Haley in my novel

[Mr. Bill]

So I've succeeded in getting Haley in my next novel!

Hey guys, longtime fanatic and rare poster here... I keep an eye on the site but I don't write too much.

I'll remind people next year, but I thought you'd get a smile out of this: my forthcoming young adult novel, The Porcupine of Truth, comes out from Scholastic next summer. In it, two teens, Carson and Aisha, take an epic road trip to solve a family mystery, and along the way they learn how to connect to each other and the world.

The book has a bit of a soundtrack, as the kids listen to music a lot. Here's a snippet from Chapter 35, which has now made it past my editor:

---
We know we’re officially in California when, about 12 miles from the border at Truckee, we see actual trees. A smattering of pine trees along the hay-colored hills are a welcome sight after so much brown, and soon the hills illuminate, golden. I think: Golden State. Yes.
Aisha must be enjoying the beauty too, because she says, “There’s a line in The Color Purple by Alice Walker that says, ‘I think it pisses God off if you walk past the color purple in a field without noticing it.’”
I snort. “Far be it for me to want to piss the Big Man in the sky off.”
Aisha shrugs and we go back to listening to Haley Reinhart, who, for the millionth time on this trip is asking me where love goes when it’s gone, where hearts go when they go wrong.
“You think it’s possible that there actually is a God?” she asks.
I laugh. “I think agnostic dyslexics lie awake at night, wondering if there is a dog.”
She laughs a little. Something about the way she asked the question makes me think about how far we’ve come from Montana. Because that isn’t even a question one of us would have considered asking four states ago.
---
It's not much, but it's my little way of immortalizing my favorite singer. And if we get a movie deal, you know we'll be getting more Haley in there! :-)

xo
Bill Konigsberg

[john]

That is exciting news Bill! Glad you paid us a visit (and posted).

http://billkonigsberg.com/


You been riling up those Texans?


A Texas Library Association Top Ten book (2014):
Konigsberg, Bill **Openly Straight**

[Haleylvr4evr]

Congrats on writing a book! I would love to read more

[john]

Congrats on writing a book! I would love to read more

I would add congrats on the positive review of your book, Openly Straight, in the New York Times

....Being openly gay may not be a curse, but it’s exhausting, Rafe writes in his journal. “Always wondering what people are seeing, and feeling separated from so much of the world, that’s hard.” For many of us, that’s also life, whether you’re gay or straight. Konigsberg’s lovely novel invites us to walk with Rafe through his season of assumed identity and his costly emergence into honesty. It’s beautiful. It’s a story of salvation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/books/...l?_r=1&

Not bad, Mr. Bill

[Mr. Bill]

Congrats on writing a book! I would love to read more

I would add congrats on the positive review of your book, Openly Straight, in the New York Times

....Being openly gay may not be a curse, but it’s exhausting, Rafe writes in his journal. “Always wondering what people are seeing, and feeling separated from so much of the world, that’s hard.” For many of us, that’s also life, whether you’re gay or straight. Konigsberg’s lovely novel invites us to walk with Rafe through his season of assumed identity and his costly emergence into honesty. It’s beautiful. It’s a story of salvation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/books/...l?_r=1&

Not bad, Mr. Bill

Why thanks, guys!

My dream is to have one of my books made into a movie someday. And to get Haley to do the soundtrack. Openly Straight got optioned by a big company in Hollywood, but nothing is happening.

[Tusk]

Cograts

From the excerpt and the review John linked to, sounds like your material might be something a smaller, independent production would be better suited to handle than a big Hollywood production. Indie films usually are challenged by material that is engaging, character driven, comes from a different interpretation than would a mainstream studio.
They can shoot for subtlety for a thinking audience rather than beholden to the normal Hollywood devices that often dumb down messages to cast a wider net, reach a larger audience.

Many big name actors involve themselves in smaller production exactly for that reason. They know that their craft always needs to be honed, and the discipline as well as the challenge of working with a smaller budget and hungry, talented people, can serve them well into the future. Just an initial hunch

However it happens, it would certainly be thrilling, I can imagine Haley's glee discovering her inclusion, a sign of appreciation for her own craft

[Mr. Bill]

Cograts

From the excerpt and the review John linked to, sounds like your material might be something a smaller, independent production would be better suited to handle than a big Hollywood production. Indie films usually are challenged by material that is engaging, character driven, comes from a different interpretation than would a mainstream studio.
They can shoot for subtlety for a thinking audience rather than beholden to the normal Hollywood devices that often dumb down messages to cast a wider net, reach a larger audience.

Many big name actors involve themselves in smaller production exactly for that reason. They know that their craft always needs to be honed, and the discipline as well as the challenge of working with a smaller budget and hungry, talented people, can serve them well into the future. Just an initial hunch

However it happens, it would certainly be thrilling, I can imagine Haley's glee discovering her inclusion, a sign of appreciation for her own craft

Yes, I think that's correct. It's more of an indie project. We'll see! And that's the same thing Haley is dealing with. Not that I didn't love her debut, but it sounds like she's putting more of her own spin on this new project.

When the book comes out, I definitely want to get one into Haley's hands. I hope she'd enjoy the mention! The kids listen to a lot of Janelle Monae, Tegan & Sara and Haley.

[PotterFan1029]

So I've succeeded in getting Haley in my next novel!

Hey guys, longtime fanatic and rare poster here... I keep an eye on the site but I don't write too much.

I'll remind people next year, but I thought you'd get a smile out of this: my forthcoming young adult novel, The Porcupine of Truth, comes out from Scholastic next summer. In it, two teens, Carson and Aisha, take an epic road trip to solve a family mystery, and along the way they learn how to connect to each other and the world.

The book has a bit of a soundtrack, as the kids listen to music a lot. Here's a snippet from Chapter 35, which has now made it past my editor:

---
We know we’re officially in California when, about 12 miles from the border at Truckee, we see actual trees. A smattering of pine trees along the hay-colored hills are a welcome sight after so much brown, and soon the hills illuminate, golden. I think: Golden State. Yes.
Aisha must be enjoying the beauty too, because she says, “There’s a line in The Color Purple by Alice Walker that says, ‘I think it pisses God off if you walk past the color purple in a field without noticing it.’”
I snort. “Far be it for me to want to piss the Big Man in the sky off.”
Aisha shrugs and we go back to listening to Haley Reinhart, who, for the millionth time on this trip is asking me where love goes when it’s gone, where hearts go when they go wrong.
“You think it’s possible that there actually is a God?” she asks.
I laugh. “I think agnostic dyslexics lie awake at night, wondering if there is a dog.”
She laughs a little. Something about the way she asked the question makes me think about how far we’ve come from Montana. Because that isn’t even a question one of us would have considered asking four states ago.
---
It's not much, but it's my little way of immortalizing my favorite singer. And if we get a movie deal, you know we'll be getting more Haley in there! :-)

xo
Bill Konigsberg

Very cool! Aspiring writer here!

[Babbs234]

Hi Mr. Bill! I love that you've mentioned Haley and some of her lyrics in your novel! Keep up the good work! Thanks for sharing with us.

[thecommish27]

Mr. Bill…I am soooo excited to hear your new book has Haley's name in it. As one of Haley's former middle school teachers, I'll have to be sure to purchase the book upon publication so I can share it with my students….I guess I should probably check out your other books as well!