April 2011

Welcome Dear Readers and Happy Spring!

I should probably start by apologizing for how long it's been since my last newsletter. As I'm sure you know, 2010 was an incredibly busy year for me with two of my novels being released as feature films (Dear John and The Last Song) and my latest novel, Safe Haven. I was hoping that 2011 would be slower paced, but, so far, it doesn't look that way!

New Year's Resolutions

Even though we're well past New Year's and already into spring, I'd like to check in and see how we're all doing on our 2011 New Year's resolutions. My main resolution this year was to try to write every day. I'm currently in the midst of writing my next (and sixteenth!) novel and, as you may have heard me say before, it can often be slow going. But this year, it's been a tiny bit easier. The story had its roots in an earlier novel that I started but ended up setting aside; this time, though, the characters are much more compelling, and I think I've resolved some of the fundamental problems that the old story had. Also, I think my resolution has really helped me push the story forward, even on days when I felt sure the creative well was tapped out. I'm about halfway through writing the new novel, which is going to be titled The Best of Me. It's the story of two teenage lovers who are reunited many years later at the funeral of an older friend, each bearing regrets of a different nature . . . and of course, the memory of their first great love. Lots of life-changing events ensue over the course of their reunion, but I'll leave the dramatic ending to share with all of you once it's finished! It's set to be published this fall, so keep checking back to my website, NicholasSparks.com for updates on publication and the accompanying book tour.

I hope your New Year's resolutions have been going similarly well!

A Year of Firsts and Visiting Abroad

In addition to being such a busy year, 2010 was also a year of firsts for me. It was the first year that two of my novels came out as films, the first year that I had a child in college, the first time that I moved into a new house that my family and I built from the ground up.

I experienced a number of "firsts" on the international front as well: I attended the Salon du Livre de Montréal, an annual French language book fair for the first time. There I met many of my French Canadian fans, and met with French Canadian media. I also traveled to Brazil for the first time, completing a whirlwind tour of four cities (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Ribeirão Preto) in seven days. Thousands of fans came out to meet me — I was so flattered and moved by their enthusiasm, and was thrilled to see both Dear John and The Last Song on the Brazilian bestseller list. They've since been joined by The Notebook and True Believer.

Although foreign book tours can be exhausting, it's always rewarding to meet my readers from all over the world. In November, I'll be visiting Australia and the Philippines — I'm looking forward to finally touring those countries, and thank all of my fans there for being so patient.

The Lucky One on the Big Screen

In other news, the movie version of The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron and directed by Scott Hicks, has wrapped filming and is tentatively scheduled for an early 2012 release. Again, keep checking my website for news!

The Notebook Turns 15

Finally, I'm excited to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the publication of The Notebook this fall. Can you believe it's been fifteen years? I certainly can't. That book changed my life in so many ways, and I continue to be touched by how many fans still love the book and the subsequent movie. As you may know, I offer signed copies of my books as a fundraiser for The Epiphany School, which I founded with my wife Cathy in 2005. If you'd like to obtain a signed copy of The Notebook, which seems to be a favorite among my readers, and simultaneously support the Epiphany School, I'd be happy to send you one (download a request form). The Notebook and the Epiphany School are two of the accomplishments of which I'm most proud!

Take care,