The Next Big Thing

This is the infamous Blog Hop for "The Next Big Thing". Though infamous, I'd just learned about it a couple of weeks ago, and I am glad to be on-board. 

How it works? You first mention the person who tagged you to post “The Next Best Thing,” then you answer questions in your post about your Work-in-Progress (WIP). At the end, you list five blogs that you are “tagging” to post their "Next Best Thing" for the following week.
**I was tagged by M.L. Smith. Check out his blog and his new, exciting NaNoWriMo novel.
Here are my responses to The Next Big Thing:
1. What is the working title of your book?
Anticipating Dawn
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
It is the sequel to my first book, Anticipation of the Penitent, and delves into the idea of what happens when a relative of a serial killer has guilt about the harm the serial killer caused the victims' families. It also speaks of how someone who is gay and lives in a Christian community learns to accept himself.
The idea of victim reunification came from my job. As a probation officer, I often deal with victims and how the criminal can pay back for the harms their crimes caused. The idea of the gay male in a Christian community came from my beliefs of how God views gays, which are different in some aspects than what many Christians believe God feels.

3. What genre does your book fall under?
Literary fiction. Maybe Christian speculative fiction.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Searching the web and just going by looks, because I don’t know the up-and-coming young actors, I’d say Christian Keyes would be great as Michtam. And as Gent, maybe Paul Butcher. 

[image error]           [image error]
Christian Keyes as Michtam               Paul Butcher as Gent

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Michtam, a relative of serial killer Thomas, feels he must ease the torment to the families of Thomas' victims, but risks causing more ruin to their broken lives, while his best friend, Gent, must learn on his own whether he can live in the only home he knows, the Christian community Gabriel, while being true to himself as a gay male.
--I’m sure I can get it shorter down the line.

6. If you plan to publish, will your book be self-published or published traditionally? 
I will try the traditional route first, but will self-publish if after some time I hadn’t caught an agent.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first draft is not complete, but I’m hoping to be done by June. I’ve been very busy with trying to promote Anticipation of the Penitent, as well as with work, church and family, that I don’t get to write everyday.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I really don’t know. I haven’t yet come across much Christian fiction that deal with these topics, especially in a literary fashion. Prayers for Bobby by Leroy Aarons, is non-fiction, but deals with the ideas of Christianity and homosexuality in an honest and heart-felt manner. (I only saw the movie, however. The book is on my to-read list.)
9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The victim reunification idea came from an inmate reentry meeting I attended for my job. Someone spoke about how she studies victim reunification programs in prisons, and that struck me as what Michtam would try for the families of Thomas’ victims.
The gay Christian idea came from being involved with my church, which, in general, is conservative. I don’t agree with many conservative Christian social beliefs, including the idea that being gay automatically means you are not saved and are not going to heaven.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
While reading Anticipating Dawn, you will follow Michtam and Gent as they go through trials when they enter the lives of distraught people who battle daily struggles. Their discoveries will change their own lives, the lives of their loved ones, and the lives of others who have given up hope.
--Thank you M.L. Swift for the tag!
And these are my "tags" for the next post of "The Next Big Thing" on December 12, 2012:

* Ann Marie Thomas is an amazing woman who, at 60, decided to focus on her dreams. She worked while suffering from fibromyalgia, until her stroke. She is now focusing on studying and writing, even without use of her right arm and limited use of her right leg. God bless her as she continues to recover and rediscover herself.
* Jon Etheredge is proud, retired military and has a couple of books in his gunnysack. He states he has his next project hiding underneath his keyboard. Can't wait to find out what it entails.
* Alex Auguste, AKA Mistah Marvel, is a poet, writer of short stories, memoir, and a novel. He's a host/creator and an aspiring artist who does Spoken Word Poetry and Hip-Hop music.
* Andrea Norwood is a writer of children's books, YA and horror, and is a mother of three. (No wonder she writes what she writes!) I'm glad to be able to help her endeavors at marketing and promoting her work-in-progress.
* Renee McKinley is what she calls a "weirdo" only because she loves writing about fantasy and mild horror. If that's what makes you a weirdo, then I've got to join in! As highlighted in my previous post about Renee, she loves to blog, write, be with her family, crochet, knit, and anything to do with yarn. Now, that makes her weird! :)
* Marilyn Lesser Katz has a blog about her interesting book entitled, Raft People. It seems like a unique story of a post-cataclysmic occurrence on Earth. I'm looking forward to hearing more about her and her work-in-progress.