Back in March, during the Temecula SCBWI writer’s conference,
I had a brief conversation with Shannon Messenger about the “YA Mafia.” It was interesting to speak with her about it
because, in my opinion, she was included in this so called “YA Mafia.” Though I don’t recall the details of the
conversation, nor would I plaster them here, Shannon said something that opened
me to a new idea. It was something to
the effect (oh man, am I paraphrasing) that the “YA Mafia” is just a group of
fellow writers, who joined together during the same path in their career and bonded
strongly and did something with that bond.
(ie. Bookanistas)
Cliques happen. This
is not high school, where the popular girls are ousting the average girls so
they can be crowned prom queen. Even in
my adult life I form various groups of friends, not on purpose but out of
similar life paths and preferences. The “YA
Mafia” just happens to be another grouping of friends, given a hurtful name by
a jealous group of “people.” (Not sure who started the mudslinging.) Which brings me to my point, Shannon’s last
words struck a hopeful positive cord in me.
“Why don’t they go make their own group?” (Shannon was referring to the
Bookanistas, not YA Mafia.)
Yeah, why not? Though
I think the name “YA Mafia” is ridiculous and I have never ever considered the
group of alleged woman to be in some cohorts about ousting every last writer
they don’t personally approve of, I do recognize their group, writer friends with
a big following. They seem to be a
lovely, humorous and knowledgeable group of woman I’d love to be a part of. But instead of trying to find a way in their
group, why don’t I create one myself?
Hence the birth of “The Scribbler’s Fork.”
It was a group of woman I invited over, whom I’ve grown to
know and love and hoped to bond with.
And by golly, I think we did. (Shut
up, I said “by golly,” get over it.) Are we a fierce “YA Mafia Jr.?” Heck no, never want to be, but we are a group
of like minded writers, who share similar interests, who’s career paths vary
but are not far off from the other and maybe, just maybe it’ll be the “Scribbler’s
Fork Mafia” that takes over the bookshelves next. ;)
Psst, Scribbler Girls, I’m planning our
future venture as we speak, one of the virtual kind.
