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Book Tour // Trouble is a Friend of Mine, by Stephanie Tromly (GUEST POST)

July 31, 2015June 11, 2019 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 1 comment
Book Tour // Trouble is a Friend of Mine, by Stephanie Tromly (GUEST POST)
I have a bonus post for everyone today! Throughout July I had the chance to read Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly and I loved it! If you like Veronica Mars and Nancy Drew, you’ll probably like this too! Here’s a little bit about the book:
When Philip Digby first shows up on her doorstep, Zoe Webster is not impressed. He’s rude and he treats her like a book he’s already read and knows the ending to. But before she knows it, Digby–the odd and brilliant and somehow. . . attractive? . . . Digby–has dragged her into a series of hilarious and dangerous situations all related to an investigation into the kidnapping of a local teenage girl. A kidnapping that may be connected to the tragic disappearance of his own sister eight years ago. When it comes to Digby, Zoe just can’t say no. But is Digby a hero, or is his manic quest an indication of something else entirely? Of the one and only Digby, Kirkus said “Fast-talking, suit-wearing Digby is an exasperating teenage Sherlock—sharply observant, impatient with social niceties, and unafraid of authority figures.”

I absolutely loved Digby and Zoe; loved that they were both snarky and the adventures that they went on. I was so sad when the book ended… I wanted more!

I was asked if I’d like to share a guest post from Stephanie Tromly, so of course I jumped at the chance!

Writing for Teens vs. Writing for Adults

First, I’d like to say thank you for inviting me to write this post. What I’m finding is that talking about the process of writing has brought me a huge sense of relief. Writing is a solitary and lonely activity. This kind of interactive thing, on the other hand, makes me feel more in touch with people.

I like to leave the best for last so let’s start with the struggles and obstacles…

I think the main thing I struggle with is keeping things from being too dark. I grew up in Manila, was a teenager in Hong Kong, went to college in Philadelphia, and was a young adult in Los Angeles. These are not the most wholesome places. The stuff I’ve seen…is not always appropriate. Sometimes, though, I feel like a little darkness is not a bad thing. I persuaded my editors (some of the foreign ones were freaked out) to keep the subplot about the pornographer gynecologist, for example. I mean, it’s an extremely disturbing plot point but you know…it happened and it was in the newspaper. I can’t put it any better than Cher Horowitz (OMG someone just told me I had to say Cher is from Clueless­–do I really have to?!) when she said:

“So, okay. The Attorney General says there’s too much violence on TV, and that should stop. Even if you took out all the violent shows, you could still see the news. So until mankind is peaceful enough not to have violence on the news, there’s no point in taking it out of shows that need it for entertainment value.”

Striking a balance between telling the truth and horrifying people is a constant struggle for me. I’m a nightmare to have at dinner tables that have kids present, by the way. My brother has two kids and he’s constantly shouting me down mid­sentence.

The fun parts? So many fun parts. I enjoyed going back and remembering my own crazy times. I loved turning real people and real events from my life into fiction. When I started writing, I didn’t know if it would become anything that people outside my immediate circle of friends and family would ever read. I would write a few pages and then email them around for us to have a laugh. It was all so casual…that was really fun.

Writing was also my escape. Do you know that geese molt their wing feathers and are unable to fly while their goslings are maturing? Well, when my kid was born, I felt like an earthbound goose. I started writing about Zoe and Digby because I felt closed­in and mush­brained. I wrote with pen and paper, in bed, in the dark. When Zoe and Digby ran around River Heights, I felt free and young and crazy again. There’s a part in Nabucco (a gorgeous opera that you should YouTube right now if you haven’t already heard it) where the chorus of Hebrew slaves sings the line, “​Fly, thought, on wings of gold”…even now, that’s what going to River Heights feels like for me.

A big thank you to Stephanie Tromly for writing this post and to Penguin for the opportunity to read the book and share this post. Trouble is a Friend of Mine will be out on August 4th!

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About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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One comment

  1. Loyal RUN says:
    July 31, 2015 at 10:12 pm

    You said something that really struck me. An "ah-ha" moment.
    "Writing is a solitary and lonely activity."
    As a young writer, I really excelled. I spent many days/nights locked in my room, unbothered, to write, write, write. When I moved out of my parents house I stopped writing for several years. The past few years I have tried picking writing back up but have not felt like I've had much success. I think the key is that I don't have time alone to ponder my thoughts and just write freely without interruptions. I won't be giving up writing, but it's nice to know that there was something missing this whole time. I suppose as my children get older, I will find more alone time to start writing, really writing, again. šŸ™‚

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. šŸ˜ PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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