Fall of Borders—Rise of New Adult?

Since the announcement of Borders' liquidation last week, the world has been abuzz with speculation. (Or sulking, in my case.)

 

I dutifully marched into my local Waldenbooks last Thursday, ready to say the first of my goodbyes, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The place was still business as usual, the distinct scent of unturned pages clouding the air. All of the workers, though helpful, gave smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes. How was I supposed to induldge in my own pity party, when I knew they would be the ones suffering the most at the end of the day?

As if sensing my turmoil, the woman behind the counter struck up a conversation. "You know," she said. "Waldenbooks has actually been around a lot longer than Borders. It's a shame to see this place go." 

(If you're curious about their intertwined history, check it out here.)   

A shame? That was an understatement. Still, I couldn't help but admire her attitude. She'd only been at that particular location for a few months—since her last store shut down—but she'd been with Waldenbooks since 1993. The changing business environment didn't diminish her passion and loyalty. Even as the ship was going down, she still had the pride to sing its praises. Kudos to her.

(Photo courtesy of my sister)
I can't tell you how many times I've had someone wait on that same, exact bench—only for me to emerge an hour later, arms laden with debt bags. *sigh*

So, what does Borders' bow out mean for the rest of us? For me, the closest bookstore is now an hour's drive in either direction. Unless I want to empty my gas tank, I'm going to have to rely on the internet a lot more. That's got me thinking.

Now that places like Amazon have such a firm hold on the industry, what can we expect in the coming months and years? Will genre terms like New Adult—fiction similar to YA that can be published and marketed as adult—finally come to fruition? (You remember the whole New Adult movement, don’t you? St. Martin’s tried to make it a thing back in 2009, but the industry support wasn't there. Most reasoned that New Adult wouldn't have a clear place on bookstore shelves. The books—not unlike their MC counterparts—didn't belong with YA, but they weren't quite at the adult level.)

Physical stores simply don't have enough room to allow every age range a separate section. Is there a big enough market out there to justify New Adult as a genre term?

I think so.

I've seen plenty of forum threads and blog posts over the years, pleading for "traditional college-age" fiction. (Even fun debates on the matter.) No matter what the naysayers spout, I contend that it is a big transition in life. The sudden rush of freedom affects people. Old relationships are tested, priorities shift, and new goals come into focus. Every day is filled with fresh interaction and new experiences. No one is going to convince me that New Adult can't be "coming of age" fiction, sorry.  

(I still love you guys.)

For now, as far as queries are concerned, I'm fine with calling it Adult fiction. If the MC is out of high school, it's a bit of a stretch to call it YA. So, to me, Adult seems like a safe bet.

However, now that we're seeing more and more brick-and-mortar stores overshadowed by the e-revolution, is it time for a change? Now that there's ample categorical room online, can New Adult (or whatever they end up calling it) finally step into the spotlight? I say yes. What do you guys think?

If you need me, I'll be off in search of secondhand bookstores. ♥

P.S. If you have questions about Borders' bankruptcy proceedings, you might want to look here. 

[Update] Whoa! Looks like Jessica Faust touched on New Adult today too. It must be something in the air. ;)