The Next Big Thing: My New Project
I want to thank Pat Morin for adding me to a long list of authors writing about their Next Project. Pat Morin is a prolific writer. She’s a short story writer with two published collections; she a playwright, and she’s currently working on her first novel, Seniors Unlimited. Check out more of her Lastest Project at: //patricialmorin.wordpress.com/
This year I was lucky enough to publish my first mystery novel, The Belvedere Club. I’d always invisioned this as the first in a series about Marin County, California, the home of many innovative and prosperous Californians. So my Next Big Thing is to continue the series with book two.
What is the working title of your book?
Bolinas Bongo
Where did the idea come from for this book?
Bolinas is a town know for its secretive residents. Bolinas has waged a four decade war with the California Highway Department, destroying any and all signage directing people to Bolinas. Secrets are the major theme of this mystery, both for my protagonists and for the antagonist.
What genre does your book fall under?
Humorous Mystery
How long did it take to write the first draft?
I was planning on 3 months and I’m going on 6 months and it still isn’t finished.
What actors would you use for the movie rendition of your book?
A red-headed Emma Stone for Briana. Gerard Butler for Dusty Arkansas.
What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?
When Briana sneakily circumvents Dusty for a foothold into his investigation of mutilated men in California, Dusty is kidnapped and Briana must evade the Sheriff’s Department and the FBI to find the killer before it’s too late.
Will it be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will be published by NgH Press
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The series was inspired by an overheard conversation while waiting in line at Whole Foods. This guy was telling his companion all about his therapy appointment. He was speaking loud enough for everyone to hear as he spoke about very private issues. Coming from the East Coast where we are a little more conservative, I found this just one more way Californians were different.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I write a lot of situational humor like the books of Stephanie Bond or Janet Evanovich and I add satirical humor like the Spenser books of Robert B. Parker.
What else about the book might peak the reader’s interest?
Along with illustrating the diversity of Marin County, Bolinas Bongo deals with the issues of Battered Women’s Syndrome.
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Here are a few other writers continuing The Next Big Thing thread. Read about their new projects next week, Nov. 5-12. Stop in and check out their projects.
Visit author Gwen Ellery’s blog at //www.gwenellery.com/news/ Gwen is the author of the sassy, brassy, and funny Paris Brat series.
Visit author Susan Shea’s blog at //www.susancshea.com Susan is the author of the Dani O’Rourke Mystery Series, the next two of which come out in 2013. The series debuted in 2010 with Murder in the Abstract, which will be coming out soon in Kindle edition.
Visit author Meghan Ward’s blog at //meghanward.com/blog/ Meghan is an award-winning writer and book editor. She is currenly working on a memoir titled Paris on Less Than $10,000 a Day. She is represented by Andy Ross at the Andy Ross Literary Agency.
Setting mysteries in Marvelous Marin – especially humorous ones – is a brilliant idea. There’s a lot here to play with! Thanks for tagging me. I’ll publish my Q&A Friday.
Hello Susan,
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, there’s a lot in Marin that can make an East Coaster laugh. I’m looking forward to reading about you next Big Thing next week!
Having read and seriously loved The Belvedere Club, I was fascinated to hear about your Next Big Thing. I can’t wait to read it.
I was also really interested to see how you visualised the two main characters. I have to admit I’ve never seen these actors and that they’re nothing like I visualised Briana and Dusty myself but – wow! as far as Dusty is concerned, I could definitely live with Gerald Butler playing him. He’s lovely! I can also see why you chose Emma Stone for Briana too – she has the Irish look alright.
Bolinas sounds so interesting – I can’t wait to read this story – do hurry up and finish it!!
Best of luck,
Lynette
Hello Lynette,
I’m writing as fast as I can! I’m curious, who would you see as Briana and Dusty?
Thanks for stopping by,
Nicola
I didn’t know about Bolinas’s secretiveness! I surfed there a few times years ago (it’s a great spot for beginners), and I saw a leopard shark in the water once. He was close enough to my board to see his spots, but when no one else got out of the water, I didn’t either.
Meghan, you’re so brave! I think if I saw a shark I wouldn’t go in the water again let alone stay in the water. Bolinas Bongo opens with a shark attack because the past few years that coastline has had a record number of attacks.
I can so see Emma Stone as Briana. After reading TBC and getting some insight into her, I say YES, Emma Stone, and Butler as Dusty is the person I will see from now on. Finish the book! I can’t wait to read it!
I’m hoping to type “The End” tomorrow! then of course I start the rewrite.
I hope none of the attacks on that coast were by leopard sharks!
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Ah, Marin…where I now live after leaving the east coast. It’s magical here. I just finished your tutorial on self-publishing (Thank you!) and saw The Next Big Thing. Bolinas is a gem. Stinson, delicious. My writings center here. Marin has a way of drawing out the words.
Write on!
Cleo
Hello Cleo,
Thanks for stopping by. I just got back from the East Coast and there is definately something magical about the light in Marin. I love it. Are you involved in some writing groups here? If you have any question on the Self-publishing email me. I’m a big believer in the new publishing paradigm. Good luck with the writing.
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