“I’m running out of things to complain to Hari about,” she said one day. “We chatted about films for most of my last session. Have you got anything you’d like me to ask him? Any anxieties, worries…?”
I think for a while.
“How to deal with big, difficult hair?”
“Sozzles. He’s bald as an egg.”
I try to picture the lists in my Worry Diary. I know there were loads in there but the diary got chucked out with the rest of the prom rubbish and I can’t remember all the small things now.
“Never mind, then.”
MY WORRY THANK YOU DIARY
Agent Hellie Ogden (consistently amazing – sleeps with one eye open)
Editor Emma Lidbury (so many kind ways of saying “that is not a good idea”)
Frances Taffinder (brave survivor of one of the longest, most boring title brainstorms ever)
Illustrator Agathe Sorlet (making Lou feel prettier than a velvet jumpsuit)
Chloé Tartinville (designed this kick-ass cover and then introduced us to Agathe)
Anna Robinette (made every chapter heading beautiful and gnomey (gnomesque?))
Mum and Dad (another year of great parenting, I’m a credit to you)
Margot the cat (zero help in writing this book – quite the opposite)
Diarmuid (cleans around me while I stare at my laptop for 20 hours a day, so I named the smelly kid after him)
Holly Smale (always cheering me on, cheekbones you could hang a coat on)
Kirsty Gordon and Rebecca Folland (pulling my ass outta bankruptcy and answering my bewildering array of questions – there’s SO MUCH I don’t understand!)
Rebecca Carter (keeping me out of trouble while Hellie was away)
The Coven
Nat Luurtsema was a stand-up comedian for eight years until she got tired of talking about herself and having sandwiches for every meal. So she started making films. Her first short film was nominated for a BAFTA, and now she writes and directs comedy films. This is Nat’s third book, the sequel to Girl Out of Water. Nat’s teenage years were an over-dramatic turmoil of tears, spots and eating disorders so she likes to write happier ones for other people. She is also writing a series of picture books about dinosaurs, and they are being turned into adventure theme parks around the UK. Nat played Tallulah Bankhead in the film Florence Foster Jenkins. One day she will concentrate on doing just one job, but not yet.
PRAISE FOR GIRL OUT OF WATER
“The drama is pin-sharp in its observation of teenage angst and pressures. A perfect summer read for teenage girls.”
Daily Mail
“If you loved Four Weddings and a Funeral or Bridget Jones’ Diary then this book is for you. I hope that Nat Luurtsema writes more in this vein.”
The School Librarian
“The Louise Rennison of the next generation.”
Rachel Kennedy, YA-bberingbooklover
PRAISE FOR NAT
“Disgustingly talented.”
Guardian
“Wincingly funny.”
Observer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. All statements, activities, stunts, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated, as they may result in injury.
First published 2018 by Walker Books Ltd
87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ
Text © 2018 Nat Luurtsema
Cover illustration © 2018 Agathe Sorlet
The right of Nat Luurtsema to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-4063-7539-8 (ePub)
www.walker.co.uk
Lou Out of Luck Page 23