At Strandbrook College, we are Kids Of. Kids of diplomats, media stars, musicians, artists, actors, oh, and wealthy people who aspire to all of that,’ Alex Newman says in the first book of the New Butterfly Novels series, And By The Way. Alex’s own dad is a rock star. As far as she’s concerned, that’s the bad news.And By The Way is the story of Alex who has lost her mum to cancer and her dad, ‘The Rockstar’, to work. Alex is angry. With everyone. Especially David McFadden who could have helped her but didn’t. Now, six months later, Alex doesn’t want help. She’s not going to trust anyone, love anyone, rely on anyone. That way, she’ll never get hurt again. At least, that’s her plan….
“I stare at him and drop the rope. He can so undo it himself. I’m about to leave, when he takes my face in his hands and kisses me. I pull back immediately.
‘What the hell?’ I look quickly around. We’re hidden behind a huge flapping sail.
He just smiles and kisses me again. And now, someone, please tell me why, I’m kissing him back. I pull away like I’ve kissed a toad.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Same thing you’re doing,’ he says, his smile lazy now. And suddenly it’s not a boy in my class any more but this windswept, tanned and totally hot guy who wears beads around his neck and plaited leather on his wrist. My face is inches from his and getting closer when I stop. What am I doing? I look at him, totally cold.
‘That was a one-off thing.’
I turn quickly and walk.
My legs have never felt so wobbly.”
Read more about The Butterfly Novels at www.butterflynovels.com
15 Comments
I have read your book “And By The Way…”, it’s such an amazing book which I found hard to put down after beginning to read it. I cannot wait for the next novel. Keep up the amazing work! x
Hi Jelena, thanks so much for getting in touch. It is so wonderful to get feedback. It reminds me why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m hoping that And For Your Information will be out towards the end of August, though that has still to be confirmed. As soon as I know, I’ll post the information on my Facebook page, Butterfly Novels. Hope you are enjoying the summer. Thanks again for getting in touch. }I{ Denise
Hi..
I just finish read this book..it really awesome..I don’t know that this book is actually a serial novel..I’m quite sad with the ending and can’t wait to know what next..one more thing..this book is the first serial??
Hey Ammiey
Really glad you liked And By The Way. Yes it’s the first book in the Butterfly Novels series
}I{
hi denise
i loved and by the way and cant wait until and for your information comes out
I was just wondering,how did come up with whole storyline of and by the way?
did it take a lot of thought or did it just pop into your head one day?
hi denise
i loved and by the way and cant wait until and for your information comes out
I was just wondering,how did come up with whole storyline of and by the way?
did it take a lot of thought or did it just pop into your head one day?
Would you believe, Alex’s voice came into my head – that conversation she has with her dad near the start of the book where she’s really angry and sarcastic but at the same time, vulnerable? Even though I hadn’t planned to write a book about teenagers, Alex’s voice was so powerful, I had to write it down. I didn’t know at the time that it would become a novel. Alex kept talking to me, and I kept writing. And here we are. I hope you love Sarah just as much. I fell in love with her totally in And For Your Information. Sorry for the delay in writing Blaithin, I’m better on Facebook if you want to search under Butterfly Novels. Thanks so much for getting in touch. }I{
I just finished And by the Way.. and loved it. It was a breath of fresh air reading a YA novel set in Ireland with familiar places instead of the American high school setting that I’ve had trouble relating to on occasion. Finally I can read about transition years and fifth years and leaving certs instead of freshmen and sophomores and seniors. I saw And for your Information in the book shop today and will be buying it soon. I love the fact that it will be from Sarah’s point of view and can’t wait to read it. I like this little butterfly.. }|{
Hey, Maria, thanks so much for getting in touch. I’m thrilled you liked the Irishness of And By The Way. I really hope you fall in love with Sarah. I did. And I love the butterfly. Can’t stop doing it. Oh, and sorry for the delay in getting back. I am much speedier on Facebook if you want to like the Butterfly Novels page. Best of luck. }I{
Such a good book!
I wasn’t able to stop reading!
thanks Lena. }I{
Hi there,
Just in the middle of reading “And by the way..”. Its such an addictive book and I’ve spent hours reading it saying after the next chapter, I’ll put it down but I’ve kept reading. Great storyline and I’ll definitley recommend the book to my friends. How did you come up with the idea?
OK. I was in a coffee shop with my friend who is an artist. We thought we’d like to work together on a picture book for kids. We thought of an idea involving a dad who worked abroad. he’d come home and tell his daughter all about the country he’d just visited. We decided the idea was boring. My friend went to the loo. When she was gone, this voice came into my head. It was Alex’s voice. It was the scene at the beginning of the book when she explodes with her dad and gives him a really hard time (just after she plays chess on her own). I thought ‘wow’ and started to scribble the dialogue down on a napkin. I hadn’t planned to write a book for teenagers. I just couldn’t stop. Everything just kept bubbling up. Why her dad wasn’t there for her. Her friends, Rachel and Sarah. Basically the whole story. I couldn’t stop writing. So there you are! I hadn’t planned a series but Sarah started talking to me and I had to listen to her. Which makes me sound slightly mad. Maybe I am. Who knows?
Sorry it’s taken so long to reply. I’m much better on Facebook and Twitter as I’m on there every day. Oh and thanks so much for recommending the book to your friends. I really appreciate it. Best of luck. xxx }I{
I loved this book so much….it’s definetly in my top 10
I also read And For Your Information which is also very good, in fact I think its better than the first one
I was just wondering if there could be a third book?…like..Oh My God (OMG)…or something liek that? from Rachel’s point of view? I would totally love that, and i bet many other fans would too. }|{
Carolina, the good news is that there is going to be a third book, from Rachel’s point of view. It’s going to be called And Actually… and it should be out in September. If you want something to keep you going, check out my Butterfly Novels Facebook page. There’s a story called Check Out Girl, that I hope you’ll like. Thanks so much for getting in touch. I really appreciate it. }I{