Nicky Drayden tagged me in her Next Big Thing entry. So here I am to talk about my WIP.
1. What is the title of your Work in Progress?
Bandit Girls. I fully expect that to change at some point.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
The germ of the book came from a short story I wrote nearly 15 years ago. It was the first short story that ever “worked:” I learned more from writing it than any story I had written before. It’s existed in many forms; various drafts of short story as well as a screenplay. The idea has never left me, and I decided to expand it into a novel.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
YA Fantasy.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Saorse Ronan for Tesara. Emma Watson for Jalana.
5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of the book?
The black sheep of a merchant family, Tesara Mederos must come to terms with her talent for magic in hopes of restoring her family’s wealth.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
By an agency, I hope!
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
It’s not finished, but I expect to complete it in the next four to six months. I’m also developing an outline for a sequel.
8. What other books would you compare this story to in your genre?
Hmmm. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal, is probably the closest match. Bandit Girls has a Regency setting in an alternate world, though it is not so finely constrained as a true Regency.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I blame everything on Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
There’s a Bandit King, a dashing Captain, and mysterious magic.
If you haven’t already become acquainted with the work of Nicky Drayden, you are in for a treat. Visit her at her blog and track down her short story collections — you will be quite pleased if you do.
And now I will tag the following authors; be sure to check out their answers!
8 Comments
NicoleMD · October 8, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Wow, this story is a long time in the making. Can’t wait to read it!
Santa_smbslt · October 8, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Both sound like something I’d love to read and share with my kids! I’ll be looking for this one!
Patrice Sarath · October 8, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Thanks, ladies!
Rebecca Schwarz · October 9, 2012 at 7:18 am
Bandit Girls is a great working title. I love the concept, sounds like something my girls, and I, will want to read.
A Lockwood · October 9, 2012 at 8:09 am
Sounds fun! You know I love YA Fantasy.
A3 · October 10, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Sounds great! I can’t wait to read it. Did you ever get the short story version published?
Patrice Sarath · October 10, 2012 at 9:33 pm
That short story has had quite the history. Originally it was called A Heart for Magic. And it sold once but the market folded before it could be published. The publisher did pay me though. Then I rewrote it about a million times, and it was renamed Storms of Light and Shadow. And it sold again — it made about five bucks in an e-anthology put out by Wild Child, called Star Stepping.
Then I turned it into a screenplay for the Austin Film Festival, but it was flawed to say the least (hey, it was my first screenplay).
So ever since 1996 it’s been the little story that could. And every time I mess with it, the story world becomes a just a bit richer.
Normally I would say, don’t keep going back to that well, but it apparently wants to be written.
Jessica Reisman · October 11, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Sounds like a great YA adventure; I love girls having tough adventures.