Michelle I. Mason's Blog: Michelle I. Mason, page 7

Instagram Live with Best of Books TODAY, plus Literary Rambles & All By Myshelf interviews

Happy September!

I can’t believe it’s finally the month my book releases! I’m so excited for everyone to read YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, and in preparation for launch day, here are a couple of places you can learn more about the book in advance.

Today (Sept. 2) at 4 p.m. Central
Instagram Live with Best of Books

I’ll be chatting with with Best of Books as part of their Interview with a Debut Author series. To view the live, at the time of the chat, visit the link above and then click on Best of Books’ profile image when it says “Live.” Alternately, if you follow me on Instagram, you can log in and look for my profile at the top!

Literary Rambles Debut Author Interview & Giveaway

Literary Rambles is a familiar blog to anyone who’s been in the querying trenches. It was an invaluable resource to me during that time, and I’m so thrilled Natalie hosted me as part of her Debut Author Interview series!

We chatted about my writing and querying journey, the inspiration for YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, how to keep readers turning pages, character arcs, and more. Plus, along with the interview, there’s a giveaway for a final copy of my book. It runs through Sept. 18.

Check it out here: http://www.literaryrambles.com/2021/08/debut-author-interview-michelle-i-mason.html

All By Myshelf Podcast Interview

You can also catch me on the All By Myshelf podcast, chatting with J.M. Tuckerman. We talked cringe-worthy ’90s trends, changing technology, favorite writing resources, the book (of course!), and played some games.

Go listen and see if you do any better at the games than I did! I played The Book Stops Here, where I had to guess how many pages were in best sellers, and Never Have I Ever Spoiled My Own Book. I did end up giving up a spoiler, in case that makes you extra curious .

How adorable is this image J.M. Tuckerman provided? Listen here: https://all-by-my-shelf.com/podcast/an-interview-with-michelle-mason/

I also have launch events happening next week. I’ll be sending a reminder on launch day, but in the meantime, you can visit my events page for more info.

Thank you!!

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YOU & ME AT THE END OF THE WORLD and a Few Other YA Books You Should Read

Happy last few days of August! I’ve been holding on to reviews of a few young adult books I read earlier this summer (mostly because I’ve had so many other things to post about). But considering this first author will be in conversation with me for my launch week Instagram Live, I’d better make sure you know about the book before next week!

So, let’s start off the reviews with Brianna Bourne’s YOU & ME AT THE END OF THE WORLD!

First of all, can we take a moment to gaze at this gorgeous cover? It makes me pause every time I see it. And then there’s the description for YOU & ME AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Brianna Bourne…

Hannah Ashton wakes up to silence. The entire city of Houston is empty, except for one other person–Leo Sterling. They’re complete opposites. Hannah’s life is on track for a career as a company ballerina. Leo has little direction, avoids relationships, but loves playing ’80s rock. They’re forced to rely on each other in increasingly perilous and strange circumstances.

On one hand, there’s the tension of wondering where everyone else has gone and what the heck is going on. On the other, there’s the romantic tension between Hannah and Leo, which is off the charts. The story is told in both points of view, and the feelings on both sides are so intense. Yes, there’s physical attraction, but the emotional depth and growth during the course of the story–for both Hannah and Leo–are what make this book so truly gripping. I’m a total sucker for a slow-burn romance, though.

As for the end-of-the-world scenario, the hints are there, if you’re paying enough attention. It’s so well done. This book has been getting tons of praise, and it’s so deserved!

I’ll be chatting with Brianna Bourne on Instagram Live as part of my launch week celebrations on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. Central time. Check out my events page for all my upcoming events!

Wow, this book is powerful. I tend toward lighter books in general, but sometimes a description just grabs me and I know I should read a book even if it might gut me. I felt that way when I read the description for THE HALF-ORPHAN’S HANDBOOK by Joan F. Smith.

It’s about Lila, who’s just turned 16, but that’s overshadowed by the fact her father committed suicide three months ago. She never saw it coming. Since then, she’s built a wall to protect herself, only allowing her mom and younger brother inside and, most of all, shutting out all liars.

When her mom sends her to a summer-long grief camp, potential new friends and an unexpected crush make it hard to keep herself isolated anymore. She also starts to learn more about her father’s history.

This book is intense, as it explores the many ways different people deal with grief. It’s not a linear or finite process. I especially appreciated how Lila learned to start trusting herself and her judgement of others. The descriptions/emotions are gorgeously written. It’s both heartbreaking and hopeful, and I look forward to reading more from Joan F. Smith!

A grueling 265-mile canoe race through through snake, mosquito and alligator-infested waters? Um, no thanks!

Oh, wait, I can experience this from the comfort of my air-conditioned sofa? Sign me up for that!

IN THE SAME BOAT by Holly Green is the adventure I never knew I wanted. It begins with Sadie Scofield failing to finish the Texas River Odyssey with her father. A year later, she’s set to run it with her older brother. When he bails on her, she’s forced to do it with her former best friend/current worst enemy, Cully.

Seriously, this book is what I love about books–that I can read about something I would never in a million years do myself. The details about this river race are so immersive I felt like I was right there (except without the physical misery). And I loved how the relationship between Sadie and Cully builds, with flashback scenes to their past and how they went from best friends as kids to enemies as teens. It’s a romance in the making, but it’s also just as much about friendship. It’s also a book about testing yourself to the limits and knowing your own capabilities.

I loved getting lost in this race, rooting for Sadie and Cully both as a team and to repair what they’d lost. Definitely check this one out!

It’s summer, and Hannah and her four best friends are planning an epic summer together in her hometown of Gap Mountain, California, starting with a day at Gap Lake. 

But a few bad decisions and reckless moves later, they’ve started an uncontrollable wildfire. And no one—including the law—will care that it was an accident. Soon their lies are spreading just like the fire, thus the title—LIES LIKE WILDFIRE.

This book was so intense. Jennifer Lynn Alvarez does such a great job raising the stakes at every turn. No one makes the best decisions when their future is on the line; right and wrong become as murky as the lake where everything started. Throw in the friends keeping secrets from each other, increasing personal loss from the fire, and the pressure is on! 

LIES LIKE WILDFIRE is perfect for anyone who loves a high-stakes thriller! It comes out the same day as my book–Sept. 7–and is available for pre-order and/or library requests now. So get on both of those!

I know these are a wide range of books this time. That’s what I love about being in #the21ders debut group. I’ve learned about so many books I wouldn’t have otherwise. I hope you’ll check these out and let me know what you think after you read!

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Your Life Has Been Delayed Launch Week Events!

It’s almost time to celebrate the launch of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, and I’m so excited to announce I’ll be in conversation with two amazing authors I greatly admire during launch week!

Tuesday, Sept. 7
7 p.m. CDT (Release day!)

Join me in person at The Novel Neighbor or on Facebook/YouTube for the official launch of Your Life Has Been Delayed! I’ll be in virtual conversation with New York Times best selling author Debbie Rigaud. I adore her books and highly encourage you to check out both Truly Madly Royally and Simone Breaks All the Rules. If you have a middle grade reader, look for the Hope series she co-writes with Alyssa Milano!

All pre-orders from The Novel Neighbor will be signed (personalized upon request!) and come with a bookmark & two stickers. If you come to the event in person, I’ll sign your book afterward and also have some extra goodies to hand out.

Where: The Novel Neighbor, 7905 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63119
or Facebook/YouTube

Registration is optional but recommended (for both online and in person) at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/michelle-i-mason-your-life-has-been-delayed-book-launch-tickets-164197102955 

St. Louis friends: If you are unable to make this signing, I am working on another in-person event. More details coming soon!

Thursday, Sept. 9
1 p.m., CDT

I’ll be chatting with fellow debut author Brianna Bourne on Instagram Live about all things YA romance, contemporary books with a speculative twist, and more! I highly recommend her book, YOU & ME AT THE END OF THE WORLD, which places teens Hannah and Leo in a deserted Houston.

At the time of the event, sign in to Instagram and click my profile photo to view the live feed. We’re happy to chat on our own but also would love for you to bring questions!

I hope you’ll join one or both of these events virtually–or in person if you’re here in St. Louis!

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My Author Copies Are Here! Plus new interviews

Hi, everyone! I’m so excited to share that my author copies have arrived! My editor sent a single copy to me, all wrapped up with a special note last Thursday, and then the full box arrived on Friday.

I can’t wait for you all to read the book. It’s available for pre-order now at all major retailers and will be in stores Sept. 7–just 15 days!

I am still finalizing my events and will be announcing those very soon (hopefully later this week!). I’m also working on an extra giveaway that will go beyond pre-orders, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I’ve done a couple of interviews in the past week I’d love for you to check out.

Over at KidLit 411, you can read about my publishing journey and also enter to win a finished copy of the book. The giveaway runs through this Friday, Aug. 27!

And I participated in my first ever podcast with Jenn Naughton at Bookish Society Secrets. I had so much fun chatting with Jenn about torturing my main character Jenny, the show Manifest, the difference between middle grade and young adult books, how kids read up in age, and our favorite recent reads. I hope you’ll give it a listen!

Check it out here: https://www.thebookishsociety.com/podcast/29-michelle-mason

As always, thank you for supporting my publishing journey. I’m so excited for you to meet Jenny on Sept. 7!

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EVERYWHERE BLUE and a Few Other MG Books You Should Read

Hey, it’s time for another marvelous middle grade roundup! I thought August would never get here, and now it’s really flying by! My book finally comes out next month (yay!), and I’m in the midst of revising my 2022 book (more on that soon!). But here are a few great books I enjoyed over the past couple of months.

EVERYWHERE BLUE by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz is just gorgeous, inside and out. It’s the story of a family in turmoil, as their oldest son, Strum, goes missing. At the center is twelve-year-old narrator Maddie, who doesn’t understand the tension between her college-age brother and parents, just that she loves them both. And now that her brother is missing and her parents are focused on finding him, she seems to have lost them all, plus her older sister, who’s acting out in different ways.

Maddie is such a dynamic character, focused on her love of the oboe and figuring out how to navigate friendships and school. I also really appreciated the secondary characters, especially Nico, a classmate of Maddie’s in the advance math class she takes at the high school but also her sister’s friend. The story also has a strong focus on the climate crisis, as Strum’s passion for nature preservation was a source of discord with their parents. It’s also a passion for Maddie’s best friend, and during the course of the book she begins to explore it more, gaining a better understanding of her brother in the process.

It’s a moving story of family, friendship, conservationism, and also music. As a musician, I loved all of the classical music references! Sure, some readers won’t get them. But my 11-year-old listens to classical music every night when she’s going to sleep, so there are plenty who will.

How adorable is this cover for MANATEE’S BEST FRIEND by Sylvia Liu? If you ever doubt the power of a great cover, let me just share that without knowing anything about the story, my 11-year-old saw this cover and said, “That looks good!”

The story inside is just as fantastic. Becca Wong Walker is incredibly shy, but she’s comfortable talking to the manatees that visit her dock. She also loves to record her observations and research about their habits and lives. When she gets paired with two outgoing classmates–one her new neighbor–for a science project, she has to learn how to speak up for herself and the manatees. Because her favorite animals are being threatened by boaters and a festival her own father is spearheading. There’s also an incredible story involving a dolphin that befriends the manatees.

I really loved learning about manatees and conservation through Becca’s story. I also appreciated how Becca grew in confidence and learned what it meant to be a friend. I highly recommend adding this book to your middle grade collection.

Set in India, this middle grade fantasy follows Rea, whose twin brother disappears early in the morning of their 12th birthday.

I’ve read a lot of books with twins where they’re best friends—and I love those!—but I really enjoyed that REA AND THE BLOOD OF THE NECTAR by Payal Doshi was about how they’d grown apart. But even so, Rea was determined to find out what had happened to Rohan and get him back, no matter the cost to herself. And that ends up being a lot, as the trail leads Rea into another realm where the queen is holding him captive.

The story is full of magic, a rich setting, and unique creatures, but what I loved most was Rea’s journey. From the beginning, she struggles with her place in her family, and she doesn’t have any idea how to be a friend or let people in. She grows exponentially during the course of the book. It’s so much more than a rescue mission.

This book is out now, and, even better news, it’s the first in a series, so there will be more!

If you could invite any three historical figures to dinner—real or fictional—who would they be? I always answer Jane Austen to that question, and then I’m not sure on the others. But I love that it’s the premise for Victor Piñeiro’s middle grade adventure—and I love how he executed it!

In TIME VILLAINS, Javi doesn’t know how to answer the question for his assignment, so his friend Wiki helps him come up with kid Mozart (because music) and the Earl of Sandwich (who invented sandwiches and Javi makes awesome sandwiches). For the third one, Wiki plays a trick on Javi, suggesting Edward Teach. Well, the trick ends up being on Wiki as well, when Javi’s table turns out to have magical abilities and actually brings all three guests to the table—including Teach, aka Blackbeard.

This story was such a blast to read. I loved the kids’ adventure—Javi’s sister Brady is also a kick—and I also loved how the table ends up being a character in itself. There’s a lot more going on in their town and their school, and I don’t want to spoil it. But suffice it to say, Blackbeard would rather stay and run amok in the 21st century, and it’s up to them to stop him. 

I highly recommend this fast-paced, fun adventure!

All of these books are by 2021 debut authors, and they can use your support to build their reading base! If you check them out, let me know what you thought.

And if you’re inclined to check out my book, it releases Sept. 7! Pre-orders, library requests, and just generally shouting about it to the world are all welcome. You can can find everything you want to know about YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED on this page. Thanks for your support!

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1 Month to YLHBD Release: Places in the Book

Happy August! In particular, Aug. 7, which is now officially one month until the release of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED!

I hope you’re as excited to read the book as I am to share it with you. Today’s countdown feature is an inside look at some of the places inside the book.

YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED is set in my hometown of St. Louis. I love this city, and while all my stories aren’t set here, it has inspired more than one! Here are a few locations you’ll find in the book. Not all of them are real…

Lambert St. Louis International Airport

Jenny takes off from LaGuardia in New York and lands at the main airport in St. Louis–except it’s different. As they’re getting off the plane, she overhears the pilot say there’s a whole new terminal! Jenny had left St. Louis in 1995, and the East Terminal mentioned by the pilot opened in 1998 (although it is the main terminal pictured here). For the plane groupies like Jenny’s seatmate Art, you can read all about the airport’s history here: https://www.flystl.com/about-us/history

Parkwood High School

Jenny’s high school is fictional, but St. Louisans may still think it sounds familiar. I meshed together the names of two large school districts–Parkway and Rockwood–to create a high school for Jenny. And the description of Jenny’s high school may also bear a strong resemblance to my own…

Art Hill

One of the greatest attractions in St. Louis is Forest Park, home to our museums, zoo, sports fields, the huge outdoor Muny Theater, and countless other destinations. A key scene in the book takes place at Art Hill, located in front of the St. Louis Art Museum. During non-COVID times, they host movies and other events on the hill. Isn’t it beautiful?

Fun fact: I had my husband take this photo of me two years ago while I was working on revisions, specifically thinking I might need it for a post like this in the future!

Steak ‘n Shake

If you’ve visited the Midwest, you may have tried Steak ‘n Shake–known for steakburgers and shakes–but Jenny just cares about the shakes and cheese fries. It was her go-to place in 1995, and thankfully it’s still here in the 21st century (although sadly there aren’t as many).

Not-so-fun-fact: During revisions, they tore down the Steak ‘n Shake I used to hang out at with my friends as a teen .

Chesterfield Mall

While Jenny can eat at a Steak ‘n Shake, she discovers she can’t shop at her favorite mall. Angie tells her it’s been dead for years, thanks to two outlet malls opening nearby. This is based on one of my favorite malls as a teen (another one has been completely torn down). A few months ago they set up a vaccine clinic there, so my husband and I got our shots at my old favorite mall, and I took some videos to show how Jenny’s (and my) favorite mall looks now. But on the plus side, you can play pickle ball if that’s your thing!

 

Are there places you really love that you can’t imagine being gone if you jumped forward in time? A certain place you like to eat? Or hang out with your friends? Or your favorite store?

In case you missed any of the previous release countdown features, they included:

9 Months to Release: Playlist8 Months to Release: The Title Story (plus tips on titling your manuscript!)7 Months to Release: Watch List6 Months to Release: Research5 Months to Release: Why 1995?4 Months to Release: Book Inspiration3 Months to Release: 2 Months to Release: Deleted Chapter Titles

If you’re planning to buy YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, I would appreciate your support through a pre-order! And if you pre-order through my local independent bookstore, The Novel Neighbor, your book will be signed and personalized (mention who you’d like it personalized to in the comments!). You’ll also receive a bookmark and two stickers. But if you have another favorite retailer, I appreciate your support there too!

Whether you are buying or not, I would also love for you to request the book at your local library! If they don’t already have it on order, they are likely to have a place you can suggest a purchase. If so, all the information you would need to do so (my publisher, ISBN, etc.) is on my book page. It should only take a minute of your time. Thank you again for following and supporting my journey to publication!

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Interview at The Book Bratz

Today, you can find me over at The Book Bratz blog as part of their 2021 Debut Author Interview series. They asked me some great questions about YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED, including a few I hadn’t been asked yet. You can check out the interview at:

https://thebookbratz.blogspot.com/2021/07/2021-debut-author-interview-michelle-i.html

Just as an extra tidbit, one of the questions asked me if any books/authors had inspired YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED. I listed a number of young adult authors that inspire me–click through for those!–but there were also several time travel romances that stuck in my mind. One in particular, BREATH OF MAGIC by Teresa Medeiros, was about a witch who traveled forward from the 1600s to the present and learned all about customs, technology and fashion in a new century. I remembered thinking the book was so fun when I first read it.

Well, last weekend when my husband took the kids on a float trip, I had the house to myself and decided to re-read this book. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it came out in 1996–the year after Jenny took off! If I’d realized, I totally would have read this book as research when I was writing, because it was like a time capsule of the times. The main guy was running a company at the forefront of technology and there is absolutely no mention of the internet at all in the whole book. (There is a mention of hacking, though. I take this to be the sort of hacking done within an internal network at a company rather than the worldwide web.) Other highlights:

Fax machines!Brief mention of “cellular” phonesFlyers in the streets to spread the wordIndoor plumbing! (hey, the character was from the 1600s )

Anyway, I loved stepping back into this old favorite. I’ve pretty much exclusively been reading books released this year–and I love them!–but sometimes you just need to read for no purpose at all.

But back to The Book Bratz… they’ve been super supportive of debut authors and also of me! They’ve also featured my book in their Waiting on Wednesday feature and in lists of debut books they look forward to reading this year. So please do go check out the interview and their blog!

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WHERE IT ALL LANDS and a Few Other YA Books You Should Read!

Happy July! It’s already been quite eventful for me. I thought this was when I’d be able to say “My book comes out next month!” Alas, my countdown has been pushed back a bit, and it’s now more than two months again. BUT, I do have some other great books to tell you about.

Most of the books on my list today are already out, but this first one arrives on shelves tomorrow. I have some interesting variety for you, ranging from a contemporary romance with a speculative twist to a historical adventure with a female Indiana Jones. Some truly fantastic reads!

I absolutely adore Sliding Doors premises, so WHERE IT ALL LANDS by Jennie Wexler has been high on my to-read list all year. And it delivered 100 percent!

Stevie Rosenstein has just moved to another new town, and on her first day at band practice, she meets–and intrigues–best friends Drew and Shane. They both want to ask her out, and since they solve all arguments by tossing a coin, that’s what they do. Heads: Drew asks her out. Tails: Shane asks her out.

Yes, it’s awful for the boys to leave such a thing up to a coin toss, but it’s a device for the story to flip. As readers, we get to see how life would play out either way, and Jennie Wexler does such an amazing job showing how the trajectories of these different relationships affect each character, and also how those ripples affect other relationships in their lives. I was completely riveted and, of course, had serious opinions about whether Stevie should be with Drew or Shane from very early on in the book. But the thing was, the stories were so well developed there were some aspects that could only happen with one thread, and that just made it all the more gripping.

This book is plotting and character genius, and I will definitely read it again just to see how it’s all done. It’s also a thoroughly enjoyable story of first love, friendship, and working through hard family stuff too. It’s so good, and you should definitely add it to your collection when it comes out tomorrow (July 6)!

SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES by Debbie Rigaud was one of my most-anticipated reads for this summer, and it exceeded all my expectations! 

The story begins with Simone Thibodeaux at age 13, tagging along with her family to meet her older sister’s arranged date for the prom, an appropriate Haitian immigrant boy. Four years later, Simone is determined to choose her own prom date, and along with two other girls at her school who have similarly strict parents, she makes a bucket list of wild things they’ll do before graduation.

The romance in the story is really great, but even more, I loved Simone’s developing friendships with Amita and Kira and how she navigated her relationship with her best friend/cousin Gabby. I also loved learning so much about Haitian culture and food. Also loved Simone’s sense of style. Could definitely use her services!

It’s a fantastic story of friendship, family, and finding yourself.

I’m all about a good enemies-to-lovers plot, and MADE IN KOREA by Sarah Suk executes it sooo well!

The story follows Valerie Kwon, who (along with her cousin) runs V&C K-BEAUTY, the school’s most successful student-run enterprise. And side note: I love how the businesses are set up within the school, with actual suggestions from teacher sponsors on how to be successful. But back to the story… New kid Wes Jung accidentally sells some products in band class (totally makes sense when you read it) and stumbles onto his own business opportunity, becoming Valerie’s competitor.

Enter a high-stakes, winner-take-all bet that they’re both sure to regret, especially once they start seeing each other as more than competition. I loved how Valerie and Wes each had strong reasons for wanting to win. I loved the characters’ arcs, as they both had things they needed learn about themselves and grow during the story. And I couldn’t put the book down, anxious to see how it would all end!

So definitely go pick up this fantastic debut read!

A female Indiana Jones meets The Mummy? Yes, please! If you haven’t picked up CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN by Jenny Elder Moke, what are you waiting for?

The story follows Samantha Knox, who has been working in an antique bookstore ever since her father died in the Great War. When a package arrives containing a diary with very disturbing information, she immediately takes it to the owner, who happens to be the father of her estranged best friend Joana and long-time crush Bennett. 

There are men after the diary, which includes a cypher Sam and Bennett must decode. The shenanigans they get into on their cross-Atlantic adventure to Dublin, Ireland, are definitely worthy of an Indiana Jones movie. And once they arrive, they encounter an ancient order determined to raise the Specter Queen, the Celtic goddess of vengeance and death, to bring on the ultimate war.

Yeah, that would be… bad. 

The adventure is fast-paced and kept me turning pages to see what scrapes they’d get into next. I loved the relationship between Sam and Jo and how they were figuring out their friendship again in the midst of world-altering stakes. Sam and Bennett were adorable with each other too. A hit all around!

If you missed Jenny’s debut book, HOOD, last year, it was equally fantastic, so get them both! And in extra good news, this book is the first in a series, so there will be more Samantha Knox to come.

Have you read any of these yet? If not, which book intrigues you most? Let me know in the comments!

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New Release Date for YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED: Sept. 7, 2021

Heads up, readers! There’s been a bit of turbulence, and the release date for YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED has been… delayed.

YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED will now be arriving in bookstores—or on your doorstep if you pre-order!—on Sept. 7.

While Jenny’s story takes place in a non-COVID world, the publishing industry still exists in the real world, and printing delays have been a reality all year. But good news—it’s only a delay of two weeks, not 25 years!

So be prepared to return from your Labor Day festivities (if you’re here in the United States) ready to pick up your copy of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED and get lost in Jenny’s world. Now arriving from Bloomsbury YA Sept. 7, 2021!

For those of you following my countdown, I’ll be adjusting that to accommodate the new date, so look for my next feature on Aug. 7.

In the meantime, keep in mind that the best things are worth the wait!

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2 Months to Release: Deleted Chapter Titles

Happy June 24! Otherwise known in my world as 2 months until the release of YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DELAYED! Is anyone else getting as excited as I am? I hope so!

Today I’m digging into a topic that makes most writers cringe even as we nod along in resignation–killing our darlings. If you aren’t a writer, that phrase might have made you cringe as well, but in a looking-around-nervously sort of way. Don’t worry. Not killing any live darlings over here! Just words.

For writers, we must “kill darlings” when there’s something in our manuscript that we truly love, but it isn’t working and we need to get rid of it.

In the case of Your Life Has Been Delayed, one of those darlings that had to go was the chapter titles. In the book, Jenny is an aspiring journalist, and I originally included News Flashes at the beginning of every chapter. But my editor wisely pointed out that they weren’t pulling their weight. I loved them at the time, but she was so right!

So, for this month’s behind-the-scenes feature, here’s a glimpse into the deleted chapter headings. Feel free to speculate on what they may mean!

There are still news flashes in the final version of Your Life Has Been Delayed. They just aren’t chapter titles like I originally conceived. Instead, as I worked through revisions with my editor, we came up with a compromise for them that is much stronger. There are only a half dozen, and they’re sprinkled throughout the story as part of Jenny’s internal narrative, usually directed toward another character.

I hope you enjoyed this inside look at how the book took shape–and also these teasers of what you will find inside the story.

In case you missed any of the previous release countdown features, they included:

9 Months to Release: Playlist8 Months to Release: The Title Story (plus tips on titling your manuscript!)7 Months to Release: Watch List6 Months to Release: Research5 Months to Release: Why 1995?4 Months to Release: Book Inspiration3 Months to Release:

If you’re ready to pre-order the book, you can do so on my books page. If you pre-order from The Novel Neighbor, the books will be signed and include a bookmark and two stickers! Click on the pre-order campaign image to visit The Novel Neighbor. If you’d like your book personalized, be sure to note that in the comments.

Stay tuned for information about launch events.

Thank you for supporting my publishing journey!!

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