The Next Big Thing Blog Hop!

Author Ruth Morris Gates tagged me in a game of blog hop. According to author Shel Delisle, the idea is “about a lot of authors getting together to share their readers and to help them to find other great authors to read.” We are supposed to answer ten questions about one of our books, or a work in progress, I only have, oh, about 4 books out in submissions right now, another three on my computer that I’m working on… So, I’m gonna chat about the one I’m actually most excited about shipping around right now… Almost Human and the one I’m fiddling with, tentatively entitled Homeless.

1- What is the working title of your book?
Well, as I just said, the one I’m working, Homeless. I doubt it will keep this name, but it’s one of the theme threads I’m following so it works for now. Homeless is an alternate Sherlock Holmes story, with a time traveler getting involved with the man. And really messing him up. Which is what I’m doing with the canon. Hee, hee!
Almost Human is part of my alien encounter books, and as one might figure, it’s about aliens and humans. Villains, a near future that is nasty and a love story. Fun stuff!

2- Where did the idea come from for the book?
Homeless rose from me trying to beat writer’s block. I’m a big Holmesian universe fan and love how people mess with the original. So I thought I’d give it a try.
Almost Human was me attempt at creating a Leroy Jethro Gibbs type character and throwing him up against the government. Become a sort of rebel. Oh, with a woman mixed up in all of it.

3- What genre does your book fall under?
Hmmmm! Homeless is romantic adventure, hint of paranormal and steampunk. Almost Human is romantic scifi. Romance first, light on the scifi.

4- Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Love these type of questions! My Holmes? Pierce Brosnan, I think. His love interest? Gina Davis. Now, my Sam? Stephen Lang. (Who I often cast as the lead in my books.) Ria, the heroine? I’m thinking Daryl Hannah.

5- What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Time traveling Jennifer knows how screwed up time is, but meeting Sherlock Holmes proves how wrong history, and fiction, can be.
Finding a woman who died decades ago, restored to youth was only the first of the complications the aliens brought to Sam’s life, but what they could promise would change the world forever.

6- Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I will probably self-publish Homeless, but I have hopes that Almost Human will find a home along more traditional paths.

7- How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I’m still working on Homeless, but hope to see it complete before the end of the year. Though I’m not entirely sure what complete will consist of! Almost Human took about two months for the first draft.

8- What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Homeless is a bit of a mutt. Jenny is mouthy, Holmes is melancholy, perhaps a Betsy the Vampire Queen, less snark, more empathy.
Almost Human? Tougher! 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea meets NCIS.

9- Who or What inspired you to write this book?
Well, dreams. Almost Human rose straight from a dream I had. Homeless came from watching the new Holmes version on TV, Elementary.

10- What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
If you like Holmes and mucking about with Holmes, I think you’d enjoy Homeless. Almost Human is heartrending and the growth of the central characters is touching.

Now, it’s Bob’s and Terri’s turn!
Robert C. Roman http://www.robertcroman.com/
Terri Osburn http://www.terriosburn.com/

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