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What is the title
of your work in progress?
Well, my next book is already written and waiting to be published this time next year. It's called Shape of My Heart and is part of the Irish Pride Series. The working title of my WIP is called The Diary.
Where did the idea for the book come from?
I’m always fascinated by questions. One that came up when I was looking for my next story to write came while I was watching the time travel movie, Back to the Future. It had been stressed to Marty to “Never meet yourself” as it could create a paradox and alter the course of history. So the question came to my mind, just how would the course of history be changed if just one event back in time changed? Living in Ireland now, I have such an incredible history to draw from. I’ve become interested in the Viking history of Ireland and thus the Battle of Clontarf came up, which also meant Ireland’s greatest High King, Brian Boru. What if one thing at the Battle of Clontarf had changed and Brian had not been murdered in his tent? What of Ireland’s future then??
What genre does your book fall under?
Time travel. The Diary starts in contemporary 2014, but the heroine goes back 1000 years to Ireland to 1014, the year of the Battle of Clontarf.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Oh my! Let's see --
My hero is called Darragh. Darragh is old Irish for 'mighty oak', the oak being one of the strongest trees on the planet . . . kind of the strong, silent type in the tree world.Darragh is the chieftain of his clan. He emulates his namesake but can kick some Viking bootie when the time comes.
The actor I envision when I'm writing Darragh is Anson Mount, lately of Hell on Wheels. In this particular picture, I can see my Darragh walking across this field in his wool and leather, sword in one hand, shield in the other, preparing to go against his foe, whomever it might be, to protect his people and the woman he loves.
Speaking of which, my heroine is a little more complicated in that, as this is a time travel story, she has two personas. The story opens in the year 2014 and she is Eevean O'Brien. She's an artist with Irish heritage. After being told tales of the O'Brien clan (the name originating from Brian Boru . . . O'Brien meaning 'of Brian'), Eevean's interest in Ireland grew. She's read everything there is on Brian Boru, and as an artist, she's painted the visions she gets from reading the tales. And from the graphic dreams she's had since childhood.
For many reasons, Eevean decides to travel to Ireland. While there, she discovers a secret portal to the past, back to 1014, to the Battle of Clontarf and to the side of her ancient ancestor, Brian Boru. In 1014, she is known as Aoibheann. She is the same woman yet not. If not for her spirited and tenacious personality, she would not survive such a journey, nor to such a time, and certainly not such a place.The actress I can see playing this character is Kat Dennings, lately of 2 Broke Girls, and most particularly with this look. Eevean/Aoibheann has much of her looks, though not quite as busty, I have to say ;-)
What is the one sentence synopsis for the book?
A troubled past, a troubled future: A woman travels to Ireland to find herself and discovers much more than she expected.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Perhaps a little of both. Owning a publishing company makes it easier to get my work out there. However, everything I publish undergoes the same rigorous editing as all of our authors. If something isn’t working, the editors, and proofreaders, will tell me. And sometimes brutally honestly, which is what I appreciate. I don’t hire editors who pussyfoot around just because I’m the boss. If it doesn’t work, say so. And they do!
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
As The Diary is currently a work in progress, the first draft hasn’t been finished yet. However, with regards to the Irish Pride Series, each of those books averaged about seven weeks for first draft (Rhythm of My Heart 6 weeks, A Piece of My Heart 8 weeks, Shape of My Heart 7 weeks . . . Constant Craving doesn’t really equate as it’s a short story and only took a couple days).
What other books would you compare this story to withing your genre?
It’s difficult to compare The Diary to any other story because I’ve a twist in the story I’ve never read in any other book. However, I do know there are a few authors out there who’ve written both Brian Boru stories and stories set against the Battle of Clontarf, such as Pat McDermott (Band of Roses) and of course the incomparable Morgan Llywelyn (Lion of Ireland, etc).
Who or what
inspired you to write this book?
Probably what inspired me to write this story was my own journey to Ireland in the mid 90s. Sort of a journey to find myself.
What else about your book may pique the reader's interest?
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Okay, so it's my turn to tag some writer friends whose writing, voice and attitude I admire.
Kristi Ahlers
http://kristiahlers.blogspot.com
If you haven't read The Trouble Series yet, do! The Trouble with Trouble is you can't put them down!
Dellani Oakes
http://dellanioakes.wordpress.com
She has a way with scenes . . . battle action one minute, bedroom action the next ;-)
Charlene Raddon
http://www.charleneraddon.blogspot.com
Wonderful historical romance. Like a step back in time.
Kate Laity
http://katelaity.wordpress.com
Hugely versatile author with a keen imagination.
Elizabeth Delisi
www.elizabethdelisi.blogspot.com
Clever whodunits and paranormal stories
Carley Bauer
http://fromcarleyslaptop.blogspot.com
Another wonderful historical romance novelist.
Lynette Willows
http://romancethethrillquill.blogspot.com
Part of a unique writing team with Carley Bauer. Great storyteller.
Have fun girls!
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