Because Britton also has a growing number of teenage readers, she makes sure her NASCAR books are PG-13. The off-the-track action, so to speak, happens behind closed doors.
from this article on Pam Britton and NASCAR Harl
So any author that starts to get teen readers should write toward them instead of the intended audience? Someone needs to call jackie collins cuz I was reading her around 13, so she is about 17 years late in cleaning up her act.
It’s a great article! And there’s nothing wrong with a closed door *ggg*
*running*
Y’know, I remember reading Jackie Collins when I was around 13, too. 🙂 Must be something about the forbidden, eh? Anyway, I think it’s ridiculous for an author to start writing down to her youngest fans – I mean, what percentage of her readership is adult? If I were one of her readers, I’d probably think twice about buying more of her books and look to another author. If I want to read young adult fiction, I go buy it. I don’t want it mixed in with my romance thank you very much.
I don’t think her readers care that the door’s shut–yeah I went to amazon and I’ve spent time on her message board. Most of them are concerned (and pleased) she got NASCAR right 😉
yeah yeah yeah
cece next you know you will be telling me how great women’s fic is…
hee
Well as soon as I want to learn about NASCAR I will read these books.
I know that’s what she’s writing now but I hope she still has a few historicals in her ’cause her NASCAR books don’t interest me in the least but she writes might fine historicals.
Well, the good news is I can move this author into the ‘never buy’ list. I mentioned somewhere that I don’t read books about sports. NASCAR holds absolutely no interest for me. Close the bedroom door and there is nothing left for me to read!!
CindyS
You know, I don’t have a problem with closing the bedroom door, but I don’t want to read a romance novel about adults written in a Young Adult format. Write YA if you want that crowd.
Kristie……she actually sold three historicals to HQN around the same time she sold the NASCAR books, but the release dates have been pushed back to 07. She does however have a HQ American coming out next month I think.
*ignores sybil cuz she knows WF rocks the cashbar*
I read one of her NASCAR books because I’m a huge NASCAR fan, but you know, I should hunt down my review, I really felt that the book lacked a connection in the relationship between the characters, and a large part of that was the “close the door” syndrome. I don’t need hot sex in a book, in fact, erotic romance is a small, small part of what I read, but in closing the door, I felt Britton also closed the connection between the two in some way.
I got an ARC of her next NASCAR book at BEA but I’m not even a little tempted to read it, I’m passing it on.
On the other hand, Roxanne St. Clair wrote a book, Killer Curves, that I just read, it’s about NASCAR and I thought the characterization, plot and story were phenomenal. Her book had a spark, a depth, that Britton’s lacked.
Is it because the bedroom door is closed in Britton’s? I don’t know, but I think it’s possible that writing with 13 y/o’s in mind can change the depth of a book intended for adults.
The one NASCAR book I read by Britton drove me insane because the heroine was so sugary sweet she gave me a toothache. She bakes animal shaped cookies for the hero after he has a bad day at the track. Can you say barf?
I’ve liked other stuff she’s written though – so she definitely falls into my hit-or-miss category.
YAY I knew cindy would be along to agree with me on the evol of closed doors *g*
Jane that is what I am thinking. It is one thing to pick up a YA novel to read and another to pick up a romance and get YA. blech
animal cookies? WTF? hee… manly men those race car drivers… heee
I think I read KC, it was good. Not something I am running out to read again but I think if I had a thing for NSCAR I would have liked it more.
Exactly Wendy, that’s what I mean when I said no character depth. The characters were cardboard cut-outs, in a way.