I have (apparently) been tagged in the Next Big Thing meme, in which authors answer set questions about their next (intended) work. So, with the disclaimer that anything could happen between now and finishing the puppy, including abandoning it altogether if certain other projects come to fruition and occupy all my time and attention, here it is:<\/p>\n
What is the working title of your next book? Where did the idea come from for the book? What genre does the book fall under? What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition? What is the one sentence synopsis of your book? Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? How long did it take you to write the first draft of your book? What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Who or what inspired you to write this book? What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest? Who am I now tagging to continue this?<\/strong> I have (apparently) been tagged in the Next Big Thing meme, in which authors answer set questions about their next (intended) work. So, with the disclaimer that anything could happen between now and finishing the puppy, including abandoning it altogether … Continue reading
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s a reversion to what Phoenicia\u2019s Worlds<\/em> was originally called. That book has two worlds joined together by wormhole. This assumes the starship Phoenicia<\/em> has continued its mission, stringing together a line of worlds, one at a time \u2013 so, Phoenicia\u2019s Line<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>For this book, this particular book, the idea came when I learned Phoenicia\u2019s Worlds<\/em> was going to be published and I wanted to keep my foot in the door. But the idea of the Line itself, which is the underpinning conceit \u2026 I honestly can\u2019t remember. I have a vague link in my head between resolving to write a series about the Line and (concurrently but unrelatedly) working in medical publishing \u2013 and I last worked in medical publishing in 1999. So, nope, can\u2019t remember. Getting old.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Science fiction. Sub-genre, space opera.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Toughie. The only fixed character in my head at the moment is a middle-aged Hispanic type, but Antonio Bandaras would be too ruggedly handsome. There are also a couple of brother-and-sister younger roles, but a movie wouldn\u2019t be made for so many years that whoever ends up playing them would be ipso facto too young now to be famous.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The past catches up with the future.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Solaris are publishing Phoenicia\u2019s Worlds<\/em> so I\u2019ll give them first dibs. If uninterested, I\u2019ll give it to my agent. If he\u2019s uninterested \u2026 dunno.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I\u2019m 7500 words in after two months. Ask me again in 30 months time.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Gareth L. Powell\u2019s The Reckoning<\/em>, most of Alastair Reynolds\u2019 output \u2026 I just say this because they\u2019re all great space operas and I want this to be one too.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The email from hero editor Jonathan Oliver saying \u2018We want to publish Phoenicia\u2019s Worlds<\/em>\u2019 – and realising that I actually could follow it up.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>\u201cOh look, a sequel to that book we read so many glowing reviews about. I wonder what happens next?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAnyone interested. You shouldn’t need to be asked …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"