12 years of Fall Like Rain

I’ve always thought that Fall Like Rain was published on the 29th of September, but two years ago I went to check and realized I actually hit publish on September 27. I did announce on the 29th, because I wanted her book birthday to be the same as the Feast of the Archangels (and payday).

But anyway, it’s the 27th now, and Fall Like Rain is now 12 years old! Her last year of being a tween! Which means I have been an author for 12 years, too and isn’t that something?

I went to my alma mater last Friday for some errands and I decided to bring my last, OG cover version of Fall Like Rain to take some photos for content at actual places that I wrote in the book. I couldn’t get in the campus, of course, so it had to be outside, and there was this cute scene that I thought would be great to refer to…then I remembered that this scene doesn’t exist yet.

At least, not in the current, published version of Fall Like Rain.

If it’s not obvious yet, there is a new edition of Fall Like Rain in the works. I know I said I wasn’t going to rewrite this because I felt like it was a product of its time and will be something for readers who are in the same age range. But then some discussions came up early this year and a fun little opportunity, and I realized that 1) I can change my mind; and 2) I can do whatever I want.

So now a new version is in the works! The plot isn’t going to change and it’s still the friends-to-lovers angst between Rain and Mark, but I am fixing some timeline and characterizations to make it more consistent in the story. I have reread the book several times before but it’s the first time I revisited it with an editorial eye and I did spiral for a bit because wow, I’m selling this? Really? Am I not embarrassed?

On my way to my alma mater on Friday, I saw this reel by Rain Sullivan that said, “What a privilege it is to be embarrassed by your earlier work because you were brave enough to start.” What a beautiful reframe. It is a privilege. I can’t help but think of my younger self from 2013 who declared the year as her year to be brave and joined the first batch of #RomanceClass, who spent hours after work writing about two friends who were so in love with each other but couldn’t admit it. The girl who wrote through heartbreak (2013 was a big year lol) and later through a soul-sucking job and gathered all her courage to get her story read and edited. The one who finally decided to hit publish after years of saying she wouldn’t, finally fulfilling her dream of being an author. What a privilege it is to share something to the world.

(And…really, it wasn’t so bad. Like, sure, the book has room for improvement, but it’s not terrible. I read a lot of books in a year and I can objectively say there are worse ones. I’m just hard on myself haha)

Anyway, there’s not much to say about this new version yet except that it’s going to be something for next year because I have already my fill of book releases this year. But I will share once there’s more to share–maybe subscribe to my newsletter so you can get first dibs on the news? 🙂

And while we wait, you can still get this version of Fall Like Rain while it’s still available. I still have a few print copies with the 2017 cover which I will no longer reprint so if you’re the type to collect things, then it’s the best time to get it because I won’t be restocking. But if you want the ebook, it’s on sale on Amazon at $0.99 until September 30. Order print here (PH only), get the ebook here. 🙂

Happy 12th birthday, Fall Like Rain. Thanks for making me an author and being the book I needed to write 12 years ago. 💙☔