By Sarah Elbeshbishi
Most students throw their hall passes away when they’re done with them. But Watkins Mill High School students may soon be trying to sell theirs. WMHS English and journalism teacher Sara Goodman Confino’s second book, She’s Up to No Good, isn’t even out yet, but it’s already a bestseller because of Amazon’s First Reads program. Just four days into the pre-release, Confino’s novel was the #5 book in the entire US Kindle store and was the number one bestseller in three categories, including humorous fiction.
“Getting selected for this promotion is a huge deal,” Confino said. “But I didn’t expect it to do this well.” She’s Up to No Good isn’t a sequel to Confino’s debut, For the Love of Friends, but it focuses on the fan-favorite grandmother, Evelyn, from the first novel, giving readers a fun glimpse into the character’s past.
“As a reader, I love when authors connect their books like that,” Confino said. “It feels like a reward for fans.” The story opens with 34-year-old Jenna’s husband announcing that he wants a divorce. Blindsided, Jenna moves home with her parents to figure out her next steps. Six months later, she’s still living in her childhood bedroom, when her 89-year-old grandmother announces that she’s driving from Montgomery County to her hometown in Massachusetts for some mysterious business. But it’s not until after Jenna offers to drive her where the real story begins.
Jenna, along the drive, learns of her grandmother’s first love, Tony, whom she wasn’t allowed to marry in the early 1950s. Told in a dual timeline, Evelyn’s story unfolds as Jenna meets and forms a relationship with Tony’s great nephew. The two storylines converge as Evelyn’s motivation for the trip is revealed.
While the story is fiction, Evelyn was loosely inspired by Confino’s real grandmother. “My grandmother really did tell a police officer who pulled her over in the High Occupancy Vehicle Lane on 270 that she ‘takes the HIV lane all the time,’” Confino said. “And the scene where Evelyn steals all of the Sweet’N Low from a rest stop 100% happened.”
Hereford, the fictional Massachusetts town where the bulk of the story takes place is based off Gloucester, where her grandmother is from. “But I hadn’t been there in years and with a new baby in a pandemic, a research trip wasn’t feasible,” Confino added.
She’s Up to No Good can be read on a Kindle or on any phone, tablet, or computer with the free Kindle app for all of July. Paperbacks and the audiobook will be released on August 1.
The Amazon First Reads programs allows Prime members to download two free early releases in the month of July while non-Prime members can download it for $1.99. However, authors do not get paid for free downloads in the Amazon First Reads program, but they receive a bonus upon acceptance.
“The real benefit is exposure and reviews. The more reviews a product has on Amazon, the more people the algorithm shows it to,” Confino said. “There are millions of books for sale. So being in the top 10 is crazy.” For readers who prefer hard copies or audiobooks, She’s Up to No Good is available for pre-orders through all major book retailers.
Featured photo by Get Red PR