Inside a Teen Reader's Brain (or Those Who Love YA Books)

Okay. I'm curious if this post draws out lovers of Teen/YA Books. After all, I write YA novels and it sure would be nice to connect with and slurp up some knowledge of what the heck these readers are socializing about, what they despise, what and who they adore.

Gueоrgui / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

And these questions and thoughts are for any age...as we ALL know that you sure don't have to be a teenager in order to read YA stories.

But a huge question is: Do teens actually read blogs?

My sources tell me to make friends with my readers or people who might become my readers/fans/followers of my books. So, of course, it is important for me to hand out bowlfuls of nachos (jalapenos optional) loaded with drippy cheese and order 300 large pizzas of various crusts & toppings and maybe toss bags filled with chocolate to as many teens as I can possibly stumble upon everywhere I turn. (You adults, I'll share plenty with you, too, since you likely know some of these elusive teens...)

Lppa / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

I've researched about 50 websites/blogs of other authors who write YA. Most of them seem to deal with the same dilemma. WHAT do our readers want from us in a blog posting? Most of the authors post about once a month and give updates on their latest work in progress or newly published book. That's terrific. But I'd also like to entertain the crowd with something in between marketing my book stuff.

I do not want to talk about the writing process itself in the blog posts. Once in a while is fine... Oh, believe me, I totally am into reading about writing and marketing (and do so for hours) but there are so many writers already doing that. I want my website to be FOR the READER, not so much for another writer. Make sense?

BUT, if the readers of YA books are NOT interested in blog posts, then, other than occasional book updates, I don't know if there's a point in going through the time and hair-pulling to create a posting daily, weekly or whatever. (I had been shooting for weekly.) Especially coming up with a topic that's entertaining for that group.

Evil Erin / Foter.com / CC BY

We all experience massive information (and advertising) overload poking at us from all directions. I feel invisible at times as I try to provide something useful or cool to my social network peeps.

And so, here comes the 20 questions. Please comment. Or message me if you don't want your answers known to others. These are directed at teens, but I'll take responses from anybody.

1) Once again, do teens read blogs?

2) Which do you like better - Facebook or Twitter?

3) What about Tumlbr? Thoughts?

4) What are some favorite TV shows?

5) Favorite movies?

6) Favorite books or authors?

7) Do you use Pinterest?

8) How about G+ ?

9) Is MySpace dead or do you use it?

10) Do you use Goodreads? Shelfari? LibraryThing?

11) HOW do you decide what book you're going to read next? Do you bother watching book trailers? Does the book cover draw you in?

12) Do you use Facebook Groups? Are you part of any Groups anywhere?

13) As a reader, you tell me how can I (as an author of YA, paranormal thrillers) grab your attention? HOW do you hear about books?

14) Do you read book reviews?

15) Do you follow book bloggers?

16) Do you prefer physical books or ebooks? Or doesn't it matter?

17) Do you ever go to Smashwords?

18) What prices are you okay with paying for an ebook? A paperback book?

19) What do you like reading about? (vamps, werewolves, witches, demons, UFOs, apocalypse, romance, thriller, ghosts, werecats, elves, fairies, teen issues, stuff with NO supernatural elements, certain age for characters, ???)

20) Are you interested in a free ebook download and willing to give an honest, short review on Amazon or Goodreads or B&N or Smashwords? (if so, let me know!)

That is all!

Gina

Werecat Lore According to Jessie Bastet

Hi, I'm Jessie Bastet. I'm a werecat. And I'll be blog-jacking Gina Marie Long's website today. Oh, there's a character in her latest young adult book ("Rocked") who is based on me! Pretty cool, huh? Gina is like my cat parent...almost two years ago I was homeless and she rescued me, offering to share her life and give me a forever home.

Gina is attempting to work on her third book in the Werewolf Series now, so I shifted into human form to write this post, filling in as the guest blogger for the week! I hope you'll find my topic about werecat lore interesting and valuable. Because you never know when you might cross paths with one. Here we go...

First, this is me, Jessie Bastet (aka Jessie Cat), as a tortoiseshell housecat. Yeah, I know. I'm kind of smudgie-looking. This is the shape I usually take.

This is me when I transform into a cougar. Spectacular, huh?

This is what I look like when I transform into my scary beast shape. I can't stay this way for long...it's just the way I am...

Now it's time to beef up your knowledge about my werecat traits and history.

1. Werecats are descendants from the Egyptian Goddess Bastet. Here's a statue made in her honor:

2. If we bite you while in any of our cat shapes, you will be converted into a werecat. It's not pleasant for the human...your heart stops beating for several minutes then violently starts again, total puke-fest, and you fall into a coma for a day or more. Wakey-time - sick for a while, then starving for meat, tons of energy, violent outbursts are common at first.

3. Most werecats are psychic and can read minds. 

4. Werecats can communicate with other animals, mainly by reading their emotional state.

5. We normally live a very long time. Could be considered immortal, depending on your definition of immortal. Very hard to kill, but definitely can be accomplished. Our injuries (if not fatal) heal extremely fast. Depending on the seriousness of the ouchie, anywhere from minutes to a day and we're good as new.

6. Werecats and werewolves generally have the same traits, as far as supernatural stuff goes. But we don't play well together. We normally stay in human form and blend in with society. (I have some issues, or disabilities, and spend most of my time as a housecat. Even now, I'm twitchy and getting the urge to transform back to a cat.)

7. Yeah, we're super fast, strong, agile, smart, sneaky and loyal to those who treat us well. Our senses are majorly heightened.

8. No, we cannot make clothes appear out of thin air. When we return to human form, we're naked. Not a good thing if we have an audience. Real pain in the butt.

9. In human form, we eat just like a human. Whatever shape we take, we eat the food that shape would eat. Kind of obvious...

10. If you see our eyes turn solid black and we're staring you down, our backs arching, and if we're in cat form (mainly the cougar or beast) with our ears back, it's time you get the hell away from us. We're incredibly dangerous at that point - whether from anger, fear or from simply being overly-excited. Our claws and teeth could rip your throat open or at the least, leave you with shredded skin. Not a pretty sight.

**Note: in housecat form, we do love to be rubbed and played with, though. In human form, we appreciate a gentle touch on our arms or back to let us know you care and to help strengthen our bond to you.

Well, that should be enough werecat tidbits to let simmer in your brain for a while. Not that I'm trying to scare you or anything...if you have a cat as a pet - YAY! Love her with all your heart, play often, and observe your cat's behavior to better understand her or him and to avoid problems. Think like a cat! 

And you never know if your cat is actually a werecat who is staying incognito and enjoying the lazy, comfy living as your pet! Sorta my game plan:)

As Gina would say - That is all!

Your guest blogger: Jessie Bastet, AKA Jessie Cat

Let us know your favorite werecat books or authors who write about supernatural cats! Love to hear from you!