Summary: Andrew learns that his partner has a new boyfriend and all his friends knew about, to make matters worse, as soon as he moves on to someone new, they all plan to help his ex get back together with him.

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your novel about?

Andrew Maras claims he isn't stalking his impossibly handsome ex-boyfriend.
He's just curious when he sees Jake Riley on M Street in the heart of
Georgetown on a Thursday evening. A little too curious. Andrew spends too
much time watching Jake and not enough time watching the road. When the
driver in front of him stops short, Andrew slams into her. The fender
bender leads him to Wharton's Auto Body, where he meets Marco Paresi—a
romance blossoms between the Vice President of Marketing and the Bethesda
auto body shop clerk. Andrew's friends won't let him date a mechanic. After
all, his ex, Jake, is a catch, the CEO of a Fortune 500. It doesn't matter
that Jake is also a world-class jerk. Plans are hatched. Arrangements are
made.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

The story is a RomCom.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Happy ending

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
What's Up, Doc with Ryan O'Neal and Barbra Streisand.

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most
times in your life?)

I don't know music. I like what I'm listening to when I'm listening to it.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

I have read "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice" a few times. I have also seen
multiple movie and TV versions of each.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

"Why I Hate My Friends" is a partially true story, but a heightened
version. I took a variety of incidents from my life and compiled them into
one story.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that
be?
I'd love to have dinner with a publisher or producer who could turn this
manuscript into a real book or movie.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love to swim, hike, and travel. I got back from Italy recently, and my
favorite thing was just walking around everywhere to get the "lay of the
land."

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I was looking for a place for people to see my stuff. I love writing, but
it doesn't do much good to have a project sit in a drawer.

11. Any advice or tips you'd like to pass on to other writers?

Read other writers. Go to staged readings. See art. Immerse yourself in art and, of course, write as much as you can.