Little Pretty Things for Everyone: A Second Book Gets a First Draft

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Thematically relevant to my book and also how I feel after typing “The End.” Like a frigging CHAMP.

Update on the second book? You want an update? YOU GET AN UPDATE.

“The. End.”

Typing that Sunday night, last night—after so much thrashing and kvetching—is as satisfying as it gets.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s a steaming pile right now. I look forward to revision, for the chance to make it something you’d want to read. I have until December 1 to do that, and then it will be on the shelf sometime in July 2015.

Hell to the Yeah.

I wrote 4347 words on Sunday to finish the draft. Man, if I’d had a few more 4,000-word days, it wouldn’t have taken so long. I spent all weekend listening to one song. This song is this book’s spirit animal. Also this one. (I’m too old to understand the video, I think.) OK, the whole album, on rotation. I know. I’m a teenage girl.

OH, WAIT. No I’m not, but I’m writing about some, and also some women who used to be teen girls and aren’t quite done with it.

LITTLE PRETTY THINGS

Juliet Townsend cleans hotel rooms at the Midnight Inn, a half-star hovel that attracts only the cheap or the desperate. Stuck in her small-town Indiana life since her father died and dashed her hopes at affording college, Juliet lives cheap and desperate, too. Her pittance salary is occasionally supplemented by a day of substitute teaching—baby-sitting—at her old high school, all of it barely enough to keep her and her depressed, housebound mother afloat. But not enough to keep Juliet from wanting more—and occasionally taking what she wants. Then her former best friend and high school track team rival, Maddy Bell, checks in for a night at the Midnight, reminding Juliet of all the things she once wanted to be. That is, until Juliet finds Maddy’s body the next morning.

 

I really like typing The End. It’s silly, but when you get the chance, DO IT. You will not be sorry. Also, your trophy can be a glass of wine.

Author: Lori Rader-Day

Lori Rader-Day is the author of the mystery THE BLACK HOUR (Seventh Street Books, July 2014). She grew up in central Indiana, but now lives in Chicago with her husband and very spoiled dog.

10 Replies to “Little Pretty Things for Everyone: A Second Book Gets a First Draft”

  1. Congrats, Lori! The next novel sounds great — so is there a parallel plotline kind of thing — some scenes back when they were teenagers? Curious about the plot structure …

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