I have been tagged in The Next Big Thing by Red Tash. Who WOULDN’T want to be tagged by Red? So in this game of “Tag, You’re it” my current Work in Progress gets to be tagged and then I have to tag 5 other writers’ WIPs. Look for the five writers I have tagged at the bottom of this post – their “Next Big Thing” posts will be posted between the 18th and the 24th of September.
1. What is the working title of your book?
The original title was “To Be Written”, but as the book has evolved, I have narrowed down the working title to either Hell’s Muse or Dead Muse. I like the imagery brought up by the word Hell, and Hell is a crucial component to the work… but “Hell’s Muse” doesn’t roll off the tongue like Dead Muse. That’s important to me, how words and passages “taste”.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
A rather dark place. We indie authors all face a serious uphill battle and struggle against the traditional publishers. Just getting our books out into the eyes of the public is a bigger challenge than one might think. Dead Muse might well be my reaction to that… all in good fun of course. 😉
3. What genre does your book fall under?
As per my normal modus operandi — the book is completely and utterly embedded in the Horror genre. This was is horror in the strictest sense. Muhaha!
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Wow, I haven’t thought of that one yet. But — I’ll give it a go now.
Bob (protagonist): Jason Segel. Bob is a likeable, everyday Joe who happens to desperately want to be a successful writer.
Bronson Coulter: Colin Farrell without a doubt. Bronson is an ego-maniac bastard, but needs to be able to pull off enough swagger to make people believe at one time he was the King of the written world.
The Nameless: A young Tony Todd. The Nameless is a horrific demon who’d need the voice of such an actor.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A dark desire unleashes Hell on Earth for a writer desperate for success.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I am an indie author to the core.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It is still in progress, but I’m guessing it’ll take about three months to complete.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
It’s a sort of mash up of Stephen King’s Misery and City Infernal by Edward Lee.
9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?
A very dark place inspired this novel. But ultimately it was inspired by the rampant desire to be famous that has inundated nearly every form of media on the planet. From reality TV to Twitter to the written word — we are a species that has evolved to crave that coveted fifteen minutes.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The parallel between Hell and the publishing industry? 😉 I kid the big six… with love! I think the multi-layered book within a book within a book will really draw the readers in. Add to that the almost completely antithetical main characters who really have the same goal (fame within the world of publishing), but go about it in completely different ways — and you have something that nearly anyone can relate to.
Tag! Your WIP is “The Next Big Thing!”