Rose Gardner question #4: Why do the books all have “and a Half” in the title?
When I wrote Twenty-Eight, I wanted the title to have something to do with Rose’s list of things she wants to accomplish before she gets murdered or arrested. But “Twenty-Eight Wishes” was lame and didn’t convey the humor in the book. So I decided to add a bit of whimsy and add “and a Half.” The only problem was that I felt I needed a “half” wish in the book to make the title appropriate and I wasn’t sure how to do that. I had the empty #29 spot and considered using that somehow but kept writing and decided to see if an opportunity presented itself. And the half came naturally– as almost all good ideas do.
So are you gonna help me with my list?”
“You mean your Walmart List?” He looked downright ornery when he said it. “You’re working on your list?”
“My Wish List; I have thirteen and a half already.” I lifted my chin, daring him to mock me.
“How do you get a half?”
“I bought the bra and panties, I just haven’t worn them yet.”
Joe started choking and his face turned red. “Excuse me?”
“Number nineteen. Wear a lacy bra and panties.”
It took him a second to speak. “I suppose you need me to help you with number fifteen?”
“You know what number fifteen is?”
“Of course, how could I forget do more with a man? But technically, you did. We got to second base if I remember correctly, and I’m positive I remember correctly.” He winked.
I haven’t tried to put the “half” in the other books, I too busy trying to work in what’s numbered. In Twenty-Nine Rose found lots of reasons to help Bruce Wayne and whether to move to Little Rock with Joe or not. In Thirty Rose worked with “excuses.”
Regrets seemed like a good choice for Thirty-One, and I was amazed at how many time I could get “regrets” to work into the book. Pre-copy edit, I’ve used the word regret twenty-seven times.
Does Rose have regrets? I guess you can read for yourself on January 9.
Have you missed a question?
- How I came up with the concept for the Rose Gardner series
- Why does Rose have visions? Why does she blurt them out?
- Why does Rose say “crappy doodles?“
you didnt use regrets 27 and a HALF times? lol
This was the first book I ever read of yours, and it was the half that hooked my attention! Since then I’ve devoured all of Roses’s story so far and am currently reading Emma’s last installment.
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