A press release from Knox Robinson Publishing:
Novels within the young adult genre have become increasingly popular. From Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, said to have sold more than 26 million copies to date, to J.K. Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potterseries with more than 450 million copies sold worldwide, they have captured the minds and hearts of readers around the world. They’ve also captured a significant portion of the entertainment dollar. The genre generated $118 million in revenue in 2011 alone, according to the Association of American Publishers (AAP).
AAP data released in January 2012 reveals that young adult hardcover revenue increased nearly 69 percent from one year prior. Revenue from paperbacks increased nearly 62 percent, and eBooks, generating $22.6 million in sales, saw a revenue increase of 475 percent. In the wake of these staggering numbers, Knox Robinson Publishing, an independent publishing house committed to the production of well-written historical fiction and fantasy, has announced its intention to release the house’s first young adult fantasy novel, The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx, by author Alison Reegan Cook in 2013.
‘I have wanted to publish novels that would appeal to young adults for quite some time,’ says Dana Celeste Robinson, founder and managing director. ‘The children in my family are big fans of the Harry Potter series and they asked when I would publish something they could read and enjoy.’
After reviewing several manuscripts in the young adult historical fiction and fantasy genre, Robinson tested Cook’s novel on her twelve-year-old nephew. ‘He absolutely loved it,’ she says. ‘I was thus convinced that we had our first young adult novel.’ She describes the story, set for release in early May 2013, as ‘very engaging, intelligent and heart-warming.’
‘We are a house that specialises in historical fiction and fantasy and I believe that The Scholar and the Sphinx has just the right mix of both genres to appeal to the adventurous spirit of all readers,’ says Robinson. ‘We hope to expand the list in 2014 to include several new young adult authors.’
Robinson and other publishers of young adult fiction recognize the genre’s growing popularity with adults as well as teens and pre-teens. In a recent debate published in the opinion pages of The New York Times, authors, columnists, book reviewers and librarians weighed in on this phenomenon.
Patricia McCormick, a young adult book author, proposed that the reason for the genre’s wide appeal is because young adult authors take daring creative risks. ‘Authors who write for young adults are taking creative risks – with narrative structure, voice and social commentary – that you just don’t see as often in the more rarefied world of adult fiction,’ she writes in The New York Times discussion.
Robinson agrees. ‘I believe there is some truth to this,’ she says. ‘I marvel at Cook’s ability to craft a mature and intelligent story that is both age-appropriate and interesting to young adults and adults alike.’
Where does Robinson see the future of the YA genre? ‘I hope to see historical fiction become more popular with young adults,’ she says. ‘It is my intention to start a young adult historical fiction list. I do believe that YA fiction will continue to grow in popularity. J.K. Rowling really inspired a love of fantasy in young adults who are now perhaps returning to old classics such as the Tolkien novels. It is my hope that Knox Robinson Publishing will produce a fantasy series as beloved.’
The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx is available for pre-order from >Amazon.co.uk at £12.99 in the United Kingdom and Amazon.com at $17.99 in the United States. It is also available for pre-order from the KRP bookstore.