Welcome to today’s Tour Stop for the New Adult Novel:
GAME. SET. MATCH. by Jennifer Iacopelli which comes out TODAY!!!
and.. I’m having an exciting Guest Post from Jennifer and … there is a Giveaway at the end!!
so for now, please welcome Jennifer Iacopelli who talkes about New Adult, my favorite topic these days!:9
What is New Adult? by Jennifer Iacopelli
What is New Adult? It’s the hottest new thing in the publishing world. The commonly accepted definition of the ‘New Adult’ category seems to be stories that feature characters between the ages of 18 and 25, usually just starting out in life and figuring things out, including, but not limited to their first serious relationship.
The controversy about ‘New Adult’ seems to be whether or not the aging up of the characters is simply an excuse to add graphic sex to the plot. In some cases, that might be true. In others, it most definitely is not. NA is such a new category, I think it’s going to take some time for the category to define itself.
As someone who wrote a ‘New Adult’ book before it had a name or before publishers acknowledged it as an actual category with an audience, I think beyond the age of the characters, ‘New Adult’ can be anything, as long as there’s one underlying thread, the characters trying to carve out a place for themselves in the world, whatever world that may be.
Some of the most popular ‘new adult’ stories are contemporary romances set in college. For many people, those four years are the ones set aside for learning and growing as a person, Deciding who you are and maybe even deciding who you want to be with.
But ‘New Adult’ literature isn’t limited to college campuses or even a contemporary setting
STAR WARS is the ULTIMATE ‘new adult’ story. Luke and Leia are 19 when they join the Rebellion and forge a quest to save their galaxy and consequently, their family.
The hit BBC drama, DOWNTON ABBEY can be considered ‘new adult’ when focusing upon the stories Lord Grantham’s three daughters, all of whom are out of school and taking their place in a changing world.
My novel, GAME. SET. MATCH. focuses on three girls, all 17 or 18 years old, the borderline between YA and NA, but because of their passion for tennis and their pursuit of playing professionally, their lives more closely resemble that of a typical 22 year old, just out of college and forging a path in their chosen profession.
I couldn’t have written this story about fifteen or sixteen year old because there are real-life guidelines and age restrictions built into the professional tennis circuit that would have limited my character’s ability to pursue their dreams and besides that, it’s rare nowadays for such young athletes to compete successfully with older players. My characters HAD to be older, which was unfortunate since the word in publishing was that if you had characters who were 17-19ish, then you should “age them down” to 16, in order for the story to be marketable. So, I can’t tell you how excited I was when ‘New Adult’ started to build up momentum, thanks mostly to reader demand! It’s a new age in publishing. It works from the bottom up, readers at the end of the supply chain, dictating to publishers what they want, when they want it!
I hope you guys enjoy, GAME. SET. MATCH. and while you’re at it, I have a few other ‘New Adult’ recommendations for you!
Broken at Love, by Lyla Payne
Not only is Lyla a good friend of mine, but she writes about tennis players too!
Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas
Every woman, of every shape and size, should read this story about loving yourself and finding someone who loves you just the way you are.
About GAME. SET. MATCH.
Publication May 1st 2013 by Coliloquy, LLC
goodreads | amazon
Nestled along the coastline of North Carolina, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the best elite tennis training facility in the world. Head Coach, Dominic Kingston has assembled some of the finest talent in the sport. From the game’s biggest stars to athletes scraping and clawing to achieve their dreams, OBX is full of ego, drama and romance. Only the strong survive in this pressure cooker of competition, on and off the court.
Penny Harrison, the biggest rising star in tennis, is determined to win the French Open and beat her rival, the world’s number one player, Zina Lutrova. There’s just one problem, the only person who’s ever been able to shake her laser-like focus is her new training partner. Alex Russell, tennis’s resident bad boy, is at OBX recovering from a knee injury suffered after he crashed his motorcycle (with an Aussie supermodel on the back). He’s hoping to regain his former place at the top of men’s tennis and Penny’s heart, while he’s at it.
Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. Her parents have seven Grand Slam championships between them and she’s desperate to live up to their legacy. Her best friend is Teddy Harrison, Penny’s twin brother, and that’s all they’ve ever been, friends. Then one stupid, alcohol-laced kiss makes everything super awkward just as she as she starts prepping for the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.
The Classic is what draws Indiana Gaffney out of the hole she crawled into after her mom’s death. Even though she’s new to OBX, a win at the Classic is definitely possible. She has a big serve and killer forehand, but the rest of her game isn’t quite up to scratch and it doesn’t help that Jasmine Randazzo and her little minions are stuck-up bitches or that Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and oldest brother, is too hot for words, not to mention way too old for her.
Who will rise? Who will fall?
Told from rotating points of view, GAME. SET. MATCH. is a ‘new adult’ novel about three girls with one goal: to be the best tennis player in the world.
About Jennifer Iacopelli
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave…ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master’s in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.
……and here are some Team Buttons for you to grab! I can tell, that I am super excited reading this book!!!
Below, there is a Giveaway for you to enter! So don’t miss your chance to win some Goodies!!!
Now, tell me do you love New Adult as much as I do?
Much Love,
Latest posts by Danny (see all)
- INTENSITY by Sherrilyn Kenyon – Excerpt & Giveaway - September 8, 2017
- Locked in Temptation – Q&A withBrenda Jackson & Giveaway - August 4, 2017
- Locked in Temptation by Brenda Jackson – Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway - July 26, 2017
I love covers with smooching, and this sounds like a sweet read!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..It’s Here!!! Clean Sweep ARC Challenge (Mini Challenge Schedule/Rafflecopter)
Reply »
New Adult is a fantastic concept and I really don’t like that it’s been hijacked by “sexed up” stories (I’m talking about the ones where ages are inflated just for the purpose of being called NA — there are still plenty of fantastic books out there with sex that still tell a great story). There’s SO MUCH to be explored in that timeframe just after high school, when people really are on their own and learning to cope with who they are and the world around them.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Waiting On…FANGIRL by Rainbow
Reply »
Great post! This is the second stop I have seen for the tour today and it makes me want to get my grubby hands on this book ASAP. I’m not really sure what NA is and it seems the more NA books I read I just get more and more confused about the genre as a whole. I guess I have come to conclusion that it is a very liquid genre that can fit in pretty much anywhere it wants with some certain elements.
Jenni @ Alluring Reads recently posted..Transparent Review
Reply »
Great essay! I’ve resisted new adult. I don’t really know why. Maybe because it’s yet another genre to read when I have so many YA books in my queue. Sometimes I wish the genre didn’t exist – that genres generally didn’t exist because it sets up barriers to reading.
Alison (@AlisonCanRead) recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Reply »
Yes, the college years are so formative! I am hit or miss with NA. I like it but I am growing tired of all the angst. I need something a little lighter every now and then and I think this one sounds like it isn’t so full of drama. Plus tennis is something I don’t know much about, but I did read Andre Agassi’s book awhile back!
Heidi recently posted..The Bronze Gods Tour with Ann Aguirre: Guest Post, Review and Giveaway
Reply »
Thanks for such a great explanation on New Adult. I’ve read some books that are New Adult that seem to write sex scenes in them just for shock value. It makes me run right back to my Middle Grade and YA books. I am not used to those words and acts being so graphic. I so love the way you explain it and I’m glad you didn’t give up and age down your characters.
Heather
Heather @ Buried in Books recently posted..The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher Blog Tour Review and Giveaway
Reply »
So excited to read this one!!
NA is such a hard concept for people to grasp, I think because a lot of the books that have gotten a lot of press ARE those ones that are quite steamy (however even then it doesn’t mean that the books are ALL about sex). I love that NA can be any genre, and I’d love to see some other types of books besides contemp romance. However I think these have been the majority just because contemp stories are where these ages have been lacking. In sci fi and urban fantasy, even paranormal romance, it’s usual for characters to be in their late teens or early twenties, but in contemporary books in the past they seem to leap from high school to later 20’s. So I’m enjoying reading the contemporary NA books, and I can’t wait to check out more, especially ones that are about the journey and transition of new adulthood, rather than just focusing on the steamy.
Ashley @ Book Labyrinth recently posted..Game. Set. Match. by Jennifer Iacopelli (Book Blitz & Giveaway)
Reply »
I really am surprised to read that there is an effort to age down characters to make a book more marketable. As an adult (I’m in my early 30″s) who reads lots of YA books, not sure why the difference between 16 or 19 would change whether I would purchase the book or not. That being said, I am not a huge fan of the majority of the super sexed up NA contemp romances that are on the shelves lately. Not because of the sex but because they seem like borderline romance novels and that is one genre I have zero interest to read.
Dina recently posted..The Eternity Cure By Julie Kagawa
Reply »
That’s such a great guest post 🙂 I think it’s great to define New Adult since it’s such a new genre.
Reply »
I love reading New Adult books! The characters are closer to my age so it’s easier to relato to the story! I agree with you, a New Adult book is not necessary a New Adult book because it contains 18+ scenes!
Reply »
Interesting guest post…
Sadaf Habibi recently posted..Blog Tour:: Review + Excerpt: Surviving Raine (Surviving Raine #1) – Shay Savage
Reply »