“The Next Big Thing” has been going around for a while, and I did a version for one project on my LiveJournal, but more people have come along and asked if I was going to do a post on my blog, so I’m giving it another go with Celebromancy.
Since I don’t like the endless obligation idea facet of chain letters, I’m just going to link to some awesome people at the end, who are in no way obligated to do anything with regards to The Next Big Thing.
1. What is the title of the work-in-progress that you’re hoping will get you Rowling/Meyer/King money?
Celebromancy
2. Where did you steal this idea?
When my editor (Adam Wilson) asked to schedule a phone call about Geekomancy, I had a pretty good feeling that he might be offering to buy the novel, and that if he wanted to buy one novel, he might want to buy more than one novel in the series. So I jotted down four possible sequel ideas, a couple of which I may yet use.
The one that ended up being the most viable was Celebromancy – where Ree manages to sell a script to a production company (Yay!) but then it turns out that the star is under a nasty curse that backlashes every time she uses her Celebromancy (the magic of fame/celebrity).
For Celebromancy, I wanted to expand the magical world I’d set up in Geekomancy, as well as developing Ree as an aspiring screenwriter. Mainly to put that dream up against the new life she’s gotten herself into as a Geekomancer and general do-gooder. I’ve also taken some ideas from the Unknown Armies RPG, and more than a little inspiration from a particularly famous film from 1950 (telling you which one is a bit of a spoiler).
3. What genre does your manuscript wear like a coat, and what’s the shockingly skimpy & alluring genre that shows up once you open the book?
It’s Urban Fantasy on the surface, and a Hollywood-themed comedy underneath.
4. Which actors would you kidnap and force to play your characters in a movie rendition?
If Natalie Morales wanted to play Ree Reyes, she’d have the role in an instant. But since Wendy Watson is Ree’s spiritual god-sister/god-mother, it might be too similar a character.
Barring that, I’d probably be casting Aubrey Plaza in the lead as Ree Reyes.
My internal conception of Jane Konrad, the cursed star, is based on Drew Barrymore (in her more recent work, ala Going The Distance).
The other major hero is Drake Winters (DRAKE WINTERS!), who in my head should be played by Benedict Cumberbatch.
5. When someone demands to know about this brilliant project, what’s the one sentence you give them?
Snarky screenwriter Ree Reyes gets her big break, but the production is doomed unless she can figure out how to unravel the curse which has turned the leading lady’s fame magic against herself.
6. If it doesn’t get repped/bought by an agent/editor, are you going to trunk it or self-publish?
Celebromancy will be released 7/15/2013 by Pocket Star.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Just over six months, which is the fastest I’ve written a novel while also working full-time. It really really helps that it was a sequel.
8. What other books in the same genre do you hope people will compare your story to?
Geekomancy, since that’s the first book in the series (natch), but also The Dresden Files series and Seanan McGuire’s Discount Armageddon.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
A fascination with the social formulation of fame, the way that celebrities lives are rendered public topic of discussion, as well as a frustration with the way that female stars are held up to mutually contradictory and impossible physical and behavioral standards. Also, the fact that I’ve enjoyed films all my life and this was a chance to put my Geekomancy-brain spotlight on them more directly.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Because I am a masochist, instead of featuring a love triangle, I wrote a love quadrangle. Or a love rhombus, if you will.
Other cool things the book features:
Ree vs. a dragon
Our heroine breaking into the penthouse of a hotel using three outfits and one episode of Leverage.
More Ree and Drake buddy adventures
Smokey the terminator (not the lower-case T. No copyright violation!)
Awesome people to check out/stalk/read material by (a sampling):
- Matt Adams – Author of the superhero novel I, Crimsonstreak.
- John Anealio – Musician of Geek-themed songs, co-host of the Functional Nerds Podcast.
- Bradley P. Beaulieu – Author of the Lays of Anuskaya series, co-host of the Speculate! podcast– he’s also running a Kickstarter right now for a short story collection. Check it out!
- Marie Brennan – Author of many things, including the recent Lies & Prophecy and the forthcoming A Natural History of Dragons.
- Kerry Schafer – Author of Between [1/29/13], and fellow Book Country All-Star.
- Anton Strout – Author of the Simon Canderous and the Spellmason Chronicles series, host of The Once and Future Podcast.