Books. Books. And More Books.

Yesterday i spent a good two hours in the children's and Young Adult (teen) section of the bookstore. I haven't been in this area since middle school. And for good reasons too.

I'm short. Young looking. And for the most part I have that precocious thing down to a science (even though I'm 22). There are parts of my personality that is totally child-like, which is why I think kids love me. I'm imaginative, I ask a million questions, and I get excited over the smallest things. Like Hulas!!!! Especially Sufjan Stevens doing the Hula.

Because of this i often have to remind people of my true age. And also because of this (i think) i gravitate towards more adult themed literature. I figure you can't mistake me for someone way younger, if I'm talking about a Richard Yates or Ayn Rand novel.

As i wait patiently (or white knuckled) for The Editor to contact me about this internship, I can't help but go over all the knowledge I have on children and young adult books. From my recollection, as soon as I read my first adult book (when i was 12) I have never looked back to YA. It's what my writing tends to lean towards and what I end up reading on my off time. I often write stories with children as the protagonist, but my stories usually tend to be about a child narrator who is toying with the scary, complicated, and often terrifying world of adults. They are kids who I describe as "players of the game house, without any real knowledge of how fractured that structure is".

My mom and I got in a near heated debate over the difference between YA and Adult fiction. This was right after my luncheon, and she wanted to know every single detail of the day. I told her that I may have made a mistake in admitting my unfamiliarity with YA books.

"What do you mean you don't know anything about YA books!" she asked/half freaked out "you were a kid and teen once"

As I tried to explain to her the fundamental difference, she was not buying it. I asked her when was the last time she picked up a children's or teen book, to which she replied

"I just read the Ugly Duckling yesterday. I found it in my closet and I read the whole thing"

"Yeah but you didn't specifically go to the library or bookstore, ask if they had The Ugly Duckling in stock and run home with glee that you nabbed the last copy."

After this she was not into talking to me anymore, "you are very grouchy tonight. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Though I could be totally wrong, there are differences between the two. In publication, advertising, academics, readership, and symbolism. Even the writing is different. I have a fair knowledge of Fairy Tales, but are those even considered YA books by today's standard?

So, I went to Barnes and Nobel yesterday and moved past all the fiction and non-fiction books directly to the YA section (I'll go in the children's section when Michelle is with me). As i scanned the books for the specific publishing companies logo...some of the books (by various publishers) were just plan campy. Others were decent and interesting.

A flood of memories came back of all the books I use to read before i abandoned them for more adult fiction. I was obsessed with the author L.J Smith whose stories of vampire/human love entertained me most days. I actually began writing my first story shortly reading her book Soulmates ( I adapted the book with major changes to the plot). I have since sworn that i will name my kid after the main character (Thierry) and I still continue to write some vampire stories for the hell of it. R.L Stine was also a favorite. I'm not talking goosebumps here (but who could forget those gems) but his Fear Street series. I was not a goth kid (maybe a metal head) but i loved the suspense stuff the most.

During my transition to adult fiction from YA fiction, i read Speak, I Never Promised You A Rose Garden, Feeling Sorry for Cecilia, and The Bastard out of Carolina (not really a YA book, but a really nonetheless). Of course as I roamed the YA section this time, I didn't see any of my favorite books from middle school. The selection now is very generation appropriate (which can be a good thing or a bad thing) and some of the reads were just...blah. But there were a couple of good ones, and the YA genre has a lot of potential.

As I finished my research at the bookstore, I was more excited about possibly interning at this publishing company. I mean i was excited before, but now i am so excited I want this thing more than food and water. I admit YA fiction isn't a genre I've gravitated too since middle school, but I am damn excited about it's influence in the publishing market. YA fiction is huge, and produces some good work. The publishing company itself was a friendly open atmosphere, one that I could see myself at. I could meet people in my field, make connections, and be productive.

Plus I remember how much those books shaped my own appreciation for literature. Who doesn't want to be apart of that?

Fingers crossed I get this thing. No word yet from The Editor and that is making my stomach hurt. I'm excited though and even a little upbeat (which is a rare treat these days). I feel like things will get better, that things are getting better. I just have to wait and be patient.