Hopeful, Not Necessarily Happily-Ever-Afters in Young Adult Fiction

with Guest McCall Hoyle

Being a teenage girl is tough. Believe me. I teach high school. I’m a mom and, although it was twenty plus years ago, I was once a teenage girl.

Willa Cather, one of America’s first well-known female authors, once said, “Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.” I agree, which is why I enjoy writing young adult fiction. It is a gritty, emotional phase of life that shapes and molds all of us. Because I was less than perfect and because I made my own bad choices, it is important to me to deliver honest stories about the challenges of growing up but also to deliver a message that there is always hope—no matter how flawed we feel physically or emotionally, there is always hope.

Luckily, I found a publisher who shares this belief. HarperCollins/Blink defines their mission like this: Blink brings true stories and fiction to YA readers. The literature published by Blink is a positive reflection of what is inspiring and heartening while maintaining a tradition of imaginative and exciting storytelling that will bring readers to the edge of their seats, immerse them in a heartrending love story, or engross them in a story of a life well lived. Readers will see themselves in all facets of Blink’s literature and will find new levels of entertainment that enrich and uplift.

Blink books do not shy away from tough topics. My debut novel, TheThing with Feathers, deals with some heavy issues, a teenage girl grieving the death of her father and coming to grips with how her teenage life is affected by her epilepsy. The main character’s issues are not tied up with a neat little bow at the end. That would not be realistic to most of my readers. But my hope is that readers will be encouraged enough by Emilie’s strength and resilience and channel some of her character as they face the inevitable difficulties in their own lives.

There is a central romance to The Thing with Feathers, but it remains totally PG, which is where books in HarperCollins/Blink lineup generally fall. Blink had librarians and booksellers asking for what they described as “clean YA” and thought that was a need they could fill. Now Blink is home to award-winning and bestselling authors and dozens of beloved books. If you are interested in finding clean YA, check out the titles Blink publishes on their website. If you’re interested in writing clean YA, visit the “About” page on the Blink website as it outlines in much greater detail how the imprint came up with its guidelines.

I have another wish, in addition to writing hopeful stories, and that wish is that more teenagers with disabilities could experience the unconditional love that my main character receives from her assistant dog, Hitch. In fact, Hitch is symbolic of what we, as humans should aspire to. He is forgiving, patient, brave, and kind. I was thrilled when I learned my release date was September, as September is National Service Dog Awareness Month.

Blink made this debut author’s dreams come true in that I was able to write for my favorite audience—teens. I was able to write about tough issues in an inspiring way. I was able to include a service dog and an element of romance. But ultimately, The Thing with Feathers and Blink books, are about more than epilepsy. They are about more than relationships between young people and pets. They are about more than first love. They’re about enriching and uplifting.

If you want to learn more about Blink, The Thing with Feathers, or a growing segment of young adult fiction, I hope you will check out my book at mccallhoyle.com or check out Blink on their website at blinkyabooks.com.

If you are really interested in The Thing with Feathers, please let us know in the comments that you’d like to be entered for a chance to win a free copy. (International entries accepted.) Winner announced in the Weekend Edition.

I’ll be around all day. I would love to chat, and I’d love to know what book stuck with you for a long time because of its inspirational or uplifting message. If it’s a young adult book, you earn a virtual gold star.

McCall Hoyle writes young adult novels about friendship, first love, and girls finding the strength to overcome great challenges. She is a high school English teacher. Her own less-than-perfect teenage experiences and those of the girls she teaches inspire many of the struggles in her books. When she is not reading or writing, she’s spending time with her family and their odd assortment of pets—a food-obsessed beagle, a grumpy rescue cat, and a three-and-a-half-legged kitten. She has an English degree from Columbia College and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. She lives in a cottage in the woods in North Georgia where she reads and writes every day.

Emilie Day believes in playing it safe: she’s homeschooled, her best friend is her seizure dog, and she’s probably the only girl on the Outer Banks of North Carolina who can’t swim.

Then Emilie’s mom enrolls her in public school, and Emilie goes from studying at home in her pj’s to halls full of strangers. To make matters worse, Emilie is paired with starting point guard Chatham York for a major research project on Emily Dickinson. She should be ecstatic when Chatham shows interest, but she has a problem. She hasn’t told anyone about her epilepsy.

Emilie lives in fear her recently adjusted meds will fail and she’ll seize at school. Eventually, the worst happens, and she must decide whether to withdraw to safety or follow a dead poet’s advice and “dwell in possibility.”

From Golden Heart award-winning author McCall Hoyle comes The Thing with Feathers, a story of overcoming fears, forging new friendships, and finding a first love, perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Robyn Schneider, and Sharon M. Draper.