On the Island (27 page)

A LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR

Dear Readers,

Writing
On the Island
has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments I’ve ever had the good fortune to experience. It wasn’t an easy task, and at times I wondered if I’d ever reach my goal.
On the Island
was written mostly between the hours of 5:30 and 7:00 a.m. Then I had to power off my laptop and get ready for my day job. But writing this book brought me so much joy that I never hit the snooze button during the eighteen months it took to complete the book. I’m in my happy place when the words are flowing and my fingers are tapping them out as fast as I can type.

The completion of my first novel, however, was bittersweet. I’d crossed a big item off my bucket list just by finishing it. But I was unsuccessful in finding a way to bring Anna’s and T.J.’s story to the readers via traditional methods. Disappointed but not deterred, I chose self-publishing, and I’m forever grateful that writers have options for bringing their work to the marketplace. If not for these alternative channels, my debut novel might have languished on my hard drive indefinitely.

On the Island
is truly a word-of-mouth book, and I’m eternally thankful that readers around the world embraced the story. No marketing plan can surpass the power of a large number of people who connect with a story and then recommend it to others. The result of my self-publishing endeavor has been a dream come true: MGM has optioned
On the Island
for a feature film, and Plume, one of Penguin’s imprints, has this new edition available wherever books are sold.

I want to thank the readers who have written to me to say that
On the Island
made them laugh and cry. Your wonderful feedback has made me laugh and cry, too, and none of this would have been possible without your enthusiastic support. My gratitude is endless.

I love hearing from you, and I can be found on Twitter @tgarvisgraves and at facebook.com/tgarvisgraves

All my best,

Tracey

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Without the contributions, assistance, and support of the following individuals,
On the Island
would still be a file taking up space on my hard drive. Words cannot express how truly thankful I am to have such wonderful and enthusiastic people in my life.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to author Meira Pentermann. Meira believed in me long before I did, and her valuable guidance helped make
On the Island
the book it is today. She is the ultimate critique partner, beta reader, and cyber-sister.

My twin sister, Trish, who will always be the first person I show my words to.

My husband, David, because his encouragement means more to me than he’ll ever know.

My children, Matthew and Lauren. Thank you for being patient while Mom spent all that time with her laptop. I love you both.

Elisa Abner-Taschwer, for being the best de facto publicist and all-around cheerleader a writer could ever hope for.

I’d like to give special thanks to my beta readers and those who received advance reader copies of
On the Island
. You made me smile with your kind words, and you built my confidence more than you’ll ever know: Penne Heede Pojar, Beth Knipper, Elisa Abner-Taschwer, Lisa Green, Brooke Achenbach, Julie Gieseman, Trish Garvis, Trish Kallemeier, Noelle Zmolek, Stacy Alvarez, Stefani Blubaugh, Mindy Farrington, Taylor Kalander, David Green, Tami Cavanaugh, Amy Gulbranson, Stefanie Martin, Shellie Mollenhauer, Christy Cornwell, Missy Pomerantz, and Jill LaBarre.

I was also fortunate to work with the following talented people who were instrumental in making sure
On the Island
was the book I hoped it would be. I look forward to partnering with them again:

Developmental editing by Alison Dasho.

Co
pyediting by Anne Victory at Victory Editing.

PLUME READERS GROUP
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

ON THE ISLAND

—

Tracey Garvis Graves

1. The first sentence of the book tells you there is going to be a plane crash, and yet the author builds tension even before the crash.
   In chapter 1 Anna buys two bottles of water
   and tells T.J. to put one in his backpack, and as readers, we are probably aware that Mick will have a heart attack even before Anna does. Why do you think the author structured it this way? How did it enhance the read?
   
2. What were your first impressions of Anna and T.J.? And how did they change? At what point do you think Anna started seeing T.J. as an adult? When did you see him as an adult?
   
3. Anna wishes desperately that the bag containing all the summer reading she packed for her trip would wash ashore. Of all the trappings of civilization she yearns for, it’s reading and books that she seems to miss the most. What five books would you pack if you knew you were facing years alone on a desert island?
   
4. Anna and T.J. face a number of hardships on the island and talk about their greatest fears. Which would you fear the most? Losing the one person you are stranded with? Dying of rabies or dehydration or an allergic reaction? Running out of water?
   
5. Do you think it was realistic that Anna and T.J. waited so long to be together? Would you have waited that long?
   
6. How do Anna and T.J. change and evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
   
7. Strangely, 2004’s devastating South Asian tsunami is what ends up saving Anna and T.J. (more than 200,000 people died in the tsunami). If you were Anna or T.J., how would you feel about the event?
   
8. Imagine you were the one getting the call that a loved one was still alive after all those years. Do you think your reaction would be similar to Anna’s sister’s?
   
9. The press conference scene was particularly dramatic for Anna and T.J. How would you handle becoming an overnight celebrity?
   
10. After three and a half years of only talking to one other person, imagine how overwhelming it would be to try and fit back into society. What do you think would be the most difficult thing to get used to?
    
11. What do you think about T.J.’s parents and the way they reacted to his relationship with Anna?
    
12. What did you think about John and Anna’s relationship? Do you know anyone in a situation similar to John and Anna’s (his failure to commit after eight years together)? Do you think that Anna would have stayed with him if she hadn’t been stranded on the island?
    
13. The age difference between T.J. and Anna is fourteen years. How would you feel about dating someone fourteen years older or younger than you? How do you think your friends and family and the general public would react to that situation?
    
14. Do you think Anna made the right decision in breaking things off with T.J.? Do you think she made the right decision to follow her heart and marry him?
    
15. In the end, which character did you like the most and why? Which character did you like the least and why?
    
16. What major emotion or emotions did the story evoke in you as a reader?
    
17. Did the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?