By Tom Joyce —
If you want to win over young adult readers with your horror fiction, go ahead and disturb them. Horrify them. Claw your way into their nightmares and confront them with mind-numbing terrors. But the one thing you absolutely CANNOT do, according to author Trang Thanh Tran, is write down to them. In this month’s edition of Nuts & Bolts, Trang gives advice on cultivating and maintaining a YA readership.
Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE INTERESTED IN GETTING STARTED WRITING YA HORROR?
A: Engage earnestly about what it means to be a teenager in a horrifying world when writing! Teen readers are sharp, so don’t talk/write down. They can handle a tough book. There’s been an amazing run of YA horror books over the past few years so you can read widely across all types of horror.
Q: WHAT CONSIDERATIONS GO INTO WRITING A HORROR NOVEL FOR THAT READERSHIP?
A: When I’m writing from a teenage perspective, I often need to check whether my adult jadedness has bled in too much. I always ask myself what feeling I want to leave my readers with at the end of the book. My goal is to entertain readers and keep them turning pages, not to paint a sad future — even if the book twists a few hearts.
Q: HOW DO YOU DEVELOP A FAN BASE OF YA READERS, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU’RE A BEGINNING AUTHOR?
A: For me, it starts with writing the best book that I can and one that speaks to something authentic about the coming-of-age experience. Then it’s all about having fun when talking about the book to other people, especially librarians and teachers.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR PREFERRED MEANS OF MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH YOUR READERSHIP? NEWSLETTER? SOCIAL MEDIA?
A: I’m mostly an “updates only” person on social media but that’s also where I keep most consistent contact with readers! I often share any day-to-day musings in Instagram stories, even if I’m not posting. Otherwise, I keep my website updated with releases. I prefer meeting readers in-person at festivals and bookstore events whenever I can.
Q: WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT THE CRAFT OR BUSINESS OF WRITING WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT?
A: Once you write for a living, your relationship with writing may change because there are deadlines and expectations. Figure out what you want from publishing and how you can protect your creative self from those pressures.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS YOU’D LIKE HWA MEMBERS TO KNOW ABOUT?
A: My next YA horror “The Summoning of Tess Phạm” comes out in early 2027. A depressed teen returns to Vietnam to bury her half-brother, only to awaken something demonic in their shared blood hunting her, her sister, and friends down. It’s like if “Hereditary” took place over one night! I’m also working on an adult horror book that I’m keeping close to my guts for now.
Q: WHERE CAN PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU ONLINE?
A: People can find me on Instagram @nvtran_ or www.trangthanhtran.com.
 |
TRANG THANH TRANTrang Thanh Tran writes speculative stories with big emotions. They grew up in a big family in Philadelphia, then abandoned degrees in sociology and public health to tell stories in Georgia. When not writing, they can be found over-caffeinating on iced coffee and watching zombie movies. Their debut novel “She Is a Haunting” was an instant New York Times and Indie bestseller, a William C. Morris Debut Award finalist, and a Bram Stoker Award winner. Connect with them on Twitter @nvtran or their website www.trangthanhtran.com.
|
Tom Joyce is a volunteer and affiliate member who writes a monthly feature for the HWA blog called “Nuts & Bolts,” featuring interviews about the craft and business of writing. Please contact him at TomJHWA@gmail.com if you have suggestions for future interviews.