The Next Big Thing blog hop is a giant game of tag to help readers discover authors who are new to them. For this hop, authors are answering questions about what we’re working on now. This week, I’m “it” thanks to my amazing friend Lynne Gentry. Visit her blog to see what she’s up to and to follow the bunny trail back and also hop forward to find other authors. Follow the hop long enough and you’re bound to find books you’ll love!

Here is my Next Big Thang!

1. What is the working title of your book?
Plain Fear: FORGIVEN is my next book releasing from Sourcebooks in August. It is the 3rd book in my Plain Fear series, which is an Amish/vampire tale. I am busy doing the line edits this week.



2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
The idea of an Amish/vampire story came to me and I laughed it off and put it aside. But it kept coming back to me, so I began to pray about it. I didn’t want to simply write an edgy story to be edgy or attempt to hit a market of two very popular genres. With trepidation, I ventured into this project. But once I felt like I understood the heart of my book—that this was a good versus evil story and very much about spiritual warfare—my enthusiasm skyrocketed. Praying about it gave me peace that God wanted me to write it. There is a battle being waged in this world, whether we realize it or not, and hopefully my book gives a glimpse into that battle.

3. What genre does your book come under?
This book doesn’t fit easily into a genre. It more easily fits into the vampire genre than the Amish genre, but I tend to think of it more in general fiction or romance.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Oh boy. This is a really tough question as these characters live in my head so clearly. But it’s also a fun question to think about. Plain Fear: Forgiven tells the story of the youngest Fisher brother, Samuel. Liam Hemsworth would make a wonderful Samuel, who is a conflicted and driven young man. Emma Stone would make a great Andi, who is romantically involved with Samuel. But to complete the love triangle, we need an actress to play a strong and devout young woman who encourages and pushes Samuel to make a hard decision. AnnaSophia Robb would make a beautiful and courageous Naomi.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Samuel Fisher committed a sin of biblical proportions—he killed his own brother, Jacob. Samuel’s guilt overwhelms him as he struggles to understand the choices Jacob made which led to his death. Haunted by doubts and questions, Samuel starts down the same dark path of destruction. In the gripping final battle between hunters and vampires, Samuel must choose where his loyalties lie. The decisions he makes not only threaten the lives of those he loves, but determine if he will ultimately be forgiven.

Sorry, that wasn’t one sentence, was it? Close enough.

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

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It took me about six or seven months to write the rough draft of FORGIVEN but then I spent another few months revising and polishing the manuscript before turning it into my publisher.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I’m not sure there is anything out there like the Plain Fear series.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
It reminded me of Phantom of the Opera, which I’m a huge fan of both the book and musical. Christine is naïve and young and she opens her mind to a dark force. There’s a line in the musical that resonates in me: “I gave my mind blindly.” And that is exactly what Hannah, the heroine in the first book, did. For this series, I wanted to show how alluring evil really is. Evil doesn’t look scary at first. It’s appealing. Satan doesn’t appear to us with a forked tongue or horns and pitchfork. He was the most beautiful angel, the worship leader in the heavenly realms. But he fell. He became the father of lies. He distorts the truth and draws us toward evil and sin with promises and appealing whispers. It’s why my story needed someone innocent of this world, like an Amish girl, so I could show how easily we are deceived.

Below you will find 2 authors who will be joining the blog hop next Wednesday. Be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!

You don't want to miss my BFF, Dorothy Love, who is a fabulous writer and who has some great inspirational fiction to offer.

And, a very dear friend of mine, Jennifer Archer, is an amazing writer. I love her women's fiction but also you will love her young adult fiction.

Labels: Amish, Dorothy Love, inspirational, Jennifer Archer, Lynne Gentry, Plain Fear: Forgiven, suspense, The Next Big Thing Blog Hop, vampire, young adult

I'm running a contest this month for folks on my e-newsletter to win a copy of Dorothy Love's new book: Beyond All Measure. Comment on the picture of Sawyer and what you think he's reading for a chance to win. I will draw a name June 7th!

Labels: Beyond All Measure, contest, Dorothy Love, e-newsletter

Way back in 1991, I went to my very first writing class. A woman sat next to me, and we introduced ourselves. She had been a principal and teacher; I had been a teacher. We'd both 'retired' and decided to write books. And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We took two classes together and not long after that my friend moved far, far away. Back in those days, long before the internet or email or even Facebook, we wrote each other letters and once in a while we'd treat ourselves to a long phone call. We cheered for each other when we'd get our word count written for the day or a manuscript requested from an editor or we'd commiserate if something didn't go well and we received a rejection. I still remember when Dorothy called to tell me her first book had sold! Back then, she wrote children's chapter books. When I sold my first book, she was the first person I called. And so it's been down through the years as we've celebrated books and babies and puppies, and cried together over the loss of our fathers and dogs and experienced painful trials. Friends. Twenty years of friendship. It is a sweet and precious gift.

For many years, Dorothy has been an award-winning author of children's chapter books and young adult novels. But finally last year, she decided to write a historical novel for the adult market and Thomas Nelson bought the trilogy. The first book is coming out soon and the buzz is building. I cannot wait to read it! She's already garnered some amazing endorsements. So today I'm delighted to introduce you to my dear friend, Dorothy Love, who is launching her new website this week. I hope you will go take a look and also participate in her contest. You will definitely want to check that out!

www.dorothylovebooks.com

By the way, the pictures above are of Dorothy's beautiful cover, Dorothy and me at ACFW this past September (the first time in 20 years that we were actually at the same writer's conference!), and Dorothy getting a big, slobbery kiss from the Hilo Monster! I just have to say that Dorothy knows how to handle a big dog as she has 2 beautiful Golden Retrievers. When she came to my house this past September, she taught Hilo (and me and the kids) a few tricks on how to train a dog. I'm thinking Hilo should go visit Dorothy for a few more training sessions.

Labels: author, Beyond All Measure, Dorothy Love, friendships, Inspirational author, Thomas Nelson, writing