One S’more Summer (The Campfire Series Book 1 by Beth Merlin

Blurb 

For twenty long years, Gigi Goldstein has been pining away for her best friend’s guy. She knows it’s wrong and it has to stop, but she hasn’t been able to let go ever since they all met on the bus to summer camp back when they were seven years old. The same week that her best friends finally announce their wedding date, Gigi loses her high-profile design job. With all of her dreams unravelling, she runs to the last place she remembers being happy.

Taking the Head Counselor position at Camp Chinooka, Gigi hopes to reclaim the joy she felt as a camper, but the job isn’t all campfire songs and toasting marshmallows. Gigi’s girls are determined to make her look bad in front of the boys’ Head Counselor—the sexy but infuriating Perry—and every scrap of the campground is laced with memories.

When Gigi finally realizes she can’t escape the present by returning to her past, she’s forced to reexamine her life and find the true meaning of love. But will she be able to mend fences and forgive herself before she loses her one real shot at happiness?

If you love Christina Lauren and Emily Giffin, you’ll love this heartwarming debut from a fresh voice in contemporary chick-lit that offers a lighthearted and fun take on friendship, love, and how to recover from past mistakes.

Inspired Feature

Can you tell us about someone who inspired your writing in some way? What it means to you now and if you could say anything to them what would it be?

My mom was probably my biggest inspiration growing up.  She was a reporter for our local newspaper and I can’t remember a morning of my childhood that I didn’t wake up to find her typing away on our word processor.  She showed me it was possible to make a career and earn a living from writing.   

What words of advice would you offer anyone starting their writing career? 

The old adage about writing what you love or would want to read is absolutely true.  I think the Campfire Series is so fun because it captures all the things I love-fashion, Broadway, English History, Reality TV, and of course summer camp.  I also would encourage any writer to attend a “pitch” or local writing conference.  I found it so helpful to connect with other writers to hear their opinions, perspectives and experience.  I attended the Algonkian Pitch Conference back in 2013 and it completely changed my writing life!

What does being a writer mean to you?

I feel really fortunate that through writing I can express myself in a way it isn’t always possible to in my real life.  Through my characters and their experiences, I’ve been able to live out some fantasies (like going to the royal wedding or Met Ball) and explore feelings and relationships.  I am really grateful for the outlet writing provides.  

Finally, do you have a favourite bookish quote? 

“I write because creating something that didn’t exist before is as close to magic as I’ll ever get.” 

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