The Next Big Thing

I’ve been tagged by romance author Nancy Jardin to answer ten questions about my next release, which will be published in January. You can read about Nancy’s ‘Next Big Thing’ on her blog.

So, here are the ten questions and my answers, all about my new novel, A SUMMER OF LOVE.

What is the working title of your book? 

Working and definitive title are the same, A SUMMER OF LOVE

Where did the idea come from for the book? 

The story was born out of two previous pieces I started but never got round to finish. One was a dramatic coming of age tale, the other a love story where the heroine was torn between two very different men. I combined the two ideas and the result is A SUMMER OF LOVE.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

I don’t want to say. I have a very clear image of what my characters look like, but I want the readers to create their own images, rather than telling them whom I had in mind when I wrote the book. People who know me might have an idea of  whom is behind Jonah and Ewan, though.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

In three sentences, the story follows Jonah and Sally, whose future didn’t quite shape out as they had imagined it when, at just eighteen, Jonah was sent to prison for two an a half years. Sally finds herself torn between Jonah and Ewan, the young Cornish farmer she has married. Over the course of eighteen years, meetings and partings, secrets and revelations, she will have to face the consequences of her choices and ultimately decide whether to follow her conscience or her heart.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

It will be published in both digital and paperback format by indie publisher Crooked Cat Publishing, who already published my first novel, Playing On Cotton Clouds.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 

The first draft took about six months. But it has undergone a lot of editing since.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

It’s a good old fashion love story, a little remindful of Rosamunde Pilcher or Maeve Binchy, but it has modern, contemporary settings and language, closer to people like Lisa Jewell.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

At the time I was reading a story that included a look at the so called Second Summer of Love, in the late 80s. My book is built around an event that takes place during the dance scene of 1988, an event that will spawn what follows.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

It’s a heart-warming story, which explores different relationships – families, friends, lovers, spouses – and issues, from drugs to domestic violence to parenthood. The central theme is “forgiveness”. There’s quite a rich tapestry of characters and emotions and I think everyone will find at least one character they will identify with. 

A SUMMER OF LOVE will be published in January by Crooked Cat. 
Watch this space! 

Next Wednesday, some other writers or creative people will tell you about their ‘Next Big Thing’, including: David W Robinson, Jeff Gardiner and Sarah Logan.