James Patterson’s Son Doesn’t Like to ReadIt’s true, his son Jack said in the November 10 issue of People Magazine. “With lots of books for kids, their parents want them to read. But it’s not something the kid wants to read.”
This caught my attention because I grew up hating to read too. My father also was the author of over 70 books, and I never read any of them. Today, I’m writing action-adventures and mysteries that I would have liked as a child.
James Patterson is now also writing books for younger readers, after having a reluctant boy reader, right under his own roof. He has recently established a new web site called Readkiddoread ( http://www.readkiddoread.com/ ). I’m very encouraged by this as well.
I began writing books for tween boys at the end of 2001. It has been a slow process in finding publishers who understand the critical need for books for boys…books they would actually like to read.
My files are crammed with letters and emails from teachers, parents, librarians, and kids, all telling me how my books have attracted young readers. Both boys and girls love these books.
With an additional 28 completed manuscripts available, I like to say two things:
1. A reluctant reader is simply someone who hasn’t found the right book yet.
2. I continue searching for the right person, in the right publishing house, at the right time, who fully understands the growing market opportunity of books for boys, and recognizes my books as one of the tools that will help meet this growing need.
Max Elliot Anderson
James Patterson’s site – http://www.readkiddoread.com/
50 Pages of Reviews http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Author web page http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/
Posts
3 comments:
Hi Max - Just stumbled across your site. High five from Florida. Interesting post.
I was 'advised' that writing books, targeting boys is a total waste - commercially speaking. It was also "explained" that YA (MG?) books have to be 'edgy' - incorporating language, behavior issues, adult situations.
Sooooo.... I write YA Adventure targeting that dead market for boys, minus the 'edgy'. (Ted Bell - the incredible NYT bestselling author of HAWKE, ASSASSIN, PIRATE, SPY, TSAR (new) & one for boys called NICK OF TIME (great!) told me to stick to my guns & write what brings me satisfaction.)
My first book will be out in a few weeks - it's for boys that enjoy tall tales, adventure & history - but it excludes the 'edgy'... & I feel great about it. Good luck with your work. JP
Hi Max - Just stumbled across your site. High five from Florida. Interesting post.
I was 'advised' that writing books, targeting boys is a total waste - commercially speaking. It was also "explained" that YA (MG?) books have to be 'edgy' - incorporating language, behavior issues, adult situations.
Sooooo.... I write YA Adventure targeting that dead market for boys, minus the 'edgy'. (Ted Bell - the incredible NYT bestselling author of HAWKE, ASSASSIN, PIRATE, SPY, TSAR (new) & one for boys called NICK OF TIME (great!) told me to stick to my guns & write what brings me satisfaction.)
My first book will be out in a few weeks - it's for boys that enjoy tall tales, adventure & history - but it excludes the 'edgy'... & I feel great about it. Good luck with your work. JP
Hi, I'm the mom of a 13 year old boy who has a hard time finding books he likes. While browsing the bookstores, I have found so many books that sound like they are right up his alley. The only problem is that almost all the protagonists are girls! How are we supposed to turn our boys on to reading when the main characters are girls? It is well known that girls will read books with boys as main characters, but not the other way around. (Not that I think that's right, just that it is the way it is.)
Post a Comment