The Next Big Thing!

Last week fellow loveahappyending.com author, Mandy Baggot, tagged me in her post The Next Big Thing and this week it’s my turn! So, I answer ten questions about my Work in Progress/Current release and tag five other writers to tell you about their latest work next Wednesday! Woo hoo! Sounds like fun, eh?

What is the (working) title of your book?

My novel’s cover created by Aidana WillowRaven

Since mine is my current release, it’s no longer a working title. Now known as A Shadow in the Past, its working title for a very long time was Sarah’s Gift.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I’ve been a keen reader of the Scottish newspapers since my first trip to my father’s homeland in 1993. I saw an article in the Press & Journal that caught my attention. But even before that, I was given a photograph of my grandfather and his first wife presumably on their wedding day and bingo, everything came together and I wrote a short story which I later expanded to a novel.

What genre does your book fall under?

YA Crossover, although historical romance would also work since the majority of my book is set in 1886.

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

Without a doubt, they would have to be Scottish so I would have to  Shirley Henderson who played Isobel Sutherland in Hamish MacBeth as Sarah and John Hannah of Rebus and earlier MacCallum fame as Robert.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past.

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

Neither. I’m under contract with 4RV Publishing for this novel after pitching to them at the MuseItUp Online conference last October. My novel launches on Saturday, September 15 at the Kansas Book Festival.

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

That’s hard to say. I’m thinking 6 months to a year but it was 4-5 years ago now. Before that it started out as a short story. I was working full-time in addition to writing so had to steal moments to write.

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

This is going to sound lame but I’m not sure how many other YA Crossover novels that involve time travel with romantic elements are out there. Except my heroine is only nineteen, I would have to say the closest would be the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon.

I recently met Canadian author, Y.S. Lee, who writes The Agency series YA novels set in Victorian London so perhaps my book could be compared to her novels?

I really don’t like making comparisons like this because I’m an emerging writer and some people might think it presumptuous of me to think that I’m on the same plateau as these other authors.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I had recently started reading the Outlander Series and with it being set in Scotland I was immediately hooked. Then the romance and the time-travel aspect took over and I thought I could write a time-travel romance.

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

Egads! I don’t want to put spoilers in here, otherwise people won’t buy it. So can I leave it at it’s the first in a series? There are lots of plot twists throughout the story.

I’ve tagged the following authors:

Barbara Phinney

Janice Horton

Audrey Hawkins (writing as Joanna Lambert)

Darlene Jones

Gina Dickerson

14 thoughts on “The Next Big Thing!”

  1. Thanks for tagging me, Melanie! Great answers and I love plot twists! Wishing you lots of luck with this book and, for the future, the rest in the series!

  2. John Hannah – what a great choice not sure he was quite right for Rebus, but highly watchable – know what I mean? 😉
    Sounds like a fascinating read – enjoy your launch day when it comes!
    Ali B

  3. I know exactly what you mean about John Hannah being highly watchable, Ali B! And when Ken Stott first started playing Rebus, I wasn’t sure I liked him but since Rebus drank and smoked, he looked more the part.

    Thanks for dropping by!

  4. Yay for Scottish actors – and Scottish authors – and Melanie I count you as a Scottish author! Thanks for tagging me – I’ll do my best to answer all those very hard questions net Wednesday on my blog. Only two more sleeps to Kansas!!

    Janice xx

  5. Of course no spoilers, Dorothy. Not even a sniff of one. Yeah, I know, I’m evil *grinning like the Cheshire cat*. I have to keep some stuff under wraps or I won’t sell any books because everyone will know the whole story. Looks like you’ll have to wait and buy the book, Dorothy! LOL!

  6. Thanks for considering me Scottish, Janice! What can I say? Here’s Tae Us; Wha’s Like Us?… Damn few and they’re a’ deid! Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

    The questions are hard but you’ll be fine. Hmm… novella or your next novel, which are you going to tease us with?

  7. Can’t wait to read A Shadow In The Past Melanie! It’s very interesting to hear the background too. As for spoilers – you are keeping us all guessing – the tension builds!

  8. Thanks Linn! I’ve got to keep everyone guessing about what happens, otherwise, I’ll have spoiled the book and no one will buy it. Can’t have that.

  9. It sounds fantastic, Melanie. very intriguing. I love the Scottish links.
    As we’ve probably discussed, I have roots there too, (the Allans are a subset of the Macdonald clan) but the connection is further back and shrouded in theatrical romancing! My great granddad used to say he was the heir to the Allan castle, but had been disinherited after running away to go on the stage. He definitely was on the stage, but the rest…?
    The book sounds great and I loved your answers. I too have been tagged and my efforts comes up next Wednesday. I hope I can live up to everyone elses first-rate contributions! xx

  10. Thanks Gilli. The book was a lot of fun to write and I hope that everyone who buys it enjoys it.

    Your great-grandfather sounds lime he was quite a character. Wouldn’t it be fun to find out if the disinherited bit was true or not?

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