Smart Podcast, Trashy Books Podcast

133. Behind the Scenes of the 2015 DABWAHA with Jane and Sarah

This week, we talk about the DABWAHA tournament, what books we wanted to be in the tournament that didn’t make it, and the origins of the tournament long long ago. And in a shocking turn of events, Jane and Sarah disagree about NA, YA, and Contemporary romance.

We also talk a little bit about ARCs, and what Jane’s read recently. FYI, trigger warning for a discussion of rape fantasies starting at about minute 36:00.

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This Episode's Music

Our music is provided by Sassy Outwater. This podcast features “Celtic Frock” by a UK duo called Deviations Project, which features producer Dave Williams and violinist Oliver Lewis – they have their own Wikipedia page. This is from their album Ivory Bow. You can find Deviations Project on iTunes, Amazon, or wherever music is sold.


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Trust the Focus

This podcast is brought to you by InterMix, publisher of Trust the Focus—the first in a new romance series featuring two friends, Justin and Landry, on a post-college summer road trip.

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

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Download it March 17th!

Transcript

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This podcast transcript was handcrafted with meticulous skill by Garlic Knitter. Many thanks.

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This week’s podcast transcript is brought to you by Forever, publisher of Once and Always, the sweet and sexy new novel by Elizabeth Hoyt—writing as Julia Harper!

IS THERE A PROBLEM, OFFICER?

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BEING BAD HAS ITS BENEFITS

Whoever said blood is thicker than water probably wasn’t related to a former Russian mobster. But an innocent mix-up and rumors of stolen diamonds soon have the Russian mob taking an unusual interest in the sleepy little town-and Maisa facing heated scrutiny from a certain tall, dark, and handsome deputy. Sam’s dazzling blue eyes beg her to reveal all her secrets, but how much should she tell? Getting snowed in with the sexiest lawman in the frozen north may not be the worst way to decide . . .

Available now.

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  1. Coco says:

    I have been very reluctant to read New Adult novels because I assume that they are, as Sarah says, closer to Young Adult and with people still finding their way and not really knowing who they are, and I really, really dislike that.

    I matured very early. I had a career at 18. To this day, even though I’m very nearly 40, I tend to hang around with people who are much older than me. When I was 14 my very best friend was 28 with two children and a mortgage and we hung out and had deep conversations and enjoyed each others company as Peers. She was still my best friend when she died at 40.

    My point is, even when I was actually a “Young Adult”, I really did have it all figured out. Or at least way more so than what I see portrayed in Young Adult novels, and what I expect in New Adult novels.

    My best friend’s children are now in the age group supposedly covered by new adult. When I look at them and their peers I do not see people I want to read romance novels about. And not just because of the ick factor of them being my best friend’s children but because of their insecurities and their immaturities.

    I’m currently reading Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series where the heroes and heroines are in their mid to late 20s and I keep thinking New Adult when I’m reading. The characters are well educated and have careers but they’re still “new” somehow. And I’m totally okay with that. This is New Adult that I’m comfortable with. I would put this closer to contemporary. I don’t know if it’s billed as New Adult or Contemporary, whichever it is I like it, but if it had been billed as New Adult I likely would not have chosen to read it for fear that it was too close to Young Adult.

    I recently read Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. It’s about a 19 year old soldier who’s on leave back with his family and he’s falling in love with a girl he went to highschool with. She’s 18 and preparing to go off to college. I’d certainly call this New Adult, but while this 19 year old’s maturity level waivers depending on his situation, I have a hard time seeing somebody who’s been a soldier and seen action in a war as “new”. I think this character could have been any age and this book would have worked. It was perhaps more poignant because he’s basically a child.

    I really enjoyed this book but again, if I had realized that it was New Adult I likely would not have picked it up. Also, it’s told in the first person, present from HIS point of view (OMG!Why!?). It’s a really good book, you should read it.

    The whole time I was reading this book I was thinking, is this Young Adult? or is this New Adult? or is this Contemporary? And I still don’t know. But it would not have worked for me without the fact that he had that maturity from his experience.

    I guess that means I’m with Jane on this one. Or perhaps that means I’m on my own? I still don’t know!

  2. Stephanie Scott says:

    I think there are a few camps in New Adult; some of them do feel similar in themes to Young Adult (coming of age and “firsts”) with say a book like Tammara Weber’s Easy. I’ve read other NA’s that far more removed from those themes and read more like a contemporary romance with strong focus on the relationship, the sex, and a lot less on other factors. Those books I would not say are near to YA. If anything, maybe New Adult just needs to be its own thing the way the authors of those books want them. I don’t think they fit in YA though! 🙂 Loved the spirited discussion.

  3. Great podcast (as always) –

    I highly recommend Indecent Exposure – I enjoyed it last year so much that I glommed on to the rest in the series. All good, and not repetitive – definitely thumbs up for Jane even if Jayne already reviews them.

    And as a recently ex-dabwaha participant, thank you for all the work you do to pull this off. I had a great time going head-to-head with Kat Latham. Heroes Sling Insults

    We had so much fun that over on her facebook page she’s actually giving away a bunch of copies of MY book – His Road Home – to celebrate Unwrapping Her Perfect Christmas’s victory!

    I think that speaks well of the romance community and the way this contest works – thanks!

  4. Great podcast (as always) –

    I highly recommend Indecent Exposure – I enjoyed it last year so much that I glommed on to the rest in the series. All good, and not repetitive – definitely thumbs up for Jane even if Jayne already reviews them.

    And as a recently ex-dabwaha participant, thank you for all the work you do to pull this off. I had a great time going head-to-head with Kat Latham. Heroes Sling Insults

    We had so much fun that over on her facebook page she’s actually giving away a bunch of copies of MY book – His Road Home – to celebrate Unwrapping Her Perfect Christmas’s victory!

    I think that speaks well of the romance community and the way this contest works – thanks!

  5. Mara says:

    As a new adult (or just passed out of it? Not sure how mid-20s factors in), I generally find NA doesn’t resonate with my or my friends’ experiences, voice, etc. To be really frank, they generally read like either a teen or someone in their mid-life trying to channel an alien voice. I have no idea what the actual average age of the author is for this category, so not trying to comment on the validity of that impression, but that’s just how it feels to me. I actually find non-NA books that have protagonists that still fit in that age demographic to be much more relatable/naturalistic. At this point if a book self-identifies as NA, I’m likely to pass. (Though strangely, I do often like YA… they seem to be better written with respect to voice? Again, just my impression. Y.S. Lee’s The Agency series is a good example of YA that has a nice voice)

  6. azteclady says:

    I agree with Sarah on the NA/YA v contemporary thing.

  7. Julia says:

    I’m sorry, as an old DC comics fan, all I can think looking at the Sea King cover is that someone sold their Aquaman/Mera fanfic as a romance.

  8. Patricia says:

    I have to agree with Sarah. “A Bollywood Affair” does not belong in NA! It’s not as cut and dry as other subgenres like PNR.

    P.S. NA is so much closer to YA then Contemporary! But I’m biased because I dislike NAs and adore Contemporaries. As a rule, of course. ;P In fact, I hope NA is just a passing fad. Can it go away now? Do you think it will go away?

  9. Coco says:

    @Patricia

    Perhaps we can kill New Adult. If Sarah can kill Paranormal and Jane can kill Historical, it seems only fair.

  10. library addict says:

    While I think both arguments have valid points, I agree more with Sarah that NA should be categorized with YA rather than Contemporary. But fully admit to my bias as someone who loves contemporary romance and romantic suspense and does not want to see the already overcrowded category shrink even further. I don’t read YA at all, so the idea that category would get 8 books by itself and another “super” category would have to include all of contemporary (with the subgenre romantic suspense AND New Adult) seems unfair. Especially when contemporary is just a time period, so technically YA is also contemporary. That probably makes more sense in my head, but hopefully you get the gist.

    As someone who has played DABWAHA every year since the first, I just want to say a big thank you to Jane and Sarah and the reviewers at both DA and SBTB for putting this on every year. Though I am terrible at picking my bracket every year regardless if I go by my heart or my head, it is such fun.

  11. Kate says:

    “Sitting outside, drinking, and enjoying men running slowly”

    Thank you! I will use this when people ask how I can possibly like baseball.

  12. Coco says:

    I suppose I should say that I’m not talking about killing off New Adult as a category in the DABWAHA but just killing it off full stop.

    I feel like adults are adults and children are children. I don’t want to read about children and romance. It kind of icks me out.

  13. Lina says:

    I have only read 2 NA books.. Trade Me by Courtney Milan and The Deal by Elle Kennedy . I never thought I would say this but I loved them. I would explain that both of these books had the main character thinking as an adult from a really early age. So these books might not be the best examples of the genre. Both books were insanely good though . I do have to agree with Sarah that they are not and should not be categorized with Contemporary. NA books have adult experiences but really are about the decision to enter adulthood in light of experiences… I say the early 20’s.. Where Contemps usually proceed with the protagonist knowing who they are.. Although circumstances might change. I don’t see NA as YA but I could see how authors really need to define the characters as adult to separate the genres and prevent the ick factor.. Jane thanks for the preview of the Kleypas book. I loved Blue Eyed Devil .

  14. Regina Small says:

    Whoa! In Bitter Spirits, the villain is (spoiler spoiler spoiler) Chinese, but is NOT the only person of color.

    The hero of book 3 is Bo Yeung (whom I’ve loved since book 1). He works for the hero of Bitter Spirits and has known the family for years. He was never the villain; he has always been wonderful and amazing. 😀

    Also, I want to say that I take the middle approach on NA/YA — I think NA is equidistant from both contemp romance and YA.

  15. SB Sarah says:

    @Regina: YIKES. Did I remember that wrong. Thank you for clarifying!!

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