One in a Million

by Lindsey Kelk

  ‘Sounds to me like the kind of woman who might have appreciated having access to a ten-day weather forecast,’ I grumbled, passing over my technological contraband.

  ‘Come here.’

  He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close. My heart stopped pounding at the lack of connectivity just long enough to flutter. It was still so new and different, the closeness of him. The kind of connection I’d almost forgotten.

  Sam held his phone up above us, tilting it up and down until he found the perfect angle. My heart soared at what I saw on the screen. Heads pressed together, his blond curls meshed with my tangle of windswept hair, both our faces glowing. No need for a filter here.

  ‘Now, smile,’ he commanded, awkwardly adjusting his grip until he found the right button to take the picture.

  As if I needed any encouragement.

  ‘Perfect.’ I beamed at the digital proof of us. This was it, the first proper photograph of the two us together-together. ‘If only I could post it.’

  ‘The internet hasn’t been cancelled,’ Sam reminded me. ‘It’ll still be there when we get back.’

  We were a “we” now.

  I tucked the phone away in his pocket. It was only three days. I could survive for three days. Once I was back, we’d be rushed off our feet. Sam had his new book to finish and all his YouTube meetings. I would be handing over my clients to Brian, Zadie and Nat, setting strategy for SetPics, meeting with the new team, washing Wellington’s wee out of the mattress.

  ‘Maybe we keep that one just for us,’ I said, turning in towards him, winding my arms around his neck. ‘Just this once.’

  ‘That sounds like a fine idea,’ Sam said, his mouth curling into a smile, inches away from me. I tipped my head backwards, felt his kiss on my lips and knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. ‘But I’ll bet you can’t do it.’

  ‘It won’t work, Page,’ I whispered, nestling happily against his chest. ‘I’m officially out of the betting business.’

  ‘Look at you,’ he laughed, holding me tightly and kissing the top of my head. ‘You’re a changed woman.’

  ‘Maybe,’ I replied, snuggling in. ‘Just a little bit.’

  ‘Well, for the record, I happen to think you’re fairly close to perfect,’ he said, blue eyes meeting my green ones. ‘Right now, off the shelf, as you are. No alterations needed.’

  ‘That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,’ I said with a smile. ‘I am hashtag blessed.’

  ‘And I am hashtag starving,’ Sam replied. ‘Shall we go and see about those scones?’

  I nodded and took his hand, following him back inside the hotel. No one could really say where this was going but for once, my heart and my head were in complete agreement.

  This was the start of something real.

  A Q & A WITH LINDSEY KELK!

  1. What inspired you to write One in a Million?

  It was a perfect storm of procrastination. I was watching My Fair Lady on the TV and Instagram stories on my phone at the same time and the story just appeared for me. I started thinking about the way people choose to represent themselves today and how they transform themselves to fit an online ideal. The idea of a modernized version of My Fair Lady, tied into social media made perfect sense. I really wanted to write a story about the way social media impacts our lives without judging it too much. Social media definitely isn’t the bad guy in the story, it’s more a warning about how to use it responsibly. Also, Wellington is clearly the bad guy.

  1.b. So how many times did you watch My Fair Lady for research??

  At the beginning of writing, I only watched it once because I didn’t want to copy the story structure or anything like that. It was more inspiration rather than a straight update/modernization but I did listen to the soundtrack a lot. Once the first draft was complete, I went back and watched it a couple more times. It’s actually incredible at how they managed to retain so much heart in a story that actually treats its heroine pretty shabbily. Eliza fights to keeps her dignity and sense of self, which is so important, and I love that the ending is still somewhat ambiguous. In One in a Million, Annie and Sam are both equal parts Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, their dynamic changes a little more than it does in the movie and I loved that about them. They’re much more open to learning new things from each other (even though they both think they know best).

  3. Annie is not the only one bossing social media – you’ve got a pretty great social presence yourself and you were an early adopter too – what was it about social media that appealed to you? And what do you like most (and dislike most) about it?

  To me, social media is just another way to communicate and tell stories. I really try not to over-think it, I’m just trying to keep in touch with people I care about. It’s hard being over in the US, I sometimes feel very detached and alone but if you’ve got Twitter and Instagram, you’re immediately connected. People can make friends and find the support of a community they might never have otherwise met and that’s an amazing thing. But at the same time, you have to be strong enough to know how to filter out the more negative aspects, and that’s not always easy. Also, you have to be able to use your judgement and question as to what’s true and what isn’t, another thing you can only learn over time. What we have created is incredible; real time communication with people all over the world. I just wish we were able to keep it a more positive place.

  4. What’s your favourite social platform and why?

  It’s too hard to choose between Instagram and Twitter. I can watch Instagram stories all day long, it’s such a dangerous time suck. But I rely on Twitter for my community – I’m able to talk to other authors and other book lovers, all while I’m sat behind my laptop at home, by myself. That’s an incredible gift to a writer.

  5. You’ve lived in the US for nine years now, what do you miss about home? And has the internet changed the experience for you perhaps?

  Everything. I’ve been incredibly homesick recently and have a real love/hate relationship with the internet right now! On one hand, I love that it keeps me so close with everyone but at the same time, I have epic UK FOMO. Every time my friends post about something they’re all experiencing, I’m dying over here! But having that connection has made like over here much easier in the long run.

  6. What’s next on the cards for you, both book-wise and non-book-wise?

  There’s no such thing as non-book-wise! I’m already working on my next two projects and yes, one of them is a new I Heart book…

  And now some questions from readers!

  7. lisajade_wg: Which of your characters would you say is most like you?

  There’s part of me in all the characters but right now, I’m probably most like Annie. I can be competitive (although I have never hit anyone with a hockey stick) and I’m terrible at pushing myself too hard. I’m also definitely addicted to social media, just try tearing me away from my iPhone and see what happens. Obviously, I’ll always be an Angela but our lives are very different these days!

  8. georgieljames: Do you ever want your books to be turned into films?

  Yes, I would love that! I think it would be really fun to see them interpreted into another format although I’m sure I’d have trouble giving up control. Because as we’ve established, I’m a bit of an Annie.

  9. onceuponabookdream: You, Paige Toon and Giovanna Fletcher are my favourite three musketeers!! What do you love the most about those girls?

  They’re the best, seriously. As I’ve mentioned, life as a writer can be very isolating – you’re literally in another world while you’re writing. Having good friends who understand exactly what I’m talking about helps so much. They’re both so supportive! I always know I can text them when I feel like I’ve gone a bit book mad and they don’t think I’m a weirdo. Hopefully they feel the same way (because it’ll be really awkward if they don’t).

  10. Emily Ashdown: Who’s your favourite superhero and why?

  Much like An
nie, I’m going to have to choose Thor. Because he’s Thor.

  11. emilyswhitelies: Who was your first book boyfriend?

  I had a lot of flirtations but the first BB I fell completely in love with was probably Troy Tatterton in Virginia Andrews’ Casteel family books. He was so brooding and tortured and yet, so very handsome. This explains a lot of the problems in my adult life. And no, I know it’s not the coolest answer ever given but that’s how you know it’s true.

  12. ravija_m23: Name one thing that you always wanted to do but still haven’t done

  Visit Japan! It’s on the list.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  To Lynne Drew and Martha Ashby, ten years down – how do you feel about another decade? Because I literally have nothing else to do. Thank you for everything you do for me, it is hugely appreciated.

  To Charlie Redmayne, Kate Elton, Lucy Vanderbilt, Hannah O’Brien, Emma Pickard and everyone else at HarperCollins, there isn’t enough paper left in the book to apologize to/thank everyone who deserves it but trust me, I feel so terrible/incredibly grateful for everything.

  That said, I do have to give a special thanks to Felicity Denham for being the tour partner of dreams, thank you for being so amazing and patient and for always making sure there’s time for a nap. You’re a champion.

  To Rowan Lawton, Eugenie Furniss, Lucy Steed and everyone else at Furniss Lawton/James Grant, you make everything so easy and keep me going. Thank you so much for all that you do.

  Big huge mega thanks to Sunil Singhvi for his sage advice and wise counsel. As a sign of my appreciation, I appoint you Hand of the Queen (please note people in this role don’t usually live that long but still, you get a nice badge).

  So many people held me up during this one and you all deserve a hug from the Marvel Avenger of your choice. Unfortunately, that is not within my power and all I can do is say thank you, so, for putting up with my nonsense/plying me with booze/talking me off the ledge/humouring my cat videos/making excellent online content and/or books/not delivering the next Game of Thrones book so I had time to get my own book finished*. THANK YOU to Rebecca Alimena, Della Bolat, Ryan Child, Kevin Dickson, Giovanna Fletcher, Emma Gunavardhana, Harry Hadfield, George RR Martin, Karl Morgan, Mhairi McFarlane, Louise Pentland, Paige Toon, Terri White, my brother, my boyfriend, my aunt, other people’s pets and the entire WWE roster. Except the ones I don’t like.

  *delete as appropriate

  Discover Lindsey’s Girl series …

  ‘Fans of the I Heart series will instantly fall

  for this gorgeously funny and romantic read’ Closer

  Click here to buy ABOUT A GIRL now

  978-0-00-749799-7

  Click here to buy WHAT A GIRL WANTS now

  978-0-00-750155-7

  Click here to buy A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND now

  978-0-00-758238-9

  Catch up on the rest of Lindsey’s I HEART series!

  Click here to buy I Heart New York

  978-0-00-733160-4

  Click here to buy I Heart Hollywood

  978-0-00-735316-3

  Click here to buy I Heart Paris

  978-0-00-736867-9

  Click here to buy I Heart Vegas

  978-0-00-738345-0

  Click here to buy I Heart London

  978-0-00-738373-3

  Click here to buy I Heart Christmas

  978-0-00-750152-6

  Click here to buy I Heart Forever

  978-0-00-823683-0

  If you love Lindsey’s series, why not try one of her standalones

  Click here to buy now 9780007582426

  Click here to buy now 978-0-00-758234-1

  Click here to buy now 9780007383757

  About the Author

  Lindsey Kelk is an author, journalist and prolific tweeter. Born and brought up in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, she worked as a sales assistant, a PR, a silver service waitress and a children’s editor before moving to New York and becoming a full-time writer. She now lives in LA.

  Lindsey has written fourteen novels, including the I Heart books and the Girl series, as well as several standalones. A fan of lipstick, pro-wrestling and cats (although not all at the same time), she co-hosts the beauty podcast, Full Coverage, with make-up artist, Harriet Hadfield.

  You can find out lots more about her here: http://lindseykelk.com and on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @LindseyKelk.

  Also by Lindsey Kelk

  I Heart series

  I Heart New York

  I Heart Hollywood

  I Heart Paris

  I Heart Vegas

  I Heart London

  I Heart Christmas

  I Heart Forever

  Girl series

  About a Girl

  What a Girl Wants

  A Girl’s Best Friend

  Standalones

  The Single Girl’s To-Do List

  Always the Bridesmaid

  We Were on a Break

  Novellas only available on ebook

  Jenny Lopez Has a Bad Week

  Jenny Lopez Saves Christmas

  About the Publisher

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