Truly Scary Image: A Sick Writer Between Books

I'm not going to lie. In the last few weeks I have been in a frenzy of proof corrections and last minute editing of my new YA novel Chasing Nirvana. During all this I came down with a nasty, butt whipping cold. Not the achoo, excuse me kind of cold. This one is a 2 week headache kind of thing that makes my whole body feel like it's been in a rock tumbler. Instead of coming out polished, you come out chipped, exhausted and wishing your mommy wasn't 80 and you could be tucked under the covers and let someone else be the grown up. 

Lurking in the distance is my book launch party which will be a fun, grown up affair where I am expected to dress up, sign books and make a speech thanking everyone. Then all my guest will feel obligated to buy my book, which is completely awkward. Never one for Pampered Chef or Tupperware or candle or Arbonne parties or anything smacking of feeling obligated to buy something, I'm now asking all my friends to buy my book. So my speech will probably be something like "I don't care if you buy it or not." Mostly I'll be eager to drink because I won't allow myself a single drop until I've cleared the thank you speech hurdle. I'm a messy, ugly crier. The audience will be packed with people who love me and my writing. Even a few words in front of this crowd is terrifying. I'd be much happier in front of a classroom of caged, bored teens who've been forced at gunpoint to read my book. 

Up next is a re-write of Stealing Baby X. It's based on a true story of my Canadian Nana who stole a baby in 1927 or thereabouts. I've turned it into a parable of good and evil and also, hopefully, an action story with a great romance. We'll see. It needs a lot of work.  

If you want to buy a presale copy of Chasing Nirvana, click on the book cover.  

 ​
A girl, a band and a dream. 
​
Fran Worthy is just another girl trying to make it through senior year in Aberdeen, Washington. But it's 1993 and Fran is gay. Her comfortably off the radar life turns vividly public when a student nominates Fran for prom queen. When confronted by angry parents Fran refuses to back down, promising to deliver her hometown heroes in hopes of winning prom queen votes.

Fran heads out on a 24 hour road trip to Daly City, California with four friends, including her crush, who may or may not be gay. Their plan? To sneak backstage to ask Kurt Cobain and Nirvana to come home and play prom.

No problem. Unless something goes wrong. ​Ellyn Oaksmith is the USA Today bestselling author of the upcoming Chasing Nirvana (November 3, 2017) 50 Acts of Kindness and other books. She lives in Seattle.