Without giving anything away, did you always know how the story would end?
No. I never do. I knew tonally how it was going to end, but I did not know how I’d get there. But once I got to know Wyatt a little better and saw where he was a tiny bit wounded, I knew what he had to do to find his voice.
What do you want readers to take away from Same Time Next Summer?
We are all great survivors, and we have endless ways that we adapt to protect ourselves. There’s a balance between being safe and truly living, and it’s our job to determine how much risk our hearts can take and how deeply we are willing to love. This is a story about returning to your truest, bravest self. And it’s an exploration of whether the safety that comes with loving someone at arm’s length is worth giving up the joy of loving someone with your whole heart.
What’s next for you?
I’m writing a love story that involves a skate boarder who is pretending to be a divorce attorney. And, no, I don’t know how it’s going to end.
Discussion Questions
Did you and your family have a place you would visit for the summer when you were growing up? Or possibly a special vacation you went on? What was your fondest memory from that time?
Who was your first love? How much of an impact did that relationship have on your life, and what did you learn from it?
Compare and contrast the feelings Sam has for Wyatt and Jack. Why is Sam drawn to each of them? What do you think is the most important quality a romantic relationship should have?
Is there a song that makes you think about your first love, or another relationship? Why?
What was your favorite scene, and why?
When you are stressed or need to clear your head, what activity do you turn to and why?
When Sam and Wyatt are teenagers, they each reflect on how different their families are from one another. How do you think their family dynamics shaped who they each became?
Were you surprised to learn the truth behind Sam and Wyatt’s breakup? If you were in their shoes, how would you have reacted?
If Sam hadn’t gone to therapy, do you think she would have gone down a different path in life?
What are your thoughts about the ending?
A Playlist
I don’t listen to music while I write because I find it very distracting. I can’t seem to concentrate on the words in my head when there are other words spinning around the room. But when I’m not writing, I am walking and listening to music and thinking about my story. There are a handful of songs that always took me to the beach or that felt like something Wyatt might write. And, yes, you’ll find the selection a bit eclectic—who, besides me, remembers Little River Band?
Songs that felt like Wyatt:
“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls
“A Murder of One” by Counting Crows “Take It Easy on Me” by Little River Band “Hold You in My Arms” by Ray LaMontagne “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran “Yellow” by Coldplay
Songs that took me to the beach:
“Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys
Songs to make Sam cry:
“Who Knew” by Pink
“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” by Olivia Rodrigo “So Far Away” by Carole King “Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits “Stay” by Rihanna
“Sam, I Am” by Missy McGee