Thanks to Jim Reader over at the Central Texas Home for the Terminally Twitchy infecting me with a viral bloghop, I’ve decided to share some information about my current work-in-progress (which is, of course, different from the book I’m currently shopping). I’ve also decided not to tag anyone else, as most of the writing friends who I know are working on novels have already been tagged. SO THERE!
What is the working title of your book?
Chanter: A Song of War
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I always forget the answer to this question as soon as I start writing. I remember the initial seed of the story came from the system of magic (which is based on music combined with the Japanese elements), partially because I love Bard-type classes in video games, and thought they’d never really been given the potential they deserved.
What genre does your book fall under?
Fantasy.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Hmm. For Magdalena, possibly Christina Hendricks (but, like, a young Christina Hendricks) or Deborah Ann Moll (she’s a bit too thin, but she seems to have the right sort of fiery temperament). For Professor Rylock, uh, maybe Clive Owen or Colin Firth? All are absurdly attractive, but then, lead actors sort of have to be attractive, right?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A songstress with an incredible power and a researcher delving into the mathematics guiding magic work together to fend off vicious insectoid invaders.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Good question, that. I’m going to do everything in my power to go the trade publishing route, but I won’t say no to self-publishing if years and years pass and there’s no progress.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I started last November for NaNoWriMo, and it’s about 3/4ths done.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I hate this question as well. I suppose the first “Mistborn” book might be a decent comparison, given that there’s a bit of focus on the magic system, and it’s also about a young woman caught up in events as opposed to a predestined hero of the world or anything like that.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
As I said above, the initial seed of the story was based around music and bards, and it sort of took off from there. I’ve used (limited) experience in high school band and my (more extensive, but also limited) experience in academics to tug at some of the threads.
What else about the your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Aside from the music-as-magic idea, which I happen to think is pretty cool, I think this story’s strength is the same as all my stories, if such strength exists: the characters, their relationships and the themes that come out of them. I try to create flawed, complicated but still admirable characters, and that goes for both protagonists and antagonists. Stephen King said something like “Fantasy needs a really strong, really evil villain to succeed” in reference to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, and while that might be the case, I’ve never really ascribed to that. My antagonists are rarely “evil” — “misguided” is about as far as it goes. If that idea appeals to you, you might enjoy Chanter.