S.H. Roddey

Week 29: THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

This thing is becoming a monster, I see. For the last 29 weeks, indie authors have been tagging each other around the ‘net in a crazy game of leapfrog. If you’re reading this, chances are you found me on Stephen Zimmer’s blog, since he was the one that tagged me last week. SO, without further adieu, I give you my Next Big Thing.

About me first – I’m a full-time administrative professional, wife, and mom who dreams of being a full-time author. As to what I write, that would be a bit of everything. My first love is horror, but I’ve been known to drift into the realms of epic fantasy, urban fantasy, and even romance from time to time.

For this particular post, I’m going to use a rather interesting work in progress… It’s the first book in a series, and I’m in the process of writing a proposal for it so I can submit it! Here goes nothing… ten questions. And… GO!

1: What is the working title of your book?

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a flake and suck at titles. The working title is “New Olympia Rising” because it’s the first in the “Annals of New Olympia” series.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book? 

This book is actually a sort of history for another book that will come later in the series. THAT book spawned from my first attempt to write a sword & sorcery story for Seventh Star Press’ Thunder on the Battlefield anthology call. It grew until there was no way it would fit into the 10,000 word limit, and I’d started writing the history to keep myself straight. The rest, as they say, is history.

[Insert cheeky grin here.]

3: What genre does your book fall under? 

There are too many to choose! This particular story is a combination Science Fiction / Space Opera with a bit of the apocalypse thrown in for good measure. Later books shift more toward post apocalyptic sword & sorcery, then back to Sci-Fi, all with that post-apocalyptic fantasy spin on the whole thing.

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

I don’t even know! My main character in this story, Doctor Steven Jackson (who goes by Jax in most cases) looks most like Julian Sands.  So far I’ve picked faces for two other characters – Katharine McPhee and Anton Yelchin.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book

Long-distance space flight, man’s greatest dream, is realized only to find out that it might truly be his worst nightmare.

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

I definitely intend to submit it to a publisher, but I prefer to do it myself. I really sort of love being an indie author – I get to call the shots, even if getting stories picked up prove a bit harder.

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

I’m still working on it!  I started this particular book in December, and hope to have it completed and ready for shipment to whichever publisher I choose to threaten by mid-summer.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I really don’t know… it’s so off the wall that I’m not sure I can come up with a single book to match. It has a bit of the technical feel you find in The Andromeda Strain with a bit of Star Wars thrown in for good measure. You might even add a sprinkling of Orwell’s fantasy just for fun.

9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

If I had to lay the blame entirely on one person, it would have to be James Tuck, who happens to be the editor for the anthology that spawns the whole thing. Really it was a perfect storm of things – the opportunity, the crazy idea, and the fact that I suffer from Epic Brain Syndrome.

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

It’s a blend of genres that transitions from one end of the spectrum to the other. My characters are ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations, and I take the dreams of millionaire moguls like Richard Branson and pitch them far enough into the future to make them real. Of course, there are always consequences to any action………

Unfortunately I don’t have another author to tag… everyone I know has already done it. I hate that it has to end here, so instead I’ll point you in the direction of three fantabulous writers who you should definitely read.

1. Alexandra Christian – who is also participating this week. She writes paranormal romance, and she happens to be one of my best friends in the world.

2. Crymsyn Hart – who also writes paranormal romance. She and Lexxx help me haunt our local Starbucks at least one night a week.

3. Selah Janel – another of those absolutely wonderful people who keeps me grounded while also stroking my ego. She’s another hybrid like me who writes all manner of things.