Last night, I finished the reading edit of my latest novel, Who the Frack is Maddie Jackson? I was pretty happy.
This morning, I got up, ready to email a query and to send it off to FLUX, who published Chasing AllieCat and has first right of refusal for my next YA novel.
I turned on my email, and was overjoyed to receive this email:
My name is Kayla and I have been reading your novel Jake Riley: Irreparably Damaged over and over again since the 6th grade. I am now in 9th and just got done reading your book literally 2 mins ago. I’d like to ask you a couple questions if I may, 1.) What was your inspiration to write this story because I find it especially intriguing, because so much psychological things were put into this book. Also 2.) If you could/ would write an extended version of this book what would you say would happen to Lainey and Jake and if they would ever meet again. As stated above I love this book and just can not get enough of it! If you do not get the chance to open or respond to this email, I completely understand but if possible I’d love to know!
You completely made my day with this email. Thanks for writing!
1. My inspiration was that I wanted to write a book set on the farm…I love the country, and since it’s what I know, I like to use that for setting. All I started with were two kids in an oats field chasing fireflies, and didn’t know where it would go. When Jake pulled Lainey’s shirt up, I knew he had a history of trouble and hurt inside, and then I had to figure out what that was. This book is the one I’ve written where I knew least how it would end at the time I started it. Oh, and the book I wrote before this was rejected over and over. One editor told me that the story in that book wasn’t unique enough, but he liked how I wrote. He said, “If you write something more idiosyncratic, please send it my way.” So I set out to write an idiosyncratic book set in the country!
2. I actually started a sequel, and then my editor told me to “leave Jake alone…let him be a mystery…” so I did. However, what I had Jake do was hop a semi, hitchiking north and west. He sends Lainey postcards from along the way, but since he doesn’t want to be found, they never come from where he actually is at the time–only from where he’s been. Lainey tries to track him down, and it takes a long time…That’s as far as I got with the story, but I intended that her friendship would be the healing element for him to finally quit hating himself and be able to have a life. I think wherever he ends up, he also might become a mountain biker or BMX rider, which finally gives him the confidence he needs to like his life and eventually come home and be with his dad again.
That’s how it plays out in my head. Do you have a different idea? If I ever do write the sequel, Jake might decide something slightly different.
Thanks again for writing, Kayla.
Rebecca
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