Thanks for having me as a guest at RNTV! In honor of this month’s awesome theme, I’m going to introduce some of my own secondary characters. Both Crash Into Me and Set the Dark on Fire feature teen romance subplots.
Hurts so good
I like to write about teenagers because I love angst. Seriously, I can’t get enough of it. There’s nothing more cathartic than a good tearjerker. I want to cry along with the characters, and laugh with them, too. In a romance novel, I feel more satisfied when a boatload of heartache comes before the happily ever after.
As an awkward adolescent and a rebellious teenager, I experienced my share of angst. This time period stands out in my mind as an intensely difficult one. I did a lot of stupid, dangerous things. My parents were baffled by my behavior. In creating the teen characters for my books, I draw from some of my own experiences.
Crash Into Me
Carly Fortune is the 16-year-old daughter of Ben Fortune, the world’s most famous surfer. He hasn’t been the world’s
greatest father. Her mother was murdered three years before the story starts, and Carly feels lost without her. She’s experimented with drugs and frequently cuts herself, choosing to mask her emotional turmoil with physical pain.
James Matthews is the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who’s been secretly in love with Carly for years. She’s rich and beautiful and way out of his league. His home life is even more screwed up than hers, and he’s desperate for an escape. Together, they try to heal each other.
Set the Dark on Fire
Dylan Phillips is the younger brother of Shay Phillips, a wildlife biologist in Tenaja Falls, California. Both of their parents are gone, and Shay has been struggling to raise Dylan on her own. She isn’t the best role model. Dylan has a brilliant mind and a bright future, but his penchant for playing with fire leads him into trouble.
Angel Martinez is the really hot girl next door. She quit school to help take care of her younger siblings. Now she feels smothered by the lack of opportunities in their dusty desert town. Dylan has what she’s always wanted—a way out—and she’s frustrated with him for jeopardizing it.
Warning: strong language and sexual situations!
I try to incorporate a lot of realism in my books. My teens are flawed. Their parents and caretakers are flawed. They have real problems and make serious mistakes. I don’t know any other way to build characters, maybe because I’m also an imperfect person who has made her share of mistakes!
Why are you so angsty, Jill Sorenson?
Actually, I’m not. I left most of my angst behind as a teenager, thank God. Back then, I think a combination of things caused me to act in a self-destructive way. My family moved from a small town in Kansas to a rough neighborhood in California when I was 12, so that was a culture shock. Like, whoa. We moved again the next year. I always had trouble making friends (because I’m a nerd!), and after three different schools in as many years, I gave up.
I also developed early, and I felt painfully self-conscious about my body. I thought I was fat because I had breasts and hips. And I was “smart.” Instead of finding a positive creative outlet, I actively sought out all things negative and dark.
I’m thankful for the love and support of my family, and I’m glad I made it through those difficult years. So many kids take a wrong turn at that age and don’t find their way back. I also want to thank every author who has created a character teens can relate to. Romance can make a positive difference in young people’s lives. Sometimes we all need the optimism of a happy ending.
What do you think about teens reading romance? Did you experience teen angst? Are any of your favorite secondary characters teenagers?
Leave a comment for a chance to win Set the Dark on Fire.
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Emmanuelle
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 2:36 am:
Interesting blog Jill !!
Very happy to see you here on Romance TV.
I’ve read Crash into Me and absolutly loved it. I admit I particularly enjoyed the teenage romance. I had never read any of those before and l loved the change. I’ve checked a few young adults romance after reading your book.
I discovered romance at age 26, so not really a teenager but obviously, whatever the age, one can enjoy a good romance (teenage or otherwise).
cyclops8
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 3:33 am:
Congrats on the new release, Jill. I don’t see a problem with teenagers reading romance. I guess some themes might not be suitable for tweens. I didn’t start reading romance until I was seventeen. I didn’t really experience teen angst, but there were times when I felt alone and nobody understood me.
cyclops8
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 4:19 am:
Congrats on the new release, Jill. I don’t see a problem with teenagers reading romance. I guess some themes might not be suitable for tweens. I didn’t start reading romance until I was seventeen. I didn’t really experience teen angst, but there were times when I felt alone and nobody understood me.
BTW I love your blog!
Marisa
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 6:48 am:
Hi Jill and welcome to RNTV! Congrats on the new release!
It’s been a while since I was teen but I assure you there was much angst involved. I certainly didn’t survive my teen years with out the thrill of experiencing first love and first heartache as well as that old standby – ‘no body understands me’. I have to say, my teen years were also filled with great joy and a time of wonderful discovery. It was definitely a mixed bag.
My favorite secondary teenage characters come mostly from Nora Roberts books – she also has a great way of revealing an adult character through their teen years.
Jill Sorenson - Blog
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 8:25 am:
[...] talking about my teen angst and secondary characters at Romance Novel TV. Stop by and leave a comment for one last chance to win SET THE DARK ON [...]
Deanna
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 11:52 am:
Hi Jill –
As the mother of two teenagers – I have worried what my girls will get into – and then I stop and think about all the things I did and my head swims. Maybe that’s why I worry for them.
My daughter read Crash into Me and couldn’t stop talking about it with her sister and best friend. So, I was compelled to see what my daughter was reading – I, personally loved your book. And could totally see why my daughter couldn’t stop talking about Carly and James.
Jill Sorenson
on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 12:13 pm:
Hi Emmanuelle,
What a wonderful compliment! I’m so glad you enjoyed Crash Into Me.
Cyclops8: thanks for checking out my blog.
Hi Marisa, thanks for having me here. I really enjoyed the way Nora introduced the heroes as wayward boys in her Chesapeake Bay series.
Deanna, thank you so much for your comment. My daughters aren’t teens yet, so I don’t know how I’ll deal with that, LOL. My mom always let me read whatever I wanted, and I thank her for it.
Although I write for adults, I’m aware that some teens read my books. It’s nice to hear that Carly and James resonated with your daughter, and that you cared enough to check the book out. Glad you liked it!
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on Sep 14th, 2009
@ 9:04 pm:
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jill Sorenson. Jill Sorenson said: Guest blog on teen angst at RNTV http://tiny.cc/g09n4 [...]
maered
on Sep 15th, 2009
@ 6:13 am:
Hi Jill! Your new book sounds great! I love reading about teen romance – but I didn’t really experience anything really bad. Just the usual mood swings and “no one understands me”. My nephews are going through it now – was I that annoying?!
I started reading romance in my teens. Well, my late teens but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
Jill Sorenson
on Sep 15th, 2009
@ 9:06 am:
I went ahead and picked a random winner: cyclops8! Please contact me at my web site with your mailing info. Thanks everyone!!
cyclops8
on Sep 15th, 2009
@ 4:13 pm:
Thanks, Jill.
Angelo Crapanzano
on Sep 17th, 2009
@ 10:46 am:
Well I’m not a teen ager. But I do believe in happy endings. I think teens will love my books. They cover every type of plot, from science fiction, adventure, to romance. The romance is rapped around thrilling plots. The romance is such that throughout the book the situation makes it impossible for the lovers to ever end up as a couple. However it always ends up that the boy gets the girl. Sometimes in unexpected ways. Read “Terror in Black and white.” By the way, all my books, inspite of the high passion areas, always advance Christian values.