But then, once I finally finished it, I wasn’t sure I could sell it: Rampant teen suicide in the Silicon Valley that this famous, wealthy community—home of Steve Jobs and Google and Facebook—was trying to brush under the rug? An alcoholic cowboy with ALS trying to save his decrepit Wyoming ranch? A broken girl trying to find herself after a harmful relationship a sociopathic teen boy who happens to be her stepbrother? These are two novels at least. Maybe three. But I knew it was one. It had to be one. All these characters all had to fit into one story because they needed each other. (They just didn’t know it yet.) Their stories spooled out of my head in delicate, intrinsic threads, swirling together, weaving like scenes in a movie. “This is two separate novels,” said many NY editors. “I love it. It’s so well written. But it’s two books. At least. Revise?” But I couldn’t. I knew it was one book, and besides, I had the title ready to go. A perfect Crazy Horse quote I stumbled upon. I was stubborn and stuck, but I felt their story. It may sound crazy, but they felt real to me. I needed to tell this story.
Months passed, and when I was about to give up on Paint and all these flawed characters I’d fallen hard for, one night when I was lying with my young daughter before bed, an email popped into my inbox. It was from my agent Sara Crowe, who championed this novel from its initial spark. The subject was “Great news!” and the letter was a forward from my brilliantly gutsy editor Heather Howland at Entangled. I skimmed it lightning fast, blinking away excited tears. It said she loved the book. That she could relate to it. That, while it needed work, she saw, no she felt the story I was trying to write. As one story. One book. And she wanted to publish it! And with that, she brought this story to life, so all who tragically inspired it, in my small way, can live on. This one is for you all.
About the Author
Heidi R. Kling writes novels about contemporary teen girls set in fantastic situations. She’s the author of the acclaimed novel SEA, bestselling fantasy series Spellspinners of Melas County, and more. A native Californian, she currently lives with her husband, two children, and scruffy Sailor pup in Palo Alto, California, where she also teaches self-esteem building classes for kids. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School in NYC. Visit Heidi @ http://heidirkling.com or on social media. She loves to chat with her readers!
Discover more Entangled Teen books…
The Summer Before Forever
a Before Forever novel by Melissa Chambers
Landon Jacobs’s mom will throttle him if he even looks at his shy future stepsister the wrong way. Problem is, Chloe is everything he didn’t know he wanted, and that’s…inconvenient. Helping her complete the summer bucket list to end all bucket lists is the ultimate test of his sanity. But there’s more than their future family on the line. And when the secrets come out, there’s a good chance neither will look at the other the same way again.
The Secret to Letting Go
a novel by Katherine Fleet
When Clover Scott arrived on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents, she never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with Daniel, the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
Where You’ll Find Me
a novel by Erin Fletcher
When Hanley Helton discovers a boy living in her garage, she knows she should kick him out. But Nate is too charming to be dangerous. He just needs a place to get away, which Hanley understands. Her own escape methods—vodka, black hair dye, and pretending the past didn’t happen—are more traditional, but who is she to judge? Soon, Hanley’s trading her late night escapades for all-night conversations and stolen kisses. But when Nate’s recognized as the missing teen from the news, Hanley isn’t sure which is worse: that she’s harboring a fugitive, or that she’s in love with one.
Love Me Never
a Lovely Vicious novel by Sara Wolf
Seventeen-year-old Isis Blake has just moved to the glamorous town of Buttcrack-of-Nowhere, Ohio. And she’s hoping like hell that no one learns that a) she used to be fat; and b) she used to have a heart. Naturally, she opts for social suicide instead...by punching the cold and untouchably handsome “Ice Prince”—a.k.a. Jack Hunter—right in the face. Now the school hallways are an epic a battleground as Isis and the Ice Prince engage in a vicious game of social warfare. But sometimes to know your enemy is to love him...
Also by Heidi R. Kling
Not Okay, Cupid
Paint My Body Red Page 31