The Next Big Thing

Hi gang,

The wonderful and brilliant writer, Orly Konig-Lopez (Orly's website) tagged me to play a game called The Next Big Thing in which authors hold the microphone for a minute, answer ten questions about the stories they are working on, and then pass the mic to five other authors. It is has been illuminating. And fun.

Here is my shot at the microphone:

What is your working title of your book?

I am still throwing names at the wall. Here are a few that have stuck:

Epicenter

Love at the Epicenter

Her Guardian, His Angel

Um, any suggestions you have might be helpful. Seriously, any suggestions. Post in the comments and if I use it I will give you credit in the book.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Originally, it was a sequel to Catch Me in Castile set in Port-au-Prince, but my editor at the time rejected it because she didn't like the set-up. I will always be grateful for that rejection. I even sent the editor a thank you for rejecting me! Why? The timing was wrong.

If I had sold that original story it would have been released within days of the devastating earthquake. It might have felt disrespectful to those who had lost so much. In hindsight, that rejection was the best thing that could have happened to this story.

Instead, of celebrating the release of my sequel, I sat riveted to my television, tears streaming while I witnessed the human survival, strength and success stories in Haiti. I wanted to pour that love and human spirit into my book in honor of the survivors and those who fought to save lives.

Epicenter (or whatever it's name is) was born.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Single-Title (with a hint of paranormal)

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

Luke Carter....Josh Lucas

Dr.Ysabeau Morno...Halle Berry

The two old Voodoo Priestesses who keep trying to steal the show will have to be great actors as well.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

It is the love story of an American philanthropist and a Haitian doctor are fighting to save lives when the greatest earthquake Haiti has ever known rips their world apart. 

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

I am looking for an agent at the moment.

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

The first first draft (the sequel to Catch Me in Castile) took about eight months. After my editor rejected it, I tossed out all but a few scenes and started over. After researching before and after the earthquake, scouring YouTube for any videos of the city prior to the devastation (thank you to those families who posted videos inside the Hotel Montana before it was leveled), watching the news and reading first-hand accounts, I started writing the new book and was finished with the first draft in two months. I honestly never thought I could write anything that fast. The story seemed to write itself.

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

Hmmm. That's a tough one. Readers have told me that my stories remind them of Jodi Picoult's. That is a huge compliment.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

The earthquake survivors and the search and rescue teams who gave everything to save lives.

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

Don't be surprised if it makes you laugh, cry and knocks the floor out from beneath your feet. Currently, it is a finalist in four writing contests!

And now to pass the microphone to a few of my awesome writer friends. Look for their answers on their websites next week.

Selena Robins selenarobinsmusings.com/ 

Renee Wildes reneewildes.net 

Nancy Lauzon nancylauzon.com 

A. Catherine Noon acatherinenoon.blogspot.com

Cyn Appel appelslyces.blogspot.com