Amy Mason Doan grew up in Danville, California and now lives in Portland, Oregon. She’s written for The Oregonian, San Francisco Chronicle, Wired, Forbes, The Orange County Register, and other publications. Amy has an M.A. in Journalism from Stanford University and a B.A. in English from U.C. Berkeley. Fun fact: She got to meet Judy Blume at a movie premiere after winning a contest. Visit Amy at her website, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Bio courtesy of Amy's website.)
Laura and Casey were once inseparable: as they floated on their backs in the sunlit lake, as they dreamed about the future under starry skies, and as they teamed up for the wild scavenger hunts in their small California lakeside town. Until one summer night, when a shocking betrayal sent Laura running through the pines, down the dock, and into a new life, leaving Casey and a first love in her wake.
But the past is impossible to escape, and now, after seventeen years away, Laura is pulled home and into a reunion with Casey she can’t resist—one last scavenger hunt. With a twist: this time, the list of clues leads to the settings of their most cherished summer memories. From glistening Jade Cove to the vintage skating rink, each step they take becomes a bittersweet reminder of the friendship they once shared. But just as the game brings Laura and Casey back together, the clues unravel a stunning secret that threatens to tear them apart…
Mesmerizing and unforgettable, Amy Mason Doan’s The Summer List is about losing and recapturing the person who understands you best—and the unbreakable bonds of girlhood. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
What is the inspiration behind The Summer List?
I’d been loosely plotting a story about two former best friends reuniting in their lakeside hometown, but for a long time I didn’t have much more than some images in my head and a few rough scenes. Then, three summers ago, I was camping by the Oregon coast with my family and a bunch of kids on a scavenger hunt ran up and asked me for a Graham Cracker. They were tearing around from campfire to campfire, so excited and caught up in this simple game.
The two ideas collided. I thought that a novel about two 30something women reuniting for a scavenger hunt could be poignant and funny, especially if the items on their scavenger hunt list forced them to revisit their shared past. When I got home, I started writing at a furious pace, and the story came together layer by layer.
In one sentence, what was road to publishing like?
The run-up to publication is equal parts thrilling and terrifying, but now that the book is out in the world it’s mostly thrilling.
What is one piece of advice you'd like to share with aspiring novelists?
Use a program like Freedom or Self-Control to disable the Internet when you’re writing.
How long is your longest friendship and are you still close with this friend?
More than 30 years. My grade-school friend Andrea and I lost touch when she moved away from our hometown, Danville, Calif., before middle school. We recently rediscovered each other on Facebook, and were shocked to realize we’d both relocated to Portland, Ore. We’d been living 20 blocks away from each other for years without knowing it. We’ve since gotten together in person, and she hasn’t changed a bit. She’s just as hilarious and warm as she was back in Greenbrook Elementary.
Since your book mostly took place in the 90's, what is your favorite thing about that era?
The music. I loved creating the playlist for THE SUMMER LIST. It has most of my favorites—R.E.M., The Breeders, Sheryl Crow, Queen Latifah, Alanis Morrissette, Pearl Jam, The Cranberries, Mazzy Starr.
Who was your first (non-celebrity) crush when you were growing up?
I had a big crush on my best friend’s college-aged cousin, who was staying with her for the summer. I think everybody in town had a crush on him. He’s a celebrity now, but he wasn’t when I met him in my teens!
Thanks to Amy for visiting with us and to Kathleen Carter Communications for sharing her book with our readers.
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23 comments:
I'm still friends with a girl I went to middle school with. We are just FB friends and don't see each other, so only communicate on there every once in a while.
My oldest friends are from my hometown. We've been friends for over 40 years and we still stay in touch, mostly on FB now since we've moved to different places.
My friend Julia and I were in diapers when we met and we are still best friends 57 years later! I'm an only child of an only child and she has 2 brothers so I consider her my sister.Her daughters call me Aunt Peggy.
I have friend from school in which I still remain friends with.We have been friends since kindergarten.
I am good friends with someone I knew (casually then) when we were in grade school. I am also good friends with someone that I met first day of college. The first is over 40 yrs the second over 30 yrs of friendship.
I have a few good friends that I have not seen in a few years unfortunately due to distance.
Being friends with someone for over 20 years is very meaningful for me. My friend has been helpful, kind and available and this was wonderful.
Looking forward to reading this book. Lasting friendships are rare over a long period of time.
So many people can come in and out of your life but all leave their mark.
My oldest friendships that I still see are about 35 years.
I have facebook friends which go back to elementary school, but for true friends, probably just 30 years (college)
denise
My oldest friend who I am still in contact- 30 years.
I have a friend I met over 35 years ago when we lived close to each other when our children were little. We have both moved but still keep in touch.
I'm still close friends with a couple of girls I used to work with. It's been more than 20 years and are always there for each other.
15 years & yes still friends.
I am still friends with a girl who lived on the neighbouring farm , she stated school a year behind me 64 years ago. We always see the New Year in together, and have birthday meals together. She met her husband at our wedding , he was my husbands Best man , both couples still married and we now live in the same town
My friend and I have been friends since elementary school. We met in the hearing-impaired program. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. Now, we only get together at reunions with former classmates in the hearing-impaired program and keep in touch through facebook. So, that would make it 53 years.
My longest friend is my bestest friend Melissa who I met the first day of 2nd grade when she moved into my town. We were 7. We talk just about every week, see each other at least once a year (we live many states apart!) and we are both turning 40 next year and celebrating with a Vegas trip! 33 Years BFFs - she knows me better than anyone!
years long, yes
I'm still friends with three of my childhood friends, although one of them is basically just through communicating on facebook now. She lives a very different lifestyle from me and we don't run in the same circles anymore.
My longest friendship is going on 20 years and we are still in touch, although life gets in the way and we aren't in touch as much as I would like! <3
My longest friendship was 30 years but when we reunited a few years ago our lives had taken different paths so we are no longer friends.
My longest friendship has lasted 40 years!! Our lives have carried us to different places and in different directions over the years but we’ve remained friends and are still very close today.
I've been friends with my bestie for almost 60 years! We were in the same hospital room having our tonsils out when we were 7 & 8.
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