It’s autumn now, or at least if feels like it, and it’s the
time for new things. New series on the telly – are you watching Dr Who? – and I’m
told Downton Abbey is just about to appear again. New books – aren’t you fed up
with Fifty Shades yet? New films – I’m not up to them as there is no cinema in
my town. So what else is new? Well, last week I was tagged by one of my Love a
Happy Ending mates, Mandy Baggot, in her blog post ‘The Next Big Thing’, so
this week it’s my turn! I have to answer ten questions about my work in
progress and tag five other writers to tell you about their latest work next Wednesday.
But before we start I have to make an admission! The work in progress is
progressing very slowly because I’ve taken time out to prepare Night Watcher
for a paperback edition. So watch this space, it won’t be long before it is
out.
Now for the work in progress, the novel I really must sit
down and finish because I’m only a smidgin from the end.
Check out the questions and my answers. I’ll try to be as
honest as I can!
Well, over time it’s
had a couple of working titles. It started out as Vigilante, and then it
changed to Predator, and I’m not going to tell you what the final title is as
it’s under wraps at the present.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
I suppose it started
out by one of my friends suggesting I should write a book with a plot that
involved computers, because I’m a bit of a techie nerd. So I turned over some
ideas in my head and played around with ideas about chat rooms and internet
predators, and the plot developed from there, although I must say it became a
tad more complicated than my original idea with my usual dose of sub plots and
twists. I’m not going to tell you any more, you’ll just have to read it when it
comes out.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
Same genre as Night
Watcher and Dead Wood, it’s a psychological crime thriller and is the third in
the Dundee Crime series.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Hmm! I’m not sure who
I’d like for DS Bill Murphy. It would have to be a younger version of Liam
Neeson. I rather like Nathan Fillion, but he’s too quirky for Bill, so the role
is open to any takers. I think Julianne Moore would be ideal for DS Sue Rogers.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Jade vanished five
years ago – is she alive or dead – and who is doing all the killing?
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’ve been published
both ways and decided some time ago that self publishing was the way I wanted
to go. You see, I’m a bit of a control freak, and I like to keep my hands on
the driving wheel. Agents and publishers tend to impose conditions which I’m
not comfortable with.
7. How long did it
take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I hate to admit it but
I’ve been working on this novel for over a year, and I’m behind schedule. I
usually allow a year from beginning to final publication, you need that kind of
time to ensure the novel is as good as it can be, and to allow for the revision
and editing process to make sure the book meets that criteria.
It’s difficult to make
comparisons because a book is unique to the author who writes it. Let’s just
say that I veer more towards Val McDermid than Agatha Christie.
9. Who or What
inspired you to write this book?
I think it’s my own
inner demons who provide that push. Writing is an addiction, it’s an itch you
just have to scratch.
10. What else about
your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I hope the fact that
it’s the third book in the Dundee Crime Series
will be enough to tempt my readers to pounce on it.
Now! “Tag you’re it!”
Here are some great authors I’ve tagged to tell us what their next big thing is. Hopefully they’ll have time to tell us what they’re working on.
- Gilli Allan: http://gilliallan.blogspot.co.uk/
- Miriam Wakerly: http://www.miriamwakerly.blogspot.co.uk/
- Carol E Wyer: http://facing50withhumour.blogspot.co.uk/
- Eileen Schuh: http://eileenschuh.blogspot.co.uk/
I look forward to getting a sneak peak of what they’re writing and hope you will too.
