Week 14: The Next Big Thing & ROW80 Update

Today I’m participating in The Next Big Thing blog hop. Thanks so much to Sandi Tuttle for tagging me. Below, I will answer ten questions about my current WIP (Work in Progress) and feature five other bloggers who have recently done the same.

The original rules suggested tagging 5 new authors to answer the questions. I know this is a busy time of year for writers (I, for one, am just starting to get back on my feet after a crazy summer!), so I’m bending the rules. If you’d like to participate, please consider yourself tagged and feel free to link back to my post.

Without further ado…

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing

What is the working title of your book?

Mom and I have gone round and round about the working title of our follow-up to our award-winning Depression Cookies. We’ve considered Bourbon Blues, Bourbon Haze, Straight Up, and several others. We still haven’t decided. We want to keep with a two-word title to tie into Depression Cookies. The new book will follow Krista, now 18 and heading off to college, and Abby through their continued mother-daughter journey. It will again feature two distinct perspectives, with my mom writing Abby while I write Krista.

Where did the idea come from for the book?  

So many people connected with our first novel and wanted to know more about the Simmons family. The first novel centered on Krista and the teenage years, the first time a kid pulls away and tries to find his/her own identity. The next logical step was to follow Krista to college and see how she and Abby dealt with the separation. Plus, it opens up a whole new world to Krista… that first baby steps into being an adult. Did you notice the mention of alcohol in possible title names above? Let’s just say both Abby and Krista lose their way for a bit.

What genre does your book fall under?

Women’s fiction. I love books that explore women and their relationships, particularly with each other. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, but for the most part, I don’t know what I would do without the women in my life. I’m sure I’m a bit biased since I have a wonderful relationship with my mom, two amazing sisters, and three beautiful daughters (plus amazing friends).  

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

I covered this in an earlier post: Oprah Winfrey and Roger Ebert: Dreaming About Depression Cookies. A quick recap from that post:

Topping my list, Diane Lane would play Abby, the mother and heart of the story. Diane Lane has grace, beauty, and an amazing emotional range.

I would want Elizabeth Olsen (after she dyed her hair darker) or Lily Collins (from Mirror Mirror) to play the part of Krista, the teenager. I would have loved Jennifer Lawrence of Hunger Games fame, but I bet she’s a bit too busy. The part requires spunk and vulnerability.

The “mean girls” in the book could be played by Ali Lohan, Lindsay Lohan’s sister (since Lindsay is a bit too aged, not by years but by lifestyle), and Anna Kendrick (Bella’s friend, Jessica, in Twilight). Both could embody the “pretty on the outside” teenagers who make Krista’s life so miserable.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Two distinct voices, two stories interwoven within the walls of family and love.

I’m using this one from our Depression Cookies back cover, because it really does speak to this book as well.

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

We will explore all our options. We know the value of self-publishing and doing things our way, especially now that we can apply all we learned from publishing Depression Cookies. But, we will query agents and look into small presses as well.

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

Still writing. Depression Cookies took us ten years from idea spark to publication. We are more than a third of the way through this book (almost halfway done!), and we are ramping up our writing efforts after a crazy summer. We are hoping to have the second book out several months before Mother’s Day 2013.

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

I’ve always compared Depression Cookies to Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume, except with the addition of the mom’s point of view. The same could hold true for this piece, but on an older level.

Women’s fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, but it’s also one of the most varied. What I really love is a story rich in female characters that allows me to feel the emotional results of their actions, including: love, pain, loss, strength, courage, joy, and sadness.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I am one of three daughters and now have three daughters of my own. I have a vested interest in exploring the mother-daughter dynamic, as well as female relationships in general. But at the end of the day, my mother inspires me to write. Always has.

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

Mom and I both know the way to get through the trials and tribulations of life is to inject humor. It’s something we’ve always done as a family, and a very important part of our writing. Sometimes the best thing to do when you feel like crying is have a good laugh followed by a hug.

We love the idea of mothers and daughters reading this book, and Depression Cookies, together in the hopes of opening up a dialogue about our choices and feelings. But beyond that, we hope all women will read it and embrace the female relationships in their life.

*****

 

Please visit the following authors and find out about their next big thing.

Sandi Tuttle – An Average Woman in a SuperWoman World
Jo Michaels
Bridgette O’Hare – Random Writes of Passage
Crystal Lee ~ Author
Beth Jones – The Hungry Freelancer
 
Even if you don’t have time to answer all ten questions, I’d love to hear your one sentence synopsis of your Next Big Thing. Feel free to leave it in the comments section below.

*****

A quick A Round of Words in 80 Days(ROW80) Update

Man, this round went fast! I’m finally finding my footing after a whirlwind summer followed by a manic few weeks of catch up. Writing progress: 762 words in two days. I’m back! (On second thought, maybe I’ll whisper that to make sure I don’t tempt the evil word-stealing gremlins to come back.)

Finally made a breakthrough on an editing project, and I’m excited to talk to the author about it. Reading and blogging are back on track.

I’m looking forward to starting a new round on October 1 with some fresh goals and new determination.

Are You Listening, Judy Blume?

More Author Blog Challenge prompts for your Saturday amusement.

DAY 18 Who did/could you ask to write a blurb for your book? Why that person/people? How did/will you go about reaching them?

For our novel, Depression Cookies, Mom asked two of her writer’s group friends while I asked a journalist friend. All three received advanced copies and helped us with editing both story and grammar.

In my dreams, I would want a blurb from Judy Blume. Her books so influenced my teen years, and I’ve often described Depression Cookies as Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. with the mother’s perspective added.

Are you listening, Judy Blume?

DAY 19 What are the three most important things you are doing to grow your platform?

I don’t know. That’s sad to say, but it’s the most honest answer. I think I’m building an amazing author network, but I don’t know how to translate my blog and marketing efforts into building a reader network. As much as I love my writer friends, we can’t just buy each other’s books. We need to attract readers.

Prior to publishing, I never searched for author sites or attended author events or book signings. I’m the very reader authors don’t like. I love books and movies, but I never get wrapped up in the “celebrities” behind the works. I’m the mom who doesn’t get why my kids want to stand in line for an hour to get a signature from a 20-something college student dressed up as Mickey Mouse or a Disney Princess. I was always more enchanted by the work than the artist.

Now that I’ve published a book, I have a greater appreciation for writers (and artists). I would stand in line for hours to meet an author, so I could pick his/her brain on the process.

Although I loved Judy Blume books when I was growing up, I only researched her once I started writing my own novel. It was a special kind of thrill to follow her on Twitter.

What I hope is slowly building a platform: blogging consistently and honestly; being active on various social media; and attending conferences, book fairs, and book clubs.

As a reader, do you research authors you love? Especially with the popularity of online shopping, what attracts you to a new author's book?

532 Miles of Books: Fun Facts Friday

Today's Fun Facts Friday post is dedicated to interesting facts about books. Why? Because they bring me much happiness, as do Fridays.

Largest Library in the World

The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA contains 28 million books and has 532 miles of shelving. The British Library in London is the second largest.

If you were driving at a constant 70 mph in a car it would take you just under 8 hours to pass them all.

I live near DC, and I haven't been there since I was a kid. Guess who just added a summer field trip with the kids to her summer plans?!

Best Selling Fiction Authors of All Time

1. William Shakespeare
2. Agatha Christie
3. Barbara Cartland
4. Danielle Steel

Best Selling Kindle Author of All Time (to date)

Suzanne Collins, greatly aided by Hunger Games.

World's Most Expensive Book

From a 12/7/10 LA Times article: Naturalist John James Audubon's "Birds of America" sold at auction in London on Tuesday for $11.5 million, making it the world's most expensive book. The book, which was sold by the auction house Sotheby's, was purchased by Micahel Tollemache, a London art dealer who was present in the room.

"Birds of America" is oversize -- more than 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide -- with 435 illustrations. When first published in 1827, the images were printed in black and white and then hand-colored by specialists.

If you could have any book-related item, and money was no object, what would you want?

My gut answer: I'd like to sit down with Judy Blume and pick her brain, along with my preteen daughter. Then I'd have her sign all the copies of her books that I still have from my teenage years.

Inspired Writing: Author Blog Challenge

Today marks the kickoff of the Author Blog Challenge. Throughout the challenge, we will be given writing prompts. I won't always follow them, but I sure like having the option.

My writing muse is a little skittish lately. (When all three of my children are running around, the muse is more easily scared off than normal. June could be very interesting. One more week of school left!).

Today's prompt: Who are the writers you most admire? Who are your writing mentors?

The writer I most admire... my mother. She's the one who inspired me to write. But, more importantly, she's the one who made me believe I could write. I never thought I'd publish a novel. I wrote for therapy. Whenever I questioned life, I wrote about it. Journals. Stories.

I would fill up spiral notebooks full of teenage melodrama. My first crush became a story about a woman falling for a guy but not knowing how to tell him. When I didn't have friends, I created characters. My mother not only encouraged me, she shared her own stories with me. Writing felt like something I was destined to do.

When I was younger, I was obsessed with Judy Blume. She not only made me want to write, she helped me through the awkward teenage years. Now, I read anything and everything I can get my hands on. In finding my path as a writer, I learn as much from books I don't like as I do from books I love.

Only in the last few years have I had the confidence to consider myself a writer. I feel inspired every day by the writers in the blog universe who uplift writers. Some of the online writing communities that inspire me: Kait Nolan's A Round of Words in 80 Days, Rachael Harrie's Writers' Platform-Building Campaign, and Melissa Foster's World Literary Cafe.

I'm looking forward to meeting the authors in the Author Blog Challenge. I'm sure I will find new sources of writing inspiration.

Who gave you a love of words?

If I Knew Then What I Know Now: ROW80 Update

I would manage my expectations.

This is true in all aspects of my life. I am an over-achiever and set expectations high. Although I am hardest on myself, I tend to put high expectations on others as well. This isn't fair to them or me.

I believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Same for my kids. I might even believe it more for them. But I forget to factor in life and all the things outside my control.

Today is a WordCount Blogathon theme day: If I started blogging today, I would...

Source

Follow a 3-4 Posts a Week Schedule
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and the occasional weekend day (like ROW80 check in Sundays). Since I booted my blog with last year's Blogathon, I set the expectation of blogging daily. It's tough, and depletes a lot of my creative juices. I'm writing more than I ever have (bonus), but I want to focus on the two novels I'm working on.

Choose Blogs to Follow More Carefully
I know that doesn't sound nice, but... in the beginning, I followed every blog in a challenge and every blog of people who commented on my posts. It seemed the friendly thing to do. Unfortunately, I ended up with way too many blogs to read and another too-high expectation. There are a LOT of wonderful blogs out there, but I can't possibly read them all.

Write Posts Ahead
I've started to get better at this. I find fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants blogging stressful. My goal is to take a few hours twice a week to write the bulk of my posts.

Keep Posts Short and Sweet
I tend to pontificate (I even love that word!). My writing isn't necessarily wordy, but I have a lot to say. As a blog reader, I don't have time to read long posts... even if they are amazing. I'm learning now to break posts into multiple parts. Plus, it's a great way to post more often.

On that note, I think I'll listen to my own advice and wrap it up here. Short and sweet.

I'm looking forward to reading other Blogathon blogs today and picking up some tips.

If you started blogging today, what would you do differently? Or the same?

*****

Time for my Wednesday A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update:

Writing
I had an encouraging writing day on Monday with 956 words. It was a pivotal scene, so I was glad to get it done. Tuesday was my daughter's all-day first grade field trip, so no writing then.

Editing
Set aside two solid hours today for editing. I wanted this post done first, so I could focus.

Blogging
Every day and twice on Mom in Love with Fiction.

Social Media
Drowning a bit (see my tip above on blogs to follow). I'm drowning in great posts, so there are worse things! I've decided I can't possibly catch up overall, so I'm going to do better going forward (and catch up on a few favorites).

Reading
Just started a lighter read for some fun, Sarah Dessen's The Truth about Forever. I'm hoping for a Judy Blume-vibe. Speaking of Judy Blume, I was so honored to see a friend had pinned my book (on their Books Worth Reading in Pinterest), Depression Cookies, right next to Judy Blume's Are You There God It's Me Margaret. I am not worthy. *squeals*

Exercise
Kicking it. Doing much better on sugar consumption, too.

My goal is to visit 15 ROW80 blogs today! Here we go...

Jumbled Up Js = J: Blogging from A to Z

As I was trying to focus on a J post, J words begin jumping into my brain. None of them jumpstarted an entire post, so I broke down my J thoughts into categories.

My Favorite J Name
Jacqueline "Jackie"
It's my oldest daughter's name. My husband is one of four boys, so we assumed we'd have a boy. We loved Jack Bach. It sounded so official and important. When we found out we were having a girl, Jackie made sense.

My Favorite J Activity
Jigsaw puzzles
It's my middle daughter's favorite activity, and one of the few things she'll sit down to do.

My Favorite J Saying
"Naked as Jaybird"
Growing up, my dad always said this. When I was young, I asked him why anyone would walk across the street naked. I was confusing this with jaywalking.

My Favorite J Destination
Jamaica
My husband and I honeymooned there in 1995.

My Favorite J Pastime
Journaling
I think everyone should do it! Even if you are not a writer, it is free therapy and a way to let it all go.

My Favorite J Author
Judy Blume
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was an important part of my teenage years. I could "ask" questions of Judy Blume that I couldn't ask my parents.

My Favorite J Disney Character
Jasmine (Aladdin)
Our girls named our dog after Jasmine. It quickly became Jazzy (my favorite J dog of course).

A Few Other J Faves
Jello over Jam
Jesus' teachings
Joy, Jubilation (especially Jumping for Joy)
Jewelry
Junie B. Jones (my kids made me put it!)

J Things I Could Do Without
Jello
Jelly Beans
Jagermeister (there's a long college story to support this)
Jealousy
Jiggly (when it can't be contained by shapewear)
Juice
Judgement

A J Thing I've Never Done
Jury Duty
I move so much that they've never found me. Of course, now they will.

What's your favorite and least favorite J?

*****

I'm glad you joined the continuing saga of my Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I hope you'll be back for K through Z.

For other great A to Z posts, please visit here.

Tagged Again: Sharing My Answers

The lovely Rebekah Loper tagged me last Friday with some questions. I was finally catching up on some blog visiting today and saw it. Seemed like a fun Friday post, so I'll answer (but don't worry fellow bloggers, I'm not tagging anyone else).

1. What is your current writing project?

Mom and I are working on the follow up to Depression Cookies, our coming of age story. This time Krista is heading off to college and her mom, Abby, is facing a looming empty nest. I have a young adult novel brewing, too.

2. Why are you writing it?

Our first novel was well received, and Mom and I loved the idea of writing a teenager spreading her wings into womanhood while her mom is redefining what being a mom means. Plus, I love writing with my mom. She's the reason I am a writer, and a big part of who I am.

3. Do you have any pets?

A lovely American boxer named Jazzy (kids named her Jasmine after Aladdin, but it was too long). As you can see from the picture, she loves our children and will let them do anything to her.

4. What’s the worst book you’ve ever read?

I'm so protective of books, because I pride myself in finding value in everything I read. Sometimes the value is knowing what I don't like. I'm sure this will be an unpopular choice, but my least favorite book in the last ten years was, hands down, Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I loved the play, and even enjoyed his Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. But Wicked left a lot to be desired.

5. Favorite TV show and/or movie?

My favorite movie, Shawshank Redemption. My favorite TV show... I loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, never missed an episode. More recently, I'm enjoying Once Upon a Time and Person of Interest. But my favorite TV watching experience is the Food Network. Any show. To get a glimpse into my Food Network obsession, visit my Food Network Style Challenge: Exposing my Food Obsession post.

6. What can you always count on to get you inspired?

My children and the books I read. Both foster my imagination and creativity in different ways.

7. What book did you read that inspired you to truly WRITE?
Anything Judy Blume when I was younger. She made stories out of everyday life, stories I wanted to read. Don't get me wrong, I also devoured the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But I'm always impressed with the stories that examine life and human relationships. I also love Fannie Flagg and Billie Letts. One of my favorite books is Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg.

8. Favorite food?
Ah, food. I love food. It's a problem. I blame my mother who answered all downer moods with something hot and sugary. Sweets are my downfall. To name a favorite wouldn't do justice to my obsession.

9. Worst thing you ever wrote?

My first novel was written in a composition notebook about two teenagers falling in love. I didn't know anything about love or sex at that time (I was a preteen myself), so it was pitiful. That being said, I hope it's the same sort of story my preteen would write. Idealistic and naive.

10. Best thing you ever wrote?

Depression Cookies. I'm proud of it and feel blessed to have written it with my mom.

11. Place you’ve visited that inspired you the most?

Anywhere that has family.

*****

Now a question for anyone who made it this far... Who do trust most to read your material and give you an honest opinion?

Rerun Saturday: YA Literature and Parent Involvement

I'm on vacation, so today is Rerun Saturday. Enjoy this post from early June 2011.

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WSJ Article Suggests Darkness in YA Literature: I Say Parents are the Light

I woke up to Twitter buzzing with #YAsaves and commentary on the YA publishing industry. Not only do I have YA readers in my house, I read YA and write the YA voice (I wrote the 13-year-old point of view in Depression Cookies and am working on a YA novel). Intrigued, I clicked on the Wall Street Journal article causing all the stir.

"Darkness Too Visible" had a screaming tagline: "Contemporary fiction for teens is rife with explicit abuse, violence and depravity. Why is this considered a good idea?" The article starts by identifying a 46-year-old mom of three looking for a YA book for her 13-year-old at a Barnes & Noble.

The article goes on to detail her horror at the book selections and states, "Profanity that would get a song or movie branded with a parental warning is, in young-adult novels, so commonplace that most reviewers do not even remark upon it." Then find new reviewers. I, for one, review YA books (as does my daughter) on my Mom in Love with Fiction blog and indicate if I think a book does not fit within Amazon's suggested reading ages. But, it's only my opinion. A parent should monitor what their child reads and watches on television by judging the material themselves or finding a reviewer they trust.

My other issue right out of the gate was the fact this mom was in a chain bookstore hoping for YA guidance. This is where readers are feeling the gaping hole left when smaller bookstores closed down. But, at the very least, head to your library and speak with the Librarian about appropriate book recommendations. Don't let the major chains and traditional publishers push anything down your throat, much less your child's. A great site for reviews of lesser known YA novels is my fellow Blogathoner's BooksYALove blog. She also has a great post today about this very topic.

Reading on, ". . . a careless young reader−or one who seeks out depravity−will find himself surrounded by images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most horrendous kinds." Wow! What a generalization. A careless young reader is only as careless as his/her parental guidance. Yes, a child can come across explicit material outside the parents' control, but responsible parents will follow up with a discussion.

I just read Max & Menna, a wonderful YA novel by Shauna Kelley. A great book, but not for young readers (I wouldn't let my 11-year-old read it for a few more years). The problem with the YA classification is its broadness. What category can really encompass 12- to 18-year-olds and consider 9- & 10-year-old advance readers? Movies aren't just PG and R, there's the middle ground of PG-13. Even then, a parent has to use his/her own discretion. Why should books be any different? Assuming no better labeling system is forthcoming, parents need to arm themselves with information. CSI is full of disturbing images and is ranked TV-14. It's a guideline. I've seen episodes I wish I hadn't seen, much less a young teenager.

The article then points out what they consider the flip side of the argument by stating young-adult novels "validate the teen experience, giving voice to tortured adolescents who would otherwise be voiceless." Amen. Kids suffer inexplicable horrors and some need to know they are not alone. More than that, kids (considering their maturity levels as judged by their parents) should understand we don't live in a utopian world where bad people don't exist. But wait. "Yet it is also possible . . . that books focusing on pathologies help normalize them . . ." Nothing normalizes rape, incest, abuse, etc. Nothing. To suggest that is preposterous.

As a kid, I devoured Judy Blume books. When Forever hit the shelves, I begged my parents for it. The answer was No. They did their research. I snuck a rogue copy anyway, and guess what? My parents were right. I wasn't ready. Hmmmm. I'm sensing a theme about parental involvement.

The article then goes on to respond to an author's quote comparing books to what kids see on the Internet: " . . . one depravity does not justify another. If young people are encountering ghastly things on the Internet, that's a failure of the adults around them, not an excuse for more envelope-pushing." But the material kids read is NOT a responsibility of the adults around them? I'm confused.

Finally, a ray of light. Politics & Prose, an independent Washington, D.C. bookstore, is singled out for provided a special "PG-15" area for books. An independent bookstore with a better system. Interesting. Yet the article criticizes this by saying, " . . . creating a separate section may inadvertently lure the attention of younger children . . ." Come on! Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Again, parents are you listening? Monitor what your children read.

For those who argue we need a system in place for parents who don't take responsibility for their children, I agree. Let me know what you come up with that actually replaces good parenting!

I'd love to know what you think. Please comment below.