I never knew writers were so much fun!  Someone started a game of tag called The Next Big Thing, and I’m it!  I was thrilled to be tagged by Samantha Stroh Bailey, author of Finding Lucas, the book I’m currently reading and loving.  The characters and storyline have me completely hooked!  This woman really is going to be the next big thing to take the literary world by storm, so don’t forget her name!  Thanks for the tag, Sam!

What does it mean to be tagged?  It means I answer some questions about my current work in progress, then I tag a few authors by briefly telling you about their books.  That part was very tough because I’ve made so many incredible friends lately who have written fantastic books!  So stay tuned till the end, please, please, pretty please, to see the very special authors I selected and the reasons why.  The people I tag will then tag others and on and on it will go.  Let’s start with my answers to the questions.

****

What is the working title of your book?

Seeking Something More.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My debut novel, Is This All There Is?, is the story of a wife, mother, and professor who feels something is missing in her life.  Just when she’s vulnerable, a previous student reveals his crush on her and turns her life upside down as she tries to resist the temptation of the escape he offers.  The ending ties up the story but many readers (and I) want to know what happens next.  That’s where Seeking Something More comes in.

What genre does your book fall under?

Is This All There Is? and Seeking Something More are women’s fiction and/or chick lit.  You can decide.  I adore both genres and am happy with either label.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Beth could be Kate Winslet or maybe Jenna Fischer.  I can see Matt Damon as Rick and Justin Timberlake as Dave.  My book blogger pal, Terri, suggested James Franco for Dave.  I like that idea too!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Beth Thomas struggles to decide if it’s possible to repair her marriage after the devastation of infidelity or if it’s time to start over, a heart-wrenching call for the mother of two young boys.

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

I publish with a small indie press called Mannequin Vanity Publishing and they’re wonderful.  I love the freedom of being an indie author!

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

It took about four years to write the first draft of Is This All There Is?, because I wrote it in a weekly writing group, taking my sweet time.  I learned so much and had the best time with my teacher and fellow students.  This time around feels very different because I know people are waiting – they remind me regularly, which is a great motivator!  I hope to have a draft of Seeking Something More finished within 6 months to a year.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write Is This All There Is? because I wanted to tell a raw, brutally honest tale about the challenges contemporary women face as they try to do and have it all.  Why?  Because that’s the story of my own life and most of the women I know!  The part about a professor having an affair with her former student was my main character Beth’s idea.  She is now an annoying voice in my head, urging me to spend more time working on her sequel.

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

Beth and her husband Rick are going to have intense ups and downs as they try to save their marriage and their family after her affair.  Dave, the object of Beth’s obsession, will also reappear, tempting her in new ways.  Beth’s dear friend Shelly has some big surprises of her own to share in chapter two.  And readers have requested more sex scenes, so I plan to deliver.  In fact, some readers have given me quite specific ideas about those scenes.  Love that!

****

Thanks for reading a little about my work in progress.  Please keep reading to see the authors I’m tagging!  Yes, these women have become friends, but every word I say about them is 100% true!

1. Shelly Hickman

I was completely captivated by both Believe and Somewhere Between Black and White by Shelly Hickman.  They are each such beautiful stories in their own unique ways and touched me deeply. Shelly is able to incorporate romance, family drama, spirituality, loss, and humor into her books in a manner that’s entertaining but also provides you with profound life lessons.  When I was reading each of these books, I felt enveloped in the character’s lives and found myself thinking about them all day, anxious to get back to their world.  I plan to make it my mission to regularly bug Shelly to work on her next book because I need another fix!  Sorry, Shelly!  See Shelly’s covers below.

2. Renee Carlino

Whatever else I do on April 16, one thing you can count on is that I’ll be downloading Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino onto my Kindle.  There’s a crazy buzz online about the release of this much-anticipated debut novel.  Sweet Thing already has a very impressive 4.85/5 star review average on Goodreads from advance copy reviewers.  The following line from the synopsis really grabbed me: “A story of self-discovery and friendship, Sweet Thing shines light on the power of loving and letting go.”  And one 5 star reviewer described it as, “juicy, sexy, edgy, fast paced, and heartfelt.”  Read it with me, friends!  See Renee’s cover below.

3. Saoching Molly Moose

As I mentioned, I have met so many gifted authors, and I love chatting with those who are in the process of getting ready to publish their first novel because it’s such an exciting time!  There is one sweet, smart, adorable young woman in particular who stands out to me because her posts and messages are always so funny, entertaining, enthusiastic, and genuine.  She tells it like it is with no fear!  I honestly cannot wait for her story about the sparks that fly when the possibility of being reunited with a lost love arises, which she promises includes a tad of erotica.  Our sisterhood of chick lit authors just got word that the manuscript is complete, so keep an eye out for the release date of Reaching Out For You by Saoching Molly Moose!

Thank you so very much for reading all the way to the end!

Love,
Patricia