Emerging as adults: New Adult literature in the Welsh language

In 2009, a new literary category, New Adult fiction, was envisioned by the New York based publisher St Martin’s Press. The press’ aim was to fill a gap in the book market by developing a literary category to cater for the reading requirements of New Adults between the ages of around 18 to 25 years old who were negotiating the period between being Young Adults and New Adults. Since 2009, authors, readers and the publishing industry have adopted and adapted elements of St Martin’s Press’ vision to provide literature for New Adults.

This article is the first to chart the beginnings of New Adult writing in Welsh prose by using Twll Bach yn y Niwl (2020) by Llio Elain Maddocks, Sgen i’m Syniad: Snogs, Secs, Sens (2022) by Gwenllian Ellis and Cwlwm (2022) by Ffion Enlli as case studies. The article will demonstrate and analyse how the prose of the three authors considered express, challenge and offer creative responses to coming of age as women in the period being between teenagers and adults in terms of national and linguistic identities and sexuality.