Now a Major Motion Picture

by Cori McCarthy

  “I like your new aesthetic. Sort of cute punk.”

  I looked up. “Huh?”

  He smirked, and I didn’t recognize him right away. “Remember me?”

  “I do now,” I said. My ex-in-flight romance. Mr. Nerd Torso Tattoo.

  “I came here to see you.” He leaned on the table making it creak. “So we can set up that date we talked about all those months ago.”

  “I have a boyfriend,” I said. “And he’s definitely not you.” He leaned back, and I tried not to smile too wide as I inscribed a message.

  I signed my name, matching up my middle initials with my grandmother’s printed ones, and felt a little closer to her than I had a minute before—like we were sharing an inside joke.

  • • •

  “Five minutes!” a stagehand called out.

  I peeked around the curtain at the auditorium of people in full cosplay, Star Trek shirts, and Harry Potter house ties. They’d been waiting in line for hours, and the staff had finally let them in a few minutes ago. The ones closest to the front were decked out in Elementia gear and elf ears, and the excitement on their faces was infectious—and nerve-wracking.

  I tried to relax, enjoying the atmosphere and a rare day off from the internship Cate had secured for me at Vantage Pictures. I worked mostly in dark editing booths with eccentric coffee-enhanced film editors, but I wasn’t complaining. Movies were magic, after all, and making them felt like reaching elbow deep into fantasy of my own choosing.

  Cate, Julian, and Shoshanna were getting microphones attached to their shirts. Eamon’s absence was a black hole, but he was in the UK, filming a Downton Abbey–styled miniseries. I hadn’t seen him since he’d come to record voice-overs two months ago.

  “Hey!” Shoshanna yelled, drawing my attention. “Quit it.”

  Julian was pulling her arms over her head in some sort of relaxation stretch. “This will help your nerves, Shosh.” She threw him in a headlock, and he cried out about his hair.

  The Comic-Con crew rolled plush chairs onstage and the moderator walked out next, the audience cheering. You could barely hear him as he called out Julian’s, Cate’s, and Shoshanna’s names. They filed out and sat down. I moved to the corner to see them better. Julian’s expression was all fan love. Cate was trying to hold down a smirk. Shoshanna had on her game face.

  Ryder watched from the other side of the stage, peeking out like me. He gave me a thumbs-up, and I gave him one back. He was doing great, attending junior chef academy afterschool, which was as cute as it sounds, with the little white coats and toques. My dad went with him once a week, and between the two of them, the food in my house had gotten edible.

  As far as I was concerned, my dad was still my dad. After our talk in Dingle, we hadn’t bonded or developed a newfound respect for one another. Instead, we learned to give each other breathing room. Ryder’s therapist—who was now also my therapist—said we were developing healthy boundaries. My dad even surprised me with a solo trip to Ireland for my birthday, where I got to see Eamon and meet John Warren—a man who’d wasted no time in telling me every detail about my grandmother while plying me with potent black tea and albums full of photographs.

  I glanced out on stage. The audience was taking a long time to quiet down, and I noticed something strange. “One too many chairs?” Henrik asked, appearing near my shoulder.

  “Are they waiting on someone else?”

  Oh God, Eamon. Eamon was here, and he was going to surprise the audience—and me!

  The moderator pointed to the empty chair. “Looks like we have one more spot. Iris Thorne, will you join us?”

  Wait—what?

  Henrik gave me a small shove onstage. The cheers made my face burn, and I sat down on the extra chair, looking anywhere but at the crowd. A crew member snuck out to attach a microphone to my shirt.

  Cate spoke first, beaming. “We couldn’t talk about the movie without you, Iris.”

  “It was Shoshanna’s idea,” Julian volunteered.

  “That I believe.” Everyone laughed, which—Jesus—felt pretty good.

  “Do I win the pool?” Shoshanna asked, but Cate shushed her.

  The moderator sat on a stool, shuffling cards. “We’re going to run a small interview before the preview, and afterward, we’ll take questions from the audience. Let’s jump in.”

  I started to fuzz out. My heart wouldn’t stop storming as Cate talked about what the story meant to her. Shoshanna discussed having to harness her anger to play Sevyn. Julian said cutesy things that made the audience coo. Seriously, only Julian Young could make five hundred people turn pigeon.

  Finally, the moderator turned to me. I assumed he’d ask what my grandmother would have thought of the adaptation, but he didn’t. “Iris, can you tell us about your song? The one you wrote and performed with Eamon O’Brien during the filming.”

  The audience awwwed and called out sweet things.

  “Well…I’m not going to play it for you, if that’s what you’re asking. That’d be way too cheesy, but—” I glanced at Cate, and she gave a go-ahead nod. “The Elementia soundtrack is on sale in our booth, and my song is on there. Lucky track thirteen.”

  “How come Eamon O’Brien isn’t with us today? There are rumors he’s taking on the lead role in the next Wes Anderson film.”

  “Yeah, he’s signed on, but I don’t think I’m supposed to say anything else.” I played with a tiny loose string on the arm of the chair. “He’ll make it here tomorrow for the final day of the con.” I hope. People whooped. Some girl screamed. “Hey, that’s my boyfriend,” I said and the audience rolled with laughter.

  “Do you miss him?” the moderator asked.

  I was going to say something mature, but instead I nodded. Life without Eamon was life without dessert. The audience clapped. Then they began to cheer. Riotously.

  Psychotically.

  I glanced at Julian and Shoshanna, and they were smirking like they had a secret. I turned to the other side of the stage, and Eamon was walking toward me. Eamon with the freckles and the crystal eyes and that gorgeous, brawling hair.

  I jumped up. I jumped on him.

  He held me fast, and then I remembered we were onstage and had to crawl down him. We slipped into the plush chair together, hip to hip, his arm around my waist.

  “We’re shameless,” Shoshanna said over the cheers. “But they’re so cute.”

  “Everyone loves a love story,” Julian concluded. I barely heard them. I couldn’t believe Eamon was here. Right here. I stared at him like I’d never seen him before.

  “Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t fly fast enough,” he whispered, although I was wearing a microphone, and everyone got to enjoy his sweetness.

  I laced my fingers with his. “I think this means you win the marketing pool.”

  His crystal-blue eyes fell on my bandaged arm. “Iris! You got your tattoo without me?”

  I pulled off the bandage to show my untouched skin. “I waited for you, although I kind of had to fake it.”

  He kissed me, and the audience screamed. At first all I could hear was their cheering, but then I remembered how much I loved his lips. His breath. His cheek against my cheek.

  “What do you say we watch the preview?” the moderator yelled to the riled audience. The crowd screamed as the theater darkened and a projector lit up a screen above our heads. “Your mics are off,” the moderator whispered at us. “Feel free to talk.”

  “What if it sucks?” Shoshanna squeaked.

  “It won’t suck!” Julian snapped.

  Henrik came onstage, sitting on the armrest beside Cate. I beckoned for Ryder to come out too, and he sat at my feet. The opening credits filled the screen with Grandma Mae’s name, accompanied by the skin-prickling music I’d helped pick out.

  “I suppose this is a good time to let you know the first sequel w
ill be back in production by the end of the week,” Cate whispered.

  “Seriously?” Ryder yelled. I squeezed his shoulder, and he looked back at me. “Iris, does this mean we get to do it all over again?”

  “Of course!”

  Eamon grinned wildly, and I kissed him.

  “Cate,” Julian said. “I’ve been thinking. What if we wrote in a love interest for Evyn?”

  “Quiet, Julian,” Shoshanna barked. “I’m watching my breakthrough performance.”

  The movie began in earnest, and I rested my head on Eamon’s shoulder, breathing deeply. We were all taking off in new directions.

  Into the azure sky of this so-called fantasy.

  IRIS’S SOUNDTRACK FOR NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

  1. Landing in Ireland: “Free Life” by Dan Wilson

  2. Filming fantasy: “Manifest Destiny” by Guster

  3. Maedina’s Tree: “Into the Fire” by Thirteen Senses

  4. It’s Not a Tantrum: “Navy Taxi” by Kate Nash

  5. Ferry Kissing: “Love Like the Movies” by the Avett Brothers

  6. Recording Studio: “Blinded By Rainbows” by the Rolling Stones

  7. Yoga Bonding: “As Cool As I Am” by Dar Williams

  8. Giving an Interview: “Flaws” by Bastille

  9. Eamon’s Big Scene: “Cosmic Love” by Florence + The Machine

  10. Dublin Bender: “Then OK” by Julia Nunes

  11. The Thorne Family Legacy: “Mess Is Mine” by Vance Joy

  12. Filming Canceled: “Pompeii” by Jasmine Thompson (Bastille cover)

  13. Going Viral: “Speak Plainly, Diana” by Joe Pug

  14. Dad: “Wisemen” by James Blunt

  15. Goodbye Ireland: “Haunted” by Shane MacGowan & the Popes

  16. Comic-Con/Theme Song: “Do It Anyway” by Ben Folds Five

  GLOSSARY

  Film, Fantasy, and Irish

  BLACKENED WASTES OF THORNBRED: (fantasy) The remains of Thornbred Forest, burned to the ground by the survivors of Manifest, following the earthquake that dropped their city into the Kryeng Sea. Home of the Knye.

  BYERS: (fantasy) Half-Knye elf, survivor of the Blackened Wastes of Thornbred and Evyn’s abductor and eventual savior.

  CERUL: (fantasy) The island kingdom off the coast of Elementia, which is burned to the ground by Evyn at the end of the first book in the Elementia trilogy.

  CRAFTY: (film) Nickname for craft services, the food people.

  CRAIC: (Irish) Fun.

  DAILIES: (film) The raw, unedited footage collected at the end of the shooting day.

  DINGLE PENINSULA: (Irish) The northernmost major peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, containing the town of Dingle at Dunmore Head. Corca Dhuibhne in Irish.

  DRAEMON: (fantasy) Monastic community of element-worshipping women, just north of the Island Kingdom of Cerul, off the western coast of Elementia.

  DUN AENGUS: (Irish) Anglicized name of the Bronze Age prehistoric fort on Inishmore. Dún Aonghasa in Irish.

  ELEMENTIA: (fantasy) A dead continent cursed by humans and elves, which is saved by a lightning-cursed heroine.

  EVYN: (fantasy) Antagonist of the Elementia trilogy, cursed by fire, twin to Sevyn.

  GOAT: (Irish) An idiot.

  JUICER: (film) Nickname for the production’s electrician.

  KILLYKEEN: (Irish) Forest park in County Cavan, Ireland, straddling Lough Oughter, a lake that contains a small island with the ruins of the circular Cloughoughter Castle.

  KNACKERED: (Irish) To be severely tired—usually from staying up drinking.

  KNYE: (fantasy) Elves who were scorched during the burning of the Thornbred Forest, turned black-hearted. Blood drinkers.

  INISHMORE: (Irish) Anglicized name of the largest of the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway, Republic of Ireland. Inís Mor in Irish.

  LAST LOOKS: (film) A call for any last-minute makeup touch-ups before filming resumes.

  MAGIC HOUR: (film) The perfect light to shoot at twilight.

  MAEDINA: (fantasy) Half-elf Draemon apprentice who accidentally curses Sevyn with lightning at birth.

  MANIFEST: (fantasy) The prehistoric great city of humans on Elementia, lost to the sea following a massive earthquake.

  NOLAN: (fantasy) Elven prince of Norgatia, Sevyn’s mate.

  NORGATIA: (fantasy) The coastal northern woods of Manifest marked by white bone trees, containing Maedina’s mother tree and Nolan’s tree.

  ON THE LASH: (Irish) The intention of getting fully drunk.

  PANTS: (Irish) Underwear.

  ROCK OF CASHEL: (Irish) A collection of ruins situated atop a limestone outcropping in County Tipperary, Ireland. Also known as Cashel of the Kings and Patrick’s Rock. Carraig Phádraig in Irish.

  SEVYN: (fantasy) The heroine of the Elementia trilogy, cursed by lightning, twin to Evyn.

  SIDE: (film) Shooting script pages and notes distributed daily for the cast and crew.

  SHIFT: (Irish) Kiss.

  SHINY: (fantasy) Seriously? You don’t know shiny? To Netflix with you. Watch Firefly. This is not a drill.

  SLAG: (Irish) Tease.

  STINGER: (film) Electrical cord.

  VIDEO VILLAGE: (film) Reserved area for the production crew during filming.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I dedicated this book to a bunch of straight, white dudes. That doesn’t exactly sit well with me, but here’s why I did it (beyond my killer quote game). When I was growing up, these guys were my role models. Now I have new role models to put on the list. First, the female powerhouses of The Lord of the Rings movies, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Secondly, Edith Tolkien who deserves all the romance credit, in my opinion. Additionally, and in no particular order, Kate McKinnon, Ani DiFranco, Ellen DeGeneres, Cate Blanchett, Ellen Page, Florence Welch, Julia Nunes, and so many others who help us queer ladies hold our heads high. And while Cate Collins is a figment of my imagination, I have to thank Patty Jenkins, director of Wonder Woman, for helping me believe that Hollywood is indeed turning an important corner.

  The Lord of the Rings sat at the very heart of my childhood, and I thank my dad for reading it to my brothers and me when we were small enough to perch on him like birds. Next, I thank those same brothers for repeated LOTR viewings, Tolkien tattoos, and for nicknaming one of my exes “Nazgul.” Super classy, guys.

  An additional thank-you to all the friends I made while living in Ireland. Specifically, Margaret, Marla, Conor, John, Damien, Gabrielle, and Brian. If you’re in Dublin, don’t miss seeing Brian Brody play at Peader Kearneys.

  I’m so thankful for my detail-oriented beta readers. Specifically, Joan McCarthy, Robin Reul, Polly Nolan, and Lily Anderson. I’d also like to thank my film agent, Jason Dravis, as well as my friends in Hollywood, Eric and Liz, for meeting up in LA and making me feel so shiny. Another thank-you to my local Panera, who kept me coffeed, and for the SAGA writers who cheered me on while I wrote.

  A very special thank-you to my three wonder editors: Annette and Kate, who guided this book along its nerdy, winding way, and Aubrey, who started the fire for this story—with Dr. Jillian Holtzmann’s blowtorch. Another special thank you to Alex for being there for me through all my Sourcebooks titles, and Sarah Davies, my agent and rock.

  Okay, confession time. Like Iris, I grew up rolling my eyes at feminism. As I started to wake up to gender inequality—in the world and in my own family—I felt like Iris does at the beginning of the story: like feminism was a job I hadn’t signed up for. Now I am not only aware of my own journey, but also of the massively important intersectionality of the feminist movement. I invite you to head over to CoriMcCarthy.com for a list of my favorite titles that illuminate the powerful diversity inherent in global feminism, as well as information on how you can support the diversity and gender equality movement in Hollywood.<
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  Elementia is a high-fantasy trilogy I wrote throughout college and grad school, my feminist answer to Tolkien’s legacy. You can read the shooting script for Elementia and find out more about Sevyn and Nolan at CoriMcCarthy.com.

  Saving the best for last, I thank Maverick, my sword-wielding, inspirational mini-hero, and Amy Rose, who is the wondrous love of my fantasy life…and my real one too.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  When she was twenty, Cori McCarthy moved to Ireland with little more than her black guitar named Annie. Over the next year, she wandered the countryside, wrote hundreds of poems and songs, and went to the theater dozens of times to watch Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. Now, Cori is an author, editor, and teacher, and lives in New England with her family. You can find out more at CoriMcCarthy.com or tweet your favorite fandom GIF @CoriMcCarthy.

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