The Next Big Thing

I went to the Harbor Parade last Sunday and here is a picture. Thanks to my little brother for taking us out for a cruise. It was a bit cold and damp which shows in the picture, but you get a glimpse of the beautiful San Diego skyline.

And on to The Next Big Thing.  One of the things I like best about being an author is the amazing friends I’ve collected over the years. Chris Marie Green is not only a great friend but my hero. She’s written over 40 books under three different pen names. She also gives great TV recommendations. I never would have dreamed of watching Sons of Anarchy if it weren’t for Chris. So when Chris tagged me to participate in The Next Big Thing blog, I was both honored and humbled. She’s that awesome, y’all.

Here are my answers to the same ten question Chris answered.  Hop on over to her blog to read about her next big thing, Strange Spirits.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:

What is your working title of your book?

Uncommon Pleasures

Where did the idea come from for the book?

While working on Improper Pleasures,the first in the series, I fell in love with the secondary characters, Ivy and Darien,  which led to Secret Pleasures.  For the third book, I wanted to write Marcus’s story. I felt sorry for Kerra Bainbridge, a commoner, being thrust on every man with a title.  I wanted to write about the title-seeking commoner that seems to be used often in Regency romances. I think I gave her great motivation  and who else to pair her with than Marcus, the duke in Secret Pleasures.

What genre does your book fall under?

historical romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

My characters take on a life of their own and they have to breathe for me. It’s hard for me to even pick a photo for cover art, so thinking of movie stars is tough. For Kerra, I think I’d choose Scarlett Johanson and for Marcus, Clive Owen.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Kerra Bainbridge, a title-seeking commoner, is caught in a compromising act with Marcus Lamont,  the Duke of Huntingdon, who marries her despite believing he is unable to love.

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

I’m going to self-publish.  When I had my first book published in 2003, I couldn’t have imagined the changes to the publishing industry.  The idea that I can select my own cover and make it available to readers is mind-blowing. I’ve learned a lot this past year and have three books currently available for Kindle.  It’s been an adventure and forced me way past my comfort zone but I’m really enjoying the process.

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

Um, I’m still working on it. I tend to get 3/4 of the way through a draft and decide it’s going nowhere. I start working on something else and then it comes to me later. I do at least four drafts so I always seem to be editing something while I’m working on a first draft of something else.

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

With  all the books in the Pleasure Series, I tried to take some of the standard Regency plot lines and give them a bit of a twist. In Uncommon Pleasures, I spun the title-seeking commoner  trope and tried to look at that in a different light. My stories are a little dark and angsty. Not sure what book I would compare this to. My books tend to be dark, sexy and emotional. I love to take antagonists and make them the hero or heroine of their own story.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The characters themselves. I always want them to get their happy ending no matter how stuck I get on a draft.

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

Uncommon Pleasures is set in the wilds of Scotland and has a very alpha hero. I write both alpha’s and beta-ish heroes. When an alpha like Marcus shows up, I know he’s going to be trouble.  He already came with a lot of baggage from the other books so I had to work with what I had. I find it sometimes hard to make an alpha male loveable but it’s so much more fun to watch them fall for the heroine. Look for Uncommon Pleasures in the Spring of 2013.

Coming soon is Lorelle Marinello’s Next Big Thing blog post. Lorelle was one of my first critique partners. She writes Southern women’s fiction with small town settings and a touch of romance. Check out her latest release Fairhope.