Greetings from Australia everyone. I am Lannah and this is my introductory blog which is part of a blog hop organised by Vicki M Taylor. My heartfelt thanks to you, Vicki, for inviting me to be part of this. I have never done anything like this before so please bear with me if I make boo-boos etc. I will learn as I progress - I hope.
Up until a couple of weeks ago - make that last week, I had never even heard of a blog hop, but when I read Vicki's post I decided to 'apply' - and here I am. But a description (for me at first and those unfamiliar with such a concept) of a blog hop is as such: (the original blurb):
'THE NEXT BIG THING is designed to raise awareness of our work, or work in progress. We do that by answering ten questions about it. We graciously thank the person who nominated us and tag four to six authors whose work could very well be THE NEXT BIG THING.'
So here we go, with my questions and answers:
What is the working title of your next book?
The Book on Stations, or The Stations book.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I have always been passionate about both the outback and writing. Some years ago, I woke one morning with an 'epiphany' which has been mentioned in previous posts. It was a birthday and I woke, feeling an overwhelming urgency to have my late father's book, 'The Sawers from Pitcairn' published and 'out there' - preferably before my mother died. I had always wanted to write and have books published but - how? Seriously, how do you have a book published? Turning to good old google I eventually found someone who could offer exactly what I wanted and feverishly set about getting this book out. And it happened - exactly a week following Mum's passing. Damn. Lousy timing. However I was reassured that she was happy knowing that something was finally being done - well, as happy as anyone can be facing that stage of life. After Dad's book was published and I was on a roll, I decided that the time had come for me to combine those two passions - my writing and the outback. So I am.
What genre does your book fall under?
This is a hard one. It could be educational or travel, inspirational, geographical - any of these and more probably.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Given that I have around two to three hundred people involved so far, with more being added almost daily this is not easy to answer. I would certainly look at Australian actors - but as the book includes foreigners who have moved to Australia and either visited or lived in the outback on stations, other nationalities would be needed too. This would be a huge undertaking - as research for the book itself already is.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A treasure trove of information and educational material for the world to learn about. That could change as I progress along this road but that could be it for the moment.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I would hope that it will be represented by an agency but only time will tell. As I am absolutely determined that it will be published and I will do everything in my power to make sure it is the success it will deserve to be for all the people involved, so if it has to be self-published, then so be it. But again time will tell.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Again not easy to answer as every chapter is being devoted to a different station and there are just so many different aspects involved. I have been writing it, changing it, editing, adding, deleting etc etc etc since the start of 2012 and this will continue right through to publication. As everyone who is involved will be sent every copy of the draft right through to the end, it will be a huge undertaking. And one that I am absolutely thriving on. I am having the time of my life, to date.
Just for the interest of, well, anyone and everyone, the choice of cover design and title for the book is going to become a competition for the children of the School of the Air in Australia. Most of the bases around the nation have been wonderful enough to agree to support this and when the time comes (later this year, nearer to publication) they will announce the details of the competition across the air (internet) to all the isolated children around the nation. The children and families will then design the cover and/or choose titles for the book, submit their choices direct to me by email (or mail if chosen) - I will then narrow the entries down to a shortlist (with the help of my daughters and a couple of other people) and these will then be emailed to a select panel of judges, most of whom will be celebrities in Australia. Once they have made and returned their choices to me, I will send the winners' names around the country again to be announced over the SotA. There will be two prizes, one for each of the design and title.
I will be keeping everyone up to date on progress of the Stations Book, or the Book on Stations as I travel along this wonderful road. I have actually already begun doing this but details will become stronger.
For your reading pleasure, here are the links for some more great authors who are taking part in THE NEXT BIG THING blog hop:
Host Vicki M Taylor: http://www.vickimtaylor.blogspot.com
Other amazing authors:
http://www.gilagreenonline.com/
http://jacksmonster.wordpress.com/
http://www.angeladcoleman.com/
http://www.blackgirlguide.com/
http://www.sisterhoodagenda.com/
http://www.africanamericanmatchmaking.com/
http://www.chroniclesofhlstephens.blogspot.com/
http://www.susanspenceauthor.com/susan-spence-blog.html
http://www.deborahteramischristian.com/
http://suebursztynski.blogspot.com/au/2012/12/the-next-big-thing-post.html?m=1
http://quillstreetcafe.com/
Lannah, you did great. Good luck with your book. Thanks for participating in The Next Big Thing author blog tour.
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