So recently I was out on a writing date. Writing dates are where you get together with other writers and write in an astounding burst of group-fueled creativity. Actually, it's where you get together ostensibly to write, but in fact mainly to gossip and harass each other — occasionally to offer suggestions and support, but mostly harassment.

'Writing dates' are good. They get me out of the house and off the sofa and somewhat out of my own head, which is good, because being too much in my head is bad for writing. I just wind up thinking about how I have to clean the house and wondering whether the cat is stuck in the storage bin again. Or I wind up putting the TV on just to have some noise. I watched Ghost Rider (Spanish title: 'Ay, Mi Cabeza es en Fuego") the other day. That was a low point. Thankfully Justine is good at organizing writing dates, which can involve herself, Scott, Maureen, Lauren, libba_bray, Emily,, and others. Since it is so hot, anywhere with air conditioning and a constant supply of beverages is good for a writing date.


Anyway, writing dates are good, even if we do spend 50% of the time gossiping. And one of the things we gossip about is what's popular right now in YA. Now, when I say what's popular *now* I don't just mean what's out right now, but what publishers are buying, especially in terms of fantasy, and what's about to come out. Urban fantasy is big right now, but there are trends within that genre too. For a while it was vampires. Everyone wanted vampires. Recently, I was told by a bookseller in England that right now it's all about airships and prostitutes. Everyone wants airships and prostitutes. Possibly the most saleable book idea would be one involving an airship full of vampire prostitutes. Also, people want stuff that has to do with Jane Austen, but otherwise no historical novels. Kids won't read historical novels. (I think this information would be a surprise to libba_bray and her massively bestselling Great and Terrible Beauty series.)

I for one think vampires are always saleable. Vampires are perfect for YA because they offer you the possibility of something very like sex without any actual sex. Instead there is biting and books don't generally get banned for having biting in them. I proposed my idea of a teen novel which would be rewriting Pride and Prejudice except that Mr. Darcy would be a vampire to my writing date group.

WDG: Good idea. You can entitle it A Naked Grab for Cash.
Me: Or, if I really want to sell a lot of copies, Mr. Darcy, Naked, and the Grab for Cash.

I suppose perhaps I am merely worried because my next proposed series is about shapeshifting witches in Victorian-era New York and London. I have no idea if shapeshifting witches are hot right now, and historical is apparently bad. But what the hell. At some point you have to not worry about what is and isn't a sure thing and just write what you want to write. And if that doesn't work out there's always writing about Jane Austen driving an airship full of vampire prostitutes under a pseudonym.

So look for my second book, A Naked Grab for Cash, in bookstores in 2010. It will shortly be followed by the sequel, entitled An Oprah's Book Club Selection.