Published by Entangled
A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan
Publication Date: October 2, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Life is funny sometimes.
And not always the ha, ha kind. Like that one time where a hot guy tried to kiss me and I fell. Down. Hard. And then found out I had cancer.
I’m trying to be strong for my friends and my mom.
And I’m trying so hard to be “just friends” with that hot guy, even though he seems to want so much more. But I won’t do that to him. He’s been through this before with his family, and I’m not going to let him watch me die.
So, I tell myself: Smile Ellie. Be funny Ellie. Don’t cry Ellie, because once I start, I might not stop.
Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36103768-a-messy-beautiful-life
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sara Jade Alan wrote her first comedy sketch during second grade recess, then cast it, directed it, and made costumes out of garbage bags. Since then, she has performed in over a thousand improvised and scripted shows all over the country. When she lived in New York City with her college improv group, she worked as an assistant to a best-selling author of young adult novels featuring strong female heroes and was completely inspired by her books and the awesomeness of her teen fans. Spending a year on crutches, Sara turned to writing her own young adult stories and was hooked. Currently, she is one-half of the comedy duo, The Novelistas, who perform about writing and teach performance to writers. Hailing from a suburb of Chicago, Sara now lives in Colorado with her husband—who she met in that college improv group—and daughter, who they waited a bunch of years to make. She is a member of and guest instructor at Lighthouse Writers Workshop.
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I love my office. It feels bright and cheery, which helps motivate and inspire me. My good friend and critique partner gave me the poster you see that says, “Always keep your beautiful imagination & exquisite humor.” It’s a good reminder for me, and I think it could be the motto for my main characters in this book and the next. I get to work from home for my day job, so I like to keep my writing space separate in my office and don’t usually use my desk for book stuff. My writing routine starts at 5:30am with a short meditation, looking at this little shrine-of-sorts, which I’ve decorated with inspiring quotes from artists and humanitarians including Maya Angelou, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, J.K. Rowling, Martin Luther King, Buddha, Ellen, Carol Burnett, and others. Then I sit in this chair with my laptop and write from 5:45am until whenever my six-year-old daughter wakes up. I think it was my sister Theresa (who is also an author), who gave me the tip to stop a writing session in the middle of a scene, so you are excited to get back to it the next day. This has been great advice for me, and the fact that my daughter is the one to end writing time by climbing into my lap for snuggle time (my favorite time), has helped make sure I always stop in the middle of the scene—often mid-sentence!
Giveaway Details:
- A Messy, Beautiful Life Prize Pack, which includes A Messy, Beautiful Life tote bag, DVD of the anime rom-com Ranma 1/2, Disco ball keychain, Bag of Marshmallow Mateys cereal
Jillyn says
October 4, 2017 at 1:24 pmI’d love to do stand up. I’m saving up to attend Second City as we speak.
danielle hammelef says
October 6, 2017 at 8:05 amThe last book that made me laugh and then cry hard was The Fault in Our Stars. It made me want to see the movie as well as a huge fan of John Greene. So I’m thinking I’m on my way to becoming another fan of this author too.