I feel so guilty for not having posted the past few weeks! A few weeks ago I came down sick with the flu and was sick for about five days with body aches, chills, sore throat, cough, but no vomiting, thank God! Upon returning to work I had a lot to catch up on since my Twilight program at the library is coming up soon...this Saturday, Halloween! I also had other programs to prepare for, so I apologize for missing so many opportunities to blog.
Unfortunately being sick caused me to miss the Writer's Conference I was so looking forward to attending. Stupid flu. However, I DID get to attend my first MileHiCon last Saturday! I learned quite a bit while there.
1) Steampunk is the new "IT" trend, trailing on the ends of the vampire trend as it dies off. What is steampunk, you ask? For more information on steampunk, click here. Steampunk seems to be gaining steam quickly in both the adult and young adult book markets. The "modern" resurgence of steampunk seems to be melding with the paranormal, as books like "Boneshaker" by Cherie Priest and "Soulless" by Gail Carriger take traditional steampunk elements and combine them with vampires and zombies. Another notable YA steampunk out this year is Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan."
2) Most hardcore science fiction/fantasy fans do not seem to recognize YA lit as a reputable genre, which saddens me. Most of the people I talked to at the Con reacted negatively when I told them I was a teen librarian and read mostly YA fantasy/sci-fi. The most common reaction I got was "well, that's a stepping stone, at least you have an interest in fantasy/sci-fi!" I don't see it as a "stepping stone," I see it as a healthy, vibrant, and diverse genre, and frankly I find YA books to be a hell of a lot more creative and entertaining than most adult fiction out there.
3) I love fantasy. I love science fiction. Those are my genres and I realize I need to stick with them, because I have such passion for them that cannot be extinguished. And there are lots of other people out there who love it too, so I highly doubt it will be fading anytime soon. And don't let those hardcore "purists" deter you from what you love, because there is no such thing as a genre that is "better" than another. Some people like adult fiction. Some like YA. Never look down on others for loving a genre that speaks to them.
On another, I'm thrilled today is a snow day from work so I can stay home and write! I'll probably catch up on my reading too, and snuggle with my dog in front of the fireplace. As much as I love writing I have to keep reading too, seeing as they go hand in hand.
