October 2011

Welcome Dear Readers!

Can you believe it's already fall? What a busy summer! I just returned from a two week African safari, the kids' schools are in full swing, and I'm about to start my next book tour. Because I live in North Carolina where it's pretty warm year-round, for me, starting a book tour always means that fall has truly arrived!

The Best of Me In Stores Next Week

On that note, my next novel, titled The Best of Me, will be released on October 11. I have to say, this was one of the hardest novels I've ever written. I thought I was finished until my editor, Jamie Raab, and my agent, Theresa Park, told me I had to rewrite the entire last half. It just wasn't working. So off I went – in 6 weeks – to rewrite half the book. At times I thought it was impossible, but I think in the end, it was worth it and The Best of Me is truly better for it. I just hope my next book isn't as hard to write!

The Best of Me is unlike anything I've ever written. It's the story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they've had wildly differently lives, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget their first love. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of a shared friend, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past. Warner Brothers has already purchased the movie rights, and I'll be serving as a producer. This is a larger role than I've had with any of my past movies, and I'm excited to help bring the book to life.

You can view all my book tour dates online and you may notice it's a little shorter this year than in years past. Which is great for me, because all that travel means time away from my family. But if you're in a city where I'm not traveling, signed copies of my books are available for purchase with proceeds benefiting The Nicholas Sparks Foundation (more on that below).

The Lucky One In Theaters Next Spring

For all of you movie fans, you'll be happy to hear that a tentative date of April 20, 2012 has been set for the US release of The Lucky One. It stars Zac Efron, Blythe Danner, and Taylor Schilling, and it's sure to cause a sensation thanks to the steamy on-screen chemistry between Zac and Taylor. I'll post more updates about the film in coming months, so be sure to check my website and Facebook page for more info, contests, and details about the movie.

For My Readers Around the World

You may remember from my last newsletter that this year, I'm celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the publication of The Notebook. I still can't believe it's been that long! Do you remember when you read The Notebook for the first time? I'd love to hear from you!

For my fans in the UK, all 16 of my novels are undergoing an exciting cover makeover. (I'll post them on my Facebook page in the coming weeks so you can let me know what you think!). As part of this makeover, and to tie in with the 15th anniversary, the UK released the first ever official film artwork edition of The Notebook featuring Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie's (Rachel McAdams) iconic rain-drenched kiss. I'm told this new cover has been long anticipated by UK fans.

Speaking of The Notebook, I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who got involved with all of the World Book Night in the UK activity over the past month. Fingers crossed The Notebook makes the final 25! And I'm told that World Book Night is coming to the US next year, too. What a great way to celebrate reading!

In other foreign news, if you've read my memoir, Three Weeks With My Brother, you know that I love to travel. In the next few months, I have plans to travel to the Philippines (October 27-29), New Zealand and Australia (October 30-November 9), and Dubai. Keep checking my website tour page and Facebook page for information as those details are finalized. I can't wait to meet my fans in these countries!

For a Good Cause

And, finally, I want to tell you about something that's really special to me. This fall, I'm starting the Nicholas Sparks Foundation. As many of you know, education is very important to me. So much so that I started The Epiphany School, in my hometown of New Bern, North Carolina. And now, I want to expand this vision. I'm still finalizing the mission and core values, but one of the primary purposes of NSF will be to support education reform by providing schools, whether private or public, with programs and services that will allow schools to incorporate an enhanced, innovative, globally-focused, college-prep curriculum into their current academic program, in order to better prepare their students for success in the modern, ever-changing world. NSF will also support other charitable endeavors that I'm interested in. The website is a work in progress, but you can visit it anytime to keep up to date.

Hope to see you on the road!