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Author Allison Winn Scotch on The One That I Want, First Love, and What-Ifs

Tara Block — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:10:19 PDT

In The One That I Want (paperback out today), 32-year-old Tilly Farmer is an optimistic school guidance counselor convinced all she needs to be happy is her perfect high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and the future baby she's trying to have with him. But after a childhood friend cryptically gives her "the gift of clarity" she begins to see visions from her future, and they aren't according to the plan she's mapped out for herself. In this story about family struggles, being stuck in the past, and second chances, Tilly must decide if the life she so carefully put together is really the one that she wants. I spoke with the novel's author, Allison Winn Scotch, about first loves, what-ifs, and what she would tell her 17-year-old self.

TrèsSugar: Did you draw inspiration for the book's protagonist, Tilly, from your own life? Do you share personality traits and characteristics with her?

Allison Winn Scotch: I related a lot to the characters in [my second book] Time of My Life, and I wanted to push myself. With Tilly she was really this foreign person to me in every sense. I didn't understand her; I didn't understand her choices. And I wanted to become a better writer through stepping outside my comfort zone. It forced me to dig deep. It took so many drafts until I finally understood her, and I feel like I'm a better writer for it.

TS: How did you finally understand her? And in what ways do you think your readers will relate to her?

AWS: In the earlier versions of Tilly I really, really wasn't getting her. Then about halfway through the book she starts to get really angry. And in the initial draft she wasn't angry. When I finally made her angry that's what I could tap into. I understood being really pissed off at waking up and discovering that a lot of the life that you wanted is not coming to fruition. And I think a lot of people of our age or our generation can get that. You've worked hard or you've maybe even compromised yourself or given up certain expectations, and then you wake up and you're like, "How did I get here? I made small compromises, but I never thought that my life would be this." And I understood that anger, not because my life isn't wonderful, but because I understand that disappointment. And once I did that, that's when she and I connected.

TS: In both Time of My Life and The One That I Want there's a time travel theme that forces the heroine to look back and question if she's made the right life choices along the way. Are there things in your own life that you would change if you could? Find out her answer when you keep reading.

Buzz News Roundup, 6/9

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:32:17 PDT

FX has canceled Courteney Cox's tabloid drama Dirt, TV Guide reports.
The Weinsteins have acquired the rights to adapt Allison Winn Scotch's novel Time of My Life for the big screen, writes ComingSoon.
Meanwhile, Variety has the news that House executive producer Katie Jacobs has nabbed the rights to the New York Times bestseller Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon - And the Journey of a Generation.
Amber Tamblyn has taken the lead in an ABC drama pilot called The Unusuals, about the crazy characters at a New York police precinct, Zap2it reports.
If you want AC/DC's new album, you'll have to go to Wal-Mart to get it, Billboard reports.
Despite declining ratings, TV networks are actually bringing in more money from advertisers after this year's upfronts, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
The Chicago Tribune finally found a premiere date for the final season of The Shield: Sept. 2.
According to Variety, David Schwimmer will head to Chicago to star in a stage production of Our Town.

Photo courtesy of FX

Words of Advice For Our Teenage Selves

Tara Block — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:16:00 PDT

In our interview with author Allison Winn Scotch, she said she'd tell her 17-year-old self "that it's all going to work out even if it seems like it's not." I have to agree that most teenagers need that reassurance. We all remember when something like our crush not inviting us to prom was the END OF THE WORLD, but looking back, it really wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Annie says she'd tell her high school self "don't try to grow up so fast" because she wishes she would have let herself be a kid. I'd probably tell myself back then just to relax and don't constantly be worried about what other people are thinking of you, because they probably were too concerned with themselves to notice if you had a bad hair day. Here's what our Facebook fans would tell their 17-year-old selves.

"Just because a haircut looked cute on Michelle Williams from Dawson's Creek circa '97 doesn't mean it will look cute on you." - Lisa
"To believe in myself & watch my credit closer and that I'm smarter & stronger than people gave me credit for." - Penny
"You're going to be fine, despite some obstacles and setbacks." - Lucy
"Run away from that boy!" - Alecia
"You are beautiful. Enjoy it now, because it's as good as it's going to get!" - Katy
"Naturally, in addition to all of the philosophical stuff, I should have also added in the interview: tweeze your eyebrows." - Allison
"Yep, that hotel party in Alpena . . . probably should just stay home! Listen to your grandma, she's smarter than you think! Get rid of the friends that bring you down and most of all, pick your college career BEFORE you go to college instead of changing your major 300,000 times." - Kristina
"Sure you may feel a really strong connection with that guy and, by all means do what you can and see where the chips fall by the time you graduate college but do not, DO NOT, become obsessive and impatient because if you do you have absolutely no chance of success. Also, if it doesn't work out by the time you graduate college move on no matter how hard it is because he is too messed up to work if 4 years isn't enough." - Kimberly
"That I wasn't fat, lol!" - Bridgett
"Make all of your big mistakes NOW when you get older its much harder to bounce back from them!!" - Jessica
"Relax. & try as much (positive) stuff as possible." - Natalie
"Stay with your current boyfriend FOREVER - he'll make a wonderful husband & father.." - Fettina
"I would smile at her and say nothing . . . mistakes and all . . . I wouldn't change a thing." - Amy