What Exactly Does “Coming of Age” Mean?

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What Exactly Does “Coming of Age” Mean?

Best. Movie. Ever.

File another blog under random thoughts. (I’m still trying to convince myself that not every blog I write has to be 1,000 words or more.) Since my book hit the number 2 spot on Amazon’s listing of coming-of-age novels a few weeks ago, I’ve been thinking a lot about what exactly that term means. What is “coming of age”? What age? And what precisely happens at that age? Is it just puberty, or is it something more? I’d like to think it’s the latter.

I would never claim to offer the official definition of coming-of-age, but for me personally, it’s when your brain first “comes online,” so to speak. It’s when you’re first fully aware of the zeitgeist and pop-culture soup we’re all influenced by: the songs on the radio, the shows on T.V., the books at the library and in school, and the movies in the theater. To borrow an overused aquatic metaphor, it’s when us fish finally figure out we’re swimming in water. For me, that time was in the late ‘80s (hence why my book takes place in the “greed-is-good” decade).

Ironically, although Danger Peak was a #2 coming-of-age novel, and I even describe it as such on this website, I don’t really think of it as fitting squarely in that genre. Sure, there are elements of the trope (most notably in the scenes when Robert argues with his father), but I’ve always thought of my book as more of an action-adventure (with elements of magical realism). In other words, this book was my impression of a Steven Spielberg film. My next book is my coming-of-age novel. In fact, I take the genre to the Nth degree. (Some beta readers would argue I went too far.) This next book is much more in line with my voice, so it’s a little darker, occasionally ironic, and even spooky. This upcoming novel is the most autobiographical thing I’ve ever written (but don’t worry; I make sure there are supernatural goings-on to keep the reader interested), and, as such, it’s filled with the songs, movies, and even literal signs that woke me up to this pond called life.

So to sum up: What is coming of age? Maybe it’s when we finally wake up and learn we better start swimming.

In other news, there’s only one day left of my Danger Peak Goodreads giveaway. As a reminder, I’m giving away 20 signed copies of Danger Peak one…final…time. (Cue dramatic sting!) Also as a reminder (and what I failed to mention in my last blog), you have to be a member of Goodreads in order to enter the contest, but don’t worry; both a Goodreads membership and entering the contest are free! Speaking of failing to mention things, astute readers of my email list may have noticed I failed to include the link to the giveaway when I originally posted my last blog. Oopsy! That’s pretty important info to leave out! Anyway, you may have noticed I updated the blog with the link, but just in case, here it is again:

Goodreads Book Giveaway