A friend and fellow writer, Daniela Norris, asked me if I wouldn’t join in on ‘The Next Big Thing’ – a sort of worldwide internet poll where bloggers answer the same ten questions about a work in progress. Daniela is awesome. And persuasive. And she’s in my critiquing group. So I said yes.
Daniela doesn’t write the same stuff I do, but I can guarantee you’ll like her work and her site. Check it out here: Daniela Norris
I will answer the same questions everyone else is answering and then link to other authors’ blogs who will (hopefully) do the same. The links to their posts are below my answers.
What is the title of your book?
The novel I’ve finished and am tweaking for publication is called Untethered.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The original idea came to me at the age of 16 after reading Lois Duncan’s book Stranger with my Face. The whole concept of astral projection fascinated me. I didn’t want to try it myself, but I couldn’t stop reading books and articles about it. I wrote a short story at the time. Then fifteen years later I rewrote it. Then, uh, let’s just say even later, I turned it into a novel.
What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult. But adults can enjoy it, too.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Pfft. I would find any excuse possible to have Justin Timberlake or Robert Downey, Jr. in it, even though I can’t imagine who they’d play. I’d just want to be invited to the set to drool over them. As for the characters, they’d have to be younger. But I’d feel creepy getting all hot and bothered over a guy who’s under, like, 25. I’m not a cougar. Yet.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
When the boy 16-year-old Sylvie has loved since 5th grade falls for her friend instead, Sylvie intends to get him by any means possible — even possession.
When will your book be out?
Hopefully March.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Too long. The subsequent 17 drafts took even longer.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Yikes. That’s not easy to answer. Untethered is a bit different, focusing on real-life issues and emotions that we all go through as teenagers, but viewed through the looking-glass of the paranormal.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Like I said above, Lois Duncan’s story got me interested in exploring astral projection in fiction. But much of the story also deals with self image. Warped body image is something that many girls — myself included — battle. I think it’s extremely hard to accept ourselves in this culture of “perfection”.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Untethered was a finalist for the 2012 Mslexia novel competition!
The story delves into jealousy, obsession, out-of-body-experiences, gender swapping, friendship, and family. Oh, and there’s a lot of food in it, too.
katiehayoz.com 