Remember that trip I took to Santa Barbara to meet up with my tribe (five women writer friends I’d met on-line but never in real life?) Well, as a result of that hook-up, I got tagged by the fabulous Deborah Batterman, whose Leonard Cohen quote on her blog—“there’s a crack in everything . . . that’s how the light gets in”—first drew me in to read her posts.
What she did by tagging me is to give me an opportunity to strut my stuff, to showcase my memoir, Loveyoubye. Is my “stuff” good enough to be the Next Big Thing? You be the judge. In turn I’m tagging three other authors to take part. By the way, I welcome questions or comments on my answers that will help me hone this kind of presentation in other venues when the time comes.
My answers to the questions:
What is the working title of your book?
Loveyoubye
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I needed to make sense of the break-up of my marriage
What genre does your book fall under?
Memoir
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
My girlfriend/best reader thinks Meryl Streep should play me because the woman can transform herself into anyone (she’s also thinking Oscar, more attention on my book: bless her); other suggestions: Jennifer Grey, Nicole Kidman and Helen Mirren (my son’s suggestion). For my ex, Sam Elliott would be perfect, same looks, same easy drawl and charm. My brother would have to be played by someone who could do Forrest Gump justice a second time around
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A journey home to South Africa gives a woman the key to her past and her future allowing her to move forward from a disastrous marriage
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’m seriously thinking of going with SheWrites Press, an independent publishing company is how they list themselves. I want to get the book out there. Going the agent/publisher route would take at least two years
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I can’t answer that because I rewrite as I go. Actually, one of my goals in life has been to write an entire first draft all the way through, without looking. Loveyoubye has taken me five years (during which time I was still going through the break up)
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Breakup by Catherine Texier with a beloved dog as go-between, meets Nature Lessons
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
It was a matter of survival. I had planned to write a memoir of my childhood, but got high-jacked by what was happening between me and my husband. And so I wrote through my feelings of anger, disappointment and rejection, and tried to make sense of how something like this could’ve happened to me at this point in my life
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The settings and the funny, poignant interactions with a dog of great character. Thirty percent of the book takes place in South Africa, ten percent features said dog (an essential part of the story), and the rest takes place in a quintessential beach town on the coast of Southern California
Now it’s my turn to tag people:
Please visit their blogs. They will be publishing their answers to the questions in week 12 (between the 10th September and 17th September)
Message for the tagged authors and interested others:
Rules of The Next Big Thing
***Use this format for your post
***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.
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is the working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.
Be sure to line up your five people in advance.
Your memoir sounds very interesting. I like the settings in particular, and of course, the saga of a marriage coming apart at the seams is always compelling, however sad. The most interesting part is finding out how people rose up afterwards. (I used to live across the street from Catherine Texier, BTW)
Thanks for tagging me! I will post my Next Big Thing Q & A next week, most likely on Wednesday.
Catherine Stine’s Idea City
Wow! Two things: your encouraging response to the nature of my memoir and having lived across the street from Catherine Texier. It was really hard coming up with a comparison to another book like mine. And you’re so very welcome for the tag! I’ll be checking it out.
Very interesting book –let me know when it is published. I want to go to South Africa …
Thanks, I will let you know. And thanks for stopping by.
Damn! Now I really wish I had a WIP. So looking forward to reading your book, my friend.
I wish you had a WIP too. I’d love to read what I’m sure would be damn funny answers to some of the questions.
what a great idea! Can’t wait to read your book. My first book which I will be starting shortly is also going to be an memoir. I may call you late at night for some sanity advice! 🙂
I could’ve sworn I answered this comment, Elizabeth, so sorry. I wish I’d known you were about to start a memoir. I would love to have included you in The Next Big Thing. Great practice.;
what a great idea! Can’t wait to read your book. My first book which I will be starting shortly is also going to be an memoir. I may call you late at night for some sanity advice! 🙂
Oh, if I’d known you had a WIP in the works I would’ve tagged you. Hey, it’s not too late.
To anyone who says the world doesn’t need another memoir ;-), I say, ‘what do they know? — especially when it spans continents in the telling. I’ve gotten (more than a) glimpse of your life via your blog (not to mention hours captive/captivated in a car), and I’m so looking forward to reading the memoir.
Thanks my friend!
I can’t wait to read it! I think memoirs are so important because we always manage to see a little bit (or a lot) of ourselves in someone else’s story. When I read about someone else experiences with pain or joy, it makes me feel more connected to that person. I always say: EVERYONE has a story!
Sooo true. Thanks for “saying” that and thanks for stopping by.
Stopping by from SW and wishing you all the best! I too am curious about their publishing offerings.
So glad you stopped by. I wonder how many of us are taking a wait-and-see attitude. I’m sure at least a few of SheWriters have opted in. I’d love to be able to contact them and learn of their experiences thus far.
Great blog and the Next Big Thing is a splendid idea. No I am a full time writer I can get away with using words like splendid and indeed without being laughed off the web.
Nice to meet Rossandra White and Terri and Jessica Mireles. Deborah Batterman and Elisabeth Cassidy and Catherine Stine. I am hard at work on my third novel Butcher and Blade, but would like to drop in from time to time to see how things are going with you all. Would love to also follow on FB and Twitter if anyone has a mind too.
Most of my writing comes from personal experience as well and I weave scenes from my own life into my work. It is hard not to tell of some personal anecdotes, but at the same time wonder if the reader stops reading when they come upon them. As they might be like reading someones personal stuff. So I spice things up quite a bit and leave out the drol day-to-day. My son hit by lightening. It may find its way in… Have a great day.
@reggieridgway
I’m going to have to check out some of your writing Reggie, looks interesting. Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s nice to meet you.
I just left you a message on She Writes. Looks like I totally missed the boat on this one, so you can ignore my message. But, it’s probably for the best, since I’m not really working on a book at this time. Thanks for thinking of me. Your memoir sounds very interesting.
Thanks for stopping by anyway, Monica!