Two weeks ago, Alex F. Fayle tagged me with the Next Big Thing meme. I could say that the reason I didn’t post last week is that it was Thanksgiving and I was busy, and there’s some truth to that. Last week was highly family oriented. Another reason is that it’s hard to answer the questions.
This meme prompts writers to talk about what they’re working on at the moment, then tag others to talk about their own work. I have trouble talking about work in progress — often, if I talk too much about the work, I don’t do the work. Then there is the rather startling number of projects I count as in progress now. However, I shall do my best.
What is the working title of your book(s)?
The Mini-Golf Course Murders — the next book in the River Corners mystery series
Rage of Fire — the next book in my Elementalists paranormal romance series (currently working on outlining)
Jack Hawthorne 2 — needs an actual title, but so far it’s just labeled as the second in my middle-grade SF/horror series (also fleshing out the outline here — and for #3 as well)
Sundered Sword — a fantasy set in an alternate Baroque Tuscany (at least I think it’s Baroque, but this might need to be fixed)
Mirei — an interplanetary science fiction novel, currently referred to simply by the name of the first character to show up
For completeness’ sake, I shall include Return of the Albino Weasel — my current NaNo project
Where did the idea come from for the book(s)?
I’ve always loved cozy mysteries, and I think I first tried to write about Greg and Isobel Stone (they were already married in that version) back in 1990 or so.
The paranormal mystery series is founded on a love of elements. Love staring at fire, playing in water, feeling the wind blow about me. I could never pick just one.
Jack Hawthorne is based on loving reading middle-grade and children’s books, both growing up (series like The Three Investigators) and ones I read now with my son (like the Kane Chronicles), but wanting something with a bit more danger in it, albeit B-movie danger, as everyone starts changing into insects.
Sundered Sword started with a random thought from a Monty Python movie. “Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!” What if that was what determined the ruler, but the sword was broken and there were two legitimate claimants?
Mirei’s story is an on-again, off-again work in progress, one of the few that I haven’t planned out ahead of time. I suppose you could say I was inspired by squids in space.
The albino weasel is a running gag in our NaNoWriMo group. It was a phrase that cropped up at a kick-off party a few years back, a comment uttered into one of those silences that sometimes falls during a party. And we’ve got a great bunch of WriMos who are really entertaining to talk to and have cool and crazy things to say about their lives. So this year, my goal was to just throw all that into a story and see what happened. I’m actually rather bummed I haven’t done more with it.
Will your book(s) be self-published or represented by an agency?
I don’t plan to use an agent, even for those that I may submit to traditional publishers.
Things I know will be self-published: the mystery, the paranormal romance, and the Albino Weasel (assuming I get more written!).
And now to tag . . .
Bonnie R. Schutzman — Born and raised in Montana, Bonnie migrated east for graduate study and wound up staying. She writes vivid characters that I love to hear what happens to. She also golfs, paints, hikes, crochets, and takes time to be with her family. You can find her on her blog, Cowgirl in New England.
Edward Greaves — A New Jersey native, Ed’s the reason I joined the Garden State Horror Writers (soon to be rebranded as the Garden State Speculative Fiction Writers, I believe). He’s had a couple of short stories published, and he’s an associate editor for Space and Time magazine. This year he attended the Viable Paradise workshop. You can find him on his blog, Writing for Beans.
Dawn Bonanno — Dawn is a transplant from Brooklyn to Chicago. She runs, she draws, she spends time with her kids (including working on children’s stories with her daughter), and of course, she writes. She’s been a semi-finalist in the Writers of the Future contest, and she also attended Viable Paradise this year. You can find her on her Website, dmbonanno.com.
