Looking for clean fantasy for your teen? Standing in front of the YA section at the library, it can feel impossible to determine whether a book is appropriate for your child.
That’s why I’ve really appreciated Monarch publishing. They have a whole section of their website with content ratings of all of their books for young adults, so that parents know what their tweens and teens are getting exposed to.
Today I’m happy to focus in on the clean (some romance) fantasy section of Monarch’s catalogue, with interviews with two of their clean fantasy authors. Read on for their thoughts about fantasy for tweens and teens, and check out their clean fantasy novels!
An Interview With Clean Teen Fantasy Author Stephanie Cotta
1. Why do you write fantasy?
I write fantasy because it is the genre I am most passionate about. I am a fantasy nerd and have been most of my life. Once I discovered Star Wars and Narnia at a young age, I wanted to be transported to another time or another place that had no resemblance to our reality. So, that is why I created my own fantasy world in The Conjurer’s Curse. I feel I have the most creative freedom when I’m not bound by the constructs of “our world.”
2. Why does fantasy appeal to girls (tweens and teens) today?
I think fantasy appeals to preteen and teen girls for the same reason it did me when I was young, and that is escapism. I wanted to read about a world where magic was “real,” where people traveled to different galaxies, and where something called “the force” existed. I wanted to spend time with these characters and feel like I knew them and that they were my friends. Sometimes the “real” world can be stressful as a teen: there’s bullying in school, trouble at home, lacking friends, not feeling comfortable in your skin, etc. So, escaping to a world where those struggles don’t exist in the same capacity, but are still prevalent through a fantasy lens, is appealing for teen readers.
3. Is it easy or hard to make your book a clean read? What does “clean read” mean to you?
I wouldn’t say it was hard to make my book The Conjurer’s Curse a clean read. When I first submitted it to Monarch Press, I did have to make changes for it to fit under their clean reads policy. They were small changes, and overall, I believe the book reads better for it. The only thing that can be hard is when I have rough-around-the-edges characters who have a coarser vocabulary and personality, and keeping what they say as “clean” can sometimes be tricky. It just means I get more creative with how they talk or express their frustration.
A “clean read” to me does not have curse words or open sexual content. Other authors and publishers may have different criteria for their “clean reads” definition, so it pays to check reader’s guides for books.
4. What are you trying to give your readers in your books?
My goal is to give readers an immersive experience with depth and emotion when they read my books. I am a strong proponent of character-driven stories, especially ones featuring characters who struggle with their weaknesses and overcome them throughout their character arc. I hope that readers can use my characters’ journey to shine light on their struggles and find the courage to overcome them too. Like in The Conjurer’s Curse, the main character Rowan is banished from his village and struggles with shame and finding where he belongs. The search for belonging is a struggle I think many youngsters and even adults can find relatable. So, I hope with every book I write, there is a chance for connection and inner healing for readers.
Here is Stephanie’s Linktree which takes readers to her site and all of her books: https://linktr.ee/StephanieCotta
An Interview With Clean Teen Fantasy Author Shelly Mack
1. Why do you write fantasy?
I always felt like I had a coming-of-age, fantasy series in me and Landis is it. With my story, comes a little sci-fi, and throughout the series, some dystopian feel as well. I love Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Selection; I would say they have influenced aspects of my writing, especially with character development. I wanted to write a magic system where the gifted powers were based on the qualities the person already had within.
2. Why does fantasy appeal to girls (tweens and teens) today?
I think fantasy appeals to everyone as it’s perfect escapism. Creating a world that readers can get lost in is the gift that keeps on giving. I have a very mixed cast, predominately male with very strong-minded female protagonists also. I hope to reach readers in a relatable way. Landis is told in multi-POV with the hope that there is something for all readers.
3. Is there dark magic in your book?
Landis has been compared to Harry Potter but not as dark. There is one character who is drawn to darkness. There is no goodness in him. Landis reflects good and evil. Sometimes bad people are born that way and one of my characters is exactly that. I think it’s important to point that out for parents that want to know a bit more. Monarch also provides a detailed reader’s guide for all their titles which is great for parents needing more information.
4. Is it easy or hard to make your book a clean read? What does “clean read” mean to you?
I have always been a fan of slow burn, sweet romance that’s packed with tension and I don’t find that hard to write. The relationships in Landis are very pure and focus on the intensity of first love, in a tender and relatable way. I love the innocence of a loving relationship with the right person and I think that comes across in my writing.
5. What are you trying to give your readers in your books?
I want to promote the importance of friendship and being kind, this will always be a main theme in my writing. I also like to show the complexities in life and how making decisions involves a thought-out process; do what is right, not what is easy. Also, it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as they transform into growth and change.
Here is Shelly’s website: https://shellymackbooks.co.uk
