Tag: writer

creativity

How writing a screenplay helped me write the first draft of a novel

Christa Avampato
Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash

On Sunday afternoon, I wrote “The End” on the first draft of my new novel. While my first two novels are young adult fantasy adventure, this one is historical fiction. 

In December 1941 four friends graduate from an all-women’s college and seize new career opportunities in a world forever changed by war. I was so happy to sink back into the world of these four friends. The struggles they face are, unfortunately, highly relevant to the times we’re living in today. With themes of empowerment, being on the right side of history, speaking out against injustice, and the love story of female friendship, they’re determination made me more determined, too. 

I’m hoping that it will be the first book in a series. The subsequent books will share the very different journeys that each of these women take in a new world order emerging before their eyes and how their friendship will pull them through.

This story began as a screenplay in 2020. It was a quarterfinalist in 3 international screenwriting competitions and received great feedback. Since then, most of my writing has focused on getting my second Emerson Page novel published and writing my master’s dissertation for University of Cambridge. With those projects complete, I returned to my historical fiction screenplay in January of this year.

It turns out that writing a screenplay is akin to having a very detailed outline for a novel:

  1. All the dialogue is there.
  2. The scenes and their sequence are set.
  3. The characters and their relationships are developed.
  4. The plot is charted.

I wouldn’t say going from a screenplay to a novel is a slam dunk, no-effort-needed project. As someone who dreads a blank page, the screenplay was my map, a guide that helped steer my writing sessions and make them productive.

I’ll take a short break from this story (to finish the first draft of another novel that’s also nearly done!) and let the first draft build up some dust so I can return to it in a few weeks with fresh eyes. Then I’ll dive back in to begin the work of editing and rewriting.

I much prefer to edit and rewrite rather than write a first draft. I no longer have any blank pages. Every time I sit down to write, it will be to refine and improve what I already have. I’ll immerse myself in extra research (something else I absolutely love to do!) and I’ll add much more detail, polishing the story one word at a time. Editing and rewriting is gratifying work because it’s all about making the story shine.

I’m hopeful that this new novel will do well in the query process and that I’ll be able to find a literary agent — a goal I’ve had for many years. For now, I’m celebrating this huge milestone of completing the first draft. It only gets better from here!

creativity

The Joy of Small Things

Christa Avampato
The Joy of Small Things by Hannah Jane Parkinson. Photo by Christa Avampato.

I bought the book The Joy of Small Things by Hannah Jane Parkinson at Books on the Hill, a magical independent family-run bookstore in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, a perfect London suburb. My friend, Milly, took me there when I visited her because she knew I’d love it. She knows me well. 

The bookstore building was originally constructed in 1600, was once a tearoom and a furniture shop, and has a resident ghost who is a monk traveling from the cathedral in the secret tunnels running below the city where he does the flower arranging. The Books on the Hill family also has a dachshund named Fergus. I asked the bookstore team if I could move in. I think they’re considering it. (Honestly, was I switched at birth, and am I possibly their long-lost daughter?!)

Hannah’s book caught my eye because it’s about joy, my favorite topic, and it has a dachshund on the front who looks exactly like my dear Phineas, who passed away in January at the ripe old age of 14 1/2. Also, Nigella Lawson, who is an absolute queen, recommends it. Obviously, I loved every word. It’s a book of short pieces that Hannah wrote for The Guardian about everyday joys. One of the pieces is about her love for dachshunds. The topics are wonderfully varied from three-minute pop songs to local graffiti to trainers (for my American friends, these are sneakers) to cemeteries and dozens of others. (Again, is Hannah my long-lost family member, too?!) 

I read the book in tiny bits because I didn’t want it to end. Hannah is hilarious and thoughtful, and I’m sure we would be best friends if we knew each other. She’s also British, so the turn of phrase and spelling in this book are a joy for me and take me right back to St. Albans with Milly. 

I’ve long been a journal writer. On August 1st, I started a new practice: a daily spreadsheet (another one of my small joys) where I jot down what brought me joy each day. I set a calendar reminder at 9:30pm each night with the question, “What brought you joy today?” and I fill in the spreadsheet. It’s now part of my bedtime routine, and I love it. It’s become a joy in itself.

creativity

Emerson Page novels named Indie Author Project Select books

Christa Avampato
Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads at the Castlerigg Stone Circle in Keswick, part of the U.K.’s Lake District.
Photo by Christa Avampato.

Both of my Emerson Page novels, Where the Light Enters and Where the Light Leads, were named Indie Author Project (IAP) Select books, making the eBooks available and recommended to libraries across the U.S. and Canada. Curated by Library Journal and library editorial boards across North America, the books are chosen by editors and librarians from thousands of submissions.

IAP Select features NY Times and USA Today best-selling authors and numerous award winners, as well as emerging authors. This also means my books are now being considered for the Indie Author Project Annual Contest. Winners will be announced in November.

Thank you to the IAP Select committee for this honor. I’m looking forward to connecting with more readers and libraries!

 

creativity

The Ripped Bodice bookstore shines a light on romance

Christa Avampato
The Ripped Bodice bookstore. Photo by Christa Avampato.

Yesterday, I went to the Brooklyn romance indie bookstore, The Ripped Bodice. I went to brunch to celebrate my dear friend, Ashley, and we decided to stop in as we passed by since I’d never been before. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we left the world behind and entered into a world built, nurtured, and protected by love in all its forms. From the boho color scheme to the books curated with humor and spice to the friendly happy staff, the store feels like a joyful, knowing hug. Started by sisters Bea and Leah in LA, the Brooklyn store celebrates its 1 year birthday this month. (Of course, it’s a Leo!)

I think of romance as a macro genre of literature that spans many other genres as a theme to drive characters and plots. Whatever genre a reader loves, romance can be part of it. At The Ripped Bodice, readers can find romance books within history, historical fiction, comedy, mythology, young adult, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, literary fiction, suspense, mystery, and the list goes on. The Ripped Bodice also has a fantastic card and gift selection that induces smiles and giggles with tea, candles, chocolate, coffee, stickers, bookmarks, canvas bags, and more.

I’m so glad The Ripped Bodice bookstore exists. It’s putting love front and center in a world that needs more of it. Yesterday was my first visit, and it will definitely be a place I visit again and again.

The Ripped Bodice Brooklyn is located at 218 5th Avenue in the Park Slope neighborhood.

creativity

Can ecofiction inspire climate action?

Christa Avampato
Created by Christa Avampato using AI.

While on vacation I wrote my first full piece of ecofiction for a climate fiction writing competition. It’s a short story (5,000 words) that provides a slice of life in New York City in the year 2200, and grew out of the research I did for my University of Cambridge dissertation.

It’s told through the eyes of a journalist walking his dog who by chance meets the 90-year-old former mayor who galvanized the rebuilding of NYC after it was destroyed by floods caused by climate change. Biomimicry figures prominently in it. I tried to incorporate humor, heart, and redemption alongside the heartbreak, loss, and destruction. Ultimately, it’s a story about leadership, community, and vision.

No matter the outcome of the competition, I enjoyed writing it and plan to do more with these characters and in this genre. The predominant channels and messages we’re using for climate storytelling now are not generating the scale and speed of the changes we need. Fiction can play a bigger role is painting the picture of what a world transformed can look like, what it will take to get there, and how we might work together to make it so. The fandoms around fiction can be a unifying force for good, which is exactly what we need, now more than ever.

(I created the images below with AI, inspired by the story I wrote.)

creativity

The single best thing you can do to help book authors

Christa Avampato
My New York City book launch party for Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads. Photo by Jane Bakes Baczynski.

I’m truly horrible at asking for help so please bear with me on this post. The support and love that poured out of people on Friday night for the book launch party has me smiling so much that my cheeks hurt! All night people kept asking me how they can help. So here goes! The most helpful thing for any book is a star rating or review on Amazon. The more rating it gets, the more likely Amazon is to recommend the book to people. If that’s something you’d be willing to do, I’d be beyond grateful. Here’s a direct link: https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/edit?asin=B0CTG9P6GM

My heart and spirit are so full after an incredible book launch event and weekend. Friends and readers from far and near arrived by trains, planes, and automobiles to be there and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all your love and support. You are all a gift and I’m beyond grateful for every one of you. To have people from every chapter of my life altogether packed into the space overwhelmed me in the best way.

A big thank you to Matt Misetich for being my conversation partner.

Thank you Jane Bakes Baczynski for this photo. I was so focused on making sure everyone at the event had fun that I didn’t take a single picture!

creativity

Cut scenes from my upcoming novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads

Christa Avampato

Almost all my writing is re-writing. I write my first draft of a book in a month, and then spend many months re-writing and editing. This means a lot of content never makes it into the book. Now, for the first time, I’m sharing a few of these cut scenes with you!

Here are three cut scenes from my upcoming novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads. I’d love to know what you think — drop me a line. The novel is available now for pre-order and will be released everywhere books are sold on Tuesday, May 14th.

We’re Having a Party

Image by Christa Avampato. Made with Canva Magic Media.

—

A Stranger in the Night

Image by Christa Avampato. Made with Canva Magic Media.

—

The Scroll of Erato

Image by Christa Avampato. Made with Canva Magic Media.
creativity

When milestones converge

Christa Avampato
Me on April 14, 2024

Yesterday was a big day for me, marked by many milestones:

I’ll be sharing more about all of this throughout the week. For now, I’m feel so much gratitude for all of this, and for the people who made all of this possible. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

creativity

My letter to President Biden after the World Central Kitchen tragedy in Gaza

Christa Avampato
From World Central Kitchen. https://wck.org/

In the aftermath of the World Central Kitchen tragedy that took the lives of 7 humanitarian aid workers in Gaza this week, I wrote a letter to President Biden on Wednesday evening. The text of my letter is below. My hope is that my letter will inspire other people to not just post on social media but also to write to all of their elected officials and policy makers as a way of pushing for change at a system level.

“Dear President Biden,

On the news tonight, I heard you’re speaking to Prime Minister Netanyahu tomorrow. I know you receive a multitude of letters and that mine will likely never reach you but I’ve been so racked by grief at the tremendous loss of life in Gaza, especially the aid workers from World Central Kitchen, that I had to write to you.

This war’s made it unsafe for Americans to be abroad and unsafe to be Jewish, even in a city as diverse and accepting as New York City, where I live. This war is starving millions of people. It’s killed tens of thousands, the majority children and women. It’s maimed, disabled, and orphaned an untold number of innocent people. The people of Gaza are penned in with nowhere to go, no safe passage out and no safe space within.

I know the situation is complicated. I know the Jewish people have suffered for decades, for centuries. I know October 7th was a horrific unspeakable act by Hamas. And I also know what Netanyahu’s government is doing now is as cruel and inhumane as what has been done to them. The people of Gaza and Israel deserve better. They deserve peace. Netanyahu will never give them peace. And so, we have to use every resource we have to stand for peace: A stop on weapons, funding, and support for Netanyahu.

The second term of your presidency is on the line, and with it the future of our nation and the world. We’re asking you to lead, to protect us, to stand on the side of humanity and peace, and that means we cannot stand with Netanyahu. That way lies another Trump presidency, more anti-Semitism, and more anti-American sentiment. We and the world cannot afford any of that.

This war must end and Netanyahu must go. And you must be the one to take that stand. It’s as simple and as complex as that. I know it’s painful. I know it’s difficult. It must be done and you must do it, for all our sakes.

Sincerely yours,
Christa Avampato”

creativity

Early reviews for my upcoming Emerson Page novel releasing May 14, 2024 are in!

Christa Avampato
Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads by Christa Avampato

Five 5-star reviews for my upcoming novel, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads, which will be released on May 14th everywhere books are sold! I cried big, happy, overjoyed tears reading these reviews. They express everything I hope readers think and feel in Emerson’s story.

Some highlights:
“It’s Indiana Jones for young adults with much more magic and lore”
“A mythic quest exploring grief, creativity, and what it means to step into one’s power”
“Captivates from the first page to the last”
“Every fantasy lover’s dream book”
“Sleek and highly detailed”
“I couldn’t put it down”
“Unforgettable”

Longer reviews:
“A mythic quest exploring grief, creativity, and what it means to step into one’s power. Avampato’s ability to weave themes of inner exploration, imagination, and loss into an epic adventure is second to none. From the hectic streets of Times Square to Dublin to worlds unknown, I’d follow Emerson Page (and Friday) wherever their light will take me! I wish I had this book when I was a teenager!” ~Torri Yates-Orr, Emmy-Nominated history and mythology communicator, writer, host, and creator of the “On This Day in History” series

“With a healthy dose of adventure, mystery, and magic, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads captivates you from the first page to the last. Christa Avampato has built an immersive fantasy world featuring talking trees, superpowered teenage protagonists, faeries, and a host of other magical creatures. Imagine Indiana Jones for young adults with much more magic and lore, and you will end up with something like this. Keeping a brisk pace to the narrative, Avampato weaves an absorbing plot that keeps you hooked with unexpected reveals and twists and turns you never see coming. Emerson is a likable main character who finds it easy to make friends. She is someone you want to root for. I found the book very entertaining, and if you enjoy YA urban fantasy, this will be right up your alley.” ~Pikasho Deka, Pittsburg Post-Gazette, and NBC, ABC, and Fox affiliates

“Since Christa Avampato has incorporated the necessary details from the first book, I had no trouble picking up the threads. However, I advise readers to read the previous book first because everyone should enjoy this amazing series to the fullest. I loved how Avampato included lush descriptions of a cozy bookstore boasting giant tomes, a club brimming with memorabilia from daring adventures, a planetarium with a view into the infinite world of stars, and the Library of Imagination with all its grandeur. The visuals made me feel like I was there with Emerson, soaking up the moments. Although the story depends on the death of a parent and even portrays Emerson’s grief, it is nonetheless full of positivity. With talking and moving statues, hidden rooms inside ancient trees, and secret underground pathways, Avampato transports readers to an alternate reality. Featuring an unseen world teeming with folkloric beings, hard bargains, and strange rules, Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads is every fantasy lover’s dream book.” ~Shrabastee Chakraborty, The Chrysalis BREW Project

“Christa Avampato’s beautiful storytelling builds a magical world where human creativity has a tangible quality, and controlling it is the difference between life and death. The characters are crafted nicely with noticeable traits that the reader will easily connect with. Avampato impresses upon the reader the importance of developing an interest in adventure, honing leadership qualities, and appreciating what one can learn from books. Avampato’s storytelling is sleek and highly detailed, describing the magical creatures to such an extent that the reader will have no difficulty imagining what they look like. With its even pace and Avampato’s knack for dropping subtle clues in unusual parts of the plot, Emerson Page and Where The Light Leads is a balanced story that YA adventure fans will love.” ~Essien Asian, OnlineBookClub.org

“Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads has unique and creative lore that makes it unforgettable. Christa Avampato is a skilled writer who blends familiar mythology with imaginative elements to craft a compelling tale. Her descriptions are clear and detailed, painting vivid scenes that bring the story to life. The characters are interesting, with diverse personalities, backgrounds, and motives. What sets this book apart from other young adult adventures are the lesson-filled stories woven into the main plot and the thought-provoking riddles that serve as clues for Emerson’s quest. I could not put the book down because I did not want to miss anything crucial to Emerson’s journey.” ~Luwi Nyakansaila, Readers’ Favorite

“Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads is a captivating book that features intriguing characters and elements of Greek and Celtic mythology. The book is well-written, with a smooth flow and a unique plot. The lessons she learned along the way served their purpose in the final chapter. I highly recommend this book to all young adult adventure fans.” ~Doreen Chombu,  Readers’ Favorite