Yahoo News Screenwriter Marc Guggenheim Pens New Novel: ‘We All Daydream About Paths Untaken' (Exclusive)
The book, compared to a cross between 'Jurassic Park' and 'The Time-Traveler's Wife,' will be published this summer
Greg Pak; Courtesy of Lake Union Publishing
Marc Guggenheim has a thrilling new story in store.
The screenwriter and producer has exclusively revealed with PEOPLE that he has a new novel on the horizon. In Any Lifetime, a suspenseful romance, will be released by Lake Union Publishing this summer.
"I’ve been working on In Any Lifetime in one way, shape, or form for 10 years now,” Guggenheim tells PEOPLE. “I’ve explored telling the story in the mediums I’m most known for — comics and TV/film — but the truth is that this always wanted to be a novel.”
In Any Lifetime tells the story of Dr. Jonas Cullen, who is reeling from the loss of his wife and unborn child after a tragic accident. In his grief, Jonas attempts to find a parallel universe where his family may still be alive — no matter what it takes.
Courtesy of Lake Union Publishing
'In Any Lifetime' by Marc GuggenheimLake Union Publishing editor Chantelle Aimée Osman says that the novel is a “collision” of favorites like Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and The Time Traveler’s Wife.
“With In Any Lifetime, Marc’s crafted both an epic love story and an adventure through time,” Osman continues. “I couldn’t stop turning the pages, and hope readers feel the same way.”
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The novel, however, isn’t Guggenheim’s first turn behind the keyboard. As a screenwriter, he has written feature films such as 2013’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and co-written movies like 2011’s Green Lantern. His work on the animated series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, which Guggenheim worked on with Guillermo del Toro, earned him a 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Series. Guggenheim has also written Marvel comic books for franchises like Star Wars, X-Men and Planet of the Apes.
Greg Pak
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Even with his extensive Hollywood experience, Guggenheim says that developing In Any Lifetime required something more.
“Writing a novel requires a huge time commitment and I was busy running a variety of TV shows and writing on various movies,” he says. “It wasn’t until the pandemic shut down production that I found I had the time to write.”
Despite the hard work, In Any Lifetime, he adds, is a particularly meaningful story.
“Working on the novel has been one of the most satisfying creative experiences of my career,” Guggenheim says. “I think we all daydream about the paths untaken in our lives and that’s why this story has resonated with me for a decade now. I hope it similarly speaks to readers.”
In Any Lifetime will hit shelves on July 16, 2024 and is now available for pre-order.
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