FaithfulReader.com - CHRISTIAN CHICK LIT ROUNDTABLE

13. FaithfulReader.com: What are the differences between "Chick Lit," "Mom Lit," "Lady Lit" and "Lad Lit"? Do you think some of these subgenres will endure more than others? Why?

Laura Jensen Walker: Chick Lit, as defined earlier, is usually about a single, twentysomething or thirtysomething heroine; Mom Lit is basically Chick Lit with children as I understand it (i.e. Allison Pearson's I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT, or Robin Jones Gunn's "Sisterchicks" series); Lady Lit (sometimes referred to as Hen Lit) I think is more geared to middle-aged, maybe menopausal women (Elizabeth Buchan's REVENGE OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN) and Lad Lit, from what I've read, is about single men in their 20s and 30s searching for Ms. Right. (Nick Hornby's ABOUT A BOY or in the Christian realm, Ray Blackston's FLABBERGASTED.)

It's hard to say which subgenres will endure more than others, but I tend to think that with all the baby boomers in middle-age now, they might be more likely to embrace the Lady Lit and give it a longer run. Just guessing. I did read sometime last year in Publishers Weekly, however, that Lad Lit (other than Nick Hornby, who's in a category by himself) isn't doing well overall. (Although I heard that FLABBERGASTED did well for its publishing house, Revell.) As for the genre in general, maybe it's not doing well because guys usually don't obsess about relationships the way women do. Or they prefer more action-packed genres perhaps. Of all of them, however, I think Chick Lit may have more staying power. Why? Because most women --- single or married --- have at one time or another obsessed about finding Mr. Right (whether they wind up finding him or not), which is one of Chick Lit's universal themes.

Tracey Bateman: I've already mentioned several differences and similarities between Chick Lit and Mom Lit. Lady Lit (or Hen Lit, as some call it --- most affectionately) will deal with a senior protagonist. She'll usually be a widow and her grown children will be moving back in with her most likely. She's moving into a new phase of her life. She thought she was going to retire (much like Father Tim in the "Mitford" series), but instead she'll usually gain new vigor for her twilight years.

Lad Lit --- I haven't figured it out yet. I grew up with four brothers and live in a household with a husband and three sons (and a daughter). For my sanity's sake, I don't think I want to go into a guy's head.

I predict that Chick Lit and Mom Lit will grow for a while, and then I think the authors who are unique in their approach (like the creators of "Ashley Stockingdale," "Sisterchicks" and I hope "Claire") will last longer than Bridget Jones clones. But for a while, I think it's going to be fun to read all the different voices out there writing the Lits while readers decide who will stand the test of time.

Sharon Dunn: To answer the first part of your question --- I think the difference is simply who the "I" character is in the book: a single woman, a married woman, a senior citizen. Didn't Lad Lit die before it was even out of the gate? Men don't like to muse about their feelings. They like car chases and gun fights. Unless Lad Lit is marketed toward women somehow, I don't think it has much of a chance.

I think the only thing new about Chick Lit is the name. I suspect if we looked back through the published books in the last thirty years, we would find books that read like Chick Lit without the label. When I started writing my "Ruby Taylor" mysteries, the term Chick Lit wasn't in the forefront. I wrote from the tradition of those first person detective stories like Raymond Chandler and Sue Grafton. Sue Grafton is a mystery writer, but she has Chick Lit elements in her stories, the first person humor and the struggles of a single woman. I listened to a book on tape by Janet Evanovich because my writing had been compared to hers. Her books also have some Chick Lit elements to them. Right now, Chick Lit is the new hot thing. First person narrative was around long before the term Chick Lit was coined. The genre and subgenres will continue, they just might not be marketed as Chick Lit; that label may evolve as will the genres.

Annie Jones: I'd say I write more Mom Lit or Lady Lit than strictly Chick Lit. They have to do with the point in which the heroine is in her life and what she is dealing with, but with that same plucky attitude. Enduring? Well, I do think things go in cycles, so some will fade and then come back around again. My own mother adored books like PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES and the columns of Erma Bombeck, both of which are pretty classic Mom/Lady Lit in voice.

Kristin Billerbeck: I think it's where the hero/heroine is in life that dictates these subgenres. Lad Lit and Mom Lit have done very well in the Christian market, but there aren't as many successful titles in the secular realm. Lady Lit will probably do well too, being about that second half of life, after the kids are grown. Personally, Chick Lit will always be my favorite because I love the element of romance. Being married, I'd just as soon not see a couple struggle after the wedding day. Not reality, perhaps, but there you go. But Chick Lit is in a struggle right now in the secular market. There's too much of it being published that isn't good, and a real struggle to be more "hot," which I think ruins it. So it will be curious to see what happens.

Penny Culliford: Lady Lit! That's a new one on me! Books do appeal to slightly different target audiences. Perhaps it would lead to better understanding of different viewpoints if single girls read Mom Lit or Lad Lit. I think it's easier for someone like Nick Hornby (ABOUT A BOY) to attract a female readership than for women authors to attract a male readership. Perhaps it's down to those pink covers again?

Great stories, well told with endearing characters, will endure. I think we will see the best of all the subgenres becoming classics.

Lori Copeland: I write Mom Lit and I'm afraid I haven't explored all the above genres, but when a genre strikes a resonant cord with the reader it will be around for a while. One good thing: readers are always looking for stories that touch their hearts and make them feel better about life in general.

Allie Pleiter: Well, I'm intensely partial to Mom Lit right now, so I can hardly be objective. I think that these subgenres will continue to expand the boundaries because life is full of diversity.

Robin Jones Gunn: I think certain books in each subgenre will endure more than others, but I can't make a prediction about which subgenre might thrive the longest.

Judy Baer: I haven't seen Lad Lit being a rousing success yet, but the others all have a deep appeal. I'd guess that someday in the future the best of Chick, Mom and Lady Lit will simply be incorporated into "Women's Lit."

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