What I’ve Been Waiting For
This is the book I wish I could have handed to my 16-year-old self.
Natalie Weiss
For as long as she can remember, Natalie Weiss wanted to be a writer. At first, it was her love of sports that drew her to books by children’s authors Matt Christopher and Dan Gutman. It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Natalie spent many of her elementary school days trying to imitate Christopher and Gutman’s styles and stories. If she wasn’t writing fictional sports stories, she was crafting biographies of her favorite sports stars or recaps about recent games.
As Natalie got older, her passion for writing collided with her Christian faith, and her stories became more faith-based and personal. As detailed in her blog series out., Natalie found herself at a crossroads in her identity, faith, and dreams as she transitioned into college and began questioning her sexual orientation.
Around this time, Natalie found Veronica Roth’s Divergent series. The story of 16-year-old Beatrice Prior, who chooses to defy her family’s expectations and follow her own path – even changing her name to Tris in the process – resonated deeply with Natalie. As a gay woman coming from a Christian household, Natalie struggled with similar themes found in Tris’ story: identity, family, upbringing, and faith. Could Natalie be brave like Tris, choosing to step into the unknown and pursue her own happiness and identity, even against her family’s expectations?
Natalie started exploring these themes in early drafts of novels beginning in 2014. Within a few years, she found the courage to switch the main character of her drafts from a male to a female and the narrative from one centered around academia and sports to one focused on identity – mainly sexual orientation – and family.
WHAT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR was born from those early drafts and the journey of self-acceptance she has undergone. Natalie’s novel is a young adult LGBTQ contemporary that parallels many of Natalie’s experiences, but ones which she wishes could have happened earlier in her life. Ask Natalie what this novel means to her, and she would say that it is the book that she wishes she could have handed to her 16-year-old self. It is the book that she hopes will reach today’s teenagers, especially those who are struggling with identity, sexual orientation, faith, and family.
About WHAT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR
When recovering Bible-thumping Jesus freak Allie Smith meets the girl of her dreams, she must decide what’s worth revealing to her not-so-in-recovery parents and what’s worth losing in order to live the life she’s always wanted. For fans of Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera, and Leah Johnson.
Looking to connect with Natalie?
Visit the Contact page or send an email to natalieweissbooks@gmail.com.
Natalie Weiss 