Hi,
I’m Thea
Weiss
The Second Chance Cinema hits bookstores on October 7, 2025.
Novel
A magical theater atop a cobblestone path alters what a couple knows about themselves—and each other—in this scintillating debut brimming with nostalgia and life-affirming wonder.
At the end of a dark alley glitter the lights of a glamorous cinema. It’s nearly impossible to find. When Ellie and her fiancé, Drake, stumble upon it during a late-night walk, they’re shocked to discover what’s playing inside the red-velvet auditorium: their formative memories.
Drake fears what the cinema might reveal, but eventually gives in when Ellie insists they return for more viewings. She’s haunted by a night from her past that she doesn’t fully remember. This is her opportunity to piece the story back together. But as the memories displayed on screen inch closer to the present, they realize they’re both keeping secrets from each other.
With their wedding on the horizon, Ellie and Drake must decide if seeing their pasts changes their plans for a future together. Filled with warmth, hope, and a dash of magic, The Second Chance Cinema is both an enchanting escape and a thought-provoking examination of how our memories shape who we are.
The Second Chance Cinema 
Hits bookstores on October 7, 2025.
About
I started writing in the back of a Chicago steakhouse.
My mom was the florist and lounge singer. I was a vegetarian. Instead of learning about filets, I wrote napkin puppet shows for anyone on a break.
My love of storytelling stuck. I’ve been a copywriter and scriptwriter for the last ten years, and I’m thrilled to release my first book, The Second Chance Cinema, through Atria this fall. It’s the kind of thing that might transport you back into your own memories as you join the characters inside a red velvet cinema.
I live with my family and longhaired dachshund in a mid-century ranch. I love Nora Ephron movies, hate mushrooms, and can recite Where the Wild Things Are from cover to cover. When it comes to fiction, I’m endlessly drawn to smart characters with deep flaws and a touch of magic.
Events
Let’s make some plans
First date? Solo adventure? Your excuse for a bookish night out is here.
October 7, 2025
TBD Book Launch • Denver, CO
The Second Chance Cinema is launching on October 7, 2025. Details coming soon.
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Contact
Really nice to meet you, in advance.
LITERARY INQUIRIES:
Amy Tannenbaum at Jane Rotrosen Agency | atannenbaum@janerotrosen.com
FILM & TELEVISION:
Berni Vann at CAA | berni.vann@caa.com
PUBLICITY:
Gena Lanzi at Simon & Schuster | gena.lanzi@simonandschuster.com
MARKETING:
Dayna Johnson at Simon & Schuster | dayna.johnson@simonandschuster.com