The Next Big Thing

This week I’m taking part in The Next Big Thing blog hop. I was invited to do this by M T McGuire. Please visit her site to see her Next Big Thing.

The object of this project is to showcase authors in many writing genres. I hope you will discover and enjoy authors you’ve never read before. At the end of my answers to the ten questions, you will find links to five authors I’ve invited to answer these same ten questions.

Okay, here’s My Next Big Thing!

What is the working title of your book?

The title of my work in progress (WIP) is Dearest Druid. This the third book in my Texas Druids trilogy. The first two books (1) Darlin’ Druid and (2) Dashing Druid are available on Amazon, along with a prequel novella, White Witch.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

While researching the 1870s, I came across an interesting bit of information. It seems that during the Victorian era many people were fascinated by supernatural subjects. Séances and clairvoyant demonstrations were popular. That’s how I got the original idea for a series of stories about three siblings who each possess a special psychic gift. Since they were to be children of Irish immigrants, it popped into my demented brain to make them descendants of a long line of Irish Druids – and send them on adventures into the Old West.

Dearest Druid grew out of the first two books. It focuses on Rose Devlin, youngest of the three siblings, who is able to heal the sick and injured with the touch of her hands. For the male protagonist, I chose Choctaw Jack, a character from book two. He’s a part Indian cowboy who needs Rose to heal a loved one.

What genre does your book fall under?

Like the first two books in the trilogy, this one is primarily a western historical romance, but with a unique paranormal element. Big All, a well known internet reviewer on BigAl’s Books and Pals, said, “Fans of historical romance and possibly even those who are into westerns, sans romance, should find much to like in Darlin’ Druid.” Both of the first two books have also been tagged on Amazon as action and adventure.

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

Fun question! The actress who immediately comes to mind for Rose Devlin is Molly Quinn. She plays Alexis, daughter of author Richard Castle on TV’s Castle, one of my favorite series. This young lady has the perfect strawberry blonde hair and bright blue eyes for Rose, and she’s obviously talented.

For Jack’s role, I think I’d choose Michael Spears, a Lakota Sioux actor. He appeared in Dances With Wolves and now plays Mika Dullknife on the TV series Longmire. He does a convincing job and he’s very handsome. Always a plus for romance heroes!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Oh my, one sentence? Good grief! (Scratching head; how to word this?) Dearest Druid is the story of two people from different cultures . . . No good. How ’bout this: Rose Devlin and Choctaw Jack spring from totally different backgrounds, yet they have much in common . . . No! (Groan and scratch head some more.) This needs to be really tight, not one unnecessary word. See what writers go through? Such fun!  

Okay, after much trial and error, here it goes for real.

Although Rose Devlin and Choctaw Jack are outwardly worlds apart, a need to let go of the past unites them as they struggle to save someone dear to Jack, overcome jealousy and hatred, and find love in the Indian Territory of 1876.

What do you think? Does it work? Well, I guess you can’t really answer that until you read the book. It will be released in March, 2013.

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

It will be self-published, like all my other books.

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

The first draft is still in the works. However, I’m working from a detailed outline, and when I finish the first draft, the book will be done except for line edits by my proof reader. I’m a plotter, not a pantser – someone who flies by the seat of their pants, so to speak. For me that doesn’t work. I need to know where my story is going, hence the need for an outline. From start to finish, this project will have taken me about a year to complete. My books are fairly long and I don’t write quickly. The fact that I’m often writing blog articles may have something to do with that, too.

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

I would like to think my writing style is somewhat akin to Linda Howard’s. She might disagree, of course. As for western romances, mine reflect my love of authors such as Rosemary Rogers, Kat Martin, Jodi Thomas, Catherine Anderson and Linda Lael Miller. Ms. Miller’s western time travel books are the closest to mine in terms of the paranormal theme, although I haven’t written time travel, yet. (I have one in mind which will be a collaboration with my friend Carra Copelin.)

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Since Dearest Druid is part of a trilogy, I guess I was partially inspired to write it by the need to complete the series. More than that, though, I’ve wanted to write a story with a Native American hero for a long time, possibly because I have a little Indian blood myself (either Choctaw or Cherokee.) Giving Rose the gift of healing was suggested by a friend, author Sharla Rae.

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

Perhaps the hot love scenes? Read the first two books for examples.

Now here are my author recommendations. Just click their names to go to their sites.

Carra Copelin

Alison Bruce

Anna Kathryn Lanier (will post her Next Big Thing on Nov. 12)

Ginger Simpson (will post her Next Big Thing on Nov. 19)

Mel Comely