THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

Welcome to my first blog hop!

There are the books everyone has heard about: Twilight, Hunger Games, Fifty Shades of Gray. But what about all those books written by people you’ve never heard of? Some of them are treasures, just waiting to be found, and that’s what this blog hop is all about: the books you might not have heard about, but that you might end up loving.

This blog hop is like a game of tag. One author posts and tags five other authors who link back to their website the next week and tag five new authors. If you follow the blog hop long enough, you’re bound to find some books you’ll love! Maybe you’ll even discover a book that ends up being the next big thing.

I was tagged by Debra Allen Erfert. You can learn more about Debra on her blog, http://www.debraerfert.blogspot.com/ where you can then connect with her on Twitter, and even Pinterest. 

This blog hop includes ten questions to help you learn more about an author’s current work in progress, so here’s a little info about what I have published and what I hope to have published soon:

1: What is the working title of your book?

Which one??? The one I have published is The Candy Cane Queen.  The one gathering dust on an acquisition editor’s desk *bites nails* is She Came From The Hill. The one I’m not working on right now so I can answer these questions is So You Don’t Want To Be A Damsel In Distress. (That last one is a really long title. I usually refer to it as So You Don’t.) 

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

I originally wrote The Candy Cane Queen for a contest about five years ago so I don't remember exactly what inspired the story, other than the opening scene popping into my head. The story was good, but it wasn't ready.  I wasn't surprised when it didn't win.  I was surprised, however, when they asked if they could hold on to it and possibly publish it the next year. I didn't hear anything the next year.  Last year I heard they were doing the contest again so I asked if I could rewrite the same story and submit.  They agreed.  I didn't win but they wanted to publish it anyway.  

3: What genre does your book fall under?

The Candy Cane Queen is General Fiction

She Came From The Hill is Upper MG Horror

So you have a super long title is MG Fantasy

One day I will pick a genre and settle down. (snort)

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

I thought long and hard about this one, but my Candy Cane Queen characters don’t really fit with your typical Hollywood stereotypes. Susan is past her prime and Dylan could double for an elf if the lighting is right. If I ever have a book turned into a movie, I hope they pick some fresh new faces.

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

The Candy Cane Queen is about a woman who gives anonymously to strangers every Christmas season, using the mysterious persona of The Candy Cane Queen. (Dramatic music, confetti, cheering)

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

Neither! Ha.  In your face conformity.  The Candy Cane Queen is with an indie publisher called Cedar Fort.  They have been fabulous to work with and I would do it again in a heart beat. 

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

That was five years ago.  I don't have that kind of memory.

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

I love how these questions say “this story” I never have just one story in my head.  There are entire worlds in there.  I once described She Came From The Hill as a mix between The Graveyard book and Goonies.  Then I wondered if anyone remembered Goonies and I realized I didn’t remember very much about it, which made me sad.  So I watched it again. Sloth may be one of my favorite characters of all time. What was the question about again?

9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Didn’t I already mention that I have a million worlds in my head.  They have to get out before my head explodes.

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

My goal with The Candy Cane Queen was to write a Christmas story that was different.  I didn’t set out to make people cry.  I like to make people smile.

Here is a list of authors who will be joining the hop for week 25 on December 12th. I hope you’ll visit their blogs next week and learn more about their books. Maybe one of them will become your new favorite author!

1. Rebecca Lamoreaux at http://www.rebeccalamoreaux-anauthorinprogress.blogspot.com/ Rebecca has a fairly new little writing blog.  I love her cute background.

2. Wendy Knight at http://writethroughthenoise.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-next-big-thing-blog-chain.html. Wendy already did the next big thing blog hop, but she was kind enough to let me link to her anyway.

3. Hayley is a new blogger at www.hmcwriter.com/blog/. She just launched her blog this week!

4. Mercedes Yardley www.mercedesyardley.com. Mercedes somehow figured out how to make her blog snow.  It is so cool.  One day I will be that cool. (Probably not, but I’ll just let myself think it.) Mercedes is also a horror writer which is awesome, because sometimes I write scary stuff too. 

5. I found someone for this slot.  Promise.  I just don’t have her blog.  I will include her info when or if I get it.