Ask the Author: Stephanie J. Scott
Answered Questions (5)
Stephanie J. Scott
I have a short story included in the upcoming young adult adoption anthology Welcome Home - a bunch of great YA authors are involved, including C.J. Redwine, Adi Alsaid, Mindy McGinnis, Julie Leung, Lauren Gibaldi, Courtney C. Stevens. Here is the full list: /book/show/2...
Beyond that, I have more YA books in the works and a contemporary romance for adults (possibly appealing to some YA readers--it's on the sweeter side and involves a camp where my character used to be a counselor during high school!). I'll post any publication updates on my blog which you can view from my ϻӮ author profile!
Beyond that, I have more YA books in the works and a contemporary romance for adults (possibly appealing to some YA readers--it's on the sweeter side and involves a camp where my character used to be a counselor during high school!). I'll post any publication updates on my blog which you can view from my ϻӮ author profile!
Stephanie J. Scott
So even though this is ϻӮ and we're talking books, I have to say my favorite fictional couple is from the movies: Han and Leia. It's their theme music that gets me! John Williams' score makes Star Wars epic, and the sweet notes that play when the two are on screen together make it even sweeter.
(And totally made me cry in The Force Awakens with Leia and Rey!)
(And totally made me cry in The Force Awakens with Leia and Rey!)
Stephanie J. Scott
What a great question. When a theme becomes a trend, with multiple books being published in a close timeframe, it can probably seem as if topics are being romanticized. When these books are made into films, that idea of romanticism likely further escalates. A 90 minute movie can't always capture the deeper point of view you get from a book.
I think you need to look at each individual book. A number of books came out this year about teen suicide and self-harm. Of the few I read, each approached the issue from a different angle. Two I highly recommend are Teach Me To Forget by Erica Chapman and Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow. Both books approach sensitive subjects with care, and show characters struggle with consequences and grittier details that are anything but romantic. Even the friendships and romances within the books show the struggle and pain of these experiences.
The question then is, what factors cause an issue to be romanticized? What approaches to terminal illness, mental health, etc are damaging to young readers? Identifying problematic representation by being watchful and critical is important. We might not always be able to identify what is problematic on our own--we all miss things based on our own bias and experiences. But, we can listen to those who do know. We can read non-fiction books written by professionals, listen to friends and those who've suffered. The more we listen without being quick to judge, the more room we make for experiences outside of our own. When we approach people who are suffering with empathy, that leads to understanding.
I think you need to look at each individual book. A number of books came out this year about teen suicide and self-harm. Of the few I read, each approached the issue from a different angle. Two I highly recommend are Teach Me To Forget by Erica Chapman and Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow. Both books approach sensitive subjects with care, and show characters struggle with consequences and grittier details that are anything but romantic. Even the friendships and romances within the books show the struggle and pain of these experiences.
The question then is, what factors cause an issue to be romanticized? What approaches to terminal illness, mental health, etc are damaging to young readers? Identifying problematic representation by being watchful and critical is important. We might not always be able to identify what is problematic on our own--we all miss things based on our own bias and experiences. But, we can listen to those who do know. We can read non-fiction books written by professionals, listen to friends and those who've suffered. The more we listen without being quick to judge, the more room we make for experiences outside of our own. When we approach people who are suffering with empathy, that leads to understanding.
Stephanie J. Scott
Play video games, exercise, hang out with friends, read anything from my To Be Read pile. The story juices are always at work, but sometimes need time to refresh.
Stephanie J. Scott
There are so many free resources online to get started! For YA writers: Adventures in YA Publishing's blog is a good place to start. Check your favorite author's website for writing resources. For info on literary agents, check out Writer's Digest blog Guide to Literary Agents to get started.
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