aprilhenry ([info]aprilhenry) wrote,
@ 2008-03-14 13:03:00
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Entry tags:reviews

One way the YA and adult fiction worlds are very different
I have published one young adult thriller, with two more in the works. I've also published five adult mysteries and thrillers, with four more contracted for.

In the adult world, there are four places that review your book BEFORE it comes out: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and Library Journal. Each has its own idiosyncracies. Like Kirkus is seen as snarky, and Booklist only reviews books they like. Reviews might appear months before pub date, or, for a less well-known writer, might come out shortly before or after. But not a long while after.

In the YA world, it seems to be completely different. But why? Usually, the only pre-publication reviews are from
Kirkus.

School Library Journal, the Bulletin, Booklist, VOYA, Horn Book and PW often take three months or more AFTER pub date.

But a lot of these are the same publications or sister publications to magazines that manage to review adult books before they come out. Does any one know why there is such a long gap for YA?

At least now I know to expect it.



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[info]selimsa803
2008-03-14 08:35 pm UTC (link)
It didn't used to be that way. When my first novel came out in 2004, I had all of the big four reviews well before the pub date. The only ones that lagged behind were Kliatt and BCCB. So this change in reviewing has been fairly recent. I've heard a lot of people talking about it but I haven't heard any explanations.

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-14 08:37 pm UTC (link)
Hm, maybe it's slipped in the adult world, too. I hadn't thought of that possibility, and it's been a couple of years since I've had one out there.

I'll have a new adult and a new YA out next year at the same time - it will be a test case.

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-14 10:26 pm UTC (link)
How long does it take you to write a book?

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-14 10:35 pm UTC (link)
That's kind of a big "depends." For me, nine months to a year. it might end up being less now that I'm not trying to work full time.

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-15 03:39 am UTC (link)
How do you have two books coming out at the same time then? Was one sitting in a drawer for a while?

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-15 02:09 pm UTC (link)
One editor wanted a lot of rewrites and sometimes took some time to review them. Meanwhile, the publisher for the adult books was chomping at the bit and wanted the first as soon as possible.

I usually have three books I'm working on. One that is being edited by my editor. One that I'm writing. And one that I'm thinking about writing.

So of the two books that are coming out next year at the same time - one has been line edited and copy edited, because that publisher likes to have everything done way in advance. And the second book (which is written with a coauthor) hasn't even been turned into our editor yet, so it still has to go through an editorial letter, line edit, and copy edit.

(Houses have different styles in terms of how far in advance they want everything done. And if, say, you wanted to put on a non-fiction book about something that's been in the news, like a thousand-dollar an hour call girl, some publishers could probably have a book in the paperback racks in six weeks.)

AND while the first editor was taking some time between edits, I wrote another YA that is going to get shopped starting Monday. And somewhere in there I started working on a funny middle grade novel (might have to go with a pseudonym, since there are no dead people or scary things). That's about half done. And I keep thinking about this girl who delivers pizzas in her orange Volkswagon, until one night when someone orders a pizza delivered to an an address that doesn't exist...

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-16 07:45 pm UTC (link)
That theme is along the lines of what happened in real life to Sherri Eyerly in Salem back in the early 80's. Do you know the story? She ended up being murdered. And, in fact, they just solved the murder a few months ago.

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-16 08:15 pm UTC (link)
Yes, that's what got me thinking. She had a friend - that's who they asked for, but she wasn't working that night. I started wondering how it wold feel to be the friend.

Are you from Oregon, oh anonymous poster?

Alternatively, I'm also at aprilhenrymysteries at yahoo dot com.

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-17 01:40 pm UTC (link)
Yep, Salem.

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-17 01:52 pm UTC (link)
I'm thinking of opening up the floor to questions people might have about writing and publishing and such - do you think that would be of general interest?

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-17 07:24 pm UTC (link)
Definitely. And I think you may get more than you bargained for in questions.

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-17 07:26 pm UTC (link)
Hm - what does that mean? I'm not good if people are going to be hurtful in some way.

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-18 02:54 am UTC (link)
Well...I'm assuming you mean that when you're "opening up the floor for questions" that you'll be answering them? I think a you'll get a lot of questions. And may have to spend some time answering them....I don't know...I could be wrong.

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[info]aprilhenry
2008-03-18 01:42 pm UTC (link)
A lot of questions is fine. I guess was thinking of someone else I know on LJ, she got these horrible notes from someone saying she was a joke, and he was an agent and he thought she was pathetic with her silly aspirations, and that he had shared her name with other agents and they all made fun of her - it was really evil and hurtful.

She wasn't published at that time, and a few months later she got a contract.

And personally there's no way I believe that guy was an agent.

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-18 07:14 pm UTC (link)
That's horrible! I hope she let that one pass right through her. I agree, probably not an agent. Maybe a jealous (no-talent) writer or a mean ex-boyfriend. Those are the kind of people that you just ignore (and delete) and then you move on to someone who is interested and genuine.

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(Anonymous)
2008-03-14 10:27 pm UTC (link)
How long does it take you to write a book? A first draft?

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