Category: Fun Stuff

Happy Birthday, One Night!

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Happy Birthday One night

A year ago today One Night made it’s way into the world. There have been some ups and downs, for sure, but all in all I’m happy about where Thompson’s journey has taken him. I can’t wait to share the next chapter of his journey with you in the upcoming sequel, One Love. To be notified when One Love comes out sign up here.

To view all special One Night content go here.

Thank you to all my readers for your support! 🙂

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Some thoughts on the One Night sequel

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File under: just for fun!

Below is a near-verbatim transcript of a conversation I had with my husband recently about the sequel to One Night.

Me: I’m worried that people are going to be upset that Johnny’s not in this one as much. But Thompson’s away at college. There isn’t a logical way for he and Johnny to interact a lot.

Hubby: What if Johnny does a gig in Panama City Beach and Thompson goes there on spring break?

Me: That’s not impossible.

Hubby: Or…you write another book about Johnny after this and write five more books about both of them. And then at the end we find out that Thompson is actually a seventy year-old inmate in a Slovenian prison and the whole thing was made up/a fantasy in his head.

Me: I don’t think my readers would like that.

Hubby: Just an idea.

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What I’m Reading, Writing, and Watching this Month

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the-update-1

Hey all! Haven’t done a monthly update in a while, but watched a movie last night that made me want to do one.

What I’m reading:

  • Count of Monte Cristo, unabridged. Still. I am shooting for the end of the year on this one. If I finish reading it in 2017 I will consider that an accomplishment.
  • It Started With Goodbye by Christina June. A very cute YA novel about stepmothers and stepsisters. Some reviews call it a modern retelling of Cinderella. I do love the “fairy godmother” character of Blanche in the book.

What I’m watching:

  • The Prestige. My god. This movie is classified as science fiction horror or something awful, but it definitely held my attention. Two dueling magicians in the late 1800s, played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, keep trying to one up each other and steal each other’s tricks. About once a year I see a movie that leaves me thinking, what the hell did we just watch? (In a good way). This movie came out in 2006, but is definitely my wow movie of 2017. It’s also a book that I now want to read.
  • America’s Got Talent. Or as we call it in my house, my weekly sob fest. I love watching creative peoples’ dreams come true. I’ve always thought it to be a shame that there isn’t a reality competition for writers, but know that it would be terminally boring to watch people in pj’s typing away at keyboards.

What I’m writing:

  • One Love, the sequel to One Night, is with an editor. I am excited about this one. It still involves Thompson and his romantic issues, but it’s different than the first book.  More details coming soon.
  • Still tinkering with the YA novel set in Serbia. I’ve heard that if you’re at the tinkering stage it’s time to let it go. We’ll see.

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Books to read if you enjoyed One Night

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Book pic

Here’s a list of comparable books to check out while you’re waiting for the companion to One Night. (Spoiler alert: fans of Thompson’s BFF Ronnie will be glad to know he plays a much bigger role in this book!)

The One Night comp title list, in no particular order:

Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas. This YA novel takes quirky friendship to a new level. Ollie is allergic to electricity and Moritz has a rare heart condition. For medical reasons the two can never meet, but their friendship is brought to life through their heartfelt letters to one another.

The Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely. Hendrix, the main character in this novel, would definitely get along with Thompson. Like Thompson he makes it his mission to reunite his grandpa with the one place that reminds him of his one true love. Hendrix busts grandpa out of assisted living and they take an epic road trip from LA to NY.

The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis. This is another YA novel that centers around an unlikely friendship that just works. Teenager Maggie is blind until the day she suddenly starts seeing Ben, a ten year-old boy. Ben is the only person she can see and over time they develop a great friendship. I’m a firm believer that two people don’t have to be near the same age to share a special bond and this book delivers on that idea.

Paper Towns by John Green. Like Thompson, Quentin pines for a girl who doesn’t deserve it and goes to extreme lengths to find her when she goes missing. Don’t watch the movie instead of reading the book! There are some great scenes in the book that didn’t make the cinematic cut.

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What I’m reading, writing, and watching this month

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the-update-1

Okay friends, it’s been a while since I’ve done a post like this. My apologies.

What I’m reading:

  • House of Bradbury by Nicole Meier. It’s women’s fiction about a woman who buys Ray Bradbury’s old house in southern California. It’s a great read and can I give a shout out to Nicole here who graciously answered some questions for me recently about her publishing experience! Such a lovely person.
  • My Beautiful Life by Mina Dobic, a true story about a woman who cured her cancer by eating a macrobiotic diet. Fascinating. Thanks, hubby for the book recommendation!
  • Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, contemporary YA about a girl who’s forced to live with her stepmother across the country. Just got this for Kindle on sale for $1.99.

What I’m writing:

What I’m watching:

  • We are binge watching Caribbean Life at my house. It is one of my greatest ambitions in life to live by the ocean one day. When I’m by the ocean I feel like I’m home!
  • I am sad and relieved that the first season of This is Us is over. Tuesday night has been my weekly cry session since this show started. I think it’s because the show feels too much like real life!

One Night: Bonus book club content

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  1. Thompson has a special place in his heart for Cap’n Crunch cereal. Make these tasty marshmallow treats using the cereal and share with your book club, friends, family, or just make them for yourself!
  2. The 2013 movie, The Way Way Back, shares a similar premise to One Night. Watch the movie and discuss how it differs from Thompson & Johnny’s story. Are the two projects making the same point or different ones?
  3. The idea of fate or destiny is prevalent in One Night. What is the novel’s take on these themes?

One-Night-Cover

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2017 Writing Resolutions

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I’m not usually a resolution kind of person since I’ve had a goal list since I was eight, lol, but I do find it helpful to set writing resolutions for the year. Here are my writing resolutions for 2017:

  1. Find a reliable critique partner. Because of my schedule I am not typically able to meet critique partners in person, however, I am very responsive to email. Even though I have connected with great writing partners over the years, none of those people have been able to commit to more than one project. Or more than one week. Even if all hell is breaking loose in my personal life I still manage to find some time to write and/or edit work. As such, I am hoping for the same from a potential critique partner. I would love to find one who doesn’t fall off the face of the earth.
  2. Produce an audiobook of One Night. A reader asked me recently if I had an audiobook of One Night out. I don’t yet, but think it’s a great idea and will be fun to execute.
  3. Secure a traditional publishing contract. I enjoy independent publishing. I love working with an editor, designer, and managing my own business. But a traditional publishing contract and the distribution power that comes with it would make my life so much easier. I’m still dreaming of New York City validation and am working on getting it with The Other Side of the World.
  4. Finish current work in progress, a new YA novel. This will be done within the next month or two, if I continue at my current pace.
  5. Attend at least one writer’s workshop or conference. I’m a firm believer in working on the craft of writing and find professional workshops are always helpful.
  6. Start another novel. I may be dreaming on this one, but I think it’s doable.
  7. Accept praise more graciously. As a writer who’s been rejected more times than I can count, it’s still hard for me to take a compliment. When people tell me they’ve read One Night and really liked it my usual response is to mumble, “Thanks,” look at the ground, and change the subject immediately. Even though I know I’m a good writer there are parts of me that doubt myself. I would like to change that in 2017.

If you have any writing goals for this year I’d love to hear them! Feel free to comment on this post 🙂

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Monthly update

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What I’m reading:

  • Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven. Had the pleasure of meeting her recently at a book signing.
  • Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari. Love his stand up comedy and really enjoying his book about dating in modern times.
  • With Malice by Eileen Cook. It’s about a young girl who can’t remember something awful that happened on her class trip to Italy.

What I’m watching:

  • Superstore. OMG this show. Thompson in One Night works at Kmart. If he were a real person I’m sure he could relate to this comedy!
  • This is Us. Haven’t had a go-to tear-jerker show in a few years. This is definitely it, lol. This show is a little too much like real life.
  • Narcos (Season 2). This show about Pablo Escobar and his domination of Columbia is kinda violent, but compelling stuff.

What I’m writing:

  • New book description has been posted. So excited about this YA novel! More details coming soon.
  • A new YA novel set in Serbia (mostly). I’m about a third of the way into it. I went to Serbia over the summer and got a lot of inspiration! Plus I’m Serbian by marriage 🙂

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