Teen Panel - Part Two

Today is Part Two this quarter's Teen Panel. You can still view Part One.

Teens

• Age: 15; State: NY
• Age: 18; State: Ohio; Chelsea
• Age: 18; Michigan; Tirza

Do you have a preference when it comes to reading about kids who are like you? Do you like reading about kids whose lives are much different than yours less? Different cultures, races, societies?

• I enjoy reading more about people whose lives are different or whose settings are similar to mine, but they have an extraordinary set of circumstances that makes things very different from my life. Reading about other cultures, races and societies makes me think more and really wraps me into the story- it's just fascinating to see how different social settings can completely change a person's views and give their life a whole different direction.

• I like both. I love being able to relate to a character, but I also want to be in someone else's shoes. It's nice when there's a combination of both in one book. Like having a character who hates reading (very unlike me), but who has an addiction to coffee (very like me). Or someone who's a spy (unlike me (or is it?)) but loves animals (like me). It's awesome to be transported to a new time period or society or culture, but it's also awesome to have a grounding in my own life that I can relate to.

• Like I mentioned above, I would love to read historical fiction set in different countries, so I love learning about different cultures. Obviously there needs to be something in the story or the character that I can identify with, or that will motivate me to read the story, but I am always up for learning something new while reading. I adored the Girls of Many Lands series when I was young, and I wish there was a similar series of books for YA readers. And reading about people like me is also always nice. It's cool when I can put myself into the story I am reading.
  

Do you like a book written from the pov of 2 main characters? Do you prefer first person or third person?

• I think it's difficult to write from the POV of multiple characters, but if it's done correctly, that can be one of my favorite styles of writing. The characters need to have distinct voices so they don't blend into each other. I mostly prefer first person literature because it tends to get you into the head of the main character better.

• I prefer first person because it allows you to get into a character's head more. For that same reason, I prefer one-person POV novels. I really want to connect to a character, and depending on the length of a novel, it's hard to do that when you only get half of the face-time in a character's mind, which is what happens when a book is split into two POVs. But, if it's done the right way, it can be great. It all depends on the author, but if they nail both character's POVs, two thumbs up.

• This is a bit of a subjective question...I've read books that alternate between points of view (and even between first and second and third person) that were well written and quite engrossing, and I loved it. However, I've also read books with 4+ points of view, and at that point, it felt like just too much. You only really brush the surface of each character, and don't really get into them and who they were. So, I guess what I am trying to say is...I don't mind either way, as long as the story flows well, the characters are developed, and the message is well conveyed.
  

How do teens felt about the whole vampire situation? Are you all “dead set” on the sparkling vampire shown in the Twilight saga? Or would you be interested in reading a book about more monstrous vampires like those from Anne Rice and Dracula? Or has it all been done!

• Vampires have just been used so much by now that I'm worn out of them. Even if they're used in conjunction with other beasts/demons/beings or taken from a different angle, it's not as intriguing anymore. I'm sure there are plenty of teens out there who still love the vampire situation, but to me, it feels like one of those songs that they overplay on the radio and then you can't enjoy it until you havn't heard it for a few years.

• I love creepy vamps. No sparkling for me. I mean, I enjoyed Twilight when I read it, but the sparkling thing was beyond ridiculous. I like books like the MorganvilleCaine, where the vampires are evil and scary and roar. But reading a book from the POV of a vampire is interesting, too, because they're older and have lived in different time periods and they just have the opportunity for a completely different perspective on humanity. That's why I want to read Thirst by Christopher Pike so bad - 5000yo vampire as the main character? I'm in. Despite what everyone says, I really don't think the whole vampire thing has been overdone. There are a lot of different sides and lores to vampires that have yet to be explored. That said, I would still love to see a different creature become more predominant, like ghouls or something. I'm all for creepy ancient lore.

• Short answer - The always-good vampires like the Cullens seem boring, and we tend to find the not-always-good/not-always-bad vampires from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Vampire Diaries more entertaining. Long answer - A lot of eye-rolling goes on with my friends when vampires are mentioned. I think for the most part, vampires have become trite to us. We were all die-hard Twilight fans when it first came out when we were in eighth grade, but now as we are graduating and moving on, we've moved beyond sparkly vampires and tend to mock them more than rave about them. That being said, we don't completely hate them. Many of my friends saw the New Moon movie (we credit Taylor Lautner for this), and we are huge, huge fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy could kick both Bella and Edward's butt, and Angel is far sexier than any guy in Twilight). I am also loving TV show version of The Vampire Diaries right now (Team Stefan!), much to my own surprise. However, when it comes to reading about vampires...I'm going to need an excellent hook and/or a bit of convincing to get me to read it.
  

Here is last quarter's teen panel:
Part 1
Part 2

Marketing To Teen - Teen Panel (Part 2)

Here is part 2 of our Teen Panel Q&A.

Click here to read Part 1

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What fantasy authors do you read and enjoy?

(Austyn) Rick Riorden, Cornelia Funke, Erin Hunter

(Morgan) Oh gosh..there are so many! Hmm..a few? Holly Black,Suzanne Collins, Libba Bray, Michelle Zink,& Lisa Mantchev!

(Viviane) (Not listed in any order) Neil Gaiman, Libba Bray, Tamora Pierce, Kristin Cashore, Michelle Zink, and others I can't Quite think of at the moment :)

(Anon) Any really. I jump around a lot.

(Yan) Stephanie Meyer--as much as the YA blogger community is divided when regarding this author I love her work, both YA and adult. Cassandra Clare--took a while to get into her series, but loved it in the end. Lisa McMann--simple writing but still thought provoking. Richelle Mead, Kristin Cashore, Maria V. Snyder, Alexandra Bracken (a '10 debut author that I plan to stalk for new releases already!), R.J. Anderson, Diana Peterfreund, Kelley Armstrong, Jackson Pearce, Alyxandra Harvey, Gail Carriger (an adult steampunk writer but she has the most captivating narration). Oh gosh this is such a huge answer; I'm going to stop right here before I fill an entire page up with authors.

(Chelsea) It isn't YA, but I really like the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. I really like fantasy books that build an entirely new world for you, and I think that series accomplishes that. For YA, I really, really enjoyed The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima. In it, she mixed history with fantasy, which could be hit or miss, but it ended up being a very engaging read. I'm really excited to read the sequel! I'm always looking for new high-fantasy books. I consider paranormal and fantasy to be very different (while some readers group them together), and it's a lot harder to find good YA fantasy.

(Tirzah) Tamora Pierce is my number-one, all time favorite fantasy author. I started reading her books when I was young, and I've read every single one of them. They are, in my opinion, the epitome of YA fantasy. I also enjoy Shannon Hale's fantasy books, and both of Kristin Cashore's books have really impressed me. Maria V. Snyder's Study series has great YA/Adult crossover appeal. I am also a major sucker for fairy tale retellings, so I love Simon Pulse's Once Upon a Time... series. Those are written primarily by Cameron Dokey, Debbie Viguie, and Nancy Holder.

(Khy) Does Scott Westerfeld count as fantasy? He's closeish? And I lovelovelove Richelle Mead and Vampire Academy. The series is AMAZING and Rose, the main character, is super awesome. Or do you mean like, high fantasy stuff? Because that I don't like as much, unless it's written by JK Rowling.


How do you find out about new authors?

(Austyn) Browsing the library.

(Morgan) Luckily, my best friend is an avid reader, such as myself. Sometimes I get lucky in a bookstore with a really good find, but most of the time, my friend guides me to amazing new authors!

(Viviane) Mainly through browsing the bookstore or if I hear anything through the grapevine about new books

(Anon) Book club, browsing the web, and blogs from other authors. Recommendations from readers also help a lot.

(Yan) Word of mouth, debut author LiveJournal communities, blogging communities, publishers (i.e. catalogs/recommendations/surprise review books).

(Chelsea) Mostly from sites like The Tenners or the Class of 2k10. And from debut author challenges, like the one Kristi from The Story Siren is hosting. If new debut authors reach out to online blogs, etc, it's very easy to find them. They just have to be approachable. If I've talked to a new author, I'll always want to buy their book when it comes out!

(Tirzah) Mainly through Twitter! Occasionally some will email me, or drop me a comment on my website (which I love!), but I hear about a lot of them through other authors on Twitter, retweets, and sometimes on Publisher's Weekly announcements.

(Khy) From other people's blogs, twitter, stuff like that. The Internet in general.


What attracts you to a new author/book?

(Austyn) The cover and the title art, actually, have a lot to do it for me. If that got be hooked and looks like something I might like, I read the summary on the back/inside cover and decide if I want to read it.

(Morgan) Honestly, so many things are important to my interest. A) Do I know the author? B) Is the book's cover appealing? Sometimes, I'll admit, there are GREAT stories that aren't portrayed in their covers, but still.. C) Who's reviewed it, what do they normally like, and what did they think? D) Are there any vampires/werewolves/weird and odd relationships in it? ( If so, it goes back on the shelf.)

(Viviane) Covers, firstly, then title, then summary. I mean, covers are what you first see. I always keep an open mind though, so even if the cover's not great, I keep in mind the title. Lastly, the summary. If it's intriguing enough, I'll give it a go.

(Anon) The summary on the back of the book plays a huge part- if it makes sense, is exciting, and still allows me to ponder a bit on the actual contents of the book, I'm willing to give it a try. My choices for what I read aren't dominated by the cover on the book, but it definitely plays a part in getting me to pick the book up and read the back

(Yan) Cover and summary mostly. Sometimes their personality plays a part as well. If they're friendly, easy to talk to, understanding of the blogging community it just appeals better to me that I feel their book might appeal to me as well.

(Chelsea) Like in the above question, when an author is approachable, I'm more likely to buy their book. Whether it's through blog tours or Twitter or email, I'm always happy to hear about and from a new writer. If they reach out to readers, readers will reach out to them.

(Tirzah) Well, on a very shallow level, usually a cover is the first thing I see, and if it's a good one, I'm hooked. More often than not though, it will be the title, or blurb I find on other websites. However, if the synopsis is well written, that usually sells me on a book. Author buzz also works as well--if I see more than two or three authors talking about a book on Twitter, then I really sit up, pay attention, and get the book!

(Khy) An intriguing premise is always the best, but I have been known to see a pretty cover first and then hunt for more info on the book. (:

Our Panel will be back again in April! Feel free to leave additional questions!

Marketing To Teens - Teen Panel (Part 1)

Winner of the Free Query Critique......

Christina Lee!

Congrads and please email me at sjohannes@bilaninc.com


March's Teen Panel

Here are some facts about our teen panel - 1/2 are big bloggers (BB) and 1/2 are non bloggers (NB). All are teens - 13 - 18

Today we have:
Austyn, 13, GA (NB)
Morgan, 15, NY (NB)
Viviane, 16, NY (NB)
Anonymous, 15, NY (NB)
Yan, 17, PA
Chelsea, 18, OH
Tirzah, 17, MI
Khy, 15, CA

This week they are answering questions regarding what authors they love and why.

Who is your favorite author and why?

(Austyn) Rick Roirden- his writing style is simply wonderful, and the ideas behind his books are creative.

(Morgan) Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander and Paint It Black. Those two books are part of who I am, to put it simply. Janet Fitch weaves words like magic, and leaves the reader amazed,awestruck, and forever changed. You'll think about those two books every day, after having read them. Ellen Hopkins is another amazing author I love, with so many books...Impulse, Tricks, Crank, Burned, Glass, Identical...the books ever teenager should read even though some parents don't agree. Ellen's rawness and realness is what makes her a genius, along with the fact that she writes in verse!

(Viviane) Janet Fitch, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and others, depending on the reading mood I'm in! However, the first two will always remain my two favorite; their writing is so.... enchanting. Ms. Fitch's books, White Oleander and Paint it Black, have stayed with me mainly because of the characters. They are three-dimensional, full, and very real. Mr. Zafon's books, Shadow of the Wind and the Angel's Game, were intriguing stories; he is (to me) the most masterful storyteller I know of.

(Anon) Ellen Hopkins & Suzanne Collins- Both women are amazing authors, in my opinion, because their books draw you in, capture you in the words of the page. They're the types of books that you never want to lay down- just read from cover to cover in one shot. The characters, who are usually deep, 3-dimensional beings really help the stories along. But even more importantly, each have specific qualities that make their books unique. Hopkins writes about topics that should be addressed- that people need to hear. Raw things that some people don't have the spine to write about. Collins makes her books fast paced without leaving out big chunks of important detail. I think really making a book to-the-point without cutting a bunch of important stuff must be hard. So both are very talented authors in my opinion.

(Yan) It's hard to pick favorite authors. It's like asking me what my mood is--they change daily! On the top of my head Maria V. Snyder. I've been stressing her book whenever I can because her Study series (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study) was simply fabulous, amazing, addictive, grossly captivating, well characterized and well plotted. (Edited to add: my fantasy author lists include some favorite authors as well along with Courtney Summers and Justina Chen-Headly and Elizabeth Scott for contemporary novels (which, by the way, is a small fraction of authors I enjoy because I cannot seem to think at the moment!).

(Chelsea) I love Laurie Halse Anderson because she manages to create books with controversial subjects and write them artistically while simultaneously making them accessible. She really lets you get inside her character's minds. I also love Meg Cabot because all of her books are enjoyable and fun. A favorite author, to me, is one whose books are ones I continuously love, and who never fail to publish a book that I enjoy reading. Elizabeth Scott has created enjoyable book after enjoyable book, so she, too, is one of my favorites.

(Tirzah) I love Tamora Pierce. I started reading her books when I was really young, and her epic fantasy books are just amazing. I'm also a huge fan of Meg Cabot, and hers were the first YA books I started reading. Ellen Hopkins is an excellent poet, and her books never cease to grab you right away. Julia Hoban had me enthralled with her book Willow, and I love her smart style. And I've really admired Daphne du Maurier's stories and novels for a long time--they're the ultimate Gothic suspense/romance books.

(Khy) David Levithan because everything he writes is pure amazing GOLD. Maureen Johnson because she is hilario and also created the character of Spencer Martin. E. Lockhart, because she everything she writes is fun and original. Courtney Summers because she is so nice, yet her books are full of the meanest people that are still enjoyable to read about.


Do you look for known authors to read or do you just look for books that interest you?

(Austyn) Books that interest me, unless the author's style really interested me or if I finished one of their series.

(Morgan) It's a mix of both. If I LOVE an author, I will definitely look for more works by them,and if a random, lesser known book sounds really good, I'll read it- no matter who the author.

(Viviane) Both. If I really enjoyed reading an author's work, I'll be on the lookout for their next item. But finding a new author is always nice, especially when the writing's great!

(Anon) Half and half. If I know of a very good author and I've read their books before, I'll look for one of them. But if I don't have any specific author in mind I'd probably just look for something that sounds interesting and off-the-beaten-path.

(Yan) Both. I'm more tempted to pick up new books by authors I have already read and loved. For new authors, I'm more cautious especially when publishes and bloggers over hype them. Of course, I'll be extremely curious but the hype can have a backlash when the book fails to impress. I'll be more tempted to grade the book harsher because my expectations were so far in the sky. I will typically pick up any fantasy novel whether it may be a debut author or a well established author--it's just a preference of mine. But that idea goes both ways; if a book is being released with elements such as religion I'll step back away from them may it be written by a debut author a New York Times bestseller.

(Chelsea) If I see a book by an author I like, I'll get it. But if I see a book that has a good summary, I'll get it, too, regardless of whether I've ever heard their name.

(Tirzah) I'm always on the lookout for new books by authors I've read and enjoyed in the past, but for the most part, it's the books themselves that interest me. A known author might pique my interest, but its the synopsis of the book that will really sell it to me.

(Khy) Books that interest me, but if a book/author is crazy popular and I haven't read it/them, I will probably seek it out to see what all the buzz is about.


Are you likely to remain loyal to an author if they do a series or another book?

(Austyn) If they're good, yes.

(Morgan) I always give a sequel a fair chance. Sometimes, though, the author disappoints. Some books should just be stand alone novels..As well as for companion books, I'm always up for another ride down that author's lane, as long as it sounds intriguing.

(Viviane) If it's an author I love, than yes, definitely. Even if it's completely different from what they've written in the past.

(Anon) Yes, if an author does a series and I liked the first book, I would almost definitely read the following books. The same goes for their other books- if they make a good first impression, I'm willing to stick with them.

(Yan) Yes, but that does always guarantee that I'll enjoy it. If a favorite author of mine writes a new series I'll read the first book without question (except if it involves some iffy topics of mine) but if it doesn't work for me I'll just stop reading that series.

(Chelsea) Definitely. If I liked their first book (or second or third, etc), there's a very high chance I'll be checking out their next one. But even if I've read previous books by an author that I didn't really care for, I'll give another of the author's books a try if the premise intrigues me enough. It's always nice to see familiar names and to compare what they've written.

(Tirzah) If I enjoyed their previous works, yes. There are only a handful of times that I can remember not really going on with a series after reading the first or second book, but that was because the series or book wasn't very interesting to me, but for the most part, I like to see series through. It may be hard for me at times due to time constraints (most of the time I like to re-read the prequel beforehand to re-familiarize myself with the story again), so it's a matter of really making time to do so.

(Khy) If I liked their other books, yes. If I didn't like their other book or series, I will probably stay away.

Part 2 will be on Wed.

Our Teen Panel will join us again in April! Feel free to leave additional questions.

Last chance to ask our Teen Panel questions?

(Yes I know I said I was going to unplug but I'm back for just a second! I swear! :)

As some of you know - a teen panel is standing by to answer any and all of our questions regarding the books they read? What covers do they love and why? where do they hear about books? Etc.

This is your last chance to find out what you want to know from teens about the books they choose to read and why?

Leave me your questions in the comments!

Next month, our "Teen Panel" will give us the Scoop!