The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing is a blog chain for writers and artists linking together and talking about their current projects. It gives you, the reader, a chance to discover great writers and their work you may not have heard of before. I was delighted a few weeks ago when my friend, Jeanette O'Hagan invited me to participate. The concept is simple: each creator gets a chance to share a bit about their latest project (new release, completed book or works in progress). The opportunity is paid forward to another blogger or group of bloggers who likewise post about their next best thing in exactly one week’s time, January 16th, 2013.
Check out Jeanette's blog, http://jennysthread.com/the-next-big-thing-blog-hop/ and the fascinating fantasy/adventure trilogy she has been hard at work on. Her "Arkad's Children" sounds like something I'd really love to read.

Anyway, here is my contribution below.


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

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
For a long time, I've been interested in the Christian healing ministry. There are such a lot of questions, such as whether God really promises in the Bible to heal his followers. If it is part of the covenant we have with him, why do we see so many sincere Christian followers struggling with their health? As this is an interest of mine, I've read many non-fiction titles about healing and they've been fascinating. I've never come across what I've learned from those books and websites being written as the main thread of a fiction story, so decided I'd really love a go at doing that. Hence, my hero is suddenly given a shocking diagnosis from his doctor and doesn't know where to turn.

3. What genre does your book fall under?
Basically, it is Christian romance with elements of drama and some suspense and mystery, the same as all of my other contemporary novels.

4. What actors would you choose to play the parts of your characters in a movie rendition?
This is a fun question. I think I can imagine somebody like Sienna Miller or Keira Knightley as my main heroine, Imogen. For the hero, Asher, I had to think harder. Perhaps a younger Hayden Christenson, as he appeared as Anakin Skywalker in "The Phantom Menace" or an older Ben Barnes, the hero of "Prince Caspian.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A young woman, anxious to make up for mistakes in her past, becomes far more of a pivotal help than she bargained for, while a young man regains his health and comes to terms with old regrets at the same time.

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
No details are available yet about dates and times, but I'll be working on it with my usual publisher for the next block of time.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Somewhere between one and two years, as I paused to work on another project in the interim.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
As I haven't come across many books like it, I'm not sure. I often shy away from medical dramas which may deal with similar themes, as I don't like lots of detail and sadness. Perhaps you might tell me what it reminds you of if you read it. It certainly isn't a medical drama.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
To be honest, my inspirations are too many to mention. Whenever I read a novel that keeps me glued to my seat, longing to know what will happen to the heroes next, I get inspired to keep trying my own hand at it and perfecting my craft.

10. What else about the book might pique a reader's interest?
Well, I'm trusting there's a good combination of chemistry and attraction between the main characters to keep us happy and hopeful, enough mystery to keep us wondering and enough humour to make us laugh, despite the underlying seriousness of the main theme. Can a book about a serious medical diagnosis boost a reader's spirits? That's the challenge I took and we'll have to see.


I'm passing the baton on to my friend, Penny Reeve, who is a very talented author of picture books and children's chapter books. Mother, wife, missionary, craftsperson, presentor, she has lived an interesting and varied life with many roles. You'll find her at http://pennyreeve.com/page3.htm