Q/A with YA author Marlene Bierworth

What’s the hardest part about writing YA lit?:

The hardest thing for me in writing for the present day youth market is to stay true to my mission statement and my world view. I am sad to see such a lopsided glut of books on the shelves that entice youthful minds to believe that excitement can only be found in the far-fetched unreal world that is alive, out there, somewhere. I understand why authors write it, but I chose not to. Trying to make a new dent in this current trend is difficult. My only wish is to see normal family adventures taking the same space on the book shelves allowing young people choices. My writing focuses on the here and now. I trust there is an audience waiting for books based on present day reality, complete with all the subplots, drama and romance that readers enjoy.

When exactly did you know you wanted to be a writer?:

My life kept me busy so I never gave too much consideration to the characters running around inside my imagination. My ’empty nest’ blahs made me consider giving my dream characters feet. It was at that point that I enrolled in a couple of college courses for writing. I wrote “Dreams With Feet” the first book in the “Dream Series” and haven’t looked back.
I have found that when there is a story inside you, it will not give you rest until you give it feet and put it into print. I love the craft of writing and wouldn’t consider anything else.

Have you found any clever ways to market your books to YA readers?:

Question: How do you package your books?
My YA fiction books are written to entertain. I have written the plots in the ‘dream series’ around dogsled racing and outdoor adventure, sprinkled with modern day issues and coming of age.The ‘secret series’ revolves around Family Secrets, a mystery/suspense book encompassing upper class society with a bizarre twist at the end. A solo novella ‘Orphan Flower,’ is the heartfelt story of a young girl struggling to find her identity after a life-changing crisis in the woods. check them out at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/BOOJ9RM116

What YA books have had the biggest influence on your writing?:

Of course, my favourite have been family related books, that revolve around and within the unit. Families are in no way perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, but in facing the conflicts together we find there a strong force that is unbeatable. Youth need to know their individual strength and success in the big world awaiting them, comes as a direct result of a much smaller unit, the family. It all stems on how, as a team, everyone interacts. So, whether a strong or weak family background, one can learn and grow in the areas of longevity that will last a lifetime.
Short author bio: My name is Marlene Bierworth. I am an advocate for family unity and have been blessed with 2 children and 5 grandchildren.
I have worked with youth over the years in a number of volunteer positions. I believe a bridge needs to be built between generations and so have started to blog at ‘Dream Creations’ in hopes that youth will add their invaluable views on family issues.
I am a Christian and my work is peppered with the good news, as it fits appropriately into the storyline. My goal is to inspire youth and allow them to believe in dreams again.
Twitter: twitter.com@MBierworth

Website: http://marlenebierworth.com

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