Justine Manzano – Never Say Never

I can’t write normal things… I get bored.

– Justine Manzano

Justine Manzano describes her sophomore novel, Never Say Never, as a YA romantic comedy with a sprinkling of fantasy. The cast of mostly students at Birchwood High School includes Brynn Stark, disillusioned with love and relationships, and Valentina Kokinos (Val), her friend who has challenged herself to find a guy for Brynn to love and vice versa. Brynn is super annoyed with Val.

Part of Justine Manzano\’s synopsis for Never Say Never describes an incident that is one of several reasons for Brynn\’s determination to avoid having a boyfriend.

After she walks in on her mom doing the horizontal mambo with a man that\’s decidedly not her dad, Brynn Stark swears off love. One of her friends – Val – is determined to change her mind, no matter the consequences. Prickly and cynical, Brynn tries to avoid Val\’s attempts at setting her up, until Val reveals her true identity–Aphrodite, goddess of love, who promises to show Brynn why she shouldn\’t lose faith.

Yes, you read it right. Val is Aphrodite in human form!

While writing Never Say Never, Justine Manzano drew from her life and her sister Meghan\’s to create Brynn. The BFF in the story, Nina, was inspired by Justine\’s life-long friend Joy. So much of the story is about female friendship; however, Adam, Reeve, and Raphael add plot lines and dimensions that make Never Say Never an entertaining and inspiring read. 

Chapter one of Never Say Never can be read via Justine Manzano\’s website.

Justine\’s T-shirts & Mugs (not a store):

As I was scrolling through Justine Manzano\’s Instagram account, I noticed a photo of her wearing a T-shirt with graphic lettering. I recognized it as a group of phrases that I\’ve mostly seen on little flags on neighborhood lawns. Displayed across Justine\’s upper body was:

Science Is Real
Black Lives Matter
No Human Is Illegal
Love Is Love
Women\’s Rights Are Human Rights
Kindness Is Everything

\”That says a lot about Justine Manzano,\” I thought. I wondered if there were more photos with graphic T-shirts and began to scroll further.

The next one I found:

Fill your paper with the breathing of your heart
~Willam Wordsworth

\”I can\’t stop now!\” My curiosity about this high-spirited author, editor, wife, mother, and volunteer continued. More T-shirt photos came into view as I scrolled:

This Is My Good Side

Super Metroid – Nintendo

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream
~Edgar Allen Poe

Party Animal

Sword & Silk
(The publisher of Never Say Never)

The Bronx Is Reading

Poe &
Twain &
Steig &
Baldwin &
Clark &
Doctorow &
Paley &
Manzano
(All writers are from the Bronx. Manzano is Sesame Street’s Maria – Sonia Manzano.)

Love Not Hate

I Believe In Stardust

Eye Rolling Myself To Another Universe

Coffee Please

Rhinestone Cowgirl

Unique

Farscape
(Sci-Fi TV series)

Wonder Woman

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo
2015 Winner

LiteBrite
(a toy that illuminates)

The graphic mugs:

Camp NANOWRIMO

Keep It Simple – Life is Good
Do what you love, love what you do.

Noveling Power-Up
NaNoWriMo
CAFFEINE

Rise and SHINE Bitches

The Creatures of CAMP NANOWRIMO
(Halloween theme)

Awaken the Muse
National Novel Writing Month

I WRITE
Therefore I rewrite

EVERYTHING Taste Better WITH Cat Hair IN IT

Writer In Motion

On Justine\’s Lite Brite T-shirt post, she says [to herself]: \”You are a true professional, Justine. And I rarely say that to someone in a LiteBrite T-shirt.\”

Justine Manzano takes life seriously but doesn\’t take herself too seriously. Her novel Never Say Never reflects the creativity and out-of-the-boxness that is Justine\’s extraordinary trademark.

Justine Manzano was featured on Postcards and Authors in 2020 to celebrate her debut novel, The Order of the Key.

Thank you Justine, for this postcard of your beloved borough – The Bronx in word art. Am I alone in thinking that its shape looks like Moses on Mount Sinai? I love it! 🙂

~Anita~

Postcard by ICONYC. Credit to USPS for the mouse stamp! 🐭