovered much earlier that twitter wasn't about or for selling and in fact that that is the worst reason to come there.
I WISH publishers would stop telling their authors to get ontoTwitter, when publishers half the time don't know how to use it. Grrrr. I also think twitter is great for authors, but you need to know how to do it. And not.
Charlotte, what a lovely thing to say! And in answer to your question, it's a bit like this here today...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVnE3HHbaQo
Kate - thank you for this. Party on and ignore the 4000 interesting articles!
Nicola - actually, I already downloaded your book quite a while ago too! :) But I still think that there is a perception that each of us can have (not just from our publishers) that makes us feel a sort of pressure about the whole thing, and I think that there's a lot of stuff that goes on on twitter that continues to make us feel these things until we've got to grips with it all for ourselves.
Books like yours are certainly helpful, but to continue the 'love' theme, it's like being in a difficult relationship, where all your friends are advising you on what to do, but you still have to figure out much of it for yourself, and have your own journey, and come to your own conclusions about whether it's right for you or not.
If that makes sense. :)
I am on twitter and I love it! It's a chance for me to talk to all those authors/celebrities that would have otherwise not known I existed! I will be definitely be following you on twitter! :) Mine is @AngelDestinyX
Btw I am a new follower! I hope you like my blog as much as I love this one and feel free to follow back! :)
~Jasmine
http://ebonyblacklines.blogspot.co.uk/
I find twitter is a wonderful place to retweet to your followers when others need help. Wish I could find someone to point me in the direction of an agent, whoever it was, they were very lucky to receive such help. :0)
I've followed you since I realized you were on Twitter - you and several other authors of books my daughters love. It's been great fun to connect with these writers who we wouldn't have otherwise. Although, we've even now met one of them (Jacquie Harvey). On the flip side, I've made a point of buying these writers' books because I've found you all so cool!
Sid
Twitter can be great fun - once you stop trying to present an image and just play with it. Like you, I've 'unfollowed' some serial self-publicists. And had wonderful support when I was unable to dismantle a travel cot, and one of my twin grandsons had chickenpox. As well as meeting some great writers.
Thanks Liz, I've been on Twitter for about a month and I'm just realising that what you say is absolutely right. So I'm going to do a twitter tidyup, unfollow some people and follow more fun ones!
Happy to have nudged you in that direction.
The Twitter is not for selling widgets. It's a happy corner pub where the drinks are always free - a place to make friends, have a pint and chat.
Fun blog, Liz, and maybe you will convert me, too..