#UKYASpotlight is a month-long event across social media to promote YA books by British and Irish authors (resident and national). For more information, click here.
About the Authors
Andy Darcy Theo is a British-Greek Cypriot with a background in psychology and teaching, and a love for fantasy books! He decided to bring it all together and write a dark, twisty psychological romantasy informed by his family history of psychosis. It is his debut book and it has gone viral across BookTok and Bookstagram for YA fantasy lovers!
Denise Brown is a freelance ghostwriter, proofreader, and copy editor, who still pinches herself some mornings that she gets to sit at her desk and write stories for a living. She often wishes that she could go back and tell her eight-year-old self that it’s okay to daydream because that’s where the magic happens. Born in East London, Denise has now settled in Scotland where she feels certain she must’ve lived in a previous life. She loves dogs and snow globes and has a teensy obsession with Jack Skellington. Her debut YA murder mystery I Am Winter was published by Hashtag Press in 2021. Her second novel, It All Started with a Lie, followed in February 2024. Her first novel is being relaunched as We Know What You Did in November 2024.
About Their Books:
Title: THE LIGHT THAT BLINDS US
Author: Andy Darcy Theo
Pitch: THE LIGHT THAT BLINDS US is a bestselling, cinematic, thrilling YA romantasy that follows a bickering found family who discover a dark, desperate elemental world and learn of a prophecy that sends them on a perilous epic quest to save it from forces of evil and darkness.
Find on Goodreads.
Title: WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID
Author: Denise Brown
Pitch: When Summer’s best friend Cee dies from cardiac arrest after both girls have taken pills, the accusations on social media begin, but as the bullying intensifies, Summer grows closer to revealing the secret both families are harbouring. A must read YA murder mystery.
What do you think is special about UKYA?
Andy Darcy Theo: I think it provides an incredible opportunity for UK based authors to share their stories with the reader community.
Denise Brown: UKYA is gritty and realistic. It doesn’t hold back, no matter the sub-genre within YA, but perhaps more importantly, the characters are relatable.
What distinguishes a YA book from middle grade or adult? Why do you think it’s so popular at the moment?
Andy Darcy Theo: YA stories feel so deeply personal as we follow the characters through some of the most important times of their lives. It allows us to explore more mature, adult themes than middle grade books can whilst also centring teenagers. The journeys always feel fresh and novel and that resonates with so many readers including older adults.
Denise Brown: The obvious answer is the age of the protagonist. However, I think that what distinguishes YA from MG is the fearlessness of the characters. They understand what they’re up against, and they don’t hold back. They choose to enter the situation – whatever it may be – armed with all the facts, where MG protagonists often blunder in because they don’t fully understand the consequences of their actions. I believe it is also this fearlessness, and the ability of the authors to push boundaries, that makes YA so popular.
There has been a lot of talk about the adultification of YA and what that means for teen readers. What sort of balance do you think UKYA strikes between teens and older readers? Do you think this balance needs to shift in a particular direction and how?
Andy Darcy Theo: I have seen a shift toward this too and I think we should take care as a community to ensure all books are marketed accurately and that readers are aware of which books are most appropriate for them. I think by introducing New Adult as its own field will help to differentiate this and prevent the adultification of YA
Denise Brown: I think YA books strike the balance by omitting a lot of the heavy topics that many adult books contain whilst losing none of the appeal. As an example, YA murder mysteries / thrillers will not be overloaded with police procedures but instead, will focus on the characters and their story arc. Honestly, I believe that UKYA is heading in the right direction, and appealing to a wide balance of people of all ages, and from all walks of life.
How do you think UKYA will evolve in the coming five years?
Andy Darcy Theo: I can only see it growing and becoming an event many YA authors and readers look forward to
Denise Brown: I think it will continue to grow, and become more diverse and more inclusive. And there are no negatives to this!!
For more interviews, check here and don’t forget to check instagram (here) for book recommendations from these authors and more!
#UKYASpotlight 
Leave a comment