A few weeks ago, the lovely and talented Simon A. Forward invited me to participate in another go-round of The Next Big Thing, and since I had yet another WiP to talk about, I quite happily agreed to take part.
Alas, things didn't go according to plan. I managed to get the 'flu, and in the midst of doctor visits and lying around feeling miserable, I didn't get much done - including my post! The worst part of it all was that I forgot to post anything until it was too late.
Well, Simon has forgiven me my lapse and I'm sharing my third and final(?) Next Big Thing with everyone today!
What is the working title of your next book?
Milan, NC.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It grew out of the fact so many people have read Ask Me if I'm Happy and asked me if/assumed that the story in that novel is about how I met my husband, Alessandro. It really isn't, but I started toying with the idea of fictionalizing "our story" because I know a number of people who already think our real-life story sounds like something out of a book. So, I figured "Why not?"
What genre does your book fall under?
I won't know until it's written, but this is the first book I've written where it's felt "romancey" right out of the gate. (I know "romancey" isn't a word, but I really think it should be.)
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Ohhh... Normally I can do this with no trouble, but this time it's a little more problematic. I reckon it's harder because of the more personal nature of this story.
Natalie would ideally be played by a slightly younger, less-glammed-up Brooke Elliot (from Drop Dead Diva). Lorenzo could be played by a younger Luigi Lo Cascio.
Alas, things didn't go according to plan. I managed to get the 'flu, and in the midst of doctor visits and lying around feeling miserable, I didn't get much done - including my post! The worst part of it all was that I forgot to post anything until it was too late.
Well, Simon has forgiven me my lapse and I'm sharing my third and final(?) Next Big Thing with everyone today!
What is the working title of your next book?
Milan, NC.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It grew out of the fact so many people have read Ask Me if I'm Happy and asked me if/assumed that the story in that novel is about how I met my husband, Alessandro. It really isn't, but I started toying with the idea of fictionalizing "our story" because I know a number of people who already think our real-life story sounds like something out of a book. So, I figured "Why not?"
What genre does your book fall under?
I won't know until it's written, but this is the first book I've written where it's felt "romancey" right out of the gate. (I know "romancey" isn't a word, but I really think it should be.)
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Ohhh... Normally I can do this with no trouble, but this time it's a little more problematic. I reckon it's harder because of the more personal nature of this story.
Natalie would ideally be played by a slightly younger, less-glammed-up Brooke Elliot (from Drop Dead Diva). Lorenzo could be played by a younger Luigi Lo Cascio.
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The almost-final cover.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
A love story inspired by real-life events.
A love story inspired by real-life events.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agent?
I'm putting this one out via Good to Go Press.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the book?
I'm still working on it, but I'm hoping to keep this one down to around three or four months. If I continue at the pace I'm currently writing, that could happen.
What other books would you compare this to within your genre?
As I said, this one feels "romancey". The problem is I don't really read much in the way of Romance Novels in the sense of genre, so I don't know what books it would compare to. It's a contemporary love story, I suppose.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Like I mentioned before, it was inspired by the fact so many people have assumed (incorrectly) or asked me if Ask Me if I'm Happy was inspired by how I met my husband, Alessandro. While Ask Me... was influenced by my life and experiences in Italy, it's not our story, at all.
But now I've had time to breathe and consider possibilities for new stories, it occurred to me that I could, with much embellishment and a healthy dose of creative license, write something which would touch on our story. I'm already warning my friends and family that the characters in this book aren't them, but might be inspired/influenced by them, and so to take everything with a grain of salt.
Ultimately it's fiction, and should be read as fiction. Natalie and Lorenzo share some superficial characteristics with me and Alessandro, but every detail in the story doesn't necessarily correspond to real-life. Still, it's pretty close, in some parts.
Confusing enough for you?
What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
It's a story set in the mountains of a fictional town outside Asheville, North Carolina, with characters who are realistic and down-to-earth. Plus, it's a glimpse into how following one's heart can lead to finding one's true path and, perhaps, one's true love.
I'm putting this one out via Good to Go Press.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the book?
I'm still working on it, but I'm hoping to keep this one down to around three or four months. If I continue at the pace I'm currently writing, that could happen.
What other books would you compare this to within your genre?
As I said, this one feels "romancey". The problem is I don't really read much in the way of Romance Novels in the sense of genre, so I don't know what books it would compare to. It's a contemporary love story, I suppose.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Like I mentioned before, it was inspired by the fact so many people have assumed (incorrectly) or asked me if Ask Me if I'm Happy was inspired by how I met my husband, Alessandro. While Ask Me... was influenced by my life and experiences in Italy, it's not our story, at all.
But now I've had time to breathe and consider possibilities for new stories, it occurred to me that I could, with much embellishment and a healthy dose of creative license, write something which would touch on our story. I'm already warning my friends and family that the characters in this book aren't them, but might be inspired/influenced by them, and so to take everything with a grain of salt.
Ultimately it's fiction, and should be read as fiction. Natalie and Lorenzo share some superficial characteristics with me and Alessandro, but every detail in the story doesn't necessarily correspond to real-life. Still, it's pretty close, in some parts.
Confusing enough for you?
What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
It's a story set in the mountains of a fictional town outside Asheville, North Carolina, with characters who are realistic and down-to-earth. Plus, it's a glimpse into how following one's heart can lead to finding one's true path and, perhaps, one's true love.
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