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He said, ‘I put deodorant on my face so I wouldn’t sweat. That’s probably what smells nice.’” “He did what?”
Everything out of her mouth made me cringe. If only I could delete her inappropriate, unfiltered comments.
It was most likely my deep, lingering shame over not having a boyfriend for so long that made me settle for anyone, just to feel remotely attractive and accepted.
the whole aesthetic was carefully orchestrated. The goal? Wealth so understated it was hardly evidenced.
Some days it was hard to be friends with Kelly. Everything always seemed perfect and easy for her family. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d probably unfollow her.
But I do have one idea: what about an artist who goes to a Buddhist spa to relax and recharge, but when she lets the handyman enter her room—” “No, stop there,” Josie said. “Too cliché. That’s like porn. Plus, what would a handyman even have to fix at a spa? The meditation mats?”
Why wasn’t this part of being an author more widely known? Maybe the readers of my first book would be interested to know that the sophomore novel—and all subsequent ones—could be excruciating.
“But, Mom, you don’t really work,” Zoe said. “At least, it doesn’t seem like it.”
Well ouch
“Shit,” Max said. “Max!” Zoe and I blurted at the same time. “Sorry,” he said, holding up his hands.
“The book. The blank page. A totally blank book. Just say that was the whole point. That you meant for it to be blank. I did that once with my homework. Didn’t go over so well, come to think of it.”
every painting was in dialogue; it was saying something about the artwork that preceded it. It wasn’t about how intricate the content was. It was a message, a transformative echo, a call-and-response to what came before.
Publishing a blank novel would be a commentary on the literary world. I could say that I was addressing the reader’s almost nonexistent attention span.
Sometimes it feels like it doesn’t even matter what’s inside the book. Books that aren’t well written sell millions of copies, while heartfelt, beautifully crafted stories literally languish in indie bookstores,
Covers have taken on an exaggerated role in bookselling as the primary marketing tool, but how can one image convey an entire book?
I'm not sure how, but I have to say an intriguing book cover really does attract me to a novel.
“It isn’t a literary stunt,” I said carefully. “It’s art. It’s a reflection on the state of publishing today. It’s a signpost that things are not as they should be, that we can and should make changes.
“You are the sweetest things,” I said. “Sometimes.” We laughed. This. This was what mattered. We’d be okay no matter what.
“That was pretty badass,” Zoe said, smiling. “Loved seeing you stand up for yourself and not succumb to the patriarchy.” “Zoe, do you even know what ‘the patriarchy’ means? I’m a woman who just got fired by another woman.”
I’d gotten the best shot of his cat’s custom-made bed, which simply said “Pussy Pad.” Insta-gold. I already had 14K likes by the time I got home—and an offer to be a spokesperson for Pussy. I mean, really.
No one cares about the publishing world except you. Certainly not readers. They just want to be fed great books—and to be told which books are great and which aren’t.
This book is like a gag gift.
Exactly my thoughts!
“Next time I call you, I won’t even say hello!” she said. “It’ll be a blank phone call!” “So not funny.” “A blank email! A blank newspaper!” She was laughing hysterically. “Mom!”
For Gabriela, it seems like Juan Carlos isn’t wrong. He’s just not everything.
he’s just very formal. You know—a bit stiff.” “Stiff can be good,” I said. “You and the sex jokes.” “Oh, come on. They’re so infrequent.” Kelly grinned. “The jokes or the sex?” “Both.” I laughed out loud.
How many super-happy marriages were there anyway? Maybe mine was better than most? But sometimes, when I really let myself go there, I wondered if maybe I would consider doing something about it. Could there possibly be a happier life out there waiting for me?
“Can I go inside and buy a book?” “Sure, but try to buy paperbacks.” “Why?” “Because it’s the exact same story, only cheaper.
Nah I'll stick to hard covers lol.
The home had a stash of old-school Playboys next to the toilet. As Zoe would say: cringe. Even my Instagram followers responded with a series of disgusted emojis.
“Does anyone really finish a book anymore—and does it matter?
Yes… we exist. Give us some credit. lol
I can’t even get my kids to watch a movie. Or even a TV show. It’s, like, so old school. If it’s not on TikTok or YouTube, it’s like it doesn’t exist.”
“They won’t stop reading, Ada,” Maeve said. “People need an escape from their lives. And books have been around forever. A tale as old as time.”
“Imagine someone just came up with the idea of reading. Like, ‘Hey, let’s launch a product with no pictures, just words and letters. To enjoy it, you have to sit in one place and stare at it for hours, and then the whole story will slowly unfold just to you inside your brain. It might take you months to find out what happens in the end. It’s a completely solitary endeavor and you can’t do anything else at the same time. Oh, and you need to purchase it up front, hoping you’ll like it. But if you don’t, there’s no refund. Sorry! And there are literally millions of other products that look
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That’s what books are supposed to do: connect readers to authors. Readers to each other. That’s why book clubs are so popular! It’s like that mural on Montana: ‘Stories are best when shared.’”
Or we could also make Blank: A Journal. A companion piece.
Be ironic and have the journal include an actual story.
“Show everyone that what makes something a bestseller these days is all about packaging and branding, not only the content.”
“What’d you get, Max?” Ada asked, peeking into his bag. “Any of mine?” Max blushed. “I’m not quite old enough for your books,” he said. “Oh, buddy, I think you are,” Will added, swinging his arm around Max’s shoulders and leading him back to the store with a wink at me.
“It’s the writing crew of Los Angeles, single-handedly keeping the literary spirit alive!”
If I didn’t believe in it, no one else would either.
Have you ever met the CEO of your company? He wouldn’t know who I was if I slammed into his windshield. Lovely image.
I’m committed. Oh you will be. Hahaha.
think you’re making a mockery out of our esteemed publishing house. Driftwood has been around for eighty-five years. We don’t sell books and deliver nothing.
Michael laughed out loud. “Ha! Next book? You’re awfully presumptuous.”
He slowly lifted himself out of his chair—he towered over me—then looked me straight in the eye. His eyes were gorgeous actually. Wait, stop. Was Michael hot?
And just like that, everyone in the room was on my side. “Great idea!” “Brilliant!” “Fabulous!” The townspeople had just been waiting to take their cue from the emperor.
A few people clapped meekly only to receive glares and quickly shove their hands back under the table.
See?! This was what drove me nuts! He’d literally picked my book to be a bestseller! I knew the publishing system was somewhat rigged. It was infuriating that select executives could just decide which books would hit the list, without reader feedback and when countless other authors were biting their fingernails, hoping and praying their books would break out.
Maybe my unwritten book would make me a writer again?
“I warned you about this,” he said, turning away from me. “You made your bed. Now you have to sleep in it.” “Brilliant analogy. Thanks. And you sleep in that bed, too, remember? You’re literally in it right now.”
And while we’re truth-telling, what’s up with you and Damien?” “Nice try, Mom.”
“Maybe I could get that double piercing now?” “Nice try, Zoe.”
“He’s totally hitting on you,” Gabriela said, brushing her horse’s mane. “Red. Flag. That’s all I can say,” Josie added. “Be careful. You’re married. He’s your single boss. You have way more to lose here than he does. And he’s notorious for this type of thing.”
“But, Pippa, my books are bestsellers,” Kelly said, walking out of the studio to escape the glares of the other waiting women. “And so was Poppies. Do you not want people to keep reading them? Buying them? I’ve spent my whole career hoping to make it, and now that I’ve gotten on the list, you want to take away its meaning. This could tank my career!”
