New York Times bestselling author Dustin Thao celebrates the release of the paperback version of "You've Reached Sam" with booktuber Jack Edwards
New York Times bestselling author Dustin Thao (left) celebrates the release of the paperback version of "You've Reached Sam" with his first ever book tour with booktuber Jack Edwards (right).
photo credit: Cait Malilay
This was Thao's first ever in person book event in the U.S.
"It's sort of about getting a second chance to speak with someone you've loved and lost," he said.
The 2021 young adult fiction book centers on 17-year-old Julie, whose life falls apart when she loses her best friend and boyfriend Sam.
She calls his cell phone one more time just to listen to his voicemail, but to her surprise, he picks up on the other line.
When asked about the inspiration behind "You've Reached Sam," Thao said he describes himself as a "Taylor Swift vault person."
"I set little ideas that I wish I could have worked on when I was in high school and Sam was one of them," he said.
Before coming to life on paper and touching the lives of many, Sam remained an idea that Thao would visit only every now and then.
That was until years later, when he had that "spark moment" upon reading chapter 21 of John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars."
The chapter of TIME Magazine's #1 Fiction Book of 2012 describes how Hazel Grace calls Gus's voicemail after hearing news of his death.
"It was in that moment, I kind of imagined a different ending. I remembered, I have a story like this," Thao said.
When asked about his writing process, the author said that he always knows how to start and end a book, but struggles how to execute the middle.
"For me, I was trying to write the final phone call because I love sad endings, but I still didn't know how to get there," Thao said.
Then it came to him.
Thao went went on a really long walk with a friend one night and he watched a couple release a lantern by the water.
"The idea of this lantern disappearing forever was a great metaphor that continued on with the book," he said.
When asked by Edwards to elaborate on how he wrote the flashbacks, Thao said that they were inspired by montages from scenes of movies like Disney Pixar's "Up."
He added that he finds it easier to write sad content than to build a romance.
Recalling the time when his editor first shared her notes on reading a rough draft of "You've Reached Sam," Thao said that she wanted to see an epilogue.
"I was like, 'What do you mean?' She says, 'Well, how did they meet?' Then I said, 'Why does that matter? He's dead!'" he shared, leaving the audience chuckling.
"I was like, 'What do you mean?' She says, 'Well, how did they meet?' Then I said, 'Why does that matter? He's dead!'" he shared, leaving the audience chuckling.
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| "One of the best things about writing tough topics is providing people with comfort." |
- Dustin Thao photo credit: Cait Malilay
On a more serious note, the Northwestern University student went candid with audiences as he reflected on one moment that stayed with him.
He was doing a signing in Twin Cities by a high school when he mistakenly thought that a father was purchasing a book for his kid.
In reality, he was buying it in honor of his late wife.
"He had told how he wished he would've called her every day and when he heard about my book, he wanted to read it and had wanted to meet me," he said. "One of the best things about writing tough topics is providing people with comfort."
Thao also gave some advice for aspiring writers, emphasizing that publishing has both a creative side and a business side.
"In order for you to make it in publishing, you kind of have to stick to your brand," he said.
In other words, Thao said that it's advisable to keep one's theme "cohesive" for the next 2 to 3 books once an author makes it big.
"For me, that is magical realism and stories of grief. If I genuinely had to choose, I would probably be working on an adult sci -I novel," he said.
All is not lost, however, in an author's creativity.
"In those moments of constraints, where you are boxed in at that moment, it challenges you to create stories that you've never thought of before. That's how my second book was born," he said, teasing at "When Haru was Here," which is set to release in September. "I'm very excited for people to actually read it. It's another story of grief and somewhat magical. It's also sort of unrequited love, if you're into that, and if you're into heartbreak. In my opinion, I think it's more sad than the first."
That's not all though that Thao has in the works.
Following "When Haru Was Here," he will release a spin-off of his first book, tentatively titled, “You’ve Found Oliver,” which was sold to Penguin’s Dutton in a seven-figure deal and will center on Sam's best friend.
He's also working on a pitch for his fourth book.
Though Thao did not go into further detail what it will be about, he said that it will be geared toward adult audiences.
"I'm very excited to write it and I think I'm in the right place," Thao said.
Will there be an on-screen version of "You've Reached Sam?"
In an interview with Variety in February, Thao shared that “there are a few secrets at the moment."
In fact, he released to the Barnes and Noble Atlantic audience that he would like to see "The Summer I Turned Pretty's" Lola Tung casted as Julie.
"I'm very excited to write it and I think I'm in the right place," Thao said.
Will there be an on-screen version of "You've Reached Sam?"
In an interview with Variety in February, Thao shared that “there are a few secrets at the moment."
In fact, he released to the Barnes and Noble Atlantic audience that he would like to see "The Summer I Turned Pretty's" Lola Tung casted as Julie.
"Believe it or not, we have the same film agent, so I asked my agent, 'Can you send this to her,' and she said, 'Yes,' so hopefully she's reading it. As for Sam, I would like to pick someone brand new. I want to be a part of the search," he said.
Thao's book tour with Jack Edwards is set to continue at Barnes and Noble in Huntington Beach on Friday.
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