The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop celebrates what writers are working on or what they have coming up next. Welcome to my stop!

I was tagged by dear friend and wonderfully funny author, Kami Kindard, whose book The Boy Project (Notes and Observations of Kara McAllister) was so popular she’s finishing the sequel as we speak.  Look for The Boy Prediction (Notes and Observations of Tabitha Reddy) soon!

I have two books I’m going to cover — although I’m working on many more — one which publishes this year and one which is still in the revision process but is slated to publish next year.  I’ll do them sequentially …

1.  What is the working title of your book?

Seeing Red

We’ve been through a lot of titles for this books and I’d gotten fond of Facing Freedom but we ended up with Seeing Red.

2.  Where did the idea come from for the book?

My own past and confusion over our country’s incredibly slow march towards civil rights.

3.  What genre does your book come under?

Middle grade historical fiction, with a mystery

4.  Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a move rendition?

Oh, this is fun!

Red:  Garrett Ryan

Rosie:  Madison Pettis

Thomas:  Jaden Smith

5.  What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

After his father dies, twelve year old Red Porter wants to stay rooted in Stony Gap, Virginia, at least until he can solve a mystery for a friend, but as he unravels the mystery he discovers Stony Gap’s terrible past and is determined to make things right.

6.  Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

Scholastic, October 2013

Agent:  The wonderful Linda Pratt of Wernick & Pratt!

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

Forever!  I started this draft at least a decade ago and rewrote it completely several times.  In between, I left it for years at a time.  Thanks to the insightful and supportive Andrea Pinkney, my editor, it’s finally where I want it to be.

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

The Lions of Little Rock, Kristin Levine

Glory Be, Augusta Scattergood

The Rock and the River, Kekla Magoon

Down Sand Mountain, Steve Watkins

9.  Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The fact that we still have a way to go before approaching real equality in this country.  And my mother, who instilled in me a strong sense of justice.

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

The Flintstones, Mission Impossible, Kung Fu.  Ima butt?  Aspic (sound it out slowly)?  There’s humor, even though the themes are serious … kind of like real life.

And here’s the novel still in progress…

1.  What is the working title of your book?

Adrian’s Turn

2.  Where did the idea come from for the book?

Medieval festivals, walking along Hadrian’s Wall in England, archery, albinism.

3.  What genre does your book come under?

Middle grade historical fiction that includes adventure and humor.

4.  Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a move rendition?

I love this question!

Adrian:  Lucas Melton (or, even better, an actor with albinism)

Hugh:  Dakota Goyo

Bess:  Peyton List

5.  What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

In 1346, thirteen year old Adrian runs away to battle the “pagan” Scots in order to prove he’s worthy of respect even though he’s small, sickly and has albinism.

6.  Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

Scholastic, 2014

Agent:  The still wonderful Linda Pratt of Wernick & Pratt!

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

It’s hard to say because I hop around so much from one project to the next, but probably about six months.

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

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, Rodman Philbrick

The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander

The Squire’s Tale, Gerald Morris

Swords for Hire, Will Allen

9.  Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Boys — and girls — who wanted a medieval adventure, and my own love of that time period.  Kids who feel different and worry that they need to prove that they’re worthy of respect.  (They don’t; we already love them but often they need to go on a journey to find that out.)

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

It’s set around an actual series of battles that took place between England and Scotland in 1346 — I found lots of cool research, even a map from that time period!

OK, if that’s too nerdy, I also hope to have a website of fun facts and activities about medieval life tied specifically to the book, from battles and plagues to food and superstitions like the evil, pointy-toothed Red Caps.

Tagging other authors:  Oops, this is the step I missed.  If you’re an author who’d like to be “tagged” about the next book you’re working on, please let me know!