The Next Big Thing...

Okay, so I have been tagged.
There's been a blog phenomenon doing the rounds called Next Big Thing, where an author writes about their current or next book.
I'm lucky enough to have been tagged by the lovely, and incredibly talent, Sue Whiting.

I have a bit of a problem with the Next Big Thing, and it's embarrassing to mention, but I will. I'm really nervous about sharing details about my work in progress. Call it superstition, anxiety or just craziness, but I'm not comfortable to do that until I've worked with my publisher.
I know - crazy!

But, for the sake of keeping the blog rolling, I'll suck it up and mix up my answers up - a bit of the old and a bit of the new.

Here goes...

New Work – Behind the Curtain.

1.      What is the working title of your next book?

The working title is Behind the Curtain. I’m notorious having trouble with titles, so I expect this title will have quite a few changes yet.

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

My stories usually have three or four ‘sparks’ which collide to make up a story idea.

A few of the sparks for this one were that fantastic song by Florence and the Machine, Hospital Beds, my own experiences, the teenagers that are a part of my life, and lots of what ifs.

3.      What genre does your book fall under?

Behind the Curtain is a young adult novel, aimed at the younger members of that audience. 

4.     How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
 This one has been tough as I taught part time last year, which ate into my writing time in a spectacular way. Normally a first draft would take me six months, but this one taken about twelve months. It’s been a very choppy, stop and start process. I’m very relieved to have reached the end of the first draft and rewrite. There’s so much more to go though.

Right – Current Work – Forget Me Not. (Middle Fiction)

5. What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

 

Liam Hemsworth from the Hunger Games would be perfect as the charming and charismatic Hugh.

 

Ashleigh Cummings, who played Debbie in Puberty Blues, would be great as Eve. She’s such a terrific actress – strong and yet fragile.

 

While I’m on the Puberty Blues theme, Sean Keenan who played Gary, would be great as Eve’s brother, Thomas – he has that spark.

6.  What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Eve Gilmore doesn’t share her brother Thomas’s excitement about travelling on the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic, more does she share her brother’s enthusiasm for the brash Hugh Worthington.

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

Forget Me Not is published by Black Dog books, an imprint of Walker Books.

   

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

Hmmm, that’s a toughie. Historical fiction novels. 

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

A combination of things – a visit to the Titanic exhibition at the Melbourne Museum and a conversation with my publisher Andrew Kelly. It wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for Andrew’s interest and enthusiasm. I am so very lucky to have worked with amazing, passionate and talented publishers and editors – Andrew Kelly, Karen Tayleur, Maryann Ballantyne, Melissa Keil, Helen Chamberlain, Ngaire Ravenswood.

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

The ocean, romance, adventure and disaster – what more could you want?

There you have it - the Next Big Thing.

Now it falls upon me to tag more authors. It's a busy, crazy time of the year, so I am rapt and grateful to very talented writers and dear friends Corinne Fenton and Bernadette Kelly for agreeing to be my 'tagees' You can read about their Next Big Thing on January 9 (or 10!)

 

Love Notes from Vinegar House Blog Tour

Today I’m thrilled to welcome my friend and talented author, Karen Tayleur to my blog.And to make up for my slack blogging of late, it's going to be a long visit!

Karen’s new young adult novel, Love Notes From Vinegar House, published by Black Dog Books, an imprint of Walker Books Australia, is a compelling, touching, funny and chilling story. You’ll love it!

Karen, welcome! I have so many weird and wonderful questions for you. First up, what was your favourite thing to do with your best friend in primary school?

There was a group of us in grade 3 who used to play The Amazing Three at lunchtime.

The Amazing Three was a Manga cartoon of aliens who had come to Earth and assumed the form of Earth animals.My friend Patricia was always the horse. She had a ponytail so this worked well.

It was years later, looking back at school photos, that I realised Patricia had Polynesian heritage.

We had a real mix of kids at our school but nationality wasn't an issue.

It wasn't until we grew older and learned to put labels on people that it became an issue.

Complete this sentence. My first day at secondary school was ...

The same as my first day in Grade 6. We were the first year level in a new school in the western suburbs. We didn't even have a uniform yet.The school building wasn't even finished. We didn't have many facilities. I remember the music teacher dictating the words to American Pie.

He strung this out for a couple of lessons. Of course, I knew all the words, so that really annoyed him.

I didn't stay there long - by second term my family moved to the eastern suburbs. On my first day at that school they were having a Slave for the Day auction

which meant the whole school gathered near the canteen and the Form 6 kids auctioned off teachers to raise funds. I was terrified. I wasn't sure what I had got myself into. I didn't have the right uniform yet and I had to wear a scratchy itchy woollen dress with a nice tartan pattern. Mum wanted to make sure I was warm enough. I didn't attract the right kind of attention until the following week when I wore my favourite brown corduroy pinafore with yellow skinny top and boots.

Fashionista!

Surf beach or bay side beaches?

Surf beach, especially during winter.

In Love Notes From Vinegar House, you write about the beach and ocean so evocatively, yet with such a light hand. How important has the ocean/beach been in your life?

Holidays with the family meant beach time. We didn't have a lot of money but Dad and Mum always made sure we had a family holiday every year. The splash of sea-spray and the crunch of sand under my feet always bring back fond memories.

Do you have a favourite beach memory?

The day we took our cat down to the beach one Easter. He'd been toilet trained with kitty litter and he spent a lot of time looking for the corner of the kitty litter tray in the sand.

Did you send notes in class? Were you ever caught?

Definitely - to both questions. We started the idea of multi-tasking. You can learn and pass notes at the same time...

Another complete this sentence; 'When I was Freya's age, I had a crush on ...

a boy who didn't love me back until it was too late because I'd already moved on. I guess life's all about the timing.

We did kiss but it was a huge disappointment.

'Freya has done some stupid things.' What is the silliest thing you have ever done?

Gee, there have been so many...

What is the daggiest song secreted away in your iPod? (Remember I have heard most of the stuff in there!)

Gee, there are so many...

(Indeed there were! Lucky I was there with my Sherbet, Hoodoo Gurus and Midnight Oil!)

Sherbet daggy??? Never!

Which leads me to a very important question for someone our age - Skyhooks or Sherbet?

Sherbet. I know, not very cool, but there it is.

When I was 15 I took the country train to Swan Hill to stay with some relatives. I had a whole beauty case just dedicated to nail polish and copped a lot of flack for that from the family I stayed with. Sherbet came to the Town Hall and I got to see them, which was amazing. Years later I would have to say that Horses by Daryl Braithwaite is one of my favourite songs. It was in my Vinegar House playlist that I played when I was writing.

While we’re down this track - the Bus Stop or Nutbush City Limits?

Nutbush, of course.

I remember dancing the Nutbush in the school gym for some special event.

I was wearing Staggers Jeans and a Miller's shirt with pearlised snap press-studs.

It was a green and cream shirt with a gold thread. I couldn't have a blue one because my best friend

had already snaffled the blue one and you didn't want to look the same as everyone else!

I also had red leather platform shoes with a cork heel which were incredibly comfortable.

The boys wore tight jeans and lumber jackets. You knew when people were 'going' with each other because the girl would always wear some guy's lumber jacket - even in the height of summer.

We thought we were cool. The teachers didn't tell us how silly we looked.

I still think I'm cool every time I dance the Nutbush, but my kids like to tell me I'm not.

What scares you?

Change rooms with mirrors on all sides

My sister when she used to hide under my bed before bed time and she'd grab my ankles as I got into bed.

My husband's cooking when he goes random and uses anything from the fridge.

Anyone with a camera.

Blog tours.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Like Freya, I'm sitting on the fence.

I don't believe... but I don't disbelieve either.

What is your favourite use for vinegar?

Balsamic Vinegar + strawberries + brown sugar and cream

hmmmm

Karen, thanks so much for dropping by, as always, it’s a pleasure to catch up. Tomorrow the Love Notes from Vinegar House Blog Tour continues with Celine at http://forget8me8not.blogspot.com.au/

Visit my blog again tomorrow for a chance to win a copy of Love Notes from Vinegar House. You’ll LOVE it!