What is the working title of your book?
SPEECHLESS
Oddly enough, the title was the FIRST thing I came up with. I was thinking of things I could write and the titles that could go with...and this one just jumped out at me. I thought...hey, cool title. So, I began to work it out in my head what it would be about.
Where did the idea come from for your book?
Well, I knew I wanted to do a fairy tale retell in a contemporary setting. I thought about all the possibilities from the obscure to the predictable. Cinderella has been done and done. Same with Snow White. My favorite fairy tale story is The Little Mermaid. But that one really had it's challenges since ummm...the MAIN CHARACTER CAN'T TALK. How the hell do you write a book when your MC has no voice? Inner dialogue can be too much. But then I thought...what an exciting challenge? Challenge accepted.
The other thing I wanted to be mindful of was the fact that I wanted to stay true to both versions...the Disney version as well as the original Hans Christian Anderson version, which is much more tragic. I really liked the haunting story Anderson told and how it involved complete sacrifice for the one you love. Sometimes, when you really love someone, you simply have to let them go. It's only fair. You want them to be happy, even if it means without you. It's the ultimate pain. But also the ultimate love. This is what I explore in SPEECHLESS.
What genre does your book fall under?
Well, of course since she is seventeen years old, this will be a YA Contemporary.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Oy.This is my first crack...so don't judge me.
When a horrific accident robs seventeen year-old Lorelei Bell of the thing that defines her most--her voice--she must fight against her own inner demons, a frenemy who has it out for her, and the death of her old identity to find her new voice...and a chance at the love of her life.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Hoping to get an agent with the book I am querying at present who also reps YA. If not, I will query this one for sure.
How long did it take for you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Still writing. It is 2/3 done.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Any of the current contemporary retells.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I have no idea. The characters are so beautiful in my head, it would be hard to match them to a real person. The closest actor to play Lorelei in my mind would be Debra Ann Woll.
 |
| Debra Ann Woll of True Blood |
As far as as Erckan, Lorelei's love interest..I have yet to find a guy who can match the gorgeous that is in my head. Perhaps Zac Efron is the closest. Because...LOOK AT
HIM!
| Ummm...yeah. Perfection. Erckan indeed. |
| Britt as Blaire |
Of course, the nemesis and frenemy would be Blaire, played by Britt Robertson. That would be all I could figure out now. :)
Okay. I'd watch this movie! :)
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
As I said, I wanted to explore the idea of a timeless love in which sacrifice and loss was involved. I love how the original Anderson's end is tragic, but beautiful. I also wanted to write a novel that the kids I teach could read. :) That...would be awesome.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The romance of course. And the buried past between Lorelei and Blaire. And as always, I love to play with the preconceptions people have about an antagonist. Blaire is not over the top bad...only to Lorelei. I think that makes the best antagonist. The one who is nice to everyone else, but has it out for one person. And Blaire's reason is really understandable, which makes it hard to hate her. But isn't that real life? One person's enemy is someone else's best friend.
So, now I have to tag:
Erica Chapman
Jodie Andrefski
Megan Paasch
Andee Hannah
Angie Black
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