Corner of Ocean and Bay
by Gina Azzi
Publication date: June 15th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication date: June 15th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Nessa Moore has
sought reliable stability since her father’s death. Now, she’s over it. Tired
of always being the mature adult, constantly worrying about her alcoholic
mother, stressing about being able to afford college, she wants to have one
normal, carefree, fun summer. And be more like her best friend Jacie.
Jacie Hayes is
struggling to overcome the recent breakup with her first love. The one that
ripped out her heart and left her devastated. Frustrated and bored with her own
self pity, Jacie wants nothing more than to forget about Dylan, to go back to
her old ways, her old self. To be the fun loving, live-in-the-moment girl who
gossips about boys and sips mojitos.
Best friends since
childhood, Nessa and Jacie have been through all their ups and downs together.
No matter what. Now, the summer before their senior year of high school, they
accept an invitation from Jacie’s aunt to join her in Lockwood Quay, New
Jersey, a summer beach getaway.
Determined to make
this their best, most memorable, summer yet, both girls push their own boundaries,
accept new challenges, and find themselves keeping secrets from each other.
But sometimes,
stepping out of your comfort zone has consequences.
And some secrets
can’t be forgiven.
Or forgotten.
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How
the Writing Process Surprised Me
Thank you so much
for allowing me the opportunity to guest post on your blog! My name is Gina Azzi
and I recently self-published my first novel, Corner of Ocean and Bay. The
novel highlights the friendship of Nessa and Jacie during the summer before
their senior year of high school. Primarily focusing on teen topics such as
underage drinking, family issues, and first loves, the novel explores how Nessa
and Jacie navigate these challenges and the impact certain situations have on
their friendship.
Now that I’ve
self-published, many people have asked me various questions about the process:
How did I do it? How long did it take? What steps were involved?
The truth is, when
I first began writing Corner of Ocean and Bay, I didn’t even realize I was
going to write a book. The entire concept started as a two-page assignment for
a writing course I was taking at The Writer’s Studio in New York. Then, I
developed the two-pages into a short story for a writing class I was taking
online at Gotham’s Writer’s Workshop – about two years later. Afterwards, I sat
on it for months and months. Little by little, I added more two-page ideas and
suddenly, I had a whole first chapter! It wasn’t until that moment that I
realized I wanted to turn what started off as an assignment into a full length
Young Adult novel.
But then what?
I was stuck.
I pondered for
weeks about Nessa, the main protagonist. I agonized over her social
interactions, her character development, her relationship with Z. And then, I
realized that Jacie, Nessa’s best friend, was just as equally an interesting
character. One who had just as much to say as Nessa did. Suddenly, I began
writing scenes from Jacie’s point of view. I realized the story was more
balanced if both characters were contributing their individual thoughts,
personal dilemmas, and histories to the plot. After this realization, the
writing flowed and I fell in love with Nessa and Jacie’s friendship – the kind
that you only ever share with your best, truest friend.
At this point, I
realized that the core of the story, the underlying theme of all the drama and
changes and relationships that occur in Corner of Ocean and Bay, is friendship.
I didn’t have this
fantastic epiphany until page 200.
Sometimes, you
outline. You have incredible ideas. You have great plans.
Sometimes, the
writing takes over and your characters teach you more than you can ever instill
in them.
I’m grateful that
Nessa and Jacie reminded me of the importance of friendship, how amazing it is
to let yourself be silly with someone who appreciates the wild in you just as
much as you do. Someone who really, truly, gets you.
I’m grateful for
how much I learned through writing Corner of Ocean and Bay.
And I think that
the learning part – the discovery, the realizations, the bond I experienced
with the characters – is really how I wrote the book and how the process all
came together!
When I give myself the once over in
the mirror, I notice the high flush in my cheeks. I’m nervous, excited. The
last time I had this look, Dylan was taking me to dinner for our one-year
anniversary. I was so excited for that dinner that I changed my dress four
times. Finally, my mother had convinced me to stay in my first choice.
Is tonight a date?
At nine fifteen, I enter The Tackle
Box, relieved that I left home before Aunt B came back from her card game. Or
was it bingo? It would be tough to explain where I was going without Nessa
tagging along. The Tackle Box is dark and smoky. Small lanterns flicker every few feet. There
is a guy and girl duo on a small stage in the corner, playing guitar and
singing. The booths have high backs, allowing customers privacy while they
eat. I scan the restaurant, looking for
Dave. It’s difficult to see anyone clearly with the high, closed-off booths.
Dave must have spotted me though because I see him as he stands up and starts
waving at me.
“Hey,” I say, kissing his cheek in
greeting.
“Thought you stood me up,” he jokes.
So, this is a date.
“Never. I just had to be fashionably
late.”
He laughs. “You’re so refreshing,
Jacie.”
I think I beam at him. Ugh, stop
cheesing so hard.
When I sit across from Dave in the
booth, I notice he has already ordered drinks, a beer for him and a mojito for
me. I raise my eyebrows at him and he winks back. Well, I’ve never been known
to turn down a drink.
“Cheers,” I say, raising my glass to
him.
“Bottoms up.”
Gina loves meeting new people and would love to hear from you! Get in touch with her at:
Email: ginaazziauthor@gmail.com
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