July 31, 2012

YA Series/ Adult Sexy Spin-Off

Before you read my craziness rambling, I want to ask...“Can you think of a YA series that you wouldn’t mind having a spin-off Erotica?”

WARNING!!! This started out as just throwing something out there, but as I sat here and typed, it turned into a very heated rambling of crazy talk. *eek*

I’m not sure if you heard the news…but Andrea Cremer just contracted with Penguin to do an Erotica trilogy (not currently named), in the world she created where both of her YA series take place (Nightshade and her prequel, Rift.)

When my best blogger friend made me aware of this news, I was ecstatic! Because I thought I might like something like this that Andrea writes; especially, in the awesome Nightshade world she created! So, obviously, I’m absolutely thrilled for Andrea Cremer! But I guess there are a lot of pretty upset people over her decision. So I’m now left here thinking… “What’s the problem?”

I want to be VERY clear so that everyone reading this is fully aware of one very important thing here…I am NOT a fan of Erotica books! They freak me out…NO LIE! Normally, I stay at least 10 feet away from any book that someone would consider “hot or sexy” (my hot or sexy is always YA.) Yes, I’ve read them, and a couple times I’ve gotten to a particular scene where I just couldn’t bring myself to go any further, and I immediately returned the book to its owner! I’ve read some racy adult books with some brief, minor, sex scenes, but I’ve also read a handful (no I won’t give numbers) of a few really hot and heavy Erotica books. But, yep, after I read the last one which was probably about 2 years ago, I haven’t picked one up since. So while I’m sitting here thinking that I really want to give Andrea’s new books a try, am I going to force myself to read the whole trilogy? Or even the whole first book? No! If it makes me too uncomfortable I’ll stop and probably recommend it to one of my friends who like them. But, yes, I like Andrea’s writing style and the world she’s created so, naturally, I’m curious to see how hot and heavy these books will get.  I want to meet new characters in the Nightshade world!  But most of all, I’m also curious to see if I’ll like them.

So I’m now sitting here debating in my mind both the positives and negatives of this issue. I think that the most legitimate concern for most readers is the need to keep YA and Adult in clearly separate categories. Are there going to be teens who are really obsessed with the Nightshade who will pick up the adult series? Probably! If I plan to, why wouldn’t a teen? So, would it ease peoples’ minds if they knew that Penguin will be marketing, and making it fully clear, that the new book series is Erotica? Or clearly marketed for the adult audience? One of my very favorite YA authors, Richelle Mead, writes some pretty racy adult books! And after I read her YA series (Vampire Academy), I gave one of Richelle Mead’s adult series a try. And guess what? I own them all and they’re signed! Have I read all of her adult books? No! Because, once again, they make me feel uncomfortable. But if you know much about Richelle Mead, she has got a lot of really obsessive teen fans, and I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them are picking up her adult books and giving them a try.

So let’s look at it this way. I personally think that it would be unfair to say that since Richelle Mead wrote such a popular YA series that she shouldn’t write an Adult series using the same pen name, or even publish a book series about the same fantasy world she created for her YA series! That’s her name to use as she sees fit, and her world to use in the manner she prefers. And of course she would need to find a publisher that will agree to it as well. That is what Andrea Cremer did, and I think it’s awesome!

The one thing that I find the most bizarre about this whole thing is that most of the complaining and negativity I’ve come across are comparing Andrea’s new series to 50 Shades of Gray! Like this is the only reason Andrea Cremer decided to write her adult Erotica trilogy. Hello! Can everyone stop talking about those dang books? PLEASE?!?!?! Are they REALLY that awesome that we are now going to see the comparison of 50 Shades of Gray in every Erotica book review out there? Oh…please! Erotica is not new! And I highly doubt that Andrea decided to write her new Erotica trilogy "just because" of the success of 50 Shades of Gray! A lot of women just never talked about these books until now, or they never tried reading them until everyone started talking about it! Almost every female “adult reader” I know has read a racy adult book BEFORE 50 Shades of Gray, and most of them really like, if not love, them! Have you ever seen the crazy obsessive fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood? Richelle Mead has A LOT of majorly obsessed teen fans, and I don’t see people saying that she only wrote her adult racy books because of 50 Shades of Gray. Or that she only wrote them for the money! Oh right, that’s because they were published BEFORE the 50 Shades of Gray hype! So is it fair to say that since homemakers across the country (or the PTA president) are now proud to say they’ve read 50 Shades of Gray, that all YA authors have to be bashed because they want to explore writing something more adult?  If 50 Shades of Gray wasn’t all over the news, or wasn’t the only topic brought up when talking about books with someone who normally doesn’t read, do you think that people would still make a big deal about Andrea’s new trilogy? How do you know that this wasn’t something Andrea thought about 2 years ago? Why are people so quick to judge someone by assuming that being an author is about the money? If you know anything about the typical book author, you’d know that their salary isn’t all that great based off of the hours they put into writing and promoting their book.

OH! I do want to point out that this spin-off trilogy that Andrea Cremer is writing could not possibly be about the main characters in the Nightshade series. If you’ve read any of Andrea’s Nightshade books then you would understand WHY I say that. The series is not anything like: 1. The heroine picks up the guy; 2. The End; and 3. A year later we have an Erotica. NO!!! If that’s what you think this trilogy is about, then you are wrong. It can’t happen; it’s not at all possible! If you want to know why, read the Nightshade trilogy and you will know that it just can’t/ won’t happen. Can I say that another author won’t do that? No. But if they want to, and the publisher is up for it...so be it!

I would hope that the people who are the most upset are upset only because the new Erotica series takes place in the Nightshade world. Once again, I get it! So, I started thinking about other book series I’ve read that I wouldn’t mind having “that world” in a sexy adult spin-off! And here they are:

  1. Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter world! You know that she could produce a super hottie shadowhunter...who has troubles controlling the ladies.
  2. Vampire Academy spin-off with a hot dampire or moroi! I know! A dhampir from Scotland and a dhampir from Spain!
  3. OH! You know that Tahereh Mafi would be the queen of a super steamy book!
  4. Now, I’m not going to lie! I wouldn’t mind if Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins was racy! But I’ll be OK with her making another Nephilim! But he better be as sexy as Kai! Yum!!! *fans self* If you’ve read Sweet Evil, then you for sure would like it if she could make it HAWT!
  5. Hello!!! Why the heck is Jennifer L. Armentrout writing YA??? She was born to write one of those steamy books! Hey Jennifer, can you make sure it is in the Covenant world? Pure meets human!?!?!?
  6. And, finally, Lauren Oliver’s Dilirium! Now I’m not quite sure how she could pull it off since the “procedure” could mess up an adult. But maybe it could be a female woman that the procedure didn’t work on???

Those are my picks!!! So, that leaves me asking YOU, “What series would you like to see for a spin-off Erotica?”  Or do you find this whole thing barbaric?

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13 comments:

Jaime said...

Ok so first off AMEN Sistah! I get why people are upset kind of, but Andrea can write what she wants lol and guess what? If it's a money grab so what it's smart business.

Also I was reading erotica in my teens and I'm in my 30's now. That was way before that POS 5o Shades was even considered. So erotica was around before and will still be around after the 50 hype. It's like everyone comparing Twilight to every YA novel out there. Get over it peeps!

Oh and just a FYI Jennifer Armentrout did write an adult book its called Tempting The Best Man it's an Entangled book and very racy. She also has an adult paranormal series (Entangled as well)coming out too!

-J

Julie@My5monkeys said...

Well I agree that erotica books are nothing new , and more hyped since 50 shades. I am all for an author who does both adult and YA.

As an adult I need to mix it up with both. But I understand and with the Black Dagger Brotherhood :) Jennifer does adult books

As a reader like Cassie Clare series ...I would like to read something out a different world , and not the same one.But I know I need to read her other series. Also I know that Andrea is great but I would love to author challenge themselves and create new books or worlds . I find that if they create more books in the same world , they are milking it for more money.

Kelley armstrong is good example of good adult series ...and other books in that world. Her last book came out this year. I am more picky...

Sorry for the ramble

Bookluvr Mindy said...

I totes agree Julie! That authors should try different worlds. I think that is what makes Jennifer so great! She has...how many different books/series now? *scratches head*

Ana Lucía said...

Amen Mindy, I so agree with you. I'm so over this 50 Shades comparisons, as if erotica is something new, pleeeease! Every author has the right to write whatever they please whenever they feel ready to do it.
I don't mind one bit that this new series is set in the Nightshade world. I seriously doubt is about the same characters so why people get all worked up? I don't get it. I love her writting (even when I have only read Nightshade but is one my favorite books of all times. I still need to read the entire trilogy) so I'm looking forward to read her new series. I have only read one adult series (and I'm an adult person so it's ok lol) so I'm a newbie in all the adult departament and very picky!

I like that authors write adult and YA using just one pen name.

Candace said...

I pretty much agree with you! I think its great and its ridiculous that people think shes doing it because of 50 Shades. I like Richelle Mead's adult books, the ones I read are definitely not erotic though. Just a tad racy. I'm not a reader of erotica but I do like when authors write adult and YA.

Karen said...

After meeting a few authors these past few years I've learned that most books are YEARS in the making. So this is probably something Andrea had been thinking of for a while. No doubt it was more appealing to the publisher because of the 50 Shades success but I'm sure this was already going to happen.
I think authors should be able to write whatever the heck they want. They're creative people and shouldn't be bound to one genre or age group. We can always voice our opinion with our pocketbooks. Just don't buy the book if you are not interested.
My only concern (not really a concern but you know what I mean lol) is that since this series will be erotica, I hope the publishers make it clear to fans who may not want to read that since most are teenagers and it might be inappropriate etc. But I think it adds another layer to the Nightshade world for those who are curious about reading more.
For the most part authors have been going for adult to YA with their series so this is a bit of a change and the new books will be from the existing world. As long as people know what they're in for I don't see an issue with it.
I think a lot of these books are already walking that line between YA and adult so this is probably a natural next step.
And YES! 50 Shades is NOT the freaking first erotica book ever written!! I've read a few with mixed results. I tend to need more story and romance rather than just graphic, steamy sex but to each his own. There are enough books out there to choose from without getting all upset.

Kristina said...

I don't get what all the concern is about. An author have every write to choose to write whatever the hell they want it. If they want to try their hand at a different genre or target age more power to them.

I'm so annoyed and done with the 50 Shades hype. I refuse to read them, not because they are erotica but because they sound like they suck. The male and female character types sounds like my least favorite type of character and the story line seems non existent to me. Ill pass thank you very much.

I haven't read an erotica novel yet, although I do own one I just haven't gotten around to reading it. I will pick up Cremer's erotica books for sure.

Definitely agree the VA for sure. Paranormalcy would be fun too. NOt sure what else.

Amy said...

I would love a Covenant series erotica!!! Or Lux series for that matter. I read Tempting the Best Man by J. Lynn (JLA) and loved it. The Mortal Instruments would be awesome!! Love those worlds!! I am looking forward to Andrea Cremer's erotica books. I will definitely pick them up!!

Tara said...

HELL YES SISTER!!! This is a fab post!! I'm so sick of reading about this 50 crap!!!! One of my fav books from last year is getting called a 50 YA and i couldnt be more pissed!!! Im just waiting for this whole thing to blow over!! I agree with everything you say!! and well said my dear!!!

Tara

Allie_ said...

I actually would love it if Richelle Mead could write a spin-off of Bloodlines for adults but with the same characters : yes I want some smexy scenes between Adrian and Sydney what can I say ? ;D

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