On the Statesman.com website, Katherine Tanney reports on attending a panel discussion on writing for young adults, including YA authors Jennifer Ziegler and Varian Johnson. One interesting tidbit:
“One thing YA writers apparently can't do is get their publishers to put young males on the covers of their books, even though, according to Ziegler, "There's such pressure on boys not to be seen holding a book with a girl on the cover."
Johnson's next book, "Saving Maddy," has a male protagonist, "but it still has a girl on the cover," he lamented.”
Hmm, I wonder whether there’s a marketing opportunity there for self-publishing YA authors—they would have an instant USP (unique selling proposition) if they had a boy on their cover.
Or maybe we should start a business selling fake macho book covers for boys who are reading books with girls on the original covers…
(for tips and techniques on being more creative, sign up for my free monthly Brainstorm e-bulletin. Just send an email request now to BstormUK@aol.com)
