Edgy YA discussion

I'll kick this parade off. Hi, I'm Marita, I'm an author and artist from New Zealand. But, currently I'm living in Singapore and will be back home in a year.

I'm Alicia and work as a high school librarian in upstate New York.

Hi, I'm Chrystalla. I live in Cyprus and I also write edgy YA (though perhaps not as edgy as Marita's!) :D

Hi, Alicia. I see you've got Crank in your reading list. Definitely a book for this group. I haven't read it yet, but am interested in doing so.

I've read all of Hopkins' work including her adult novel Triangles. (And, I was lucky enough to host her at our school this past March, which was a highlight of my personal and professional career! I've read plenty of edgy stuff, so definitely am interested in the conversation and adding my own thoughts.

Alicia wrote: "I've read all of Hopkins' work including her adult novel Triangles. (And, I was lucky enough to host her at our school this past March, which was a highlight of my personal and professional career!..."

That's cool. Thanks.

Chrystalla wrote: "Hi, I'm Chrystalla. I live in Cyprus and I also write edgy YA (though perhaps not as edgy as Marita's!) :D"

Lol, yeah. I have a friend who keeps telling me that I should class mine as edgy YA because of the teenage voice, but I'd have to definitely put R18 on it, which I didn't think was a done thing in YA until I came across Melvin Burgess's books and Skins.

Hey. I am Maha. i am in my junoir year in university. i am majoring in pharmacy. =)

Maha wrote: "Hey. I am Maha. i am in my junoir year in university. i am majoring in pharmacy. =)"

Hi, Maha, welcome to the group.

Hi, I'm Cheree and I'm from Australia. I'm a new teacher about to start this year. I love reading and writing edgy YA's.

Carroll wrote: "Hello, I am Carroll Bryant. I joined because I have been told that my YA books are "edgy". LOL Thanks for the invite Marita."

You're welcome, Carroll. Welcome. I've been told the same thing about my one. So, I started this group because I couldn't find one on Goodreads that covered our topics.

Cheree wrote: "Hi, I'm Cheree and I'm from Australia. I'm a new teacher about to start this year. I love reading and writing edgy YA's."

Welcome, Cheree.

Hi, I'm Carien and I'm from the Netherlands.
I'm a reader who'll read about anything that sounds interesting although I tend to prefer UF, PNR, Fantasy SciFi and anything with zombies.

Hi I'm Claire, I'm in the UK and I write, er... weird YA (I don't know if you'd call it edgy lol) - I'm also an online marketing specialist. Nice to meet you all :)

hey there! i'm tracey and i work for the Enoch Pratt Free Library system in baltimore

Hey, guys...I'm Jonathan Maberry. I'm a NY Times bestselling author and Marvel Comics writer. I write adult fiction (thrillers, horror), media tie-in books (The Wolfman, GI Joe, Deadlands), comics, and YA post-apocalyptic zombie novels (Rot & Ruin, Dust & Decay, etc.) www.jonathanmaberry.com

Happy to be aboard.

thanks for invite.
I never wrote for YA, although I am interested in the market.
I'm writing the sequel to my dark gothic romance novel.
after that ihave something in mind--but who knows?!
hello everyone, please to be here.

Hello everyone! I'm from Oklahoma in the US and work for a local television station. I write screenplays and YA contemporary fiction.

Doug

http://www.dougsolter.com

Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm a reader from the UK.

Hi Doug, cool blog, I am now following you.
Catalina
http://www.thebridgeofdeaths.com

Wow, so many writers! :)

Here's my blog too:

http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com

And my blog is the first page of my website: www.jonathanmaberry.com

Thanks for the invite to join the group. I am a reader and then I read, and read some more LOL I enjoy reading YA, especially when it is on the edgier side. I look forward to participating and lurking and learning about more good reads :)

I'm a college professor/author/small publisher in Texas. Thanks for the invite to this board, it looks interesting. I suppose you could call my stuff "edgy YA," although I would hesitate to put the YA tag on it at all due to some situations and characters which are most definitely not suitable for more impressionable readers.

I'm Debbie, a teacher in New Zealand, and a Marita Hansen 'fan'! Behind the Hood is compulsive reading but be prepared to be shocked, offended or just put through an emotional maelstrom!

I'm Danielle, 20 years of age living in Los Angeles. I love to read Paranormal/Dark Fantasy, Horror, Comedy and Thriller/Crime/Mystery books. I like Tess Gerritsen, Karen Rose, Kelly Armstrong, Jana Oliver, Rachel Caine, Casandra Clare amongst many others. I've collected so many books over the years I have to use the selves in my wardrobe to store my books..Oh and I'd like to thank my sister for getting me into reading, but hey I'm not complaining. So Hi

Jonathan wrote: "Hey, guys...I'm Jonathan Maberry. I'm a NY Times bestselling author and Marvel Comics writer. I write adult fiction (thrillers, horror), media tie-in books (The Wolfman, GI Joe, Deadlands), comics..."

I must say, I cannot keep Rot & Ruin on my classroom shelves! The students adore it. Excellent book!

Thanks for inviting me!

Hi Everyone, I'm Jennifer from Connecticut. I teach seventh and eighth grade language arts, and I'm an author. I suppose you could say what I write is somewhat edgy, at least if you call LGBT fiction edgy. I don't think so, but you never know. :)

And since the other authors are sharing their blogs, I might as well share mine!

www.jenniferlavoiebooks.com

Hi everyone. I'm a substitute teacher who loves YA of all sorts, from the very conservative to the edgy. I have a lot of opinions and I'll probably make someone mad eventually :).
I am also a writer. I've written 3 series of YA that probably need the R18 tag, but I haven't released any of those. I also wrote a series of adult horror/fantasy, which I'm publishing slowly.

http://lenahillbrand.blogspot.com

Alicia wrote: "I've read all of Hopkins' work including her adult novel Triangles. (And, I was lucky enough to host her at our school this past March, which was a highlight of my personal and professional career!..."

Ellen Hopkins is such a gifted writer & definitely edgy

Hi, I'm Natalie. I write & read YA. Glad to be a part of this group

Hi, I'm Angela. I haven't read too much edgy YA, as I typically like adult books. BUT, the two authors that I do like that write this genre are Marita A. Hansen and Melvin Burgess. I see Marita started this thread. She knows how much I love Behind the Hood because I've accidentally sent her a recommendation for it once :) I did bulk messaging of course.

Angela wrote: "Hi, I'm Angela. I haven't read too much edgy YA, as I typically like adult books. BUT, the two authors that I do like that write this genre are Marita A. Hansen and [author:Melvin ..."

Yeah, that was funny :)

Evening group. Thanks for the invitation Marita. I'm a former career prosecutor who became a specialist in the prosecution of child abuse and domestic violence. I retired to become the director of a domestic violence and sexual assault program. After four years (it was TOUGH WORK) I returned to the private practice of law, where I enjoy working in juvenile court and defending young adults. I've worked with the young and young adults for over forty years. Goodness, I could be the oldest here. Don't let my age cause you to shy away. I look forward to participating in the group.

Mike wrote: "Evening group. Thanks for the invitation Marita. I'm a former career prosecutor who became a specialist in the prosecution of child abuse and domestic violence. I retired to become the director ..."

Hi Mike. I've been a family law attorney/mediator for over 17 years. I'm only doing mediation part-time now and rest of my work day is devoted to all things reading & writing. Nice to meet you

"Hi Mike. I've been a family law attorney/mediator for over 17 years. I'm only doing mediation part-time now and rest of my work day is devoted to all things reading & writing. Nice to meet you "

Natalie, so good to meet you as well. Ah, part time. Perhaps someday. Too many of my colleagues have left the profession by passing through the spiritual plane. That's not retirement. Hoping to join you in all things reading and writing in the future.

Best wishes

Hello group. My name is Steve and I am an english major in icy Michigan working towards my teaching certificate with aims to eventually teach at the college level. I haven't read much YA (does Enders Game count?), however, I very much enjoy discussing books. Thank you Maria for the friend request and invite!

Hey, I'm Brittany. I'm the YA specialist at my public library, I also review books at www.areadingnook.com I read primarily YA though I dabble in MG and Adult sometimes. I don't really have a particular YA section that I like, but I do love edgy. Thanks!

Hello, I'm Yuliya. Thank you for invitation, Marita!
I'm not of the age of YA, but addicted reader and YA also in my reading frame. I also has a daughter, who is 9 and she is not yet teenager, but she is already reading some books from public library with YA sign on cover (right now she is reading Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan. I honestly don't think it's YA, for me it's BK (big kid) books. But very soon she will be teenager and I really want to be ready with good books for teenagers to guide her to read. I already was with big interest and respect reading club members opinions in discussion about sex in books for teenagers. Thank again, for inviting me here!

Hi Im Gabriella also from New Zealand. Thanks for the invite to this group. I read a lot of YA fiction, and am not afraid of edgy ;)

Hello everyone,

I'm glad I found this group. I've already posted in another section in these forums so I won't repeat anything here. But I love to read and write Edgy YA. I think it helps the readers to see good characters overcoming some of the same issues they face everyday. Thanks for creating this group Marita.

KaSonndra Leigh
www.kasonndraleigh.com
twitter.com/kasonndraleigh

KaSonndra wrote: "Hello everyone,

I'm glad I found this group. I've already posted in another section in these forums so I won't repeat anything here. But I love to read and write Edgy YA. I think it helps t..."

You're welcome.

Oops, deleted my comment as I forgot that I've already introduced my stupid self. Lol, need to stop reading so much and get some sleep :)

Hey guys! Im Cassie and I live in NC. My fav genres are paranormal romance and YAs and I have a review blog that I try to share info about interesting authors on :)
http://shadowkissedcassie.blogspot.com/

Cassie wrote: "Hey guys! Im Cassie and I live in NC. My fav genres are paranormal romance and YAs and I have a review blog that I try to share info about interesting authors on :)
http://shadowkissedcassie.blogsp..."

Hi, Cassie, welcome to the group. Thanks for the link.

Hi! I am Autumn, and I live in Alabama. I was an elementary school teacher and librarian, but now I work for the State of Alabama. I have always loved to read books that are controversial, and hate censorship. Right now I am about to read Unwind, and I cannot wait to start. I don’t think you are ever too old to read YA lit.

Autumn wrote: "Hi! I am Autumn, and I live in Alabama. I was an elementary school teacher and librarian, but now I work for the State of Alabama. I have always loved to read books that are controversial, and hate..."

Welcome, Autumn. I was thinking of buying Unwind as it looks like a pretty good read. I agree, one should never be too old to read YA books as long as they're well-written.

call. me. karen. has anybody. else. having prob.lems with goodreads

Hi Im Michelle from Pittsburgh... i love to read YA as long as its not crap. I love reading YA that isnt afraid to tell the truth about teenage/young adult life. I'm not into zombies or fantasy too much, i prefer stories in the here and now. i would love to write someday.... we'll see. anyway nice to meet you guys :)

Hi! I am Shelly. I am a middle school/high school teacher from Arizona, USA. I am also a PhD student studying at Arizona State University in English Education. I am a YA fan. I pretty much breathe YA, edgy or not. I have written reviews for the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy about YA books.

I am very excited to be in the conversation with so many people (and authors) from around the world. It's really very exciting that we can communicate this way.