About PLANNED

"My last encounter with Sam was in the produce department, where he caught me with a cucumber in my hand and cracked a smile, ready to comment..
     "Don't say it," I said, "I do not want to hear it."
He laughed and said, "hi there, beautiful. I'm not sure what you think I was going to say, but considering the cucumber you're holding there, I imagine it's not rated PG."
     "How would I know what you would have said?"
     I sighed when I realized that I had just given him more reason to continue this useless conversation.
     "Indeed, how would you know. And so it is interesting that you assumed I was going to say something that you didn't want to hear."
     "Sam, has anyone ever told you that it is impossible to have a conversation with you?"
     "Actually, I've been told that conversations with me are invigorating and fun." He was hands on hips, taking a quick peek, into my shopping cart. I loved his confidence, and I also hated it.
     "Well, I have to go. Nice talking to you." I felt so lame for saying this to him, I actually let out a sigh.
     "Is it really that difficult? I was hoping to make up with you, and maybe invite you to my place for coffee."
     "Your place?"
     "The shop, not my apartment of course. I would not dare... Besides, I'd like you to meet my sister. I've told her about you. She wants to meet you."
     I frowned. "What am I, a piece of meat or something? If your sister wants to meet me, she'll have to come by my house and introduce herself to me."
     "It's a deal then. We'll be there Saturday night at eight. I'll bring wine," he said, waved his hand good-bye and took off.
     I stood with my cucumber, staring after him, confused and a little angry.
     "Hey, wait," I called and waved wildly with the cucumber. But Sam was long gone, and an elderly man shook his head at me.
     "He just assumes I like wine." I mumbled and tossed the cucumber into my cart.
     Sam had just broken all the rules that were important to me. He confused me. He invited himself over to my house. And he would bring his sister."

This excerpt is taken from the beginning of the book, of course. Claire, my protagonist (and a real jerk!), has just met Sam, and, unlike all the other men she has ever met and dated, she cannot read him, and therefore finds it difficult to keep her composure. She is independent and strong, advises women to stay away from marriage and children, and I will guarantee that you are not going to like her one bit. Well, at the beginning at least. Because she learns a few difficult lessons throughout the story, and by the end of the book, she has turned over a new leaf, and is actually quite likeable.

I had the idea for this book years ago, and in my imagination it took a completely different turn, than what finally poured out of me during National Novel Writing Month in 2009. Yes, I wrote this story in 30 days... Of course then I took about a year to actually edit and publish it. My hesitation came from the fact, that I'm a German native speaker, rather than an American. I felt self conscious about putting my work out there for everyone to read. But luckily I had my best friend, who read the whole thing, laughed and cried at all the right places, and encouraged me to "just do it". And so I did. 


A word of warning: This is a romantic comedy (not an erotic romance novel). It is an easy read, something you can read on a plane, or while sitting out in the sun, or on a rainy day. I hope you enjoy the story... and if you do, I would appreciate a positive review on Amazon. The more the better!