I really am super excited for this post today! With me being an “older person” who enjoys YA, I really am LOVING this new genre New Adult. It brings the characters closer to my age and that makes it easier to relate to them. Unfortunately in the New Adult genre, mostly every book I’ve read is about contemporary romance. Until I found out about this book “Persistence of Vision.” This book breaks all the norms for the New Adult genre and is all the while 100% enjoyable. Here with us today is Liesel K. Hill about why it was important to stray away from the “normal” New Adult genre!
” Hello Everyone! Thanks so much for having me here, Nikki. I’m very excited to talk (uh type!) to you today.
New Adult (NA) is a relatively new genre classification,
dealing with characters in their twenties or late teens, but while still
maintaining YA standards for clean reads (think of NA as the midpoint between
YA and adult). While this genre is becoming more prevalent, you see it most
often used for contemporary novels.
dealing with characters in their twenties or late teens, but while still
maintaining YA standards for clean reads (think of NA as the midpoint between
YA and adult). While this genre is becoming more prevalent, you see it most
often used for contemporary novels.
Enter me.
I write dystopian, historical fiction, and crime drama
(okay, technically that’s contemporary) and almost exclusively use NA. So why
the deviation from contemporary?
(okay, technically that’s contemporary) and almost exclusively use NA. So why
the deviation from contemporary?
I’m not sure there’s a hard-and-fast reason for it. I simply
prefer stories about adults to those about teenagers. I’m not a big fan of high
school drama, teenaged angst, or problems revolving around adolescence. Even my
favorite YA novels (take Hunger Games for example) have nothing to do with
teenaged girl problems. They’re about youngsters facing real world problems.
(Yeah, yeah, technically in that story they’re fake world problems, but you get my gist.)
prefer stories about adults to those about teenagers. I’m not a big fan of high
school drama, teenaged angst, or problems revolving around adolescence. Even my
favorite YA novels (take Hunger Games for example) have nothing to do with
teenaged girl problems. They’re about youngsters facing real world problems.
(Yeah, yeah, technically in that story they’re fake world problems, but you get my gist.)
Anyway, when I write, I simply write older characters.
Meanwhile, my genre of preference isn’t contemporary. I like sci-fi/fantasy,
including dystopian, historical, and mystery/crime.
Meanwhile, my genre of preference isn’t contemporary. I like sci-fi/fantasy,
including dystopian, historical, and mystery/crime.
So what’s the moral of the story? Don’t try to pigeonhole
your writing into any particular genre or niche. There’s tons of cross-over going on these days. For examples, look—you
know—anywhere on Amazon. In fact, one
definition of NA is a cross-over between character age or other genre types
(i.e. something that’s typically YA but with older characters, etc.). Write
what you love and what you envision. Be true to your story and worry about
genre classification later. Your readers will appreciate it.
your writing into any particular genre or niche. There’s tons of cross-over going on these days. For examples, look—you
know—anywhere on Amazon. In fact, one
definition of NA is a cross-over between character age or other genre types
(i.e. something that’s typically YA but with older characters, etc.). Write
what you love and what you envision. Be true to your story and worry about
genre classification later. Your readers will appreciate it.
Trust me on that. ;D”
–Liesel K. Hill
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Website: Interchron.tateauthor.com
Goodreads Author Page: goodreads.com/lieselkhill
Goodreads Book Page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15982000-persistence-of-vision
MY REVIEW
Paperback, 384 pages
Release Date: January 29, 2012
Published by: Tate Publishing
Series: Interchron, #1
Source: Received from the Author
For fans of: Dystopia, Sci-Fi, New Adult
In a world where collective hives are enslaving the population and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper, and independent 21st Century woman, must find the strength to preserve the freedom of the future, but without the aid of her memories.
After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can’t explain. When she’s attacked by a creep with a spider’s web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she’s never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.
In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.
If Maggie can’t fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away…
*New Adult futuristic dystopian fantasy
After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can’t explain. When she’s attacked by a creep with a spider’s web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she’s never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.
In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.
If Maggie can’t fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away…
*New Adult futuristic dystopian fantasy
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was definitely not what I was expecting. But in a very good way. I was taken on the ride of a lifetime with dozens of twists and turns. I just wish I knew a little more about the world where they were. I mean the society seems crazy, but the world we don’t get a huge glimpse into it.
As for the characters, I enjoyed them all, but it seemed that a huge amount of the story was dialogue. (YES I KNOW THIS IS FICTION!) But I wish I had gotten a larger glimpse into the main character, without everyone else’s voices coming into it. I was missing the chance to fully bond with Maggie. Although this didn’t make me hate the story, or her, it was still something that I missed as a reader.
The biggest thing I loved about this story was the genre. I forgot all about what society has labeled as “normal” New Adult, and was able to enjoy a Sci-Fi/futuristic story about a girl and guy who are my age. Don’t get me wrong, there is some romance in this book, but its not ALL there is to it. This will be the opening of the floodgates for so many other authors to branch out and be different.
Another thing I especially liked about this book is how it taught me so much. Hill is so knowledgeable about the human brain and she researched it really well for her book. I felt it to be a little overwhelming at times, but I was still able to follow along. I even took a few notes to help me along.
This story is one for the books. (No pun intended.) The plot will leave you on the edge of your seat and the knowledge you gain from it wil leave you with something you can take with you long after you finish it.
Overall, I give this
Thanx so much for participating! I appreciate the kind review! 😉
I didn't pigeonhole my work either. And when my first book came out, I was surprised how many non-science fiction readers enjoyed it.
Yay, I reviewed this yesterday and loved it too. It's so amazing! I'm excited to keep up with the rest of your reviews too.
I'm a new follower, I'd appreciate a follow back.
Rose @ The Cosy Dragon