We’ve heard a lot about New Adult lately and just
how hot it is. So we asked some agents the burning question:
Is NA the new YA? And how would you define it?
Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis, Inc.

Stacey Donaghy, Donaghy Literary Group

NA differs in that it is geared to a more mature
readership, a pocket of readers that were somewhere between the YA and Adult
categories, yet did not have a concrete place in the market by name- NA has
been out there for some time but until recently it was nameless, not falling
into a specific category. Now it has a home!
NA focuses on growth through the years that cover
leaving home, first jobs, college, decision making without the kind of parental
guidance that is so prevalent in the teen years. NA is about experiencing
firsts from the aspect of hitting adulthood - moving out of the teens into an
independent role. I think that it is safe to say that the heat level is
higher or is much more risqué'. The age of characters in NA is generally
the college group 18-25ish, give or take some of the older characters, and by
older we are looking at no more than thirty in the immediate friend or dating
circle and even this is getting close to tipping the scales. The readership age
varies, readers are from the upper YA group to forty-something, although the
target audience is the twenty-something readers, as it is quite relevant to
this age group and their own experiences. College and the social aspects of
this time in one’s life, tends to play a key role in many NA novels.
The answer to: Is NA the new YA, would be no, each
has a very important and distinct role in the market. Each serves a
specific target audience. Yes there is crossover, I believe both are here
to stay and each serves it owns purpose for specific age groups.
Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency

I love NA and believe that the popularity of it stems from a desire for
'firsts.' First jobs, first serious relationships, first adventures into
adulthood, first sexual experiences. I think there is something really engaging
(and nostalgic for the adult readers) about experiencing the character's
'journey'. NA is about 'coming of age' and 'coming to terms.' I have several
authors participating in FIFTY FIRST TIMES: A NA ANTHOLOGY which releases this
month. The stellar lineup of bestselling authors and diversity of voices
indicate where the genre is going and what types of stories readers are looking
for. Check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-First-Times-Adult-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00F8P3A36/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391536882&sr=8-1&keywords=Fifty+First+Times
Thank
you to all of the agents who contributed their time and expertise for this
post!
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us the first Sunday of every month for our new Agent Roundup Feature.
Awesome post on the differences in YA and NA. I agree that they are distinct but do have crossover appeal. I do hope NA branches out into different genres so that those of us that don't love romances will have more t choose from.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Natalie. I hope agents and marketers realize that even before 50 Shades (and definitely after) there have always been people who want the action and readability of genre YA novels but prefer reading about someone a little older than teens.
DeleteReally interesting post. I have to admit, even as someone in the target age range for NA, I haven't been able to get into it. I've read one NA book, and I enjoyed it, but it was too...close to home? The MC was in her freshman year of college, and it reminded me of everything bad about my first two years of college. Maybe I'll be able to read some NA stuff easier in 5-10 years, when college isn't so fresh in my mind (after all, I didn't start reading YA until I was in my 20's!). But right now, NA is actually *too* identifiable.
ReplyDeleteVery nice of these three to so carefully explain the differences between YA and NA. Thanks for posting this. It's very interesting and timely.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I'm reading my first NA book now. Stina's :)
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful getting different perspectives in regards to NA. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat insights on NA.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post. Thank you.
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