What Actually Makes YA Literature “Young Adult”
A reader challenged me after I posted about “Doors to the Stars,” my YA space opera: aren’t you just writing adult fiction with a teenage protagonist? It’s a sophisticated question that cuts to the heart of YA’s current crisis. The genre has been captured by adult readers, and publishers responded b
Modern YA Is Failing Teenagers—I’m Stealing it Back
I queried *Doors to the Stars* to over two dozen agents. Zero full manuscript requests. My 11-year-old daughter stayed up all night devouring it. My 19-year-old son texted me at 2 AM about plot twists. But publishing professionals? Not interested. The book features a 16-year-old scavenger who discov
Transcending the Strong Female Character™ Trope
Not every strong female character is “woke trash”—but the lazy Strong Female Character™ trope deserves its criticism. Lisa Kuznak’s viral defense of heroines like Ripley and Sarah Connor sparked a crucial conversation: What truly separates inspiring warriors from one-dimensional girl-boss clichés? E
