I look to Nick for the answer and he shrugs, just as clueless. “You’ll have to ask the internet about that one.”

  “We’re so proud of you,” Artie says.

  “Yeah, Liv. I’ve got my NBS app all loaded up on my TV. You know I had to hire an IT guy just to get this set up,” Imani says, sounding inconvenienced.

  “Please, don’t pretend you did it for me. I know you won’t miss an episode of The Bachelor.”

  “I mean yeah, I’ll use it for that too.”

  “Olivia Vincent.” A guy wearing a headset and carrying a tablet pops in the room.

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re on in five.” He disappears just as quickly, and my stomach jumbles and jitters.

  “Oh my god you’re about to make your Late Night Show debut!” Imani squeals, and I can’t help but blush incredulously.

  Nick steps in and takes the phone. “Hang on just a second, guys.” Then he lowers my device. “Don’t overthink it. Treat this show like the one we did in L.A. That’s what Anderson Vanderson loved. Just go out and have fun. Everyone’s gonna love you like we do, okay?”

  I nod and take the phone. “All right, I’m heading to set. I’ll call you after, okay?” My chosen family sends me warm wishes and waves me farewell. I take in a deep breath and head out toward the dark set, Nick right by my side, his hand in mine.

  Anderson Vanderson steps out beneath a row of bright stage lights and the audience cheers him on until he hits his mark. “Thank you. Thank you! Our next guest is a very funny young woman from Midland, Texas. You may have seen her on the New York comedy scene or at The Comedy Shoppe here in Los Angeles. Please give a warm welcome to Olivia Vincent!”

  I stretch out my hands, my mouth, and adjust my glasses before looking back at Nick and saying, “Wish me laughs.”

  He smiles, and I know he’s wishing me enough laughs to last a lifetime. My whole body trembles as I head out toward the light, the audience drawing me in with their welcoming applause. Then, I step up to the stand and take the mic.

  Acknowledgments

  In the early stages of this story, I kept coming back to the same Nichiren Daishonin quote—“The journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital?”

  The road to writing this book tested every creative bone in my being, but I kept striving toward that moon at the end of the journey. Throughout writing this, there were moments that felt isolating. But the truth is, support surrounded me at every moment. And I’d like to express my gratitude to those who helped me bring this book to life.

  First, a special thank-you to my dad, who introduced me to stand-up comedy on vinyl. I know you were with me, helping me orchestrate this book from the other side. And my husband, Joe: it’s been nearly twenty years and there’s still no one else I’d rather watch stand-up with. Thank you for your undying support and for betting on me while I’m still learning to bet on myself.

  I wouldn’t have made it this far without my incredible agent, Suzie Townsend, and the team at New Leaf Literary & Media. I’m so grateful to have you all in my corner. Thank you, Kristine E. Swartz. You are the coolest editor ever! This book, which I’m beyond proud of, happened because of you. A special thank-you to the team at Berkley, who have been enormously helpful throughout the publishing process—Natalie Sellars, Bridget O’Toole, Stephanie Felty, Lindsey Tulloch, Randie Lipkin, Christine Legon, Nicole Wayland, and Megan Elmore. And Jess Cruickshank and Colleen Reinhart, for a cover I’m crazy about.

  Thank you to my mom, Lorraine, for your love, support, and dedicated readership. A heartfelt acknowledgment to my grandma Merene Davidson, who passed away as I was finishing the draft of this book. Thank you for always supporting my career, even naming my first novel. You are deeply missed.

  This last year was especially tough, and I couldn’t have done it without the love and encouragement of my family and friends—Chantell Morales, my loyal lobster. Heather Hildenbrand, from day one you’ve been an incredible friend and my author ally. Kristina Robinson, my heart. Thank you Chelsea Fine, Kristina Harrison, Jessica Goldner Bowman, Robert Robinson, Rachel Linde, Mai Lee Aksel, Showlee Mendoza, Gil Mendoza, Masayo Ikeda, Cool Aunt Robyn, Helen Winslett (and your Midland roots), Angelina and Victoria Winslett, Autumn Winslett, Imani Pretlor, Alexa Lugo, Pamela Hopkins, Eric and Christy Bernal, Rachel Armstrong, Judy Glenney, Nana Miller, Chika O’Berry, Ram Surendren, Moonjung Cho, Daisy Pardasani, Willonda Brown, Sakura Detorres, Alisha Thapa, Kristen Bollman, Naima Abdul Khaliq, Monica Ohtsuka, Gina Rizzi, Steph Nuss, Lilian Monroe, Meredith Schorr, Devri Walls, and Rebekah Moan.

  An enormous thank-you to my hilarious friends who shared their stand-up wisdom with me—Emily Paige, Amoreena Wade, and Joel Palilla Hicks.

  And last but not least, a sincere thank-you to my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, and all my fellow members of the SGI-USA. Each of you has instilled in me the never-give-up spirit so that I too can admire the moon over the capital.

  READERS GUIDE

  No Funny Business

  AMANDA AKSEL

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Olivia has no issue disrupting her life in pursuit of her dream of performing stand-up. Do you think she’s irresponsibly impulsive or admirably decisive, and why?

  2. What was the most memorable scene, and why?

  3. Have you visited any of the cities on Nick and Olivia’s tour? If so, how were their experiences similar to or different from yours? If not, which city would you most like to visit, and why?

  4. Olivia wishes she could have one last conversation with her dad and ask questions that have been weighing on her heart. Who in your life, past or present, do you wish you could have an important conversation with, and what would you ask?

  5. According to Olivia, Whataburger is the best burger restaurant. Who do you think makes the best hamburgers?

  6. What surprised you the most about Olivia’s story?

  7. Nick was all about classic rock tunes on the tour. Which songs mentioned in the book would you add to your road trip playlist? Or which songs in general would you blast with the windows down?

  8. The comedy road tour forced Olivia down memory lane. While reading the book, were you inspired to recall any sweet or bitter memories from your past? If so, which ones?

  Photo courtesy of the author

  Amanda Aksel is a West Coast transplant whose curiosity about people led her to earn a bachelor’s in psychology. Instead of pursuing a career as a couples counselor, she wrote about one in her first novel. You’ll often find her writing stories about fabulous, independent heroines; pretending to be Sara Bareilles at the piano; watching reruns of Sex and the City; or sprinkling a little too much feta on her salad. Amanda calls Virginia Beach home but loves to travel the world with her high-school-sweetheart husband any chance they get.

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  Amanda Aksel, No Funny Business

 

 

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