THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors new to them.  I hope you'll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy.  On this stop on the blog hop, you'll find a bit of information on me and one of my books and links to three other authors you can explore!

My gratitude to fellow author Rhea Windrider for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following link to learn more about her work.  Website:

In this blog hop, I and my fellow authors, in their respective blogs, have answered ten questions about our book or work-in--progress (giving you a sneak peek).  We've also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write--the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!

1: What is the working title of your book?

I am currently working on two books; Maxmillion’s Despair and Vril.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

For Maxmillion’s Despair, this is the second book in the DREAD Fleet pirates’ series. The idea comes from performing with Arizona Pirate troupe, The DREAD Fleet.

Vril is a little something different. I was inspired to work with some former characters, add a bit of fantasy, and write in the realm of the Dime Detective.

3. What genre does your book come under?

Despair is adventure, but Vril is sort of a blur of Mystery, Fantasy, and Noir.

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

I don’t think I am allowed to choose the pirate characters without consent, so I refer readers to TheDREADFleet.com to post inquiries there.

For Vril, I have to say any young Harrison Ford type for the male lead. I think Uma Thurman would make a good female lead, but I am not a movie buff so I am not too sure. Maybe on all counts it would be better for me to say I would look to my Indie Film friends and get some unknown names to star.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Commodore Max regails the glorious and inglorious moments that made him a king among pirates.

A hard boiled detective and his assistant visit a small town portal to a noir fantasy city with some magical investment problem.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

Considering I was just informed that I am now a Brick Cave author, it is pretty safe to say these will be published at the Indie level, and I am very excited!

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

Despair has been like pulling teeth from a shark, the draft is still pretty rough, so I will let you know what the final number is when I have it.

Vril is one of my NaNoWriMo babies.

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

I would compare Despair with most of the classic pirate and adventure novels of the late 1800s, like Treasure Island, but it might have a bit more modern humor.

Vril is probably a blend of Goodis’s works with Urban Fantasy.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The “real” Commodore Max is the inspiration behind despair. He is quite a character and hard not to write about.

I am not sure where is the inspiration for Vril came from, I guess, myself. I haven’t been very good at working on projects that are personal rather than connected to other people, or groups. I think I have a little of that noir era running through my veins as I really appreciate the romance of the dime novel characters.

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

If you want to gain an interest in my pirate novels go watch the pirates who inspired them. The characters are real and the adventures are varied. Check out The DREAD Fleet then tell me why you wouldn’t want to read more.

Vril, Vril is about growing older and revisiting the past, my past, as I work with characters from my youth, and the characters’ past as they clean up old messes that they thought were long ago swept under the bed.

Who’s next on the NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP?

So glad you asked!

Below you will find authors who will be joining me by blog, next Wednesday. Do be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on Works in Progress and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!

P. J. Hultstrand: azpublishingservices.blogspot.com

Sharon Skinner: sharonskinner.com

The Next Big Thing Blog Chain

I was recently invited to participate in the Next Big Thing blog series, By Lori Hines, another Phoenix local author. Lori and I originally met at a Read Local Event in Glendale, Arizona. Lori’s novels “The Ancient Ones,” and “Caves of the Watchers,” published by Aberdeen Bay, include information about ancient Arizona as well as a balance of mystery and the paranormal. Check out Lori and her books at http://lhauthor.wordpress.com/

 

The idea of The Next Big Thing is each writer answers the following questions then tags five more up and coming authors.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?

I am currently most excited about the much anticipated release of Trolls, but I am working on the second book in the DREAD series, Max’s Despair. I am also working on several other pieces including a noir fantasy tentatively titled Vril.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Most of my books start as ideas stemming from the research that I do merely out of curiosity. I will dive into study on various topics and some will strike my fancy enough to write a story instead of a research paper.

What genre does your book fall under?

All of my current books fall under fiction and adventure, the fantasy or historical aspect is secondary. I am such a fan of classic adventure.

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

I do not currently have any actors in mind primarily because I am not a fan of new actors but the ones I do like are getting a bit too on in years to play the parts anymore.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Trolls – A young girl’s adventure in a fantastic world of magic and monsters, appropriate for all ages.

Vril – All crimes have an element of the bizarre, some have elementals equally bizarre.

Max’s Despair – The king of the DREAD Fleet tells all, in this history of how Maxmillion de Xavier became captain of Despair.

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

I am currently and hope into the future, represented by Arizona Publishing Services based here in Phoenix, Arizona.

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

I am a long time NaNo-warrior and I write all of my rough drafts since 2003 during NaNoWriMo. The editing obviously takes much longer.

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

Trolls definitely has been compared to Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan, while I hope readers feel the Captain Blood or Treasure Island ambiance in Max’s Despair.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Trolls is of course inspired by my son and the children that I come in contact with. Kids are great inspiration for adventure stories.

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

I hope that readers really enjoy that all of my main characters never go it alone. There is always a need for allies. I really want readers to love the secondary characters as much as the heroes.

The Next Big Five:

Ashley Barnard

Ann Chamberlain

Patti Hulstrandt

Chet Shupe

Todd VanHooser

Mesa Second Friday and Book Updates

Event: 

Second Friday, Mesa

I love starting with a thank you! Mesa Second Friday was great as usual and especially so because I missed the past two months and because so many friends made it out this month. Thanks goes out to Patti, and Don for arranging the booth and always being the best publishers I have had privilege to work with. To ChetShupe for being a great photographer and great friend! 

It was great to see Raymond again and to have Commodore Max finally available to press-gang new readers. And, a warm welcome goes out to Shelbie and Tiny from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, FilmBar crew! Thank you for supporting piracy! 

Book News:

Fresh Blood books are nearly sold out as far as those I have on hand, not to be ordered again until next Halloween season. 

The final edits to Trolls will be done in time for release in December! Finally! I am so excited about this book and nervous at the same time. This one is very dear to me and I am deeply hoping it is well received. I can’t wait until more readers join Emily and the trolls on their adventures through the world under the bridges, to rescue the Queen of the Trolls and face off against the Witch Arakne. 

And now a couple pieces of sad news. I will not be able to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, for the first time since 2003. It is a pleasure to know that so many of my young writer friends are giving it a go though. Shout out to Hunter, Bri, Joe, Jenn and Frank! I am with you in spirit NaNoWarriors! My alternative is to promise more blogs during this time and in the future, I realize I have been slacking off due to other priorities. 

And, of course, there is Max’s Despair that is fast becoming mine. For those still anxiously awaiting the next installment of The DREAD Fleet series, I am still working on it and we are getting closer. I promise it will be worth the wait, if that helps ease the frustration. 

Thank you to everyone, readers and writers alike! You energize me when I am feeling overwhelmed or slacking off and I love reading your work always too!

The Book Rack

I want to thank everyone who visited my table at The Book Rack in Mesa on Saturday, July 21^st. And super thank you to Patti for setting up another fun signing, and to Shaun for being my resident pirate! It was great to have familiar faces and some surprise guests too! Welcome Jodi to the crew! I hope you enjoy the story!

The owner of The Book Rack also creates short trailers for books and films as well as Public Service Announcements. His prices are very reasonable and I am actually really interested in giving this a shot. Pun completely intended. How many out there actually pay any mind to book trailers though, is my concern. Is it really something that draws an audience to read a book? Let me know what you think. I so do not want to create something that will serve little purpose.

This was the second trip out to the other end of the world for me in as many weekends. I do not enjoy the drive in the heat, but at least it is an adventure. The Book Rack is a super cute little shop too. And, as much as I have a deep love for the semi-musty, mysterious ambiance of some most book stores, The Book Rack was a nice balance between Barnes & Noble commercial quaintness and homespun local consignment shop. It is bright and clean and peaceful. To some, the absence of ‘old book smell’ and appearance of more consumer knick-knacks might not set the mood of the classic bookstore but it works well for them. 

There is a shocking amount of media packed into the small space too and it does an amazing job of not seeming to be cluttered or overstuffed. The eye is drawn too, to the walls of crafty art pieces which helps make the single room look larger than it is. 

I loved the layout and that they work to showcase local authors with two full racks at the entrance. This is also where I was placed, directly in the line of traffic. So much better than being in the back corner somewhere. There are still a few more weeks of their Author Appearances remaining, I will not be offended if you make it out to see other great local writers even if you missed my visit. 

I completely recommend checking out this adorable little book store if you are in Mesa. They do store credit on those completed summer reads, it might be a good way to get some early holiday shopping done without spending a dime. 

The Book Rack

1752 South Signal Butte Road #108

Mesa, AZ 85209

(480) 380-0044

www.bookrackonline.com/

Hot Ace Comics and Storms!

A huge thank you to Hot Ace Comics for hosting Patti Hultstrand, Todd VanHooser and I, on Saturday, July 14^th. It was definitely eventful!

I had a great time chatting with Patti and Todd, and with store proprietors, Anna and Joe, but I must say the best was hanging with Spiderman! Thank you to everyone who braved the storm to come out to say hi. I am really sorry to those who missed us and I hope to see you next week at the Book Rack also in Mesa.

I cannot talk about this day without mentioning the amazing storm! Good gods of air and water that was crazy! I love wild weather though! I almost hope next Saturday’s signing is just as stormy. It will be like living it up on the ocean! 

In with mentioning upcoming events, rumor has it The DREAD Fleet and the dancers of bint Hazine will be dropping in to Hot Ace Comics for a full day of pirate shenanigans, No date yet, but keep a weather eye on The DREAD Fleet page and Facebook for more information!

See you Saturday at the Book Rack! 

Hot Ace Comics

10839 East Apache Trail #131

Mesa 85120

(480) 582-6642

www.hotacecomics.com

Patti Hultstrand

www.pjhultstrand.com

Todd Van Hooser

www.toddvanhooser.com