Vlog Post with Carrie Arcos ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Carrie Arcos

Carrie Arcos is a National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature for OUT OF REACH; her second novel is THERE WILL COME A TIME. CRAZY MESSY BEAUTIFUL will be available soon. She lives in Los Angeles with her family. For more information, check out her website: carriearcos.com

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Philomel Books (February 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399175539
ISBN-13: 978-0399175534

Praise for CRAZY MESSY BEAUTIFUL

"This satisfying and unconventional love story explores the various meanings of the word." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Arcos has written a classic story of a budding artist finding out the reality behind the artifice, and does sowhile keeping a wonderful sense of humor." ―Booklist

"Arcos capably probes the mysterious without attempting to solve it as Neruda discovers the difference between crushing on someone he doesn’t know and loving someone he does, learning that friendship, too, is a kind of love." ―Publishers Weekly

TEN REASONS TO READ CRAZY MESSY BEAUTIFUL

The writing is excellent! :)

It’s funny.

It’s about love.

It’s about art.

It’s about falling in love and all the messy that happens.

You’ll love Neruda’s character.

You’ll grow in empathy for those who struggle in love.

You’ll cry.

You’ll want to walk around your city and discover all the murals.

You’ll appreciate your friendships more.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER AUTHOR
I love listening to other authors talk about their craft and process. Over the years I’ve picked up such great advice. Probably the best one for my current mood and situation is “Eyes on your own work.” This is excellent advice because sometimes we can get caught up in looking at what other people are writing and doing and compare ourselves. This pretty much always ends up negative and with doubts and thoughts like: How come I can’t write as fast? Why does she get to go on tours? Why isn’t my book selling like that? My work sucks. And it sends you into a downward spiral into jealousy and self loathing. The only thing you can control is your work. Focus on making it as excellent as possible. Put up those imaginary binders that they use sometimes in school to keep kids honest. Because all of that jealousy and negativity will only lead to being unproductive and will stunt your own creativity.

From National Book Award finalist Carrie Arcos–a fresh take on happily ever after, and friendship, that is anything but a love story.

When your namesake is Pablo Neruda—the greatest love poet of all time—finding “the one” should be easy. After all, sixteen-year-old aspiring artist Neruda Diaz has been in love many times before. So it’s only a matter of time before someone loves him back.

Callie could be that someone. She’s creative and edgy, and nothing like the girls Neruda typically falls for, so when a school assignment brings them together, he is pleasantly surprised to learn they have a lot in common. With his true love in reach and his artistic ambitions on track, everything is finally coming together.

But as Neruda begins to fall faster and harder than ever before, he is blindsided by the complicated nature of love—and art—in more ways than one. And when the relationships he’s looked to for guidance threaten to implode, Neruda must confront the reality that love is crazier, messier, and more beautiful than he ever realized—and riskier, too, than simply saying the words.

You can purchase Crazy Messy Beautiful at the following Retailers: