The past week or so I started finding the extra time, as summer started winding down and the kids prepared to go back to school, to inch back into a blogging groove. Maybe you noticed. I began getting out there again. I’m trying to visit blogs and keep up with mine while still maintaining a life and write. Tall order, I know. Because I was getting out, I actually noticed when Kristy K. James tagged me in Week 7 of The Next Big Thing. I also enjoyed Emmie Mears’ post 5 X-Men It Would Really Suck To Be. Where am I going with this and what do these two things have to do with each other? I’m getting to that.
Even though I’m still editing The Bringer Trilogy, I thought you might have heard enough of that and may want to hear about something else I’ve been working on. Something I might liken to some seriously horrid X-Men abilities. As Emmie points out, having a mutant power isn’t always cool. So what is The Next Big Thing you ask? It is a weekly post where tagged authors answer questions about one of their WIPs. I hope you enjoy my short interview:
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is the working title of your book?
Nulled
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Believe it or not, I was sitting in traffic on my way home from Comic Con last year, thinking about how I only seem to get one to three months life out of light bulbs and batteries in my house and how my car alarm refused to work for me for a full 24 hour period earlier that year, stranding me at home. That was the kernel from which the idea blossomed about a girl who had the ability to short out electrical items. Of course, it’s never as simple as just that, now is it?
What genre does your book fall under?
Science Fiction/Paranormal Romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Ellie has a sort of innocence to her. Or, maybe looks are deceiving. I see someone like Amy Adams in her role, or maybe even Deborah Ann Woll. As for the male of interest in the story, I must admit I was thinking of Jensen Ackles when I named him Dean. LOL. I see Masi Oka as Chung, the analyst that attaches himself to Ellie for reasons she will later discover.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Rogue meets Bishop in a young naive girl being wooed by hunky neighbor, Dean Winchester, and hunted by a secret company, responsible for her father’s disappearance many years ago.
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Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Good question. That’s one I am still considering.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I can’t answer that question yet. But, I feel safe saying it will be a lot quicker than any of The Bringer Trilogy books took me.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I know they are out there. Outside of any actual mutant series, I can’t think of one off the top of my head. I’m picturing one, but can’t remember the name to google it. Don’t you hate that? Questions like these always make me freeze up, too. That’s something I’m working at overcoming. Sigh.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The idea that sparked it is what inspired me to write it. Why now? After RWA, I started developing a more thought out marketing plan as far as the order of my projects. I understand there should be a logical build in readership, if I am able to put out a good story. So, I bumped “Unintentional Angel” back and moved “Nulled” forward to use it in that building process.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Ellie was a mistake and unexpected. Her father was engineered for a purpose. The company wants her. Wants to control her. They have no idea what they created. Neither does she.
Tag! You’re it:
Krystal Wade * Colin Falconer * Kate Wood * Jennifer Oliver * Marcy Kennedy
Rules:
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress)
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.
~It’s that simple.
Thor is heading out on his big adventure. There is still time to join in the fun. Leave a comment or drop me a line if you would like to get involved in the Thor blog tour. He is physically making the trip to everyone on the list! Thank you to all those already signed up and participating.
~oOo~
I love hearing from you! If you enjoyed this post or any of my previous posts, I’d be delighted to have you hit the follow button or add this blog to your RSS feed! You may also find me on twitter at @DebraKrist. Tootles! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for the tag!
I love the idea of having the power to short out electrical items. I wonder what she does with that power afterward. Is she able to keep it? I look forward to learning more 🙂
That would be one annoying power. Imagine trying to dry your hair and curl your hair. 🙂 That came up early in the story, but it might not make the cut.
Dang it, I was hoping to be tagged since the WIP is a superhero novel. 🙂
Thanks for the pingback!
Consider yourself tagged! I never know when to stop tagging or if I should tag at all with these games. 😀
Very cool Debra. The answer you wrote for the last question really got my attention–intriguing!
It’s funny, one of my wip ideas came to me while I was sitting in traffic too. 🙂
I get a lot of ideas when I’m driving (solo) or at least without the noise of the kids in the back seat. Longer drives are especially good for this. Thanks for the comment. I can’t wait to see what you do for yours. I was going to tag you but Tameri beat me to it. 🙂
Very cool. I love mutant stories (huge X-Men fan). I’m looking forward to you getting this one finished up and out there so I can read it! The word ‘engineered’ really grabbed my interest.
I know, that crazy word “engineered” that throws it into a science fiction realm more than paranormal according to what I’m reading. I thought I was writing paranormal romance. Then I read up on it. Nope. Doh! If it can be explained it’s science fiction. If it can’t – paranormal. Well, this is a cross between them.
Nulled is a great title. I haven’t read much in the way of humans with superpowers but I’m intrigued by Ellie.
Aw, thank you, Emma. I’m sort fond of it. My husband looks at me funny whenever I use the title. But we haven’t talked about it as much around here. Nullify : to put an end to the effective existence of something. 😉
I’m glad you have a title for your WIP. I’m sadly nicknaming mine. Now I have to play! And glad you’re getting back into blogging/reading blogs. I’m still trying to find time.
When my titles come I grab them. When someone else uses them I have a hard time coming up with another. 🙁 Came up with The Bringer Trilogy:Book 1 title in 2010. Still can’t think of a new one and I need it like next week!
Social Media. You may have noticed I cut down my number of posts per week. That makes it more manageable. Writing comes first. I then limit my time to one or two hours when I get on and sometimes it’s only M,W,Th. I make sneak a couple of free days to ignore all social media in favor of writing. The editors I’ve met worry about the writers they see on FB and twitter all the time. Finally, you probably can’t get to all of your friends every time you are on, but maybe you can get to all of them within the week. That’s a great way to spread the love. I well over a hundred blogs I follow and that’s a lot to get to in an hour. Not possible. So I have to break it up. But I like to find someone new from my stream if I can. Use an egg timer and hold true to it when you get on. It will become a habit and then you can fit blogging in without guilt and allow plenty of writing time. Now I must return to edits. 🙂
Being a programmer, I love the title of your book. Definitely hints at the problems to come for your MC!
My daughter has the same problem you do with electronics. She’s lucky if cell phones or MP3 players last for a year, and watches? Forget it!
Sorry I’m so behind on my response. This post somehow got lost. Isn’t it crazy how some of us don’t get along with electronics? Our personalities must be too magnetic. Yeah, that’s it. Sounds like a good story, anyway. LOL! We zap the power out of everything around us. Damn it.
OK I gotta read this. Amy Adams…that just paints a picture in my head, and the plot sounds so intriguing!
Can’t wait to take Thor for a ride 😀
I’m so far behind on these comments that the Thor ride has begun. Yay! Glad you like the premise. Thanks, Melinda.
Sitting in traffic is a great time to think. Thank goodness, because of all things that could use a silver lining, it’s that! 😉 Your book sound alluring, Debra. Best of luck as you finish!
Thank you, August. Traffic is a wonderful time to plot out storylines. As long as there aren’t distractions in the car with you.
Hmm. I know I read this before today, but I didn’t see a like from me, or a comment. Must be Ellie shorted out the darned connection… 🙂 Sounds like there’s another story on my TBR list…after it’s available TBR. Nice job, Debra! Can’t wait to read it…especially since I can picture Jensen Ackles while I do. Dang that guy is sexy. 🙂
You know, I thought of you as I typed Jensen’s name. 🙂 Thanks, Kristy. You’re always a sweetie.
Okay, I’m leaving a comment, but don’t tag me. He, he, he, 🙂
So I read the premise of your new MC. Interesting. No wonder you’ve been quiet. And also the kids have been home. I do hope that you’ve had a great summer.
WHAT?! You don’t want to play any tagging games. 🙂 You’re safe. I’ve been quiet because I just sent a portion of The Bringer Trilogy out. I was crazy getting it ready. Now I’m prepping it for a final round at the beta readers. I have so many ideas and no time to follow them. It’s very frustrating. I hope you’re well. We haven’t had time to catch up in a while. We should try to carve out time soon.
I love characters with mutant/super powers. Always make for fun times and good action.
Aren’t they so much fun? I just flew through such a book. Oh my. I will blog about it – sort of- soon.
Loving that superpower. I want that one. Though it might be difficult if I’m trying to use my laptop and it shorts out! hehe
All the best in your writing adventure.
Yes, that would be difficult. You know what I hate? When I start typing and I get to keystrokes and my computer stops responding. It goes into “think” mode. I wait. Okay, it’s ready. I start again, same thing. And so it continues. I’d rather it just stop all together. I’d get mad and get over it. LOL. These are the weird electronic things I deal with all the time. Maybe I am my protagonist, to a degree.
Thanks for stopping by, MJ.
I loved learning more about your WIP, Debra. Electric superpowers and chased by an evil company sounds really cool. This is a must read. And it’s great that you’re thinking strategically about the order of your books. My biggest challenge is sticking to one genre as my ideas and interests are all over the place.
My business mind has gone to work like crazy. My husband doesn’t say much so I’m not sure if he’s on the same page with me or not. I just get a, “If we can afford it,” answer. :/ Well, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Time will tell.
It’s amazing where ideas come to us. I got mine while cleaning the bathroom for one novel. 🙂
Sounds very intriguing. Best of luck!
That would be those down times when your brain isn’t busy thinking about other things. Those are the best times when great ideas come. I love them. Thanks, Kourtney.