The Next Big Thing...

Colleague and author extraordinaire Winslow Eliot, invited me to participate in a fun author blog hop.  The idea is for me to answer the following questions about my current WIP (work in progress), then tag a few other authors, to do the same.  

How much fun is this?  Tons. :)  Thank you so much, Winslow, for thinking of me.

The authors I'm tagging?  Get ready, readers, this is an interesting lineup, to be sure!  I wanted to choose authors whose books fall in a variety of genres; I think I've done just that. :)  

Without any further adieu... TAG! You're it, Belladonna Drakul, Monica Schroeder, Andrew Wolter, Brady Allen, Donna Carrick, Lorna Suzuki, Christine Rose, Roberta C.M. DiCaprio and T.G. Arsenault!  (NOTE:  You *don't have to* participate, authors.  But I hope you do join the fun!)

And now, my answers... :)

What is the working title of your next book?

STRANGE DAYS. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

This novel is actually the sequel to my third book, Contemporary Gothic Paranormal Romance, STRANGE LOVE.  In these novels, I want readers to experience the passion of soul mate love, and the intrigue of supernatural mysteries.  These novels take place in vibrant settings, as well: a college campus; a scenic small town; the deep, dark wood of a hidden cottage in the mountains of California...  I love writing my characters lives in these places; I get to make the stories pretty, savory, exciting.  

What genre does your book fall under?

Strange Days will be categorized under Paranormal Romance.  It will contain the same amount of gothic texturing, as Strange Love.  Meaning, readers will vividly see, feel, taste and experience every sentence... every emotion, every experience, every meal.  And then, of course, there will be the passion. ;)

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

I have this worked out, as I've thought about it plenty, during the writing of Strange Love!

LUCAS:  Enrique Iglesias (hands down!)  He's gorgeous, sexy, intelligent and has the right brooding vibe.  

KASIA:  Me!  Kidding, I know that couldn't be... (could it??) so I'd go for someone spunky, intuitive, magnetic, driven, and sexy as hell, like Jennifer Lopez.

ALEKSANDRA:  Easy: Jennifer Love Hewitt.  Lovable, capable of being funny, absolutely endearing, just like my character Aleksandra, Kasia's younger sister.

JOSE:  Easy, again: Zac Efron.  Cuteness that elevates to hotness, on-screen intensity.  Genuine and endearing, just like my character Jose, Lucas' younger brother.  Zac would have to darken his hair and wear contact lenses, but that shouldn't be a problem. ;)  If he balks or hesitates, I'll just whip him up a batch of my cookies; that should acquiesce the cute-as-heck actor. ;)

CARLO:  Difficult choice... Carlo, the eldest of the Alvarez brothers, is not a nice guy!  In the end, I'd go with Ben Affleck.  Ben is gorgeous, but I get the sense he could really play the hell out of Carlo, who is gorgeous and charismatic, but runs dark, and has a jealous and violent nature.  

DAMIAN:  Hands down, Taylor Lautner.  Damian has a rough history and current hardships, but I feel Lautner could definitely traverse the intensity that is Damian!  Besides, isn't Lautner lovable, just like Damian? He'd be perfect to play the *I just want to take care of him and give him a bowl of soup*, Damian!

NICO:  Easy!  Hugh Jackman.  Or--- close second choice, Eric Bana.  I feel either actor would be able to emanate the strength and leadership displayed by Nico, father of all the Alvarez boys and head of the clan.  

ADONCIA:  May sound surprising but, Meryl Streep.  She's excellent at assuming accents, and I feel she could portray Adoncia, beautifully.  Streep also has the ability to absorb all of a character's qualities and powerfully project them, on screen.  She'd be my pick for the Alvarez Clan's Matriarch.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Kasia and Lucas have survived scrutiny and supernatural attack; now come strange days... as they live double lives, explore their destiny and go deeper into their strange but beautiful, love...

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

As with my former works, Strange Days will be published by ParaGoddess Press.  As I've said in the past, I'm all in when it comes to all things indie: indie books, indie films, indie music...  It speaks to me of freedom and artistic integrity; of entrepreneurialism, ambition and accomplishment.  So, ParaGoddess Press. ;)

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

In truth, I've been writing this book since the publication of Strange Love; I knew immediately there had to be a sequel, and chapter outlines for book 2 were penned, immediately.  But how long have I been feverishly committed to weaving my notes and outlines into book form?  About three months.  The duration of the winter and spring, will be spent fleshing it out and deepening story lines, to texturize the story and add the WOW! readers will expect from the sequel to Strange Love. 

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

Goodness, this is a difficult question!  Does any author like to compare their work to any other writers?  But I'd be lying if I didn't say the relationship between Kasia and Lucas doesn't have echoes of Edward and Bella (the Twilight Saga)---except in a much more mature (sexual), realistic (my supernatural and paranormal references are mostly true to real life).  Cliche, right?  Expected?  Sorry. :(  

However, I must say, Strange Love is uniquely mouth watering: you want to BE those characters... LIVING IN, that story.  Strange Days will have that same delicious appeal.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My readers absolutely, 100% inspired me to write this book.  Strange Love received so much praise, so many accolades... never mind the reviews (which were primarily good, by the way) - what spoke to me, were the comments and messages I received from readers---my fans adored Strange Love.  How can I not give them a sequel?  

Besides, even I want to know what happens next for Kasia and Lucas!  I too, am anxious to find out what becomes of the electric attraction between Aleksandra and Damian!  And of course, there's Carlo to tend to... and I don't think anyone expects him to go away, quietly.  

Last but certainly not least, when Strange Love left off, the two sisters (Kasia and Aleksandra) had just discovered there is old, sacred, white witchcraft, in their bloodline.  Now what??  In Strange Days, we shall see. :)

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

I think perhaps I've dropped enough tantalizing tidbits for readers to taste... savor... devour? ;)  I'll end with this, however: Strange Days will speak to every woman who has ever loved a man beyond reason.  It will give readers a mind-blowing look at soul-mate love: the attraction, the intensity, the sensuality, the sexuality, the commitment, the passion, the BIG.  

In Strange Days, every woman who has ever felt even a little bit intuitive, will discover where this ability comes from, and how she can develop it (for real!).  I'll also be validating and elevating supernatural and paranormal phenomena.  Interesting in reading, yet? ;)

Once again, many thanks to fellow author and colleague, Winslow Eliot, for including me.  I had a blast.  

xo ~JoLynne ♥ #ParaGoddess