I was invited to participate in the Next Big Thing by my friend, Barb Goffman, who is blogging about her new short story "Murder a la Mode" here:
1. What is your working title of your book (or
story)?
Death of a Dowager (Book #2 in The
Jane Eyre Chronicles)
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
My research into the Hanoverian Dynasty led to
information about love letters written by King George IV. I was amazed by how
many fervent letters he wrote—and how he had to buy them back! And of course,
this book is a continuation of the series I’ve begun that stars Jane Eyre as an
amateur detective.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
Historical Mystery (with a touch of romance)
4. Which actors would you choose to play your
characters in a movie rendition?
I’d love for Keira Knightley to play the part of Jane Eyre.
I realize that most people would think Keira is too stunning for the part of
the overlooked orphan, but when Ms. Knightley played the lead in Bend It Like
Beckham, she downplayed her looks and seemed fragile.
For Mr. Rochester, I’d choose Jeremy Northam. He’s not
classically attractive, and when he wants to, he can look rather rough. Also,
he’s 6’2” and Edward Rochester was a tall man.
For my two “new” characters, Lucy Brayton and her brother
Bruce Douglas, I would choose Renée Zellweger and Owen Wilson.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
All of
London is abuzz in the months leading up to the coronation of King George IV. But
a letter in Jane’s possession could topple the throne and cause the deaths of
two innocent women. Before Jane can decide what to do, the Dowager Lady Ingram
drops dead, and Jane must play amateur sleuth to solve a murder—and save an
empire!
6. Will your book be self-published or represented
by an agency?
I’m represented by Paige Wheeler of Folio
Literary Management.
7. How long did it take you to write the first
draft of your manuscript?
Six months.
8. What other books would you compare this story to
within your genre?
Fans of Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell (Sherlock
Holmes) series would enjoy The Jane Eyre Chronicles, as would fans of Rhys
Bowen’s Royal Spyness series.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is my favorite
book of all time.
10. What else about your book might pique the
reader's interest?
A night at the opera in 1820 was very different than what we
might suppose today. People started arriving at four in the afternoon and
stayed until past two in the morning. The huge candelabras dripped wax over the
patrons, who made so much noise that those on stage had to shout. Private boxes
were incredibly expensive, and everyone who was anyone wanted a box on the
fifth level. The theatre in Haymarket could seat 2,500 patrons!
And now I turn this over to my friends:
Sandra
Balzo is an award-winning author of crime fiction, including nine books in two
different mystery series--Main Street Murders, set in the North Carolina High
Country, and the Maggy Thorsen Coffeehouse Mysteries, which have garnered
starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. www.SandraBalzo.com She'll be blogging about Murder on the Orient Espresso (Book #8 in the Maggy Thorsen Mysteries), which is a work-in-progress. Catch her blog post at http://sandrabalzo.posterous.com/
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And now I turn this over to my friends:
Kelly Cochran lives in St.
Louis, Missouri and is the author of Buying Time, the first book in the
humorous mystery series about personal concierge, Aspen Moore. (Release date will be early 2013.) Kelly's
original life plan involved a career in writing, but a simple missed deadline changed
her life. Find out how her life changed by visiting www.KellyCochran.com.She'll be writing about Borrowed Time on her blog http://kellycochran.com/blog/
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Born and raised in New Jersey, Linda Hengerer has lived in Florida
for over 20 years. She left Corporate America behind to create fulfilling
worlds where bad guys die and justice prevails. She'll be blogging about Dead Man's Float, the first in the Deadly Pleasures
series, featuring Sabal Bishop Taylor as a former law enforcement professional
who came back to her hometown to care for her mother. She starts a pool
cleaning company and finds a dead body floating in one of her pools. This is a work-in-progress and will be done by the end of January. Check out Linda's blog post at http://jerseygirlinthesunshinestate.blogspot.com/ Her website is www.LindaGordonHengerer.com
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Sharon Hopkins is a branch manager for a mortgage office
of a Missouri bank. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of
America, Sisters in Crime, the Southeast Missouri Writers’ Guild, and the
Missouri Writers’ Guild. Her short story, DEATH BEE HUMBLE, appeared in the
SEMO Writer’s Guild Anthology for 2012, and her newest short story, DEATH TO
PONDER will be in a mystery anthology this spring. Her first
Rhetta McCarter book, Killerwatt, was nominated for a 2011 Lovey award for Best
First Novel and was a finalist in the 2012 Indie Excellence Awards. Her second
book, Killerfind, was released in July, 2012.
She'll be blogging at http://mysteriesandmusclecars.blogspot.com/ , and telling us about her books Killerwatt, Killerfind, and the forthcoming Killertrust, which will be out this spring.Visit her website at www.sharonwoodshopkins.com
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Thanks to all who participated!
Joanna
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Thanks to all who participated!
Joanna
