I've been very graciously tagged by Patty Apostolides to take part in the Next Big Thing Blog Tour. Keepin' it the real deal seal! (eh??). It's like a self interview that you get to read and an opportunity for us all to be introduced to other authors and their work, so when they're 20 novels in and their books turned movies are on every station on TV you can say you knew them way back when! There will now follow questions and answers - you can decide which is which (the question mark kind of gives them away though) And next Wednesday the five beauties listed at the bottom will be blogging about their Next Big Thing so get on and follow them now so you don't miss their wonderfulness.
What is the working title of your book?
Pocket Full of Bleeding Posies is the actual title and it's working. It’s a collection of short stories. All written by me. 'Onest guvna.
Where did the idea come from for your book?
I started writing short stories around 2003
after signing up for a screenwriting course. The teacher said to sit at the
computer and write so I did and they came. I hear the first line and then just
let it flow. I rarely know where I’m going until I get there. Hettie was my
very first one and has hardly changed from the first draft.
What genre does your book fall under?
I would put it in mainstream fiction with a
literary twang. The stories are a mix of, thriller, romance, sci-fi. With some odd
little writings that don’t really fit under any category all stuck together
with random, I like to think humorous, expressions. Just because I can! The two
things they all have in common are being a little dark and a little twisted. They're from my head so I don't know what you expected!
Which actors would you choose to play in your
movie rendition?
Difficult because there are so many stories. I
would have to find a role for Angelina Jolie, she’s amazing and gorgeous. But
it wouldn’t be in The Long Day, no way she would sit around waiting to serve
divorce papers and no way would she wait so many years to do it. Not my Angelina, no sir Mr Man!
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
A Decently Dark Collection of Woven Words.
Will your book be self-published or represented
by an agency?
I’m not represented and that’s not presented a
problem to date. Neither am I self-published. I’ve found a traditional
publisher who recently opened up a fiction branch and was looking for new
work. With my next novel I’m considering my options and may take the
self-publishing route. Watch this space! (and please give it a little dust and polish while you're here)
How long did it take you to write the first
draft of your manuscript?
The bulk of the stories were written over a two
month period, earlier this year, once I decided to do something with them besides having them sitting about on my computer.
What other books would you compare this story
to?
I wouldn’t dare to! My two literary heroes at
the moment are Philippa Gregory and James Frey (did I say a dirty word?).
Excuse me, three heroes and the third is Jacqueline Malcolm, my uber talented
sister and author of Slave: Escaping the Chains of Freedom. Jacquie’s styling
is closer to Philippa Gregory’s, mine is closer to James Frey. His use, or
misuse of punctuation and spaces freed my creative mind.
Who or what inspired you to write the book?
My sisters, Jacqueline and Karol Malcolm
(artist). They push me through the pain of writing. They particularly
pushed me to get these stories published. Not only with their nagging but their accomplishments - I ain't being left behind! Yes, we're a little competitive.
What else about your book might pique the
reader’s interest?
And now for the rest of the best in alphabetical order because that's how I roll;
