The First Time I Typed "Chapter One"

I had never planned to talk about this, thought my first book attempt should fade into oblivion with mood rings and the Bay City Rollers. But since it’s our Buzz Girls theme this week…well, here goes!

I was a senior in high school, and convinced I’d hit the jackpot in super-cool storyline and title ideas. I was thinking the big time:


Because I mean, who wouldn't want to read a totally depressing romance novel about a girl who not only doesn’t get the hero, but kills herself on the fated anniversary of their first date? Especially a book whose title that not only guarantees a miserable read, but gives away the ending:

SEVEN YEARS TO SUICIDE

(My husband, upon hearing this recollection, said, “You’re making this up, right?”)

Not only did I attempt to write this book, but I actually told people about it and was, quite frankly, disappointed in their lack of enthusiasm. However, to be fair, my mother patiently listened to my woes of the writing process, and gave me encouragement to keep at it. Even though the meet between the hero and heroine was so lackluster that I went back and edited it so that the heroine would recognize this fact--in other words, brilliant writer that I was, I meant this scene to be boring, people, okay?

This book crashed-and-burned, I am pleased to say. And disappeared when we moved a couple years later. I can say with full confidence that you’ll never find that title and my name together any place but here. But if somehow, out of the trash or the ashes, it reappears…well, I’ll either feature it on my website as a lark, or deny any knowledge of it.

Anyone care to weigh in on early artistic projects that still haunt them today?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, out now
How to Hook a Hottie, Spring, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009
www.tinaferraro.com