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All Because of Chickens

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Saturday Morning Musings: Industry failing the genre




Hi, again, Saturday Musers.

Now as part of the small publisher industry, maybe we shouldn't be asking this...then again, maybe it's the best question we could ask:

Would you say the publishing industry is failing our MG/Tween/YA audience? How?



The larger mainstream publishing houses are reputed to follow the trends and to avoid taking risks with new writers or writing. This could limit the types of books available, thus failing readers. However, smaller, indie publishers often give unknown writers a chance, ensuring that overall, there is a wide range of books available for readers and so, I think that one way or another, the industry is serving our audience well.



I think there are too much horror and dystopian stories as well as stories of great loss. I don’t think we are providing the right role models for these kids. People like Cassandra Clay create characters that do despicable things in the name of trying to do good. I think we need characters that will not be committing violence or doing unethical things. I feel kids want a good story with which they can identify. As authors we have a responsibility to give them that and also to help them to become better people. Teens are very vulnerable to changing ideas and that is why our role is so important.



No, I don’t think so at all. The variety of books available to younger readers today is amazing. It seems when I was a girl, I read every teen book I could get my hands on, from the classics to those “squeaky clean romances”, as our school librarian used to call them. I eventually sought out adult books to fill my insatiable reading appetite. Now, I can’t keep up with all the great YA books available. Whatever the subject matter you’re looking for, you’re bound to find something to satisfy your reading needs.  It’s wonderful.


Keep reading and dreaming. If there’s anything you’re curious about just drop me a note: MuseChrisChat@gmail.com


Saturday, March 11, 2017

Saturday Morning Musings: Death by electronics



Hello Saturday!

With this week's topic, I'm just going to jump straight to:

Are social media, online games, nose to cell phones killing the MG/Tween/YA imagination and their book reading?



You know I am not sure, but I do feel that kids spend a lot of time playing video games. However, many say they enjoy reading a real book instead of an ebook. I don’t think it is killing their imagination as much as limiting their choices. When someone reads a book there are all kinds of possibilities. They can imagine the look of the characters and they can identify with them. Not sure that any of these video games allow for that. Constantly texting and sending photos takes away from time to read and so I think it isn’t really killing book reading as taking away the time that kids would normally read.



Social media, online games and cell phones weren't part of my teenage years, but I remember spending hours on the phone chatting to friends. It seems that over the years, little has changed, and teenagers still like to communicate - even if the methods are more hi-tech now. However, as well as keeping up with my friends, the teenage me also liked to spend a lot of time reading so that I could escape from real life. Perhaps teens nowadays use social media and phones when they want to chat but also read books when they want some release from reality. Online games, seem to be slightly different in that they are irresistable to some users who become obsessed with playing. Given the choice of reading and gaming, many would choose the latter. However, not all games involve chasing, shooting and fighting, some included interactive stories which the player has to read, so it might be argued that those games are taking reading to a whole new level.

TERRI BERTHA, Mainstream NEW author

I believe TV, SM, games and cell phones are all contributing to a lack of imagination and decreased reading in this age group. These give an ‘out’ to all the reasons not to read.  Given the choice, is a YA going to cozy up with a book or start the next online battle?  Sure, there are some who enjoy reading because they love to read.  But that enjoyment started early in life with parents reading to them, and they themselves learning how to think and understand words and sentences.  But the learning and knowledge had to come first.  With today’s information overload, skimming pages or reading bullet points sometimes is preferred.  Attention spans, reading skills, imagination and creativity can suffer by not having limited use on high tech and SM. 


Keep reading and dreaming. If there’s anything you’re curious about just drop me a note: MuseChrisChat@gmail.com


Saturday, March 4, 2017

Saturday Morning Musings: Audience or genre



Good morning, Musers.


Not too bright and early for you, I hope. This question has been bothering me for a bit now, so...


Lately, I’ve been referring to MG/Tween/YA as our age group audience. Is this more correct than using, genre? Which…age or genre…is more limiting?



As a reader, I take notice of both genre and age when I select a book to read, although, to me, the genre is the most important. However, to the MG/Tween/YA age group, age and genre might both have similar importance. Adult stories may not be appropriate for this age group, so it is important that they know which books are suitable and which are not. 



I have found that this is more of a genre, since many adults read these books. Adults I have spoken to have said they like my books because the characters and situations remind them of their own time in high school. However, many teens and tweens have read them as well. So with the differing ages I think this should be called a genre. I would say age group is more limiting. Genre allows for any age to read them.


Keep reading and dreaming. If there’s anything you’re curious about just drop me a note: MuseChrisChat@gmail.com
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