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Eileen G · Jun 7, 2010, 12:08 PM

I'm submitting my Young Adult science fiction novel to an agent tomorrow, and I want to be able to tell her what other books my book is like. Trouble is, I can't think of any. I think it would appeal to people who enjoyed the films Avatar or Star Trek.

It's the story of a vampire from another planet who gets stranded on earth, and has lots of adventures as she tries to hitchhike back to her own planet.

Can anyone think of modern books along those lines?

Thanks.

redhed35 · Jun 7, 2010, 12:15 PM

The best I could come up with is the 'twilight series' and I know this does not exactly match but ET? It's a classic story.

Eileen G · Jun 7, 2010, 01:20 PM

I'm trying to avoid comparisons with Twilight. Especially because my 13 year old informs me that Stephanie Meyer is a better writer than me.

I wonder if I should say Anne McCaffrey, because she has a lot of strong alien heroines, but is she a bit old-fashioned now?

redhed35 · Jun 7, 2010, 01:39 PM

I've been racking my brain and my limited library on fiction looking for a strong alien heroine,not having much luck though.

There's the 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles', perhaps not what your looking for,I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

Eileen G · Jun 7, 2010, 02:23 PM

Maybe I'll stick with Avatar and Star Trek...

Clough · Jun 7, 2010, 07:57 PM

Hi, Eileen G!

How about some of the books by Charlaine Harris?

Charlaine Harris Vampire Books Another Planet - Google Search

Charlaine Harris Official Website

Thanks!

Eileen G · Jun 8, 2010, 05:49 AM

I'm trying to stay away from the conventional blood sucking vampire, and as far away from Twilight as I can get. My heroine is an alien who sucks human energy, but no blood is involved. She can't make herself invisible or anything like that, and she travels by spaceship.

Clough · Jun 8, 2010, 11:46 AM

Okay.

Aren't you submitting your work, today?

Thanks!

Eileen G · Jun 8, 2010, 12:22 PM

Yes, I sent it in, and ended up sticking with Avatar and Star Trek. I really couldn't think of anything modern and well-known that was comparable to my story.

redhed35 · Jun 8, 2010, 12:24 PM

I wish you the best of luck in getting published!

Eileen G · Jun 8, 2010, 01:49 PM

Thanks. Not expecting it to be easy, but I'm planning to take advantage of the good result in the Amazon competition as much as possible.

Clough · Jun 30, 2010, 01:48 AM

Did you hear back anything about what you submitted, Eileen G?

Thanks!

Eileen G · Jun 30, 2010, 09:41 AM

Yes, I got a very nice personal letter, saying my submission was a very entertaining read, and she thought it would do well, but it wasn't a genre she covered, so she had to decline.

I've since discovered that Young Adult science fiction is a very small genre and very few people seem to do it. As far as I know, I've got the only YA heroine who travels by space ship.

Wondergirl · Jul 1, 2010, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Eileen G

Yes, I got a very nice personal letter, saying my submission was a very entertaining read, and she thought it would do well, but it wasn't a genre she covered, so she had to decline.

I've since discovered that Young Adult science fiction is a very small genre and very few people seem to do it. As far as I know, I've got the only YA heroine who travels by space ship.

My understanding is that YA fiction is a BOOMING area of interest and is just beginning to come into its own. Public libraries are trying every trick in the book to attract teens and young adults to their library shelves; most libraries now have special Teen and YA reading corners. You are on the cutting edge of a new genre! Make the most of it! (My cutting edge genre is senior citizen romances.)

Eileen G · Jul 1, 2010, 06:04 PM

True about the YA, though I've seen some amazing things in the YA section of my local library - Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth! But YA science fiction seems to be a very small subset, it's virtually all vampires and fairies and magic. Maybe my book will be the one that crashes the barrier.