So, just what is This Next Big Thing New Years Blog Hop? Most obviously, it is a blog hop. A chance to learn about the work of independent authors (in this case, me) at one blog while being provided a few links to the blogs of others who will (also this week) provide readers with a chance to learn about their work and find a few more links to even more authors. And so on. An author’s leap frog.
And so, the way I see it, This Next Big Thing New Years Blog Hop is about us. WE, the independent authors of the world, are are out there waiting for readers to discover our books in This New Year. This sort of self-promotional chain mail is our opportunity to both toot our own horns, share our achievements, and then pass the torch on to 5 other authors to give them the same luxury.
I was tagged for this blog hop by Barbie Herrera, who has my gratitude. Barbie is an upcoming author whose facebook page can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/bfy82wo
Please note: I was unable to find authors who were willing to "hop" onto this blog. Therefore, I have no links provided to other authors. However, I have provided links to a few authors who are answering these 10 questions at the same time as I am doing this. (see below)
THE NEXT BIG THING NEW YEARS BLOG HOP QUESTIONS:
1. What is the working title of your book?
The title of the book in question is "Why She Left Us."
2. Where did the idea come from?
The idea originally came from a huge drama I wrote when I was very young, with the main plot of this new novel being only of secondary importance in the original drama. I then proceeded to focus on this sub-plot, expand it, and thus, "Why She Left Us" finally emerged.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
That's a good question. As with other books I have recently published (the Brett Cornell Series), this novel does not fall neatly into any one category. I guess one might call it Literary Fiction with a strong element of Romance.
4. Which actors would you use to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Because my main characters are fairly young, I naturally would have to select actors and actresses who are fairly young. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with that many, being of the "older generation" myself. But of those I do know, I'd probably go with Emily VanCamp as Betsy, Nina Dobrev (of "The Vampire Diaries") as Monica, and Abigail Breslin as Ellen. That would take care of the three sisters in the novel. Their mother (Jean) would be somebody quite striking, like Angeline Jolie! As for the guys, Nicholas Hoult would be perfect for Carl, and Chris Hemsworth would make a great Wayne, although he may be just a bit too old for the part at this point in time.
Emily VanCamp as BETSY
Nina Dobrev as MONICA
Abigail Breslin as ELLEN
Angelina Jolie as JEAN
Nicholas Hoult as CARL
Chris Hemsworth as WAYNE
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your work?
A young woman of innate goodness and boundless compassion is destroyed through the insensitivity and selfishness of unfeeling and unappreciative people.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
The book is already available, and was self-published.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first draft of my manuscript was completed at almost breakneck speed, as I felt that the lives of my main characters were being held in the balance, so that I felt a desperate need to bring closure to the fates they were about to endure.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I've been told that portions of this work "read like Jane Eyre" which I find to be very flattering!
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I suppose it was a desire, on my part, to write something that would be alternately passionate and tender and to, most of all, move the reader emotionally and intellectually.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
I think that the pace of my novel accelerates to the point where, towards the end, it practically hurtles towards its dramatic and surprising conclusion. In atypical fashion, I then deliberately slowed down the pace of the final chapter, hopefully to give the reader some breathing space, before ending the whole novel at an altogether newer level of intensity.
Facebook page link for this novel: http://www.facebook.com/WhySheLeftUs
Amazon purchase page:http://www.amazon.com/Why-She-Left-Us-ebook/dp/B00AHYQ7LA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357731415&sr=1-1&keywords=why+she+left+us
Please check out these other most excellent authors and be sure to visit their Next Big Thing blog posts. Happy New Year!
1. Steven Ramirez -- Blog: http://stevenramirez.com/
2. Author Luna Nightwyn -- Blog: http://books.nightwyn.com/node/2
3. Author Ronald Fischman -- Blog: http://3throughhistory.wordpress.com
4. Author Brian Rogers -- Website: http://www.byrogers.com/
