RELEASE WEEK POST FIVE






RANDOM “GOOD FIGHT” FACTS

· I decided that Oz had gone to university in Boston because I once spent a summer in Boston. This is before the Red Sox got good again so I didn’t go to any games. Also, I was broke.

· I chose a jalapeno plant for a plot point later in the book because I once (sorta) grew a jalapeno plant. (I can’t even keep a cactus alive, so this was a big deal.) We kept it on our back deck at work, and someone actually stole two of the three unripe peppers. We ate the last one, which was about the size of a thumb. It wasn’t very good and had no heat. I have not grown anymore plants.

· I originally intended to create a brand new character to be Oz’s secretary, then I remembered Jade from book one (Rachel called her “Jailbait”) and used her instead. I’m very glad I did, since she’s hilarious.

· The plot point of Susan’s divorce/daughter spending the summer with her dad came about because I didn’t want to write a book that had a child character in a major role.

· When Oz cooks dinner for Susan he grills radicchio and portobello mushrooms, which she doesn’t like or want to eat. I don’t like those things either, that’s why I chose them.

· One of the paintings discussed at the fundraiser incorporates human hair, nails, and teeth. I saw a picture like this once (sans teeth) and never forgot it. It was gross.

· Oz and Susan consider visiting a yurt resort. I had never heard the word “yurt” until I taught English in China and it was a vocabulary word. I was like, WTF is a yurt, guys? I didn’t even recognize the picture. The kids explained it to me.

· Susan’s a particularly big fan of Junior Mints. That’s my favourite movie snack food.

· I don’t know if there will be another book in the Time Served Series. If there is, it will most likely be Jade’s story, since as mentioned, she’s hilarious.

· I impulsively bought a Groupon while preparing this list.