Faith and Works: Boston Globe explores Mormons in YA literature
Featuring Utah writers Carol Lynch Williams, A.E. Cannon, and Shannon Hale, and Boston-area writer and graduate of Vermont College’s writing for children master’s program, Julie Berry, the Boston Globe explores why Mormons are writing–and getting published–in YA literature, especially fantasy.
Stacy Whitman is the publisher of Tu Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books. She specializes in fantasy, mystery, and science fiction for children and young adults.
Here’s a question:
What about the publishers? I am not Mormon, but I am a very conservative woman of faith (Christian) who deplores the increasingly sexual content of YA books. As an aspiring author of MG and YA fantasy and sci/fi, I’m wondering what the actual market is — Twilight notwithstanding — for wholesome-but-still-exciting novels for young people?
In short — are they as sell-able?
I definitely think they are. There is an audience for both edgy and more wholesome books–teens who don’t want edgy content, and teens who feel that books without edgy content are skirting around the edges of real life. And different publishers have different audiences that they cater to. So I think it’s important as an author who enjoys such stories to write them, yes.