The Sequel to Life From Scratch…
…will be on bookshelves and online stores in April of 2013. The working title for the sequel is Taking Seconds. Um, but that’s not all. The sequel to Taking Seconds (which is really a sideways sequel that I’ll explain in a moment) will be coming out in 2014. Three books in the series — Life from Scratch, Taking Seconds, and The Other Man, all released by 2014. So more Rachel Goldman, more Arianna Quinn, more New York, more cooking, more blogging, more relationships, more sex scenes… and three weddings that may or may not happen.
Yay!
Getting a two-book deal is both wonderful and terrifying. (Please, publisher, close your ears for a moment because I don’t want to freak you out with my worries now that the contract is signed.) Part of me feels at peace because I know exactly what I’m going to be working on between now and June when the third book is due (which is the second book in the two-book deal). Part of me feels completely overwhelmed by the idea of committing to a project without knowing if the whole thing will sag in the middle. Because if the book starts sagging in the middle, I can’t dump it and start something else. I need to prop up the middle and keep the book afloat. Which I think I can do, hence why I signed the contract.
So that’s what I’ll be working on between now and June.
Now to explain what I mean by a sideways sequel. Taking Seconds picks up several months after Life from Scratch ends. The Other Man takes place in the exact same time period as Taking Seconds. Taking Seconds tells one version of events and relationships, and The Other Man tells a similar story (well, there are a few overlapping, anchor events) from a different character’s point-of-view. Think of it like this — two books about a few months in two relationships come together in a room, chat for a bit, and then part ways. There will be times when the stories will flow together, and places where you’ll be able to follow one character on their journey vs. only following the other. The point is to give you a panoramic view of a situation, but it’s also to explore ideas we hold about marriage and love and truthfulness and what we owe to our relationships.
It is so nice to finally be able to share all this stuff that has been occupying my mind for the last year or so.
So that’s the news… two Rachel Goldman books coming out soon.
* I really wanted to title this post: “I Can Haz Two-Book Deal.” But I wasn’t sure if that was proper usage of LOLCats grammar. I wasn’t sure if in writing that if I was asking if I could have a two-book deal or if I was saying that I had a two-book deal in hand. I Googled LOLCats grammar and discovered it was the former. And since I had the two-book deal and didn’t need another one, I decided to just go with the more boring “The Sequel to Life From Scratch…” one. Just felt the need to explain this.
43 comments
MAZEL TOV. I am so, so beyond thrilled for you. AND ME. Because I loved the book! Can I interview you again? At carmen’s?
So excited for you!! I’ve had Life from Scratch for a while but haven’t cracked it…with 2 sequels coming, I better get reading!! Congratulations!
Amazing. Wonderful, stupendous news, Mel. And I can’t wait to read the new books!
I can’t wait to read them. Congrats, Mel!
Hurray! How awesome! Congrats – can’t wait to read them…
Congrats Mel!!! That’s so awesome! I LOVE the idea of a sideways sequel! What inspired you to come up with that idea? So cool! Can’t wait to read both and participate in the book tours!
Congrats!!! I love the idea of a sideways sequel. I always want to know more about characters. What a great concept. Can’t wait for them to come out!
Thank goodness! I am chomping at the bit to read what happens next!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!! That is wonderful news! I can’t wait to read both of the books as I love the first one and have read it several times now.
Congrats!!
Woo hoo!!!! Great news! Can’t wait!
(I’m giggling at your last paragraph, you know. Too funny.)
So proud of you, sweetie. Congratulations.
xoxo
Oh, I am so excited for you! And so excited to read the next books when they come out! I loved Life from Scratch; your writing is wonderful.
Congrats on your deal!!
Amazing news! I LOVE the idea of the parallel novels. It’s just like Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow (and subsequent books in Card’s “Shadow” series.) That is very cool. Can’t wait to read them. Congrats again!
Oh, Mel, congratulations. I am so fortunate to be one of your biggest fans, cheering you on and your success is deeply satisfying.
Bravo!
Yay! I really enjoyed the first book, can’t wait to read more. Congrats!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read them both!
Hooray!
That is wonderful news! Congratulations!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to devour them! I love this idea of the sideways sequel. Hmmm…
A two book deal! Now I AM jealous of you. Congrat’s on the awesome accomplishment.
Yay! Congratulations!
Can’t wait to read the next two! And thanks for the enjoyable mini-lesson on LOL-cats grammar 😉
LOL @ your explanation of the title of this post. And yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay for more Melissa Ford yummy reading goodness!!! Huge hugs for you. 😀
Yay for me! I get to hang out with Rachel Goldman for two more years!
So very happy or you. For your novel-writing skills, not your lolcat skillz.
Yay! Can’t wait! Congratulations on the TWO BOOK DEAL!
wow! this is huge! so excited for you and the world of fiction!!! Here you go again! okay, so when is 2013 coming and when is the movie coming out?!
Fantastic news Mel!! That’s so exciting! Can’t wait to read them. 🙂
That’s amazing news, I am so excited! Congratulations. I can’t wait to read them! I am so pleased for you, though it also sounds like an awe-inspiring responsibility. I am also pleased for myself and the rest of us who are waiting for the next one! x
Congrats Mel, what exciting news! And I didn’t know there was such thing as LOLCat grammar 🙂
What great news–congratulations! Can’t wait to read them!
You purposely talked about feeling jealous yesterday didn’t you? I do feel jealous! congratulations!
That is awesome!!! Congratulations Mel!!! I am so happy for you 🙂
that is such wonderful news! can’t wait to read the books (and tell everyone I know that they should read them too)
Yay! Congrats! I can hardly wait to read them. 🙂
Fantastic news! Can hardly wait to read them! And congratulations! This is indeed something to erm… write home about! 🙂
Well done! Bugger about the lolcats grammar. A lesser writer would have used it anyway, you know, grammar be damned. This is why you’re the one with the book deal.
Congratulations!! Some awesome reading to look forward to. : )
Congratulations, Mel! What an accomplishment. The idea of the sideways sequel is awesome – I love books that tell a story from two perspectives, but I’ve never seen that in two separate books. Very cool. Can’t wait to check them out!
When this showed up in my reader I was really happy. I’ve been looking forward to the next book since I finished the first one. And that there is a third – wow! Congrats.
Fantastic! Congrats! I very much look forward to reading them.
I love the idea of the sideways sequel. And for some reason it made me think of sideways lunging.
OMG this is amazing! Congrats!