I'm really glad I saw a few reminders about today's meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted as always by the Ninja Captain Alex, as the day totally snuck up on me. I'm still having trouble remembering it's June!
Between trying to get back to normal after my vacation and participating in the WordCount Blogathon, my brain is totally fried. And I'm a bit of a ditz on my best day, so this isn't a good thing at all.
I'm insecure about being able to finish the blogathon and get to all the goals I had in mind for the month, but I'm trying to remind myself that if I don't manage to post every day it won't be the end of the world. Even though the start of the month has been crazy and not how I wanted it to be, it's still been a good way for me to motivate myself and think about what I want to accomplish with writing and blogging for the month and for the rest of the year ahead. So I'm going to focus on that and try to give the insecurity a rest, which is of course easier said than done.
In other news, I was tagged by the always awesome Tara Tyler, author of the upcoming Pop Travel, for The Next Big Thing.
The timing couldn't be better, as I've been really excited about my latest novel since I returned from my trip to Martha's Vineyard, which is the setting of the story. I got some great inspiration for putting the finishing touches on the novel while there, so I'm happy to have the opportunity to share a bit about it.
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| The lighthouse that plays a pivotal role in the story |
- What is the working title? The Ghosts of Aquinnah
- Where did the idea come from? Looking at this webcam of the Aquinnah lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard
- What genre is it? As usual, I am terrible at picking a genre. This is part ghost story, part love story, part mystery, and part historical fiction. In other words, I have no clue what genre it is!
- What actors would you pick for a movie rendition? If you know me you know I'm a total Game of Thrones fanatic. Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targeryen (Emilia Clarke, minus the long blond wig) are perfect for my main characters Christopher and Stella.
- What's a one sentence synopsis? I'm the world's worst when it comes to writing a one sentence synopsis. I'm cheating and giving a four sentence one instead. :D
While Hannah Forrester is working on a book about the lighthouses of New England, she sees a distraught woman appearing over and over again on a Martha's Vineyard webcam. Determined to learn the identity of the woman, Hannah is drawn into the story of the wreck of The City of Columbus off the coast of the island in 1884. What happened to a young Irish immigrant who survived the wreck and found himself under the care of a Vineyard doctor and his wife? And who is the woman on the webcam? - How long did it take to write the first draft? 30 days. This story was my NaNoWriMo project last November.
- Will it be self-published or represented? I will be submitting it to my publisher and hoping they will be interested in it.
- What other books would you compare it to in your genre? Since I'm hopeless at picking out a genre for the book I'm totally drawing a blank on this.
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| The cliffs of Aquinnah |
Glad visiting the setting for your current project got you excited. And as long as you trying, even if you don't fully succeed with the blogathon, that's still s success.
ReplyDeleteYummy! I got goosebumps reading your blurb!!! Seriously! GOod luck and good writing!
ReplyDelete~Just Jill
Martha's Vineyard is a great setting (I'm a setting freak) and tickles the imagination!
ReplyDeleteAnd "Polar Night" is a gorgeous read!
THE GHOSTS sounds like a good read! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you have a great attitude - do your best to accomplish your goals for the month, but it's not the end of the world if you don't. :)
Glad I'm not the only one who struggles with genre!! It sounds great - I love ghosts... in fiction, not sure about in reality :-)
ReplyDeleteI think a change in scenery can be the best creative stimulus. Yay for you!
ReplyDeleteHope it refuels your writing.
Ooh, interesting! :) Love a good ghost/love story, with some mystery thrown in! Sounds awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! Oh i like the sound of this new project! It reminds me of a book about light houses my mom was reading the other day and I cant remember the name. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I've always wanted to visit MV. Looks so beautiful. Must've been a wonderful time!!
You had me at lighthouse. Sealed the deal with Martha's Vineyard. Can't wait to read!
ReplyDeleteI make place-holder 'draft' posts for first Wednesdays so I don't forget IWSG. 'Cause, trust me, I would. :P
ReplyDeleteYour 'next big thing' sounds interesting. I hope your publisher takes the bait.
IWSG# 123, until Alex culls the list again. :)
I love the title "Ghosts of Aquinnah." Martha's Vineyard sounds like a wonderful location to explore, especially if it has cool lighthouses.
ReplyDelete@Alex, it really did help a lot, I love the island so much. Thanks!
ReplyDelete@Jill, oh, thank you, I'm so glad!
@Kittie, thank you! And I love the Vineyard so I totally agree about it tickling! :)
@Madeline, thanks so much. I tend to think everything is the end of the world so I'm trying to adjust my attitude LOL.
@Annalisa, I should probably do a whole insecurity post about genre. I have nightmares about it LOL.
@Julie, thank you!
@Rachel, oh, thanks so much!
@Pk, it really is a great place to visit, I have family there and have been lucky to visit many times. Thanks so much!
@Karen, thank you!
@Elizabeth, thanks so much, I appreciate it!
@Melissa, I should start using those placeholders. Thanks so much, I hope so too.
@Michael, it really is, and I totally love lighthouses too. Thanks!
Sounds really cool. And I pick Kit Harrington too. Yowzer. :))
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I just saw my first ever lighthouse in the wild. Now I'm sort of intrigued by them. Such a landlocked nerd. :P
So you write hybrid novels. ***shrugs*** Me, too.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Hi, Julie,
ReplyDeleteWELCOME BACK... I'm so glad you found inspiration in Martha's Vineyard. How could you not? It's an AWESOME place. TURNING green with envy. LOL.
Really like the premise of your book. CONGRATS and good luck with your publisher!
Hope you manage to stay on track. Sounds like you have an intriguing story on the boil.
ReplyDeleteOoh, that summary is very enticing. I love a book that combines elements of different genres.
ReplyDeleteGood for you pushing those insecurites aside - even if you don't meet your goals, you'll still be far ahead of where you'd have been if you never set them. (Hope that sentence reads the way I meant it in my head).
A lighthouse mystery? Sounds like you're onto something!
ReplyDeleteWriter In Transit
I love your synopsis! Sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteYour WIP sounds great, Julie. And I love the setting. Can't wait to hear more.
ReplyDeleteJust remember, it's the participation that counts. As long as you tried, you didn't fail!
ReplyDeleteYay for being back from vacation!
ReplyDeleteYour WIP sounds really interesting Julie, how exciting!!! The setting is really cool, good luck with the submission ;)
Good luck with the Blogathon, sometimes "try" is all you can do and that's ok!
Julie, so excited about your second novel! And it sounds great. Good Luck.
ReplyDelete@LG, thanks! And I just love Jon Snow/Kit Harington to death. :D
ReplyDelete@Shelly, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the hybrids!
@Michael, thank you!!
@JL, I hope so, thanks!
@Nicki, it does, thanks!
@michelle, I hope so, thanks!
@Johanna, thank you!
@Lee, thanks so much, I appreciate it!
@Laura, good point, thanks!
@SK, thank you!
@Cathy, thanks so much!
Ooh, the story sounds really good! Best of luck with it!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the next big thing, Julie! I haven't been to Martha's Vineyard since I was a kid but I absolutely loved it then and the righ history of fisherman and shipwrecks does certainly set the stage for ghosts and lost loves- great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great location for a novel. Wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds awesome and I like the "genre" you picked. :) Who wants just one? I don't.
ReplyDeleteYou're amazing, Julie. Blogging daily and completing a whole novel in a month. Wow! NaNo people are super-human as far as I'm concerned. I adore ghost stories and yours sounds fabulous! :-)
ReplyDeleteAh, a true speculative fiction... like Hetty. :) I can't wait to read the new one, you're barking up the right tree here.
ReplyDeleteBest on your blogging goals. I'm trying to move more toward audience with mine.
It's hot today, so my brain is mush...
Wandering off the path of a self imposed schedule isn't the end of the world...allow for some flexibility to help keep those nerves calm :)
ReplyDeleteCool looking lighthouse, too!
Congratulations on your new book! Can't wait to read it, and yes, keep those insecurities shelved. Just keep writing, Julie :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that you're already off to a great start with your next novel! You've chosen another amazing title, and captivating storyline!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Congrats on the strides you're taking in your writing. Don't know what the blogathon is but it sounds intense! Wishing you all the luck and success. Writer’s Mark
ReplyDelete@Linda, thanks!
ReplyDelete@Beverly, thanks so much, I feel the same way about MV.
@Inger, thanks!
@Laura, LOL, I definitely don't. :D
@Mary, thank you! I can't even blame the heat for my mushy brain, we've been lucky so far this summer. I have no excuse LOL.
@Mark, that's definitely what I need to do, thanks!
@MJ, I will, thank you!
@Julie, thanks!
@Nancy, thanks so much, I appreciate it!
@Lexa, I'm so sorry I missed your comment before. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteEvery word on the page is a success. The more I step away from blogging, the more I see the world does go on.
ReplyDelete@Tonja, very good point. I'm realizing now that I need to pull out of the blogathon and focus more on my writing goals.
ReplyDeleteWow, it only took you 30 days to write the first draft? Impressive! I've tried NaNo in the past, but could never complete a book in that amount of time, heh.
ReplyDelete@Heather, honestly I was totally amazed I actually managed it. Usually these types of challenges have the opposite effect on me and I freeze and write nothing LOL.
ReplyDeleteYour new project sounds super! Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan! :)
ReplyDeleteYour new project sounds exciting...I love me a good ghost story! :) I'm sure your publisher will love it.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I hope so, thanks! And I love ghost stories as well. :)
ReplyDelete