Griffin Calling. Until the work is finished, titles are only vague ideas. As you can see from the book cover, a "Reader Contest" is planned to decide on the final title. I'm sitting on my hands here, desperate not to reveal my own personal favourite, and can't wait to discover if others agree with me.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
A fascination as to what might be lurking in the twilight mists, and a very real dread of calling out anyone's name within earshot of a graveyard.
What genre does your book fall under?
Fantasy, young adult - or rather, young at heart adult.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Definitely Karen Gillan who plays Amy Pond in Dr Who. In my view, she'd be perfect for the lead role of Francesca Shaunessy. The griffin might be a little difficult to cast …
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A young girl accidentally summons a griffin from another dimension.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Self published. I much prefer the freedom of being "indie". I do believe in the importance of a good editor; and I'm extremely lucky to have two brilliant beta readers.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I wasn't really keeping count, but looking back, the first draft took the best part of a year.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
This is a difficult question to answer. I very much admire the fantasy "A Wrinkle in Time," and you can appreciate that I'm hesitant to compare my work in progress with the great Madeleine L'Engle. But at the heart of my story, is the message that love is all powerful, and no-one, no matter how damaged is beyond redemption.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
A friend rolled his car, and has been in another world for the past two years. He is slowly coming back to us, but for the first eight months he was comatose, and completely unresponsive. The faith and hope demonstrated by his family and those who love him are inspirational.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I've enjoyed the "Dragonriders of Perth" series as much as any other reader, but wanted to move away from complete fantasy. The main character is an ordinary teenager, with a difficult family background. At one point she does give up, but friends encourage her to at least try to get into college, in order to achieve her dreams. The griffin rider acts as a catalyst, and ultimately a conduit to helping Frankie communicate with her brother, who is also lost in another world.
Thank you, to Jess Sturman-Coombs (@JessSturman) who nominated me for She Writes "Next Big Thing" and I'm passing the baton onto:
L K Jay: (@fenlandgirll)
Monica La Porta (@Momilp)
Jan Romes (@JanRomes)
and Louise Sorensen (@Louise3anne)
So please make a note in your diaries to drop by and discover "The Next Big Thing" these very talented authoresses are working on!