I’m really enjoying my new work life as a social media manager, but one of the things I miss most about being an agent is working with insanely talented writers as they go through the process of writing a great novel.
Try Not to Breathe, a YA novel by my former client Jennifer R. Hubbard, is one of the last books I worked on before leaving agenting for the fair pastures of the tech world, and I feel utterly privileged to have had a front row seat.
Just as in her debut The Secret Year, which starts just after the protagonist’s secret love dies, Try Not to Breathe picks up in the aftermath of a catastrophic event: the main character attempted suicide before the novel begins. TNTB is about his attempt to navigate a murky new world of watchful stares, fraught relationships, and the first stirrings of not just a new normal but reasons for hope.
One of those relationships involves a girl who is dealing with darkness in her own past, and the way they come together is poignant and incredibly real.
I can’t speak for Jenn, but I feel like as agent/author we were really synced up in a great way as we worked together on some of the early revisions, right down to brainstorming about to the title: I had suggested an REM lyric, “The Night is Yours Alone,” (from “Everybody Hurts“) and she countered with another REM song from the same album: “Try Not to Breathe,” which is the absolute perfect title for this book.
Try Not to Breathe will be published by Viking one month from today – January 12th.
And today I am thrilled to offer a signed ARC to a lucky commenter! If you’d like to enter, leave a comment on this post between now and Tuesday evening at 9pm PT. This giveaway is limited to those in the US and Canada, and you must be over 13. And please only enter once.
Good luck!
Update: Publishers Weekly has given Try Not To Breathe an amazing starred review!! An excerpt: “Hubbard is outstandingly successful at capturing the frustration of not having the words, especially in a culture that does not encourage boys to express what Ryan is feeling.”
Dana Elmendorf says
I LOVED the Secret Year. I want this ARC! PLease please!
Crystal says
This looks really good!
phyllis sweetwater says
Sounds great, thanks.
nfmgirl says
Awesome! Please count me in. Thanks so much!
Marthapao says
This book sounds awesome and a bit sad. Will it make me cry?
marthapao(at)live(dot)com
CourtLoveLeigh says
eeeeeeeeeeeeeek! I've been waiting for her next book. I wants to win this thing!
sarahwedgbrow says
THE SECRET YEAR was fantastic!!! I'd love an ARC of Jennifer's new book. Thanks!
Karla Nellenbach says
this sounds like such a fantastic read! count me in, please 🙂
jeannec says
I enjoyed the Secret Year! This books sounds just as poignant.
Jen McConnel says
So cool that you can continue to see the evolution of your former clients even as you have shifted paths. I'd love this book!
LadySaotome says
This sounds like an excellent book!
Tasha Ivey says
Would LOVE to win this ARC!!! I adore Jennifer Hubbard! Her writing style/descriptions always blow me away!
Nancy Thompson says
Count me in. It sounds terriific!
abc says
I'm definitely a fan and look forward to reading this! Great title!
Care Morency says
REM seems to be a great source for titles.
Jaimie says
I'd love an arc! Thanks. 🙂
CageFightingBlogger says
Not normally my kind of book but this does sound interesting.
Randinetheblogqueen says
What an amazingly powerful title. The intensity emanates from it and, from your introduction,it sounds like it will do the same from every page. Can't wait to get my hands on it!!
A signed ARC would be fantastic!!
Thank you for the opp.
Randinetheblogqueen says
What an amazingly powerful title. The intensity emanates from it and, from your introduction,it sounds like it will do the same from every page. Can't wait to get my hands on it!!
A signed ARC would be fantastic!!
Thank you for the opp.
penelope says
Would love to get my hands on this!!
Marc says
Count me in!
cwsherwoodedits says
Would love to read… sounds so good!
Sab H. says
Please enter me! This book sounds absolutely amazing. i cant wait to read it!
Thank you so much for the chance 🙂
yabliss AT gmail DOT com
Crystal says
I Cool! Sounds awesome! Deleted last comment cause I thought I had to included an email. *smacks forehead*
Tea Time Consultants says
Please enter me in the giveaway!
Charlee Vale says
Ooo! Pick me!
CV
Dianna says
That sounds like a great book! It must have been amazing working with authors and watching their work get published
Danielle says
The Secret Year has been on my to-read list for awhile, this one sounds like it will be such a great read too!
Rick Daley says
Count me in for the contest!
WORD VERIFICATION: masham. I don't care what it means. It's almost a palindrome. I'm really tempted to make it one and not tell you that it wasn't my real verification word.
Nathan Jendrick says
Great to see your passion for books continue. When's the return to agenting coming? 😉
Kate says
Congratulations to Jennifer!
Kory says
The book sounds fabulous! Thank you for the contest. 🙂
Heidi says
This sounds like it will probably make me cry.
Vera Soroka says
It sounds great. I would love to read it!
Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban says
Would love to win the ARC.
Christina Kit. says
This book has been on my have-to-have list since the summer!
Congrats!
Thanks for the giveaway
ccfioriole at gmail dot com
AlleyPat says
How very cool! Thanks for sharing, I haven't read the first book yet, but getting it now. Best of luck at your new job! Alley
AnAlaskanGirl says
This sounds like an amazing book. I'll definitely be picking it up once it comes out, if I don't win. Thanks for the chance to win it!
Ulysses says
Hello. I would like to have this book because I… read… and stuff.
Maya says
Love the title! Congrats to Jennifer Hubbard on the release!
S.P. Bowers says
Yay! Thanks.
L.G.Smith says
Congrats to Jennifer on the new release!
Bryan Russell says
Come on Random Number Generator, my old friend. Do you remember how we went out to lunch together that time? How we bonded over bagels and Chianti (my treat, if you'll recall)? What good times, what good times, RNG. We were quite a pair. Sympatico. Remember how good that was? And we can have it again, I know we can. Just give me a call. You bring the book, I'll bring the mocha cappuccino. Just you and me.
Dawn Simon says
TRY NOT TO BREATHE sounds great! How fun to hear the story behind the title! Congrats to both of you.
I'm glad you're enjoying your new social media job, but I totally see how you'd miss your old role in the process. I can imagine how cool that must have been. Of course, being an author is pretty darn cool, too. 🙂
Adele Richards says
I love her blog. I live in the UK but have a friend in the US I will bequeath it to if I win. 🙂
tawnya says
Sounds like a great book!
Anonymous says
Would love to win. Email is jan30@hotmail.ca
Sparrow says
Neat!
Mira says
Congratulations to Jennifer on her upcoming launch – very exciting! I love the cover – goes perfectly with the Title.
Someday, Nathan, I hope you'll be back in the editor/guidance seat, in some way or another. You're just too gifted at it to leave it behind forever!
PancakeBlaster says
This sounds like a great book. I might pick it up if I do not win.