Thanks to friend and fellow writer, Sunni Jeffers, who asked me to follow her in a "blog hop," answering ten questions about my WIP (work in progress). I actually have more than one book in various stages of completion so I had to pick one and run with it.
What is the working title of your book?
Beloved (September 2013)
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Beloved will be the third book in the Where the Heart Lives series; the first two are Belonging and Betrayal. Each book in the series focuses on one of the Brennan siblings who were sent West on an orphan train as children. Now as adults, they hope to find one another.
Beloved is Diana's story. She is the youngest, and in contrast to her brother and sister, she was raised in a loving home. Instead of the small community or ranching environment that I often write about, I moved into the life of the wealthy at the turn of the 20th Century. That really appealed to me.
What genre does your book fall under?
Historical romance
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Emily Blunt would play Diana. As for Tyson Applegate, I always pictured him like Mel Gibson in his prime (30 years ago). I'm not sure who I would cast today. Perhaps Ben Affleck (although I think he might have to portray Hugh in Betrayal).
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Abandoned by the husband she loved, can Diana find it in her heart to forgive him and build a new life with the man he’s become?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
No, the book is not self-published. The publisher is Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. I am represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Approximately six months, but that includes research and interruptions in my writing to edit and proof earlier books in different stages of production.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I'm afraid I haven't read anything similar. At least not in recent memory. That isn't to say they aren't out there, but my pleasure reading is all over the map. The last two historicals I read were set in Shakespeare's time and in Biblical times. The last two historical romances I read were set in the South after the Civil War and in Victorian England. None of those would compare with Diana and Tyson's story in Beloved.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The never-ending need to tell stories added to my love of history. I've been writing novels for over 30 years now (Beloved is my 68th release). Writing fiction is simply what I do. If a writer waits for inspiration, they won't write very many books (if they ever finish even one). Writing is my job, so in the morning, I sit down and write. No inspiration required.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
How about the first line of Chapter 1:
To say the least, it was inconsiderate of Diana’s almost-dead husband to show up at her engagement party.
Next week, on January 30th, these authors will be answering the same questions on their blogs. Be sure to check them out!
R. J. Larsen | Stephanie Grace Whitson | Kristin Billerbeck | Miralee Ferrell | Harry Kraus
And just for fun, here are the links to authors who have participated in the past. Worth reading!
Maureen Lang | James L. Rubart | Rachel Hauck | Sibella Giorello
Also coming from Robin Lee Hatcher: A Bride for All Seasons (historical romance novella collection, June 2013); Bounty of Silver (a stand-alone historical romance, winter/spring 2014); and a women's fiction release (spring 2014).
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