I've recently started designing book covers, so it's all I've thought about the last couple weeks. And what do you do with the stuff you can't get out of your head? You blog about it.

When we come across a book, the first thing we see is the cover. That's where we usually get our first impression of the story. Unfortunately, you really can't judge a book by its cover. Some of the best stories look awful on the outside.

Do you ever leave the dust jacket at home because you're embarrassed by how it looks? I do that all the time. There are other covers that always catch my eye at Barnes and Noble, even when I already own the books.

Here are a few favorites among the WHYA girls:







So what makes a good book cover? Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder (there's another cliché for you), but I think we can all agree that some stand out more than others. What are your favorites?

♥Steph

As I'm sure you all know, the final Harry Potter film will be released (in the US) this Friday. I have my tickets for a 9 p.m. showing at my local theater. Are any of you going on opening day? At midnight?

What I would like to do on this eve of "goodbye" is think back on how we all said "hello."

Personally, I was pretty darn late to the Harry Potter party. And I'm not just talking 2 or 3 books behind. I didn't start HP 1 until HP 7 was released!

(Well, okay. After HP 3, I tried to start HP 1, but there was too much hype and thus no way it could live up. I read the first couple pages and was like, "Seriously? This is what all the fuss is about?" Oh silly, stubborn Kristan.)

Fast forward a few years to July 2007. My boyfriend had been giddy for weeks at the thought of finally getting to read the end of the Harry Potter saga. When he got the book and I saw how thick it was, I thought, "He's going to be reading that thing forever!" So I figured I may as well read something too. I picked up the Sorceror's Stone, sat down on the couch, and basically didn't get up until I'd turned the last page of Deathly Hallows.

Many say I "cheated" because I didn't have to wait in agony for each book to be released. But I think that in some ways I was deprived (through my own fault, I know) because I didn't get to spend all those years with these beloved characters, living in their magical world. Thankfully, we can all jump right back into Hogwarts anytime we want. I certainly plan to reread these books several times throughout my life.

So what about you? What led you to Harry Potter? And, I'm just curious, who is your favorite character? Mine from the start was Severus Snape. And he only got better with every book.

KH

Congratulations to our giveaway winners: @ravishingreads, @papereader, and @ReadingRocks4Me! You have been emailed for your shipping addresses.

Thanks to everyone who entered. We loved every response -- especially the ones that involved chocolate! Here are a few of our favorites:

I’ve always been a little obsessed with names. Perhaps because I own one that is rather unique. Growing up, all I wanted was to blend in with the Jennies, Lizes, and Heathers in my class. Not be told by the boy I liked that when he first heard my name he pictured an 80-year-old Swedish woman!

I’m okay with my name now. Really. I’m even glad it’s somewhat ‘different.’ But names do play a role in how we perceive and relate to people and things. For instance, I’ve always named my cars. I’ve owned cars named Turtle, Willow, Stallion and currently, Homer (it’s an Odyssey).

In books, names give important clues to a character’s... well, character. It doesn’t quite fit to have a villain named “Sunny” or a football hero named “Poindexter,” does it? It is great fun, though, when authors challenge our notions by spinning characters that are the exact opposite of what their name implies.

What names evoke strong emotions in you as a reader? How do you perceive a Preston or a Boomer, an Emma or a Chastity? What about common names like Joe or Nick or Jane? And how does playing with the spelling of a name alter its effect (Jo, Nic, Jayne)? How do you feel about using boys’ names for girls (Blake, Riley, Charlie, Mason)? Or last names for first names (Wyler, Bennett, Kennedy)?

I’ve recently changed two character names in my WIP and even though I think their new names better fit their personalities, it’s been a difficult transition for me. Like I’m losing someone I knew so well. If you’re a writer, what is your process for naming your characters? Do you pick one and stick with it, or do you try out several while you’re writing until you find the one that “fits”?

In short, what’s in a name… to you?

Ingrid

Hey friends, we've got 3 hot books to giveaway. Want one?


To enter, all you have to do is follow us on Twitter, and then tell us (using an @ reply!!) why you "heart" YA. Examples:


Whatever your reason, let us know, and you might win one of these exciting books. We'll also post a round-up of our favorite answers.

3 winners will be drawn at random and announced on Fri, Jul 8th. Must have a US mailing address. (Sorry, international friends!) No extra entries this time, but we'd still love if you would spread the word!

Growing up, my role models were Anne Shirley, Pippi Longstocking, and Elizabeth Bennet. I wanted to be like them — bold, ahead of their time, perhaps a bit eccentric, but strong. This image was constantly at odds with the other women I was reading about. I had to wade through a sea of damsels in distress who seemed to just let the world happen around them while they waited for Prince Charming to come sweeping in.

What makes someone strong?

Lately, we’ve seen a lot of the painfully shy, self-loathing martyr. Or the callused, takes-no-prisoners warrior. But sometimes tenacity isn’t so obvious or extreme.

Strength comes in many different forms — bravery, conviction, self-sacrifice, loyalty, audacity, compassion, endurance. It can be knowing who you are, or having a willingness to change. It can be the ability to see the bigger picture. Sometimes strength is something as simple as being aware of your own faults.

Cathy Earnshaw has never been my favorite protagonist. But even she isn’t without her merits. While her brother Hindley saw only a homeless gypsy boy that didn’t belong, Cathy was able to look past that and love Heathcliff. She saw him for who he was, not where he came from. That’s a strength, isn’t it?

When I say strong female character, who comes to mind? What do you think entails strength?

♥Steph

Ps. I just started my own blog. Take a look.

By now you’ve probably heard all about the Wall Street Journal opinion piece that claims Young Adult literature is dark and depraved and trying to “bulldoze” misery into young people’s lives. We Heart YA spent much of our weekend reading the amazing #YAsaves tweets, and we gathered a long list of fellow bloggers’ responses on our Facebook page. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. We were moved, many times to tears.

Now we’d like to share our thoughts with you.

Kristan

I wrote a longer response on my personal blog, but what I want to say here is simple: YA lit is a mirror. Pleasant or not, it reflects our own realities back to us. That means there is as much variety on YA shelves as there is in a high school hallway.

But hey, you don’t have to take my word for it. Let’s look at the evidence:



Yeah, out of about 10 shelves, there were a few that looked like the one on the left here. Lots of black (whatever that means). But take two steps to the right, and what do you see? A giant yellow smiley face. Ooo, scary. Two more steps right, and you have tons of uplifting non-fiction -- books that are positive AND real.

Personally I like to sample from each of the shelves. Like I said, variety. That’s life.

Sarah

Because I am from a generation where young adult books were scarce, and just not as "shiny" as adult ones, I feel a real kinship with what's being offered on the YA shelves these days. AND I'm quite proud at how passionate the YA community has been in response to the Wall Street Journal article. My thoughts? We finally get a massive section of books for adolescents, and one well-intentioned parent can't find an appropriate novel for her child? Um, yeah, I don't buy that... Maybe twenty years ago.

What I will accept is that there are a TON of paranormal romance novels being bought by teens. It's popular. It's an escape. It's what they want right now. That's okay. I would LOVE for contemporary to make a come-back in a big way -- I mean, this is what I'm writing at the moment. It's really up to the teens buying the books. As well as this, so-called "tough stuff" novels have been around for a good while and have been improving the lives of children who unfortunately have to find a way to deal with darkness. Thank you, authors, who have the guts to write these kind of stories. It's not easy and it's saving lives. Thank you for the message being sent--that nearly always, the light will follow the darkness.

Stephanie

The darkness in fiction teaches us about the darkness that humanity is actually capable of. Schindler's List, for example, is shown in high schools all over the world, and it’s full of graphic images, but it’s also a vital part of education. We all know that history repeats itself, and the only way to prevent genocide is to remember tragedies like the Holocaust.

Issues such as violence and eating disorders don't disappear if we refuse to talk about them. They get worse. I would argue that popular media is perhaps the best way to educate teens about hard topics, because they’re more likely to pick up a book about anorexia than ask a guidance counselor for help.

Everyone seems to be focusing on the bad stuff, but what about all the good? YA literature is making statements — life is sacred, compassion and faith are worth standing for, suicide is not the answer — and teens are eating it up.

Ingrid

I am thankful that teenagers today have access to “issue books” that address topics like self-image, suicide and bullying. Books that might help them or their friends. Books that increase their empathy and tolerance. The variety of books prevalent today were not nearly as accessible when I was a teenager. When I did stumble upon books that reflected the realities of teen life (S.E. Hinton, Cynthia Voigt) I gobbled them up -- everything I could find that addressed real issues, that didn’t try to paint the world as something false, that made me think and question. Here’s what readers learn from contemporary YA literature: to stand up for yourself and your beliefs, and to stand up for those who are being mistreated. To know that you are worthy of respect, love, safety and peace. To empathize with others and to forgive yourself when you mess up. The fact is: Growing up is hard. YA lit makes things a little easier for a whole lot of teens -- both by allowing them to escape real life and by reading about how others deal with it. Take that away? Now that's crazy.


If there's one good thing that came out of the Wall Street Journal's "Darkness Too Visible," it's the discussion it began. The YA community rose up to defend its beloved books and proved itself a force to be reckoned with. What was your response to the article? How has Young Adult literature impacted your life?

Love,
The WHYA girls

Last night, my dog Riley curled up on my legs while I was in bed trying to figure out what to blog about today. As I lay there, feeling his heartbeat against my skin, an idea hit me: animal sidekicks.


Some of the best and most overlooked characters in fiction are the animals. They create comic relief, like Pascal in Tangled. They provide companionship, like Narknon in The Blue Sword. And they offer a sympathetic ear, like Hedwig in Harry Potter.


Just as in real life, animals in fiction are often the best friends a person can have. They don't judge, gossip, backstab, or really have any agenda at all. (Besides being fed, of course!) Sometimes they even save your life, like Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon. Or ride into battle with you, like Talat in The Hero and The Crown. Or set you free, like Rosie in Water for Elephants.

Okay, in case it isn't totally obvious by now, I'm a big animal lover, and today's post is a tribute to our furry, feathery, scaly, and otherwise strangely skinned friends. If I could, I would adopt all of these beasties straight out of the pages I met them on.

What about you? Who are your favorites? Which animal sidekicks would you curl up with at night?

KH

Have you ever read a book and found yourself completely distracted by an author’s overuse of the same word(s)? Hopefully not. Hopefully those little darlings were caught and thrown out by good editors and/or great crit partners long before the book hit the shelves. But I’d be willing to bet they were there… at some point.

It would be nearly impossible for writers—people who absolutely looove words—not to have a few favorites, right? Here are a few of mine, as pointed out by my awesome crit partners: suddenly, finally, blurted, sputtered, screeched (oh yeah, and... ellipses).

On the flip side, of course, are words people simply can’t stand. Maybe it’s the way the word feels rolling off the tongue. Perhaps it brings back painful/scary/horrid/heartbreaking memories. Or maybe there’s no good reason, except that it bugs you. One member of our crit group has an aversion to the word “gasped.” It makes her laugh every time she reads it. The result is that now none of us can read that word without thinking of her and erupting into giggles :)

So let’s hear it… are there any words that you love? Or overuse in your writing? Or hate to see in print?

The ending of a book can make or break the story. If an author leaves us hanging or feeling cheated, we may never forgive them for it. A satisfying last line can also gain our love forever.

But is there a right way to end a story?

The most common type of conclusion happens when there’s no story left to tell. EMMA by Jane Austen — and every Jane Austen book, for that matter — ends with all the main characters finding true love. On one hand, these endings can be predictable and a little too perfect, on the other, happily ever afters have stood the test of time. 

Other authors leave the outcome for the reader to interpret. The main conflict is resolved, but we have to use our imaginations to know what happens next. At the end of VILLETTE, Charlotte Brontë leaves hints of sadness to come, but allows us to believe in a happy ending where Lucy and Paul are reunited if we want. Real life is full of unanswered questions, and sometimes we like to fill in the blanks ourselves.

Epilogues and denouements often inspire mixed feelings from readers. Some people can’t stomach them, but I don’t think they will ever completely disappear. In THE RETURN OF THE KING by JRR Tolkien, do we really need to know what happens after the ring is destroyed and Aragorn is crowned king? Nah. But would the story be the same without the bittersweet moment when Frodo sails to the Undying Lands?

There are a million different ways to end a story. Some books end with a twist or bring us back to where we started, and we see a familiar scene with new eyes. Others just stop and leave you wondering why the heck you read it in the first place. Sometimes the end of a story is the end of a life, or a fresh start after the protagonist has discovered who they are. We’ve seen lessons learned, mysteries solved, relationships mended, villains defeated, and worlds saved.

There is no right or wrong way to end a book. We all want a conclusion that feels satisfying to us, but there’s no ending that will please everyone. Authors choose the way that feels best to them, and people will love or hate them for it. That’s life.

Story endings are a source of endless debate, and that’s part of the fun. So what kind of conclusions do you like? What do you hate?

Steph