New Adult Fiction: Misconceptions and Moving Forward by NA Alley Blogger Carrie Butler

NA Alley blogger & New Adult author, Carrie Butler, is my next guest. She’s here to celebrate today’s release of her new NA paranormal romance Strength, as well as discuss some of the misconceptions she sees regarding the emerging New Adult genre/category of fiction. She’s also giving away an e-book of Strength to one lucky commenter. Welcome, Carrie!

NEW ADULT

What it is. What it isn’t.

Thank you so much for having me over, Jill! To make sure everyone is on the same page, I thought I’d give a quick definition. 🙂

“New Adult fiction (NA) is a category of literature that encompasses the transition between adolescence and adulthood. Protagonists typically fall between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, though exceptions may apply. NA characters are often portrayed experiencing: college, living away from home for the first time, military deployment, apprenticeships, a first steady job, a first serious relationship, etc.

Other terms for NA include: Upper YA, Crossover Fiction, and Mature YA.”

Whew! That was quite a mouthful. So, now that we know what NA is, let’s talk about what it isn’t:

NA is not a genre. Genres tend to have content-based criteria, i.e. to be considered romance, a novel must have an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending”. Categories, on the other hand, help readers find what they’re looking for by giving general expectations—age of the main character, stage of life depicted, voice, levels of violence and sexuality, etc. Genres fit inside of categories. That’s how we form labels like adult romance, NA thriller, YA fantasy, MG adventure, etc.
NA is not “sexier YA”. Contrary to what some publications would lead you to believe, NA isn’t all about sex. In fact, some novels don’t portray it at all—and that’s okay. It works like any other category.
NA is not a marketing ploy. I know it’s difficult to take my word on this one—after all, my background is in marketing—but I promise, NA isn’t some greedy attempt to compartmentalize fiction. It’s a way of acknowledging the literary gap between YA and adult—a way to help readers find the stories they’ve been looking for.
NA is more than contemporary fiction. Given NA contemporary’s recent successes, it’s currently the most popular genre in the category. But you know what? There’s more to explore! I’m ready to see more speculative New Adult fiction. Paranormal romance, fantasy, dystopian, horror, etc. When do we get to read a supernaturally charged love story set on a college campus?

Okay, okay. That last sentence was a plug. My debut novel, STRENGTH, releases today, and I couldn’t wait to tell you about it!

If anyone has questions about NA, I’d be more than happy to answer them. Thanks again!

More About Strength

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, she’s stunned. Wallace Blake is everything she’s ever wanted in a man—except he can’t touch her. His uncontrollable strength, a so-called gift from his bloodline, makes every interaction dangerous. And with a secret, supernatural war brewing among his kind, there’s no time to work it out. To keep Wallace in her life, Rena will have to risk a whole lot more than her heart.

Strength is available at:

More About Carrie

Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.

Carrie can be found online here:

So, everyone, there’s been A LOT of great discussions concerning New Adult fiction all over the internet. Who still has questions? What are your thoughts on Carrie’s clarifications? Are there any other misconceptions? One commenter will win an e-book of Strength.

I’ve really enjoyed hosting this New Adult Guest Blog Series (which is not over yet! At least two more of the NA Alley bloggers are going to blog here before I wrap it up). I hope everyone else has enjoyed hearing from the authors who are publishing in this up and coming category of fiction.

Congratulations and best wishes for Strength, Carrie! Thanks for guest blogging today!