New Adult Month Guest Post: Welcome to the Real World by E.J. Fechenda

What I find so appealing about writing New Adult is that the characters are out of the high school bubble and they’re getting a taste of real life experiences for the first time. On one side, this is liberating and exciting: curfews don’t exist, rules about boyfriends or girlfriends spending the night don’t apply and experimenting with substances doesn’t result in being grounded. On the other side: realization sets in that everything costs money, a minimum wage paycheck doesn’t stretch very far and sometimes parental supervision is a good thing, especially when someone doesn’t manage themself well.

In my debut novel, “The Beautiful People - Book One of The New Mafia Trilogy”, the main character, Natalie Ross, struggles with making ends meet while putting herself through college. She also struggles with self-esteem issues, which she tends to mask by using alcohol and occasionally marijuana.

For Natalie, alcohol helps her to become less inhibited and she relies on this when surrounded by people she considers more attractive than herself. Here in lies the slippery slope that many college-age adults find themselves on: increased access to booze and drugs, using these as a mask to conceal insecurities or cope with harsher realities and ultimately opening the door to a slew of issues if not properly managed.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. Shows like MTV’s “Real World” feature college students getting hammered night after night and making poor decisions. Women especially make themselves more vulnerable when under the influence. In Natalie’s situation, the party lifestyle is expected and being surrounded by enablers makes it harder for her to right herself when she starts to list like the Titanic. After a brutal assault, Natalie uses alcohol as her coping mechanism, essentially trying to use a band aid to staunch an arterial bleed.

Why did I incorporate substance abuse into “The Beautiful People”? A lot of it has to do with the adage: write what you know. While Natalie is a fictitious character, there are bits and pieces of me in her. At one point in my life, I was the insecure college student who hid behind a veil of alcohol, thinking it was the only way to get any play. In hindsight, I realize how self-destructive this behavior was, but also how easy it was to succumb to. Along with this behavior came poor decision making and, at the time, regrets.

But, it’s more than just what I know and I wasn’t alone in my experience. Alcohol abuse and the behaviors that go with it are legitimate issues the New Adult age bracket faces. According to statistics on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s website, approximately 4 out of 5 college students consume alcohol and about half of these college students who drink, are known to binge drink. Additionally, over 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

It’s important to write with the audience in mind. In order for a story to be engaging, the characters need to deal with the same issues so readers can identify with them. Sometimes the characters overcome their problems and emerge on the other side stronger and healthier and sometimes they aren’t as successful. A lot of personal discovery happens after high school and it’s really fun to explore this period through writing New Adult fiction.

Bio

E.J. Fechenda has lived in Philadelphia, Phoenix and now calls Portland, Maine home where she is a wife, stepmom, and pet parent - all while working full time. Crazy is how she likes it.

She has a degree in Journalism from Temple University and her short stories have been published in Suspense Magazine, the 2010 and 2011 Aspiring Writers Anthologies, and in the Indies Unlimited 2012 Flash Fiction Anthology. E.J. is the author of The Beautiful People (Book One of The New Mafia Trilogy), a number one bestseller for Women’s Crime Fiction on Amazon. She is currently working on the second book for this trilogy as well as another Trilogy.

E.J. is a member of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and co-founder of the fiction reading series, “Lit: Readings & Libations”, which is held quarterly in Portland.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00BFS3JW2

New Adult Month Guest Post and Giveaway: Epic Guys by Lark O'Neal

You know those quizzes you take about what kind of landscape you are? Beaches, deserts, rivers, mountains? I am always mountains. I was born at the foot of Pikes Peak, and grew up with it watching over me my whole life. Our trips away from the city were always up—up to the coolness of summer streams, up to the fun of enormous piles of winter snow, snow so deep it’s blue. I love hiking and cross country skiing and snowshoeing and kayaking, all those mountain-connected sports.

I also love snowboarding. Not me actually doing it, but watching it. Reading about it, watching movies about boarders and their quests for glory. Love watching the boards send up a spray of powder and seeing somebody whirl in the air, all power and daring and extreme athleticism. (Are you watching the Olympics??)

So no big surprise when haunted, beautiful snowboarder Tyler Smith wandered into my imagination one morning last spring. Actually, it was Jess Donovan who punched my shoulder (at five am! On a vacation weekend!) and said, “Get up. I’ve got a story to tell you.” I tried to go back to sleep—we were in Breckenridge for a long restful weekend and I’d had a bit of wine the night before. Also, it was the first of June and snowing. Who wouldn’t want to stay in bed?—but she wouldn’t let me.

She flashed a picture of Tyler at me, tapped her foot while I made a mug of tea, and flung open the curtains overlooking the slopes. Dawn was breaking, pink and soft. I sat down and started writing. By the time my husband woke up, I had an entire series of books outlined. By lunch time, I had 67 scenes in a row for the first book.

In the writing world, we call this a gift. I am no idiot. I accepted it.

Jess Donovan is a girl who has to make her way in a pretty hostile world, and she just can’t catch a break. There are secrets in her past that she’s just beginning to understand are secrets, and she needs to find her father to get to the bottom of them. I love her pluckiness and her determination—and I can so relate to her fear that everything is going to come crashing down on her head at any second.

When Tyler walks into her life—sexy and troubled and lost and intensely, overwhelmingly attracted to her—I knew he’d be both catalyst and trouble, hero and villain. He’s born out of those snowboarders I love so much, their exuberance and their fierce competitiveness, their love of the mountains and the snow and the outdoors. He’s like nothing Jess has ever known, wealthy and well tended, like a prince wandering into her diner. How can she trust him to be anything but a short-term fling?

Random is the first book in the Going the Distance series, and starts the story of Jess and Tyler. Coming the end of February is Stoked, a novella from Tyler’s point of view. He loves her, and he’s got some issues. She loves him, but she has to find out who she is. The next full-length story is Epic, coming in May. I hope you’ll follow along.

One note: people love or hate a series. I really like them a lot. It’s like having a good TV show to watch, looking forward to what might happen next, how things might work out, or fall apart (and there is plenty of both in Going the Distance!). It gives me plenty of room to develop a big story. I hope you’ll trust me to do it right.

What are you: mountain, beach, desert, river? Or a combination?

I love to hear from readers! Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/larkonealauthor and on Twitter @larkoneal.

I’m giving away three copies of Random (e-book or paper copy available, and I will ship abroad) to random (haha) people who comment on this post.

Guest Post: Writing in a Digital World: The Pros and Cons of Digital First Releases

Today we have a guest post from Chanel Cleeton, author of the upcoming Harlequin New Adult novel, I See London.

The growing popularity of e-books has greatly altered the publishing landscape.  One notable change has been the new influx of digital first imprints. Imprints like Harlequin’s Carina Press have been focused on the e-book market for several years; however, within the past two years, the number of digital first imprints has dramatically increased. 

For authors, there are several advantages to digital first.  For authors looking to traditionally publish, digital first imprints provide the support of a traditional publisher with enhanced flexibility.  Authors enjoy the support and backing of an established publisher and editorial staff.  Digital first also releases authors from production costs.  In contrast to self-publishing, your publisher will bear the production costs and handle the production side of your release. 

Additionally, digital first can be a great option for authors looking to establish a relationship with a publisher and ideally work together with their publisher to build their author platform.  For newer authors and debut authors, digital first imprints are a great way to “get a foot in the door.”  Many digital first imprints will look at unagented submissions, giving authors a chance to get their manuscripts in front of publishers.

Accessibility— notably, pricing and timing— is key to digital first’s popularity and success.  Many digital first imprints are pricing e-books at $3.99 or below, enabling authors to reach readers at a competitive price point.  Another benefit to digital first is that your release will be much faster than with a traditional print release.The shortened timeframe allows readers to enjoy releases from their favorite authors at a more rapid rate.  Additionally, for speedy writers this is a great way to release a fewtitles throughout the year without the lengthy traditional print production schedule.  If you’re writing in a “hot” genre or category— like New Adult, digital first’s quick timeframe allows you to build your author platform more quickly than you would be able to with a traditional print release. 

Distribution options are also important when considering the merits of a digital first release.  If your book sells well, the publisher may do a print run months later.  The option for a print run provides for the possibility of greater distribution down the road.  Moreover, a traditional publisher will have the ability to place your book in foreign markets, either digitally or in print, as well as stocking it at major retailers.

While there are many benefits to digital first imprints, there are also some downsides.  Many digital first imprints pay a higher royalty rate, but no advance.For many authors the lack of an advance, or small advance, serves as a major detractor.  Additionally, publishers may pay royalties quarterly so it may be a few months before you receive your earnings.

Another downside to digital first is the lack of control.  With digital first your publisher will be responsible for major decisions.  Price point, release date, cover, and more, will likely be out of your control.  Some publishers will consult more than others, but ultimately, your publisher will have the final say.  This can be a benefit for those looking for more support,but for others it may be a deal-breaker.  Additionally, limited distribution can be a downside to digital first imprints.  While your book may be released in print if it sells well digitally, there is often no guarantee.  Some authors may choose to self-publish themselves and do print on demand or simply self-publish digitally.

            Ultimately, digital first isn’t right for everyone.  Authors have to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether a digital first release will complement their career goals.  But the important thing to remember is that between traditional publishing, digital first, hybrid, and self-publishing, authors have many options.  While digital first may not be for everyone, it provides one more opportunity to reach readers.

Bio: Chanel Cleeton writes New Adult contemporary romances and Young Adult thrillers.  Her New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, will be released by Harlequin (HQN) on February 1, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.  An avid reader and hopeless romantic, Chanel is happiest curled up with a book.  She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband.  Chanel loves to travel and is currently living an adventure in South Korea.  Learn more about Chanel at www.chanelcleeton.com.