Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Thank you to fellow author, Graeme Brown, who tagged me in this hop. Hope you all enjoy reading this little questionnaire as much as I enjoyed filling it out.
The authors I have tagged to continue the NBTBH will be linked at the bottom of this post.

1: What is the working title of your book(s)?
I currently have one completed novel titled Sky Stone and I am currently working on the sequel to be titled Guardian Core.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
I arrived at the idea for Sky Stone while listening to music. The specific song was 'Breakaway' by Kelly Clarkson. I daydreamed often to music (still do) but I found myself dreaming the same dream each time I heard 'Breakaway', each time becoming more elaborate. Eventually I decided to write down my dream and it eventuated in to Sky Stone.

3: What genre does your book come under?
Young Adult Fantasy

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
That is a difficult question. Hmm… I'll list six of my major characters below.

Skyla: Jennifer Lawrence (Hunger Games)
Aaron: Chris Hemsworth (Thor) or Kit Hemmingway (Game of Thrones)
Aiyanna: Judi Dench (James Bond)
Ellis: Josh Hutcherson (Hunger Games)
Belle: Elle Fanning (Daddy Day Care)
Hugo: Tom Felton (Harry Potter)

Check out my 'Characters' page to see if you think these actors/actresses fit the descriptions.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Skyla, finding herself empowered with magical abilities in a land torn by war, discovers she must fulfil a destiny decided by the gods, a destiny which will test her limits to the full.

Check out the 'Synopsis' page for more.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
Sky Stone is yet to be published. However, I plan to self-publish, hopefully this year.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Approximately 1.5 years. I found it difficult to write often since my education was my primary objective and hence I couldn't spend as much time on Sky Stone as I would have liked.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Hmmmm… Perhaps Tamora Pierce's 'Song of the Lioness' series or 'Protector of the Small' series. These two series' follow a strong female protagonist whom become knights in a land of magic where female knights are almost non-existent and not well supported.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
As I revealed in question two. Music inspired me to write. To add to that answer however, I was going through a tough time in my life, finding it difficult to fit in. Writing gave me a release for my pent up emotions and Skyla was born. She mirrors much of how I was feeling as I wrote Sky Stone. I believe many of the ideas expressed in Sky Stone came about from my experiences and hopes of finding those people that accepted me for who I was.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
If you enjoy fantasy stories taking place in a world set in the middle ages, with sword fighting, power hungry kings, magic, and a touch of romance then Sky Stone may be the book for you.

You can read the first three chapters of Sky Stone on my 'Excerpt' page.



Continue following the Next Big Thing Blog Hop on the blogs of my fellow writers:
E. Van Johnson
Alexis Lantgen
A. Katie Rose

Their posts will be online in a few days.

Scarlett Van Dijk