I write for young people. At least that what it says on my website: Linda Benson – books for young readers. http://lindabenson.net And on my blog, it says I’m a Young Adult and Middle Grade Author. http://lindabenson.blogspot.com
But my newest book, The Girl Who Remembered Horses, which came out in November/2011 from Musa Publishing, has been warmly received and widely read by readers over the age of 30, and many over the age of 40. Or 50. What gives? It’s a post-apocalyptic story featuring a teenage protagonist who dreams of horses, magnificent creatures that she’s never seen, while her clan gleans recycled items from a barren landscape in a future world.
The book is labeled YA for young adult, but might just have easily been labeled middle grade, for readers 9-12, or fantasy, or equine fiction (with very real horse details) or fiction for animal lovers (it also features dogs and goats) or even speculative fiction or science fiction. Not to mention adventure. At the moment, The Girl Who Remembered Horses is racking up great reviews on Amazon, and is #1 on the Goodreads list of Fantasy Books Featuring Horses. Here are some samples of recent reviews, taken from Amazon and Goodreads:
Linda Benson has ventured into what may well be completely unknown territory: a post-apocalyptic horse story.
The Girl Who Remembered Horses is a post-Apocalyptic middle grade novel but without the darkness and misery that seems to come with so many books these days.
This is a whole new imaginative take on the well-loved story of a girl finding her horse.
It pulls you in with a whisper, wraps you up in its arms, and leaves you feeling really good about having read it.
Because The Girl Who Remembered Horses came out first as an eBook, readers of all types and ages are finding and enjoying it. But would this have been true in a bookstore, where it would have to find a place on just one shelf? What shelf would you place it on? In the children’s section? The young adult? Wherever you chose to put it, it would certainly get overlooked by lots of people who seem to be enjoying it.
One of the beauties of eBooks, in my opinion, is that they are easy to find and to buy (with prices so much lower than a hard cover book) so readers tend to take a chance on reading something they might not normally pick up in a bookstore, or even be able to find, for that matter. Especially for those books that are hard to peg, or that cross genre boundaries, eBooks provide a great way to attract new readers.
I have two more novels due out from Musa Publishing this year. The first is called Six Degrees of Lost and it’s about a lost dog. Or perhaps it’s about two teens on an unexpected journey – you’ll have to read it to find out. The second is called Walking the Dog, and it’s about some kids walking dogs. Or maybe it’s about a girl in trouble and a boy too young to help her.
Earlier in my writing career, I had my genre all picked out: I thought I was a children’s author who focused on animal stories. But somehow, my themes seem to get deeper and my audience seems to get wider. If being an eBook author allows more readers to find my work, then I’m all for it. Genre-jumping, I mean.
7 comments:
I recently connected with another YA time travel author. She told me she went into the bookstore to check out her book (The Forgotten Isle)and found it seemed lost - her thin spine being engulfed in a sea of thick spines. Thankfully, when shopping for a book on-line, all you see is the front cover. You don't get lost, readers are seeking you out based on what they like to read. That's a great plus for ebook authors! Thanks for a great and informative post, Linda!
Exactly, Sharon! When shopping for eBooks, all the covers are face-out, with the description and an excerpt right there at one's fingertips. So cool!
Linda,
Very insightful and how true. By reading ebooks, I'm reading lots of books in different genres. I'm reading faster and more. I think it has something to do with ebooks.
Great post, and I still have to get this book downloaded onto my Nook. Actually, I never thought about the getting lost on the shelf aspect, so that's a good one to remember.
Very interesting, Linda. Thanks for sharing.
I think adults enjoy clean, fun reads sometimes. My MG grade books are targeted for 8-12 but I am finding more older women & teens enjoying it as well. I guess this is one of many powers of E-books. Embrace it :D
I enjoy YA, especially when I'm looking for a story that moves along. YA writers seem to understand that if they don't suck you in pretty quick, you're going to put the book down and not buy another from the same author. YAs tend to offer layers of meaning that more mature literature sometimes lacks, too. AND, the best thing about YA? We want to keep these kids reading into adulthood. So, yeah, I'm a fan (especially if you throw in a bit of fantasy or SF). I wish you lots of success, Linda.
Post a Comment