Big Thing Backwards
Last week I was tagged by
Hart (link)
and
Stina (link)
for the "Next Big Thing" blogfest. I'm to tell you what I'm working on and end by promoting something.
So I'm doing it backwards because I've got to tell you about a book I just finished: Never Gone by good bloggy friend Laurel Garver (link) .
It is so good. The writing is gorgeous, the story is haunting (literally!) and it ends just perfectly. (*BIG sigh*) It's the perfect fall-into-winter book.
Get it!Main character Danielle "Dani" has just lost her father in a horrible car accident. His body's been cremated, and she and his remains are being shipped off to England to stay with her paternal grandparents while her mother stays in the U.S. for work.
The problem is Dani keeps seeing her dad.
Her memories and her desperate longing to catch him, which leads to some risky behavior choices, will have you in tears. But also, her strained relationship with her mother, and all the things Dani discovers about her family just peel away like layers of the most delicious cake. (Yep, I wrote that--LOL!)
And the ending with Theo, and what he writes on her cast... (*swoon*)
OK, I'm stopping, but it's an impressive debut. Only a few times I was a little confused or concerned with how situations were handled, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.
There's a good dose of theology in the book courtesy Dani's grandfather, who's a clergyman. But also Theo, Dani's love interest is struggling with his own spirituality. I don't mind such things, and Laurel and I are planning a cross-post on how both of us incorporated religious themes in our books on Oct. 29. It should be interesting!
The English setting is the perfect backdrop for all the good stuff inside. Run get it on Amazon today (link)!
Now for the NBT blogfest questions! (I'll answer these lightening-round style.)
What is the working title of your book?
Violet. I know that's cheesy, but it's the sequel to Rouge, and for now, I'm trying to get the story right. I'll worry about titles later. (I have to do this; I'm hopeless when it comes to titles.)
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's the sequel to Rouge, and Rouge is Oliver! meets Moulin Rouge meets My Fair Lady. (I know!)
What genre does your book fall under?
It's light historical/theater romance. Rouge was written as YA, but S&S asked if I'd make it adult. I said yes, but the characters are still 19 & 20 years old. So it's light-historical New Adult romance. Set in a theater. (Yeah, baby!)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
BeauWhen I started writing, Lucy Hale was the inspiration for Hale; my daughter Catherine was the inspiration for Teeny; Rufus Wainwright was the inspiration for Roland; Beau was Henry Cavill; Freddie was the actor who played Freddie Einsford-Hill from the original My Fair Lady...
That was two years ago. They've all aged and changed--LOL!
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rouge: Hale's trying to secure a proposal from Freddie so she can get Teeny (and herself) out of their cabaret-home that's growing more dangerous by the day; then she meets Beau.
(I can't talk about Violet without spoiling Rouge.)
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This book is part of a three-book deal w/Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I'm hoping it won't take me as long as Rouge, which took me three months. (*freaks out*)
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Not sure yet.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I got super-selfish with this series. This is just the kind of lush escapism I love love love; so I wrote it for me. And I hope you all LOVE it, too--LOL!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I thought it was really cool that the television show Smash started after I finished Rouge, because that story is all about what happens when the actors are off stage. The drama of real life, and how it bleeds into their performances.
What are you currently PROMOTING?
(see above)
Everybody's been so fantastic in helping me get my debut YA The Truth About Faking off the ground, I'm trying to pay it forward as much as possible. Love you guys!
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm going to be everywhere with guest posts and reviews. I'm trying to tweet and Facebook updates as I get them. Please don't get sick of me! <3
BIG P.S.!
OMG, I almost forgot! The whip-smart and super awesome Dr. Susan Kaye Quinn (link) has sold 10,000 copies of her book Open Minds (wow!) And to celebrate, she's giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and Free Books (WOW!), including The Truth About Faking!
Be sure and stop by her blog (link) tomorrow through Thurs. to enter, and good luck! <3
So I'm doing it backwards because I've got to tell you about a book I just finished: Never Gone by good bloggy friend Laurel Garver (link) .
It is so good. The writing is gorgeous, the story is haunting (literally!) and it ends just perfectly. (*BIG sigh*) It's the perfect fall-into-winter book.
Get it!Main character Danielle "Dani" has just lost her father in a horrible car accident. His body's been cremated, and she and his remains are being shipped off to England to stay with her paternal grandparents while her mother stays in the U.S. for work.The problem is Dani keeps seeing her dad.
Her memories and her desperate longing to catch him, which leads to some risky behavior choices, will have you in tears. But also, her strained relationship with her mother, and all the things Dani discovers about her family just peel away like layers of the most delicious cake. (Yep, I wrote that--LOL!)
And the ending with Theo, and what he writes on her cast... (*swoon*)
OK, I'm stopping, but it's an impressive debut. Only a few times I was a little confused or concerned with how situations were handled, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.
There's a good dose of theology in the book courtesy Dani's grandfather, who's a clergyman. But also Theo, Dani's love interest is struggling with his own spirituality. I don't mind such things, and Laurel and I are planning a cross-post on how both of us incorporated religious themes in our books on Oct. 29. It should be interesting!
The English setting is the perfect backdrop for all the good stuff inside. Run get it on Amazon today (link)!
Now for the NBT blogfest questions! (I'll answer these lightening-round style.)
What is the working title of your book?
Violet. I know that's cheesy, but it's the sequel to Rouge, and for now, I'm trying to get the story right. I'll worry about titles later. (I have to do this; I'm hopeless when it comes to titles.)
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's the sequel to Rouge, and Rouge is Oliver! meets Moulin Rouge meets My Fair Lady. (I know!)
What genre does your book fall under?
It's light historical/theater romance. Rouge was written as YA, but S&S asked if I'd make it adult. I said yes, but the characters are still 19 & 20 years old. So it's light-historical New Adult romance. Set in a theater. (Yeah, baby!)
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
BeauWhen I started writing, Lucy Hale was the inspiration for Hale; my daughter Catherine was the inspiration for Teeny; Rufus Wainwright was the inspiration for Roland; Beau was Henry Cavill; Freddie was the actor who played Freddie Einsford-Hill from the original My Fair Lady...That was two years ago. They've all aged and changed--LOL!
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rouge: Hale's trying to secure a proposal from Freddie so she can get Teeny (and herself) out of their cabaret-home that's growing more dangerous by the day; then she meets Beau.
(I can't talk about Violet without spoiling Rouge.)
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This book is part of a three-book deal w/Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I'm hoping it won't take me as long as Rouge, which took me three months. (*freaks out*)
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Not sure yet.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I got super-selfish with this series. This is just the kind of lush escapism I love love love; so I wrote it for me. And I hope you all LOVE it, too--LOL!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I thought it was really cool that the television show Smash started after I finished Rouge, because that story is all about what happens when the actors are off stage. The drama of real life, and how it bleeds into their performances.
What are you currently PROMOTING?
(see above)
Everybody's been so fantastic in helping me get my debut YA The Truth About Faking off the ground, I'm trying to pay it forward as much as possible. Love you guys!
Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm going to be everywhere with guest posts and reviews. I'm trying to tweet and Facebook updates as I get them. Please don't get sick of me! <3
BIG P.S.!
OMG, I almost forgot! The whip-smart and super awesome Dr. Susan Kaye Quinn (link) has sold 10,000 copies of her book Open Minds (wow!) And to celebrate, she's giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and Free Books (WOW!), including The Truth About Faking!
Be sure and stop by her blog (link) tomorrow through Thurs. to enter, and good luck! <3
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