Today, it's my turn to answer ten questions about my book and then "tag" a few of my favorite writers who may do the same next week.
What is the title of your current or next book?
Cigars with Dog - Conversation and Tall Tails.
Where did you get the idea for that book?
I was always a fan of the end of the show Boston Legal, where the main characters, lawyers, ended the evening on a balcony overlooking Boston, drinking Martinis and smoking cigars while they discuss life. I thought it would be funny to have my Dachshund and a narrator (who bears a passing resemblance to me) recreate those scenes on a suburban back deck, overlooking a back yard and squirrels, enjoying a cigar and discussing the days events. The stories grew from there, to include more than that. They are always, however, framed by conversations and cigars on the back deck.
What's the genre of the book?
Fiction. Short stories with humor, I guess.
If you could pick actors to play the lead in your story, who would you pick?
Hard to say...I haven't thought too much about dog actors. Maybe Woody Harrelson would play Dog, if we could get him to wear a Dachshund suit. He needs a good guardian, so maybe Ian McKellan for the narrator, as long as he had that cool magical staff with him. I would have to rework the stories a bit to account for that!
How do you describe your book in one sentence (ten words or less)?
Dog points out the fun and absurd in human life.
(a) How will your book be published, submitted to a traditional publisher or will you be handling it yourself through indie publishing methods? (b) If you're an indie author, will you be publishing through your own indie publishing company or in a collective with other indie authors?
It is published through Amazon as an ebook.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of this book?
It was written on and off over a year or so. "Or so" being the operative phrase.
What other books within your genre are similar to yours?
Unsure. My book can't be unique, but I don't know of any that have a small dog with a sarcastic tongue, and I wouldn't dare think to compare this to the great books I read from others.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
It just seemed like a good idea, a funny way to comment and portray life. That and the Boston Legal scene mentioned above. Also, the wonderful community of authors I find myself with who support each other and make it worthwhile to do this.
What about your book will pique the reader's interest?
The humor and give and take between the narrator and Dog, especially as the narrator tries to make Dog understand human rules and reasons. The chase scenes between Dog and squirrels are enjoyable. Also, readers have said that they cried during the story where Dog has a serious injury and faces life and death at the vet. There is a happy ending and, in fact, Dog gets a chance for rebuttals at the end of the book. I must warn that Dog stretches the truth in his rebuttals. I also take some artistic license with Dog's dialog.
Other fab authors who might like to tell the world about their next big thing?
Here are a few of my favorite authors with books. Please click on their names to visit their websites!
Rolando Garcia
Laura Novak
Inge Meldgaard
Ingrid Ricks
Aniruddha Sastikar
Eric B Thomasma
Mary Yuhas
Sunny Lockwood
Suzanne McLain Rosenwasser
Carla Sarett