The Next Big Thing

I am participating in an online writers event called The Next Big Thing which provides an overview of all kinds of upcoming and recent novels. It's kind of fun like a Blog Hop. Each person tagged answers a series of interview questions and posts them on his/her blog or website while linking to other writers. My thanks to Ann Dulhanty, who tagged me from her blog. Ann and I are in the same writers group The B7. Ann has a great sense of humour which I get into enjoy weekly when she reads excerpts from her work. The story Ann is currently working on is Urban Fantasy called the Odds of the God about Brigit, a blackjack-dealing, Vegas druid on a mission to save the world.

Below, I’ve answered questions about my novel and at the end I direct you to the blog of another author who will tell you about her upcoming story next week.

1) What is the working title of your next book?

The Temple of Indra Jewels 

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea first came to me around twelve years ago while snorkeling in the Caribbean. I was captivated by an underwater cavern and imagined it leading to another world. Five years later I found myself pregnant, with a severance package and a lot of free time. Being an avid reader I quickly devoured all the different time travel novels I could get my hands on.. I also love a good series. I was addicted but limited by selection so I decided to write my own sparked by that past vacation and sprinkled with elements from recent good and bad relationships and experiences in my life and in the process fell in love with the magical world of writing.

3) What genre does your book fall under?

I always struggle with this question because it doesn't fit neatly into any one box. It has a historical fiction feel because of the 19th century time travel. There's also a romantic element to it but I think I would mostly classify it as an adventure. Like an Indian Jones for women. 

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

That's tough because the lead characters Sophia and Sapphira would be played by the same person, one is very blonde and the other is very dark. I don't know of any one actress that totally embodies her. She was sort of a combination in my mind of Jewel and Vanessa Marcil. I've never seen Jessica Stroup from 90210 with blonde hair but I think she could probably pull it off. Sophia has two loves interests in the story, since she time travels into a past life.Cullen, the rugged Irishman is very much based on my husband but since he's not an actor I guess we could go with Cole Hauser or Alexander Skarsgard of course they'd need to learn some brogue so maybe Irish actor Michael Fassbender would  be a better choice. Chris Hemsworth with dark hair and green contacts or Joe Magliano could maybe play Viktor, the 19th century German but again they'd need the accent and some fiery green contacts. 

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The first book in the series is about a woman cursed by a magical family heirloom, destined to be murdered in each life by someone close to her, is forced to travel back through time to her past life as a 19th century princess in order to find the Delhi Purple Sapphire which can both damn and save her. 

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I would love to get picked up by a big publishing house and go mainstream but in the meantime I'm in the midst of publishing through iUniverse and the book should be released this year.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

It took six months to write the first draft and twelve years to edit and publish.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I was inspired by Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series and Reflections in the Nile by Suzanne Frank

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Diana Gabaldon inspired me. I'd also like to give credit to my parents who always encouraged me and my third grade teacher Ms. Baldwin who made creative writing fun as well as my aunt who at a very young age asked me what I wanted to be and reminded me many years later. That always stuck with me! 

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

What more do you need? Steamy Sex, Mysterious Jewels, Time Travel & Murder

Now onto the next exciting writers who will perform this interview. I am tagging Marissa Campbell and Melle Onyschuk.

Marissa is from the B7 who also shares my love of Diana's Outlander series. She is currently working on a historical fiction set within the political turmoil of Alfred the Great’s England about a young women named Avelynn who stumbles into a passionate love affair with the viking enemy, only to realize she's betrothed to the real enemy, a man who covets her wealth and status and will stop at nothing to possess her. Please check out Marissa's blog.

Melle is one my besties and on top of writing a kick ass comic, she gets to dress like a total hottie to portray Mello Oh in The Future Prophecy. A graphic novel and concept album that tells the epic story of Sara Simms; the super-heroine who wields the power of the future of music. The aftermath of The Great War has left Toronto in a state of ruin, and the notorious Bogtown Records has seized control of the city. With the help of her younger sister Melle Oh, Decklyn Dubs, and King Selah, she unites the people and builds an army of faithful followers. Her loyal comrades courageously fight again Bogtown, while Sara embarks on a mystical quest to unearth the Future Prophecy. Please check out Melle's blog.


Tag! You're it!