Nora Zelevansky's Blog
April 26, 2021
Library Journal Review!
Hi!
Time has moved so strangely over the course of the last 14 months or so that it's hard to even get a handle on the fact that it's now nearly May...2021?!
When I first received my publication date for COMPETITIVE GRIEVING, I thought it seemed like a millennia away. But now it's in just over two weeks! How did that happen?
So wonderful to wake up on a Monday morning to this lovely Library Journal review of the book. Gotta bask in the good ones! So grateful. See below!
xo - N.
Library Journal on COMPETITIVE GRIEVING
Thirtysomething Wren is a writer for a nonprofit in New York City. The death of her best friend Stewart throws her into complete chaos. Stewart and Wren—whose mothers had first met during pregnancy—stayed connected throughout school and college, and into early adulthood. In that time, Stewart became slightly famous for starring in a sitcom, and Wren continued to be his touchstone. In the aftermath of Stewart’s sudden death, Wren is thrust into his family drama. Stewart’s family, including his tightly wound mother and free-spirited sister, rely on Wren to assist with his funeral. Worst of all are Stewart’s many vulturous friends: his publicist who pretends they were “extremely close”; his cloying actor friends who just want memorabilia to hoard or possibly sell on eBay. Wren’s disgusted by all of them, except for Stewart’s attorney and friend George. She becomes obsessed with the process of death; in every interaction, she imagines that person’s cause of death, their funeral service, even what the memorial buffet might offer. These musings help Wren contend with the gaping hole that Stewart’s death leaves in her life.
VERDICT Zelevansky’s (Will You Won’t You Want Me?) quirky novel is a heartfelt look at a lifelong friendship and the impact of a friend’s death, which can also open a door in one’s heart to allow others in.
Time has moved so strangely over the course of the last 14 months or so that it's hard to even get a handle on the fact that it's now nearly May...2021?!
When I first received my publication date for COMPETITIVE GRIEVING, I thought it seemed like a millennia away. But now it's in just over two weeks! How did that happen?
So wonderful to wake up on a Monday morning to this lovely Library Journal review of the book. Gotta bask in the good ones! So grateful. See below!
xo - N.
Library Journal on COMPETITIVE GRIEVING
Thirtysomething Wren is a writer for a nonprofit in New York City. The death of her best friend Stewart throws her into complete chaos. Stewart and Wren—whose mothers had first met during pregnancy—stayed connected throughout school and college, and into early adulthood. In that time, Stewart became slightly famous for starring in a sitcom, and Wren continued to be his touchstone. In the aftermath of Stewart’s sudden death, Wren is thrust into his family drama. Stewart’s family, including his tightly wound mother and free-spirited sister, rely on Wren to assist with his funeral. Worst of all are Stewart’s many vulturous friends: his publicist who pretends they were “extremely close”; his cloying actor friends who just want memorabilia to hoard or possibly sell on eBay. Wren’s disgusted by all of them, except for Stewart’s attorney and friend George. She becomes obsessed with the process of death; in every interaction, she imagines that person’s cause of death, their funeral service, even what the memorial buffet might offer. These musings help Wren contend with the gaping hole that Stewart’s death leaves in her life.
VERDICT Zelevansky’s (Will You Won’t You Want Me?) quirky novel is a heartfelt look at a lifelong friendship and the impact of a friend’s death, which can also open a door in one’s heart to allow others in.
February 9, 2021
Text Friendships In Covid
Just sharing an essay I wrote for Medium about how ongoing text chains have kept me sane -- and my friendships strong -- in Covid. Turns out, I'm not alone! So many women seem to be having the same experience:
https://noradz.medium.com/text-chains...
https://noradz.medium.com/text-chains...
November 19, 2020
GALLEY TIME!
I will never forget the moment when I held the galley of my first book in my hand. I happened to be in the Flatiron District in NYC when my lovely editor at St. Martin's Press emailed me to say they had arrived. "Why don't you come over and get one?" she suggested, as their offices were in the area.
I road the pre-war elevator up and, when she handed me the arc with a smile, I was overcome. A galley looks and feels like a real book -- and this was the first time I was seeing my manuscript, my words, as an actual, physical novel!
I held it together in front of her, thankfully, but when I boarded the elevator to ride back down, I was vibrating with adrenalin. In fact, I was so distracted that I got off at -- not one, not two, but THREE -- wrong floors before arriving in the lobby and shuffling outside.
On the sidewalk, I clutched that galley to my chest like a baby and cried.
Sooo, it's safe to say that I love the galley stage of the publishing process (which is also the first time that multiple strangers begin reading the book -- uh oh) -- and that remained true this time around, when Blackstone Publishing sent me a box of (literally and truly) the most beautiful galleys! So much shinier and more polished than I could have imagined.
At a time in the world that feels very much in flux, it feels so fortunate to have a glimpse of the future in this promising form.
xo - N.
I road the pre-war elevator up and, when she handed me the arc with a smile, I was overcome. A galley looks and feels like a real book -- and this was the first time I was seeing my manuscript, my words, as an actual, physical novel!
I held it together in front of her, thankfully, but when I boarded the elevator to ride back down, I was vibrating with adrenalin. In fact, I was so distracted that I got off at -- not one, not two, but THREE -- wrong floors before arriving in the lobby and shuffling outside.
On the sidewalk, I clutched that galley to my chest like a baby and cried.
Sooo, it's safe to say that I love the galley stage of the publishing process (which is also the first time that multiple strangers begin reading the book -- uh oh) -- and that remained true this time around, when Blackstone Publishing sent me a box of (literally and truly) the most beautiful galleys! So much shinier and more polished than I could have imagined.
At a time in the world that feels very much in flux, it feels so fortunate to have a glimpse of the future in this promising form.
xo - N.
September 2, 2020
COVER REVEAL!
Hi!
I'm beyond excited to share that my upcoming novel, COMPETITIVE GRIEVING, is set to come out in May 2021!
Today, we finalized the cover and I wanted to share it here. It's no easy task to come up with the right cover for a dark comedy about death and love. That's a lot to encompass in one image! Luckily, I had the amazing designer, Zena Kanes, on my side.
Have a look! I hope you love it as much as I do.
Competitive Grieving
xo - Nora
I'm beyond excited to share that my upcoming novel, COMPETITIVE GRIEVING, is set to come out in May 2021!
Today, we finalized the cover and I wanted to share it here. It's no easy task to come up with the right cover for a dark comedy about death and love. That's a lot to encompass in one image! Luckily, I had the amazing designer, Zena Kanes, on my side.
Have a look! I hope you love it as much as I do.
Competitive Grieving
xo - Nora
