Title: TWO
SUMMERS
Author: Aimee
Friedman
Pub. Date: April
26, 2016
Publisher: Point
Pages: 368
Formats: Hardcover,
eBook, audiobook
ONE SUMMER in the French countryside,
among sun-kissed fields of lavender . . .
ANOTHER SUMMER in upstate New York,
along familiar roads that lead to surprises . . .
When Summer Everett makes a split-second
decision, her summer divides into two parallel worlds. In one, she travels to
France, where she’s dreamed of going: a land of chocolate croissants, handsome
boys, and art museums. In the other, she remains home, in her ordinary suburb,
where she expects her ordinary life to continue — but nothing is as it seems.
In both summers, she will fall in love
and discover new sides of herself. What may break her, though, is a terrible
family secret, one she can't hide from anywhere. In the end, it may just be the
truth she needs the most.
From New York Times bestselling author
Aimee Friedman comes an irresistible, inventive novel that takes readers around
the world and back again, and asks us what matters more: the journey or the
destination.
Today we welcome Aimee for an interview!
1. Did you always know you wanted
to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I wanted to be a writer since I COULD write—probably around age
five or six. It gave me this sense of wonder and satisfaction and confidence
that almost nothing else in life did. I scribbled stories and novels into
notebooks and journals all through my childhood and teen years. When I was in
college, I realized I also wanted to work in publishing as an editor; I loved
the idea of being involved with the creation of books on every level. And I’m
so fortunate to be both an editor and a writer today.
2. How long does it take you to
write a book from start to finish?
It really depends, book to book. On average I’d say about one
year from first draft to final. TWO SUMMERS, however, took much longer, I think
because of the structure—it’s essentially two full books in one. I had to do
several different outlines and scrap a few different drafts (originally, I had
the character working at a summer camp, then a bookstore, which both got thrown
out for the final draft!). It took me a little more than three years overall
(and a lot of self-doubt, anxiety, and chocolate). There were moments when I really
thought I might throw in the towel, but with the support of my editor, agent,
friends, and beta readers, I’m very thankful to say I kept going.
3. How do you come up with themes
for your stories?
I have this theory that all writers have “obsessions” that show
up organically in their novels as similar themes. I tend to write a lot about
secrets and discovery, which are topics that fascinate me and that I have fun
exploring through fiction. I try my best to weave the themes in a natural way
through the plot so that one complements the other.
4. Do you have a schedule of when
you write?
I work full-time as a book editor, so I typically squeeze in my
writing on the weekends and on certain evenings, when I have the energy (but
really all I have the brain power for on most weeknights is a Netflix binge). Sunday tends to be the
most productive writing day for
me; knowing I have limited time to work usually forces me to be more productive
than I might be otherwise.
5. How are you able to balance
other aspects of your life with your writing?
It’s
very tough, because writing requires so much deep, abiding commitment—you
really need to give yourself over to the characters and the story, and
sometimes that means sacrificing other things, like going to the gym or plans
with friends. I’m trying to be better, though, about folding in activities as
“rewards” for hitting certain word count goals, etc. (though I definitely
wouldn’t count the gym as a reward! Hmm…maybe that could be punishment for when
I DON’T hit my goals…). J
6. What elements do you think make
a great story line?
Conflict—every great story needs conflict. The main character
should want something or expect something that he or she cannot get or achieve.
And this character, and all the characters in the story, need to feel
compelling and authentic enough so that the reader will want to follow them on
this quest. Also, this doesn’t necessarily work for EVERY story, but I’m a big
believer that it never hurts to throw a little romance into the mix!
7. What was the hardest thing about
writing a book?
Writer’s block. That horrible feeling of being stuck, of hitting
a wall, of knowing what you want to say but not being able to make the words
obey you. In those moments, I generally know it’s time for me to take a little
breather, to step back and go for a walk, or see a movie, or talk to a friend.
Usually, after some distance, I can come back to the manuscript fresher and
tackle the problem anew. But sometimes that process takes days or weeks or
months.
8. How many books have you written
so far? Do you have a favorite?
Two Summers is my eighth YA novel! (I’ve
also written two books for younger readers under the name Ruth Ames). In many
ways, my favorite book will always be my very first published novel, South Beach, because writing it and
seeing it on shelves was such a special, never-to-be-repeated kind of thrill.
But usually my favorite book is also whatever is the newest one to come out, so
in this case—Two Summers!
9. Do you have a favorite
character?
In Two Summers, my
favorite character might be Eloise; I LOVE the juiciness that comes with
writing villains…even though Eloise turns out to be not exactly as she seems (I
don’t want to say much more for fear of spoilers…). I also love Miranda, the
main character in my book Sea Change;
she’s very rational and logical, which is the opposite of how I am (I tend to
be more emotional and dramatic) so it was fun to explore that side. Also, on a
super-exciting note—Sea Change is
being adapted into a two-hour TV pilot for Lifetime, so soon I will get to SEE
the character of Miranda come to life. Which is insane! I can’t wait.
10. Where do you write?
If
I’m lucky, I’m able to write at home, at my desk, but that’s a rarity, because
I get too easily distracted by my fridge, my TV, my comfy bed. So, if I’m wise,
I plop myself down at a café, put in my earbuds, and tap away at my laptop for
hours while drinking huge quantities of iced coffee. I also really love writing
on long train rides.
11. When deciding on how to publish,
what directed you to the route you took?
I’m fortunate in that I owe my start as a YA writer to the fact
that I worked in publishing at the time; an editor I knew gave me the
opportunity to write my first book for her, which is a very atypical path for
most writers. This is not to say, though, that there haven’t been MANY, many
bumps on the road, as there always are, in all forms of publication and
publishing. I always say that writers are naturally thin-skinned people who
need to develop thick skins to deal with the ups and downs of publishing.
12. Have you gotten feedback from
family about your book(s)? What do they think?
My family members are huge champions of my books and my writing,
and for that I am very grateful. Even my dad has read and enjoyed my books, and
he’s not exactly the target audience, so that means a lot!
13. What kinds of things do you
like to do outside of writing?
Read. Make playlists on Spotify. Read some more. Explore hidden
parts of New York City. Go to museums. Try new restaurants. Look at Instagram.
And, of course…read. :)
14. What kinds of advice would you
give to someone who wants to start writing?
Read! Read widely and broadly, learn from the books you love AND
the books you don’t love. And if there’s something you can’t stop thinking
about, something that’s haunting you or compelling you? Write about it. Chances
are there’s a story in there, or a kernel of truth that will grow into a story.
15. What is your favorite book?
favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
Well, this is a nearly impossible question to answer because I
have so many favorites, and they’re changing all the time (I usually say my
favorite book is Jane Eyre, and my
favorite author might be Toni Morrison). But I would like to single out The
Baby-Sitters Club, a series that I ADORED growing up, and that in so many ways
inspired me to want to be a writer. I joke that my earliest stories were BSC
fan fiction. I knew I wanted to write the same types of books: realistic
stories about friendships, families, school, crushes—stories that in their
relatability had resonance. Ann M. Martin is life.
16. Do you have any go to people
when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing,
beta reading and such?
My big sister, who is an English professor, is a super-smart and
helpful reader. She’s totally honest and upfront about what is not working for
her, which may be the most helpful aspect of a critique partner. So I know when
she says she loves something, she’s not just saying that to appease me.
17. Are you working on anything
now?
Yes, I am tinkering with a new idea for a YA standalone! I’m a
superstitious writer, though, so I’m not quite ready to say much more…
18. Tell us 5 things that make you
smile
A vanilla-chocolate twist ice cream cone
Sunny weather
A good book, and time to read it
My niece and nephew
The Hamilton soundtrack
19. Tell us 5 things that make you
sad
Ignorance
People who don’t read
The state of the world, sometimes
Bullies, in all their forms
The fact that there was only 1 season of Freaks and Geeks
20. If you could travel anywhere in
the world to visit a place so you could use it as a background for a book,
where would it be?
My family is from Eastern Europe,
and I’d love to go to Prague for the first time and experience all that beauty
and history. Maybe for my next book!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, Aimee. It was great having you here!
Aimee Friedman was born and raised in Queens,
New York, in an apartment filled with books and different languages. She wrote
her first story at the age of five, and was off and running from there. Aimee
wrote all through her years as a student at the Bronx High School of Science
and then Vassar College. After graduating from college in 2001, she became a
children's book editor, a job she still does, and loves, to this day! Aimee
published her first novel, the New York Times bestseller, South Beach, in 2005,
and is now the author of several novels for young adults, the latest being Two
Summers. Aimee lives in New York City, where she can usually be found writing
in cafes, window-shopping, or searching for the perfect iced latte.
3 winners will receive a signed finished copy
of TWO SUMMERS and TWO SUMMERS travel bags, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
6/27/2016- Novel Novice- Guest Post
6/28/2016- Page Turners Blog- Review
6/29/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview
6/30/2016- Just Commonly- Review
7/1/2016- YA Book Nerd- Interview
Week Two:
7/4/2016- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
7/5/2016- Andi's ABCs- Guest Post
7/6/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
7/7/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Guest Post
7/8/2016- Margie's Must Reads- Review
This sounds like a very interesting read! And that cover is gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read this since I heard Aimee talk about it at BookCon.
ReplyDeleteI think we all think of the "what ifs" in our life. Looking forward to reading this one and seeing what happens.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover & the summary! Def reading this!! XD
ReplyDeleteSamantha D
I have a feeling this summer is going to be the summer of contemporaries that come in every form, and this book fits the bill perfectly! Thanks for the chance to win a book that sounds so awesome!
ReplyDelete