Monthly Archives: December 2012

I was tagged for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop by Sui Lynn. I’m supposed to tag 4 people to post a week after me, but so many people have already done it that I don’t think I can find any! So instead, at the end of my post, I’ve linked to some other posts for you to check out. 🙂

What is the working title of your book?
I have several in the works, but with a short story just submitted today, my main focus for the next little while will be a novel, Learning Curve.

Where did the idea come from for the book?
The original idea was fanfiction, which I know means some people will refuse to ever read it. Ah well. LOL. Maybe 10% of the final story will match up with the fanfic, mostly some lines of dialogue I saved.

I don’t know where the idea originally came from, though. (Some secret reservoir under a mountain somewhere?) Some stories have specific inspirations, like my last release, En Fuego. Not so for this one!

What genre does your book fall under?
M/M contemporary erotic romance.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
Jake Gyllenhaal and Ian Somerhalder. Not so much because they’re perfect for the characters (though they’d work pretty well), but just because can you imagine them making out? Yes, please!

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?
Ben and David meet as student and teaching assistant, but falling for each other wasn’t supposed to be part of the lesson plan.

Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?
Neither. I plan to submit it directly to a publisher.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The rewrite took about a month, since I had the basic story structure already in place. I chopped about half the story out completely, rewrote what was left, and wrote the remainder. It’s been submitted and returned as a revise and resubmit, with some excellent suggestions. I’m still working on those revisions, which will also expand it to full novel length.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
The characters acknowledge their attraction pretty early, but because of their student/teacher situation, they can’t give in to it for several months. (Yes, it’s another delayed gratification story!) I think Alix Belkins’ “Relationships 201” is a pretty good comparison, both for the student/teacher aspect and for the delayed relationship. It’s also a story I like a lot, so I hope mine measures up!

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The characters from the original fandom! Also the people who read the fanfic version and told me I should have done it as original to start with. Of course, it’s a very different story now, with just the basic plot still intact: older students, each with issues in the past, meet in a situation where they’re forced to be friends, not lovers. I also really like the secondary characters.

What else about your book might interest the reader?
Among other things, besides the obvious college boy-MCs, it has bellydancing (though not college boys bellydancing), an ex-military MC, cooking lessons, a snarky sister, a bit of intrigue, family time at the holidays, and a cherry-taking sex scene. A little something for everyone!

More blog hop posts!
Anna Bosch
Charlie Cochet
Lou Sylvre
Jamie Fessenden