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note to self: i’ll be there for you, always

written june 6, 2021. Photo by Kristine Cinate on Unsplash I have always looked for myself in other people. I think the idea was that they would somehow hold the pieces of me that I felt were missing. That maybe, if I wrapped my identity up in theirs enough, we would somehow make a whole person. It's not healthy to live like this, but I did it anyway — burning through relationships and searching for something I couldn't quite name. It was never enough, not to be myself, but it was never enough to latch my identity to other people, either. I got close, several times — I thought I had reached the pinnacle of self discovery. I thought I had completed myself. But in the end, relying on other people to help build yourself is never a viable way to do things. It's only recently that I've started to become comfortable with the idea of being enough, as I am, on my own. Several years ago, in this same position, I would have searched for another person to attach my identity onto,

Interrupted: Life Beyond Words

My thoughts on Interrupted, by Rachel Coker.

As an aspiring teen author, I was quite impressed to hear of Rachel Coker's accomplishments in the publishing world. At the age of 16, she's already a published author, and that itself is inspiring to me.

So it was that I picked up Interrupted. I'd heard about the book after hearing about the Go Teen Writers blog (which is a fantastic resource, by the way—go check it out ASAP). And I was really intrigued, especially by the cover. (Isn't it beautiful?) I wanted to know whether Interrupted was as good as it sounded.

It is. It's a fantastic book. And while it's not perfect, it is enjoyable. The story of Allie Everly kept me hooked, and I did relate to a lot of her adolescent struggles. (By the way, her full name is Alycone—how cool is that?) While I didn't connect with Allie in terms of having similar personalities or circumstances, I did love her, and that's what counts. I can usually overlook minor flaws if I love the characters. And that's how it was for Interrupted. (Sam Carroll was a complete sweetheart, too! I'm sure many of you can agree.)

As for what the flaws were, I don't even remember most of them now. The characters and plot could have been developed a bit more (but isn't it that way for all books)? The book does seem like a first novel and there are parts that could have been polished more... but that's okay. It was a good story. It was a story I enjoyed. The characters were ones I loved. And that's what counts.

The thing is, Interrupted inspires me because of the fact that it wasn't perfect. For once, I didn't feel inadequate while reading a published author—I felt uplifted. I felt like I wasn't alone in my journeys and struggles as a teenage writer. Reading Interrupted reminded me that my novels are good stories, too, even with their imperfections.


Rachel Coker inspires me because of the way she's managed to navigate the publishing industry with a professionalism and maturity far beyond her years. It is possible to write good & enjoyable fiction even at a young(er) age.

Thanks, Rachel Coker. And thanks, Interrupted. You both have shown me that writing & my dreams aren't impossible. Because of Interrupted, I feel like I can do this journey, too.

And that, my friends, is exciting beyond words.


You can read more about Rachel, her story, and Interrupted here: www.rachelcoker.wordpress.com.

Comments

  1. *nodnod* Inspiration comes from many sources. Glad you found this one :)

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  2. Ah, yes, the cover is absolutely beautiful! :D When I went to pick up my copy at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago, I was just in awe over it. The reverence at which I held it, stroking the cover, exclaiming, "Isn't it so awesome?" made me seem like a total book-nerd. But that's okay. Books are amazing, whether some people realize it or not. ;)

    Anyway, yes, 'Interrupted' was very good! I loved the ending especially. That, in my opinion, was the best part of the whole book! :D And Sam Carroll... yes, I think he was one of my very favorite characters! He and Irene. Irene was awesome. Period. ;)

    And talk about being an inspiration! Oh my word (no pun intended), yes! I mean, what aspiring teenage author who simply LONGS to have their own words published into a beautifully bound, hardcover book could not be inspired? ;)

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  3. Yes! It is so inspiring to hear about/read books by teen authors. We have a chance! We can do this too! And I do want to read her book...

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  4. Thank you so much for the sweet review! I'm so glad that you enjoyed "Interrupted" and that it was an inspiration to you! It was encouraging to ME to read your thoughts! :)
    Best of luck to you,
    Rachel

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  5. You've been tagged!
    To see it, go to: http://pathfindersfindings.blogspot.com/2012/07/ive-been-taggedtwice.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've awarded you! Thanks for doing the beautiful people!

    http://thepenofawdur.blogspot.com/2012/08/i-have-been-awarded.html

    ReplyDelete

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