THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO Karma or Coincidence? Countdown (Elise Howard)

If you've read this intro already, by all means please scroll down 

to today's guest, my lovely editor, Elise Howard.

As many of you know, THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO, my second novel for young adults officially comes out March 25th from Algonquin Young Readers.

THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO tells the story of almost-16-yr-old Francesca “Beans” “Frankie” Schnell who, four years ago witnessed her baby brother, Simon, drown. Guilty and broken, Francesca has hunkered down in the shadows of her life, resolved to play second fiddle to her dead brother’s memory and to her best friend Lisette, a blonde bubbly beauty Francesca lives vicariously through. That is, until she meets a young boy named Frankie Sky who bears an uncanny resemblance to her brother. Frankie brings humor and hope to Francesca’s life, but are all the similarities between Frankie and Simon merely wishful coincidences, or could he be Simon’s reincarnation?

Curious coincidences abound in THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO —not only the overlaps between Simon and Frankie Sky, but also Bradley’s gift to Francesca, Bradley’s bird sighting, and the ties to the statue of  Saint Florian (sorry, you'll have to read to know what these are ;)). Midway through the story Francesca starts to think these events can’t really all just be coincidences, but maybe are “something bigger and magical at work.”

Have you ever experienced strange events that seemed like more than coincidence and made you wonder if fate was at work or that soul and or reincarnation exist?

Throughout the month, I've decided to pose that question to friends, some writers, others bearing other artistic talents, for a brief account of their own experience with karma, kismet or a mystical connection. I leave you to answer the question, “Karma or coincidence? Random or something more magical at work?” 

I hope you find these stories as intriguing and lovely as I do.

- gae

So, how cool is this? Today, I have my amazing Algonquin Young Readers editor, Elise Howard, of THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO fame.

Elise, with ARC's of SUMMER at NCTE '13 in November.

Um, okay, maybe MY book isn't her only claim to fame, because, trust me, she has a long trail of beautiful books she's been part of, and everything she touches with her editorial magic becomes expert and beautiful storytelling (although she reminded me with her post that she's an editor not a writer ;).

Take a moment to scroll through her brand new AYR teen list so far. It's good reading!

Anyway, Elise had recently shared this short, sweet gem of a story with a friend, and when she heard about my blog series, invited me to share it with you, here, now:

My dad and I shared a love of gardening. He especially liked to find unusual and useful plants and tell me about them or give them to me, fritillaries among them. 

The summer after he died, single fritillaries appeared in my garden and in my mom's -- in spots where they had never grown before. 

And, today, on Valentine's Day, this picture (yes, fritillaries) popped up when I turned the page on my calendar at work:

- Elise

Please check out all of Elise's books and, of course, mine, out in less than two weeks! Also, don't stop here, scroll down through the rest of the week's posts, a tale of a karmic clock, an encounter (or not) with a feather and the ghost of Lincoln, a sign from cousin Skeeter, and a message delivered from son gone too soon. THANKS TO ALL the writers who participated this week!

xox gae

The Lure of Body Parts and Kissing my New Baby Goodbye

I've been in a sparkly, brightly-colored nail-polish phase (perhaps one I should title my Regression Period?), which, given my new penchant for open-water swimming, I suddenly realize could have some hazardous results.

Because while most of me is covered while I swim (wetsuit, bathing cap, neoprene booties), my short, shell-shaped nails flash beneath me in the murky water like a perfect set of ten sparkly lures.

So, now, I have visions of lifting my hands on each stroke with a series of sand eels and other creatures latched to the tips of my fingers.

In other news, I turned my new baby, my young adult manuscript which bears the working title Frankie Sky, into my agent today, which will receive a cover letter from her and travel on to my editor by tomorrow. Pursuant to my contract with FSG, they have the first option on the book. The few readers who have read the early version of it have given it a pretty hearty thumbs up. I look forward to seeing its journey. At least if it's a successful one. :)

Here's a brief excerpt from Chapter 4 of Frankie Sky.

* * *

I blink my eyes and look over at Simon’s cement frog again. The forget-me-nots are in full bloom. In a few weeks they’ll get this weird rot and turn black and we’ll quickly cut them back to the ground. But it’s okay, because already the bleeding hearts will be open, draping their white and pink teardrops over him. Those will last most of the summer. In fall, Mom will cut those back and encircle the frog in mums, and in winter everything will be dead, so instead, she’ll place a series of brightly-colored glass gazing balls around him. Because, in addition to all things drowning, Mom is excellent with her grief-appropriate gardening.

* * *
Now, off to paint my nails another shiny color. Maybe irridescent purple. :)