Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Next Big Thing

Last week, my friend author Paul Magrs tagged me in something called The Next Big Thing, which is a chain of author and book recommendations. My turn today, and I shall answer the following questions about Murder By Magic which is available now in paperback and ebook, and I shall tag four more writers who will take up the baton next Wednesday.

What is the title of your next book?

The most recent came out in June and is called Murder by Magic. The next is called Murder In The Monastery and will be out in January.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

The marketing director of the publishing company, who dreamt up the title. I then had to find something to fit.

What genre does your book fall under?

The Libby Sarjeant novels are "cosy" mysteries.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

I wouldn't. They wouldn't match up to the pictures in my head!

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

All my books are traditionally published by Accent Press and my pantomimes by Jasper Publishing.

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

I'm going to come clean and say I don't do drafts. I edit as I go, but as I'm contracted to do two books a year I don't get time to do drafts. (Probably explains a lot!)

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

Amazon tells me people who buy my books also buy Simon Brett, Hazel Holt and Rebecca Tope, writers with whom I've done events in the past and whose books I love.

Who or what inspitred you to write this book?

My bank manager.

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

They're set in Kent? The central character's a middle-aged woman? Um - I don't know, really!

There we are. I'm not brilliant at this sort of thing, but I'm sure my tagged authors will be. Check out their blogs next Wednesday and find out.

Julia Williams, who writes terrific relationship books about real people,

Carola Dunn, author of several detective/mystery series

Victoria Lamb, a historical novelist with two new books out this year, both set in the 16th century

Christina Jones, one of my oldest and dearest writer friends, who writes what she calls "Bucolic Frolics".