I'm happy to welcome Nick Wilford as he stops by on his blog tour today. Nick's new release is a Young Adult story that sounds terrific. Here's Nick.
Hi Diane! Thanks for hosting me on my tour. I'd like to change pace a bit today and offer your readers a bit of a more thoughtful topic.
Hi Diane! Thanks for hosting me on my tour. I'd like to change pace a bit today and offer your readers a bit of a more thoughtful topic.
Dealing with Difficult Subjects in a Young Adult Book
I’ve been having a lot of fun on this blog tour up to now, but I’d like to get serious for a second and talk about the complications of dealing with sensitive subject matter in a young adult book – and why it can ultimately be worthwhile.
Corruption contains references to a rape, as well as other instances where the act is attempted. That wasn’t something I set out to confront when I started writing this series – I didn’t even know what would happen in the second and third books at that point. I’ve never been much of a planner. It was something that developed as a byproduct of one of the ideas in the first book – when the series begins, sex has been eradicated in Harmonia, and babies are grown in a lab environment using DNA from both parents. That decision gets overturned as part of the drive to return to a more natural way of life, but this new edict is then abused. It’s part of the corruption referred to in the title of the second book, which centres principally around one of the scientists, Harold Lunkin.
So having included such an element, how can it be justified? Well, one of the main purposes of fiction is to reflect life as we know it, even if the book takes place in a totally different world or society. A writer shouldn’t pretend that certain things don’t exist. Of course, going about this in the right way can be a delicate matter, but that doesn’t mean we shy away from it. We know that everything we include should be there to serve the story and keep it moving forward, but you’re dealing with a bit more than a narrative device when it comes to something like this. Do proper research into the effect on victims, even talk to some people if possible.
Even if it wasn’t something you thought about at the start, you never know if something you write might end up helping someone who’s been through such an experience. Let them know that it’s alright to speak out and seek help and that no one can just get away with this.
Do you cover difficult subject matter in your writing? How do you go about it?
Title: Corruption
Author: Nick Wilford
Genre: YA dystopian
Series: Black & White
Series #: 2 of 3
Release date: 11th February 2019
Publisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing
Blurb:
Wellesbury Noon and Ezmerelda Dontible have found themselves in a position where they can make their native land somewhere that lives up to its name: Harmonia. However, they’re setting their sights further afield for their number one task: eradicating the disease that has plagued the neighbouring country of Loretania for generations and allowed the privileged Harmonians to live in a sterile environment.
After dispatching a team of scientists to Loretania, armed with cratefuls of an antidote and vaccine and headed up by their friend, Dr George Tindleson, Welles, Ez, and Welles’s brother Mal – who grew up in that benighted nation – start to worry when they hear nothing back, despite what they had agreed. Commandeering a fishing boat to follow the science team over the sea, they soon find that, while the disease may be on the way out, a new kind of infection has set in – the corruption they thought they had stamped out in Harmonia.
Can they get to the root of the problem and eliminate it before even more damage is done to an innocent people?
*** Warning – this book contains themes that some sensitive readers may find upsetting. ***
Purchase Links:
After dispatching a team of scientists to Loretania, armed with cratefuls of an antidote and vaccine and headed up by their friend, Dr George Tindleson, Welles, Ez, and Welles’s brother Mal – who grew up in that benighted nation – start to worry when they hear nothing back, despite what they had agreed. Commandeering a fishing boat to follow the science team over the sea, they soon find that, while the disease may be on the way out, a new kind of infection has set in – the corruption they thought they had stamped out in Harmonia.
Can they get to the root of the problem and eliminate it before even more damage is done to an innocent people?
*** Warning – this book contains themes that some sensitive readers may find upsetting. ***
Purchase Links:
Meet the author:
The blurb sounds interesting. Of course, I must wonder what the sensitive theme is. Best of luck with Corruption.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's difficult to tackle sensitive themes like that. For me, i usually just avoid them. Yes, it's reality, and I might touch on the topics, but I try not to get too controversial. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteWow Nick, I can identify with "a writer shouldn't pretend certain things don't exist" I've been fighting that my entire career with my edgy inspirational books!
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best of luck and God's blessings
PamT
I don't really write YA, but I do sometimes tackle sensitive subjects in all my writings. More so in short story. I'm not trying to sway anybody's perspective, but social awareness of problems can sometimes lead to resolutions. Or at least, as you say, make someone who has been victimized feel acknowledged. One voice is just a voice; but many whispers get noticed.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rest of the tour, and with the sales.
Your willingness to tackle these difficult subjects is admirable. I wish you good luck with your book!
ReplyDeleteNightingale - Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAlicia - It wasn't something I set out to do, but then I don't necessarily think we should shy away from these things either. Thanks!
Pamela - Thanks. We have a voice, I don't think there's anything wrong with putting that to good use.
Dolorah - Thank you. It's nice to think we might make a small difference.
Kara - Thanks!
Rape should not be included "just because," and if the act itself is included in the narrative, care must be taken to not glorify or eroticize the act. I think we've all heard of or read books that do this. It sounds like you've taken the right approach, Nick.
ReplyDeleteRape is indeed sensitive, Nick, and I'm sure you've dealt with it wisely. We all know it's a sad fact of life. All best wishes for your tour and sales.
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