FINALLY! I’m so beyond excited to share news I’ve had for a while now, but the time is here!
My first original fiction will be here next spring, and it’s an adult romcom set in the world of theme parks!!!!!!!!! Theme park romcom! I love romance. I love theme parks. I am a Disney adult. I am in disbelief that I can finally talk about it and I can’t wait to share more about the characters and the theme park I invented (and had the BEST time inventing and now desperately wish I could go to). But for now, let me share Thrill Ride and how it came to be and some news that was not in my Instagram share of the Publishers Marketplace deal.
Here's the text:
Amy Ratcliffe's THRILL RIDE, the author's adult romcom debut, in which a one-time theme park designer, now freelance reporter, has to save her family's theme park from a venture capitalist who has never so much as ridden a rollercoaster–and what happens when he starts to see how special the park, and the woman who loves it, happen to be, to Norma Perez-Hernandez while at Kensington, for publication in spring 2025, by Eric Smith at P.S. Literary Agency (world English).
And the news not in the Instagram post: it’s a two-book deal! So I get to write TWO books in the world of theme park romcoms. This is what the blessed hashtag was invited for. So, uh, I sure hope y’all enjoy Thrill Ride.
I don’t quite remember when I first had this idea. Writing fiction intimidated me for the longest time and then I wrote a short story for From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back and that knocked the fear loose and made me curious about exploring a world of my own. It gave me confidence to try and I will forever be grateful to Tom Hoeler at Random House Worlds for that boost.
Then I recall talking about the idea to some fellow theme park reporters at a Universal Orlando event for VelociCoaster’s opening and that was in June 2021. That event in general sparked some inspiration for my main character who, unlike me, loves a roller coaster.
At some point between then and April 2022, I shyly brought up the idea to my wonderful agent–shy because I’d only written IP nonfiction at that point! But he was wildly supportive. April 2022 was the first time I mentioned this project in this newsletter. Anyway, we decided to try to sell the book on proposal vs. full manuscript, so he set a deadline for my sample chapters and I eventually got 25,000ish words written and ready to submit. And now, here we are!! (It was not that easy; I’m simplifying).
Me on my first trip to Walt Disney World
I’ve loved digging into this story, and I 100% got distracted by plotting out way too many details of my fictional theme park. You should see my rudimentary map—an artist, I am not. I went through Walt Disney Imagineering’s free program for kids, Imagineering in a Box, that is wildly helpful for learning about theming. I haunted the inboxes of some Imagineers and former Imagineers and talked with the ultimate theme park reporter. And in between all of that, I developed my characters and their love story. Writing romcom dialogue is the most fun. Overall, writing this book has been joyful, even when I’ve put it aside for long periods of time or when I’m working on edits.
I didn’t know what it meant when authors said their characters kept telling them what they needed, and now I do. They just keep having things to say and things to do! I’m working on learning when to listen and dig in and when to explore even though I get to a point where all I want to do is say “that thing happened and it was great.”
Anyway! Thrill Ride is coming. I’m overflowing with gratitude. I’m excited. And I really, really need to go to a theme park soon.
I can’t help but express joy for you again! Also, YAY for it being a two-book deal. I looove theme parks! I’m super grateful to my parents for taking me to those when I was younger, even when times were financially difficult. I fell in love with roller coasters and the thrill of riding them (kind of a crazy thing to say as someone who’s also terrified of heights, haha). But anyway, I admire you, Amy! I have all these fiction and non-fiction ideas swirling in my head, but I’m only greeted with blank pages when I try putting them down. It is not easy, but I’m more than happy to support those who do get past those blank pages and transform them into actual stories. I’m looking forward to reading both of your books and getting to know the theme park and characters you created!
What a THRILL! Congratulations!