Ten New Details: The Year of Lightning

I’ve been tagged! It’s okay, though, because it’s by good friend/awesome writer Jason McIntyre, and because it means I can share more insight into my book. I’ll be giving some details about the story and my writing process that I haven’t shared before. Here are the rules:

1. Answer ten questions about my current work-in-progress.
2. Tag five other writers and link their blogs so we can all hop over and read their answers.

The questions are (insert drum roll here):
1. What is the working title of your book?
2. Where did the idea for the book come from?
3. What genre does your book fall under?
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
10. What else about your book might pique the readers’ interest?

My answers:

1. Book title…
My book is called The Year of Lightning. While I suppose it’s technically a working title, I’d be surprised if it changed to anything else.

2. Book idea…
This book started with an image and a question. First I got an image in my head of an old, abandoned house. This house was unique because it had no doors. The thought of that alone intrigued me, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Then I asked a question that became the crux of the story – what if someone saw a face in the window of that house? After that, I couldn’t stop asking more and more questions, until eventually the story concept had taken shape.

3. Genre…
Upper Middle Grade science fiction with a twist of mystery

4. Actors…
The book has a fairly large cast of characters, so I’ll focus on a few of the main players. These are the actors I originally cast in these roles when outlining the story:

Malcolm and Valentine Gilbert:
For the Gilbert twins, I needed actors that could show a mix of both self-doubt and iron will, with a dash of teen awkwardness. For Malcolm, Emile Hirsch is a perfect mix of those attributes. For the same reasons, and because there aren’t enough redheads in the world, I had to give the part of Valentine to Danielle Panabaker.

Neil Gilbert:
Neil has his own issues, and I needed someone who could range from quietly charming to tragically inept at connecting with his own children. Sam Rockwell is a brilliant actor, and I have never imagined anyone else as this character.

Oma Grace:
Strong, opinionated, supportive and loving – Oma Grace is all of these. She’s the ultimate grandmother, stepping up to be the foundation that Malcolm and Valentine so desperately need. Rosemary Harris embodies this perfectly.

Walter Crane:
The retired soldier – gruff, reclusive, and intolerant of teenagers. Yet, there’s so much more to Walter Crane, and he’s deeper than the twins ever suspected. Who better than Clint Eastwood?

Lucius Carmichael:
The twins’ Chemistry teacher is a genius. He’s the perfect academic mentor – fun, silly, tiny and British, but with a commanding presence that’s surprising, given his size. Tom Hollander was the perfect choice.

5. One-sentence synopsis…
Lightning is rarely cooperative.

6. Publishing…
I’m going traditional, and will soon be querying agents.

7. First draft…
I had other paid writing work mixed in, so I couldn’t work on the book full time. That said, I began in February 2011, so from start to finish it took me just over a year and a half.

8. Other books…
Hmm, this is a tough one. I can’t think of any direct comparisons. While this book isn’t a mash-up, it does contain elements of several genres including sci-fi, mystery, and humor. I’m curious what the readers would compare it to!

9. Inspiration…
I mostly covered the story inspiration in question two, but personal inspiration can come from anywhere. If I see something that inspires me or evokes strong emotion, it makes me want to write. I’ve been doing it since I was ten, so it’s very much a part of who I am. Like the saying goes, writers write.

10. Piquing curiosity…
I love big plot twists, snappy dialogue, fun and kinetic action, and quiet emotional moments that reveal truths about a character. I worked hard to put all those things in The Year of Lightning. If that sounds like a good time, this might be the book for you.

And now to tag my five victims…er, friends.

Morgan Shamy

Cortney Pearson

Liz Briggs

Diana Paz

Rachel Searles