Next Big Thing
Thanks to Mary Bradford I’ve been tagged for The Next Big
Thing and I am delighted to be a part of this on-rolling blog. It’s been
enlightening answering these questions and I hope you will make a return visit
here or follow me on Twitter. https://twitter.com/@MarieOHalloran2
What is my Next Big
Thing?
The next big thing for me is getting proactive with my
completed novel. I’d love to get it out there and I’m doing research at the
moment on the best publishing houses or agents to send it to.
What is the working
title of your book?
The title of my first completed novel is Subtle Changes
Where did the idea
come from for the book?
There is more to domestic violence than the physical aspect.
I decided to look at it from a psychological point of view. How someone can
exert control and manipulation that way. Also, when someone falls in love how
much they are willing to change to please a person.
What genre does your
book fall under?
I feel it falls under Psychological Thriller, similar to
Elizabeth Haynes ‘Into the Darkest Corner’. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9226039-into-the-darkest-corner
a book I really enjoyed reading. It also received fantastic reviews.
Which actors would
you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I didn’t have to think about this for too long. My main
character, Stephen Jones is dark and complex. He is charming and ambitious with
a lot of baggage. That being said I think Tom Hardy would be ideal. I loved him
in the t.v. adaptation of Martina Cole’s novel The Take.
His love interest Fiona Hunt, an independent, strong
character, who is looking forward to her new job, meets her boss Stephen and
innocently gets embroiled in his baggage would be played by either Olivia Wilde
or Jessica Biel. I think both these actresses are incredibly talented. Or come
to think about it, an unknown actress might be perfect. I love Cillian Murphy
and James McAvoy so I would find spots for them too. That would be my dream
team.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Stephen Jones is grieving for his dead fiancée, Leanne,
until he sets his sights on Fiona, who resembles Leanne and uses manipulation
and her love for him to try to change her to be identical, both in looks and
personality.
How long did it take
to write the 1st draft of your manuscript?
The idea rolled around in my mind for ages. I wrote about
15,000 words and left it for about a year. Then I met Mary Bradford and Declan
Kearney (pen name Daniel Kaye). They found me lodged under their wings and I
claimed squatter’s rights! There’s no getting rid of me now guys. They inspired
me to continue. So I managed to finish to first draft in about 3 or 4 months.
Who or what inspired
you to write this book?
I would have seen and read about domestic situations and ads
on the internet promoting women’s awareness of when their partners are being
too controlling. I decided to take this idea and write a story around it. It is
so important to remember that if you are in a relationship like that to
recognise the warning signs.
What else about your
book might pique the readers’ interest?
Fiona is at odds with whether to start a relationship with
Stephen. She cannot resist him and they get together. Unknown to Fiona, their
relationship is fundamentally flawed by his underlying issues. Other characters
have thing that they are dealing with, so there are other storylines interwoven
in the book. Their distraction means his behaviour goes unnoticed. He starts to
come apart when others realise what he is doing. She in in too deep when he
starts to show his true colours.
When and how will it
be published?
Shout out to publishers’ and agents’ out there. I’d love to
be able to hold my published book in my hands. Any medium, eBook or print to
get it out there would be great. I will be announcing as soon as I get offered
a contract. That’s why I’m researching the most appropriate destinations for
it.
This Next Big Thing is a fantastic idea. Answering these
questions have made me think more about my book and getting it out there. It
reminded me of how much I enjoyed getting to know my characters. So many thanks
to again to Mary Bradford. Check out http://marytbradford-author.blogspot.ie/2013/01/next-big-thing.html?spref=tw
Thank you too to previous posters Jillian Godsil and Susan Condon. Check then
out at http://susancondon.wordpress.com/tag/jillian-godsil/ and
http://jilliangodsil.com/ for previous posts.
Now over to my both creative and interesting fellow writers,
watch their posts on Wed. 30th January 2013
Daniel Kaye
Roisin Peddle
@randomDescent
A great post Marie, well done
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