Pat Esden--Mythmaker: Interview: NA and YA author Ann Anderson Noser

Today, in celebration of NA August, I have an interview with the fabulous NA and YA author Ann Anderson Noser.

Welcome, Ann. I understand you’ve had several series published. Could you tell us a bit about them and what you think puts them in either NA, YA, or crossover category?

I'll admit that when I started writing stories, I didn't realize there was such a debate between the two categories. It appears that the term NA or YA in general relates to the age of the main character. That said, since I am a prude (haha) – okay, maybe not a prude but I tend to write "clean" – so my writing (at least in my mind if in no one else's) really should be termed YA/NA crossover. The MCs in How to Date Dead Guys and Dead Girl Running are in their late teens or early twenties, but the writing is not too dark, violent, or sexy for teen readers. My soon to be released fairy tale, An Occasionally Grim Fairy Tale, will likely be considered YA, but since the story takes place over the span of several years, I'd also consider it YA/NA crossover.

HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS (The Witch's Handbook, Book 1):

College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice: “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”. But when charming Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.

Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back. Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell. The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury. As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he isn't the only one.

Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a desperate victim determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand… at first.

More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows. Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.

Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will ignite the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.

DEAD GIRL RUNNING (New Order Series, Book 1)

Eight years ago, SILVIA WOOD's father died in an industrial accident. After suffering through years of Psychotherapy Services and Mandated Medications for depression and multiple suicide attempts, she longs to work in Botanical Sciences. When the Occupation Exam determines she must work in Mortuary Sciences instead, she wonders if the New Order assigned her to the morgue to push her over the edge. To appease her disappointed mother, Silvia enters the Race for Citizen Glory, in an attempt to stand out in the crowd of Equals. After she begins training with "golden boy" LIAM HARMAN, she discovers he also lost his father in the same accident that ruined her childhood. Then Silvia meets and falls for Liam's older cousin, whose paranoid intensity makes her question what really happened to her father. As the race nears, Silvia realizes that she's not only running for glory, she's running for her life.

AN OCCASIONALLY GRIM FAIRY TALE (Desiderata Series, Book 1)

Prince Bane Baronne has baby fever. He's in search of a wife with the proper mystical bloodline to bear him the heir of prophecy. Anna Leon is chosen, but Bane only pretends to be Prince Charming. When Anna questions his intentions, she vanishes from the castle.

Convinced she's to blame for her younger sister's disappearance, Maria Leon is coerced into the royal marriage instead. She's older, wiser, and should know better—but Bane always gets what he wants. And he's not above using trickery or treachery to do so.

Maria attempts to salvage what she can of a "happily ever after" by working hard to be the best mother and wife. Until the day she learns that every woman who has married into the Baronne line disappears soon after they've produced an heir.

And she's next in line.

Do you think sex is a must have ingredient in new adult romance? Why or why not?

Perhaps I already answered this question, but for a long time NA was thought of as "YA with added sex." Thank goodness this is no longer true, although it's likely that many of the most popular NA titles are sexy romances. I suppose that if the book is classified as romance (and not some other category) that the sex would be even more expected.

What advice do you have for authors interested in writing crossovers?

I'd give any author the same advice: write the story that's inside you begging to get out. Don't worry what category it fits into right now. All that stress and worry comes later—you'll have plenty of time to fret once you're ready to submit, publish, etc. Might as well enjoy yourself for the moment and just write.

Where do you think the new adult category is headed in the future?

I hope it will continue to diversify and not just be thought of as "college romances, perhaps with a bad boy."

Thank you for stopping by!

BIO:

Social media links:

BLOG http://annandersonnoser.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/AnnMNoser/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/annnoser/

Book cover of your choice (attached)

Blurb (see above)

Buy links:

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE