We Will Fly

We Will Fly by lorieanngrover featuring a texture painting

Plan to be Surprised

Plan to be Surprised by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Riddance, a senryu

Riddance by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Riddance

From my vantage, you
are a red chaos of lines
swirling far away.


Lorie Ann Grover, 2015

Dancing Through Memories

Dancing Through Memories by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Suddenly Aware

Suddenly Aware by lorieanngrover featuring NOVICA

Under the Swirling Sky

Under the Swirling Sky by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Embracing Maiden, Mother, and Crone

Embracing Maiden, Mother, and Crone by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: No Matter

True Beauty by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

No Matter

No matter decline,
the glistening pulse will be
reflecting beauty.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2015

Some Days

Some Days by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Flying Free

Flying Free by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Even So

Even So by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Hope

Hope by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Spiral Up

Spiral Up by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Spiral Up

I will build hope one
staircase on another and
climb from destruction.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2015

Pretty Little Liars and Hit, Plot Echoes

Pretty Little Liars and Hit, Plot Echoes by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

As I traveled the country for the #hitwithgratitude project with author Justina Chen, I met so many teens who told me my novel Hit was similar to the TV series Pretty Little Liars. The first couple of mentions I thought were a bit unusual, but as it kept happening, I needed to investigate.

A month or so back, I sat down in front of Netflix and entered the world of Rosewood. What I discovered was an echoed plot strand, exactly as my readers described. The parallels between my Sarah and Haddings with Pretty Little Liars' Aria and Ezra were incredible. It was as if I watched the show and wrote my work. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED! 

So this is my blog post to set the story straight. I began the novel in 2005, after the real Sarah was struck in a crosswalk in 2004. Originally a verse novel told in six viewpoints, the novel grew and changed for ten years. In 2009, I fictionalized and added Haddings. In 2014 Hit hit the stores. And now I can sit down and see the scenes play out on screen in Pretty Little Liars. Even to the brother's participation at the climax. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. :) But, are you kidding me?

Sometimes creative ideas cross and birth at the same time. Stories are all ultimately echoes of each other. I've lost sales in the past, because another writer, at the same publishing house, with the same editor, had the same idea at the same moment. Yes, each story is told differently. Yes, each will present in a different light, theme, motive, and truth. But sometimes, wires cross and the spark hits two people at the exact moment. 

I thought If I Stay by Gayle Forman was Hit's echo. Pretty Little Liars rings even more loudly. One take-away is that there is a a story to tell. Look at us doing so, similarly and differently. Each can be appreciated; each will reach different people; each was developed independently. That alone is fascinating! Isn't it? 

Enjoy!

"Hit by Lorie Ann Grover is a powerful book about tragedy and recovery which shows you both sides of the story, for better or worse." Hypable

His Accomplice

His Accomplice by lorieanngrover featuring african home decor

Dare to Look at the Stars

Dare to Look at the Stars by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Fight for Joy

Fight for Joy by lorieanngrover featuring photo wall art

Even So

Even So by lorieanngrover featuring a green backpack

Poetry Friday: Beak Retreat

Beak Retreat

Sometimes one needs to

sit in a rubber pigeon

while the world flaps past. 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2015

Yellow Light

Yellow Light by lorieanngrover featuring a steampunk halloween costume

What You Left Behind

What You Left Behind by lorieanngrover featuring brown home decor

Wheat and Tares

Wheat and Tares by lorieanngrover featuring japanese home decor