The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to my willow tree. I was tagged to be part of The Next Big Thing blog hop by the very talented author Jen Blood. If you haven’t read her Erin Solomon books, “All the Blue Eyed Angels” and “Sins of the Father,” I suggest you do. I have read both and loved them. I can’t wait for the third in the series due out this spring. Here I go, hope you enjoy the answers.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:

What is your working title of your book?

I have two. I am working on the final edits of “Annamarie and Magdalena,” the sequel to “Gypsy Spirits.” Annamarie and Magdalena will be out next month. My second is my NaNo novel which I just validated at slightly over 50,000 words titled “Old Man Malone Returns.” It is the sequel to “THE LETTER”

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My idea for “Annamarie and Magdalena” follows the basic idea for “Gypsy Spirits” which I have been thinking about for quite a while. It is a supernatural thriller and approximately 5% reality. None of the supernatural scenes are real, but the first chapter was based on a personal experience and there a few smaller scenes that I pulled from my life. I thought I could turn it into a good novel.

What genre does your book fall under?

Both books I am working on would be considered supernatural thrillers.

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

That’s hard. My main characters in Annamarie and Magdalena are teens when the book begins and I am not very familiar with teen actors today. I can see Dakota Fanning as Annamarie and Helen Mirren as her great-grandmother’s spirit, the gypsy Magdalena.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

After Annamarie pushes her husband, Daniel, off a bluff due to his cruel nature, his spirit returns to terrorize her, and her great-grandmother’s spirit, Magdalena, her guardian, begins a battle of the spirits fighting for Annamarie and her unborn child.

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

Self-published in December.

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

Approximately six to eight weeks.

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

I don’t think I would. There are several very good ghost stories, stories with evil spirits and gypsies in them, but I am not comfortable comparing myself to others. Maybe I am still a bit self-conscious.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The single incident in the first scene of “Gypsy Spirits,” and stories my mom told me about my ancestors and the traveling carnival they owned in Bavaria before WWII.

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

It’s fast-paced and has bits of history and folk lore weaved into the story-line.

I am now tagging the following five fabulous writers:

Rebecca Graf. Rebecca is the author of “Deep Connections.” It is a very well written and eerie book to be read with the lights on. Rebecca and I live fairly close and she is the first other Indie writer that I have met. She’s a sweet young woman.

Carolyn Arnold. Carolyn is the author of the Madison Knight series which include “Ties That Bind” and “Justified.” She is extremely talented. I have read the books and am looking forward to reading the third in the series along with her other books.

Barbie Herrera. Barbie is the author of “Portrait of Our Marriage.” She’s also very talented and her book is moving as you are pulled into a marriage shattered by internet porn.

Brenda Sorrels. Brenda is the author of “The Bachelor Farmers.” I found it to be a wonderful read and Brenda is one of the nicest people I have met on my Indie quest to fame J

Joanne Lessner. Joanne is the author of “Pandora’s Bottle.” It’s a novel inspired by a true story of the world’s most expensive bottle of wine. It’s an enjoyable read and Joanne is very talented.