The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I'm delighted to be part of The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. I've been asked to answer ten questions about my new work and then tag other authors to do the same. So without further ado, see below for a scoop on my upcoming romance novella (the first of a series - so excited!), and follow the links at the bottom to continue the hop. If you have any questions, I'd be delighted to answer them. If you're a reviewer and you're interested in reading and discussing the title, please contact with me about acquiring an ARC - I'd love to hear from you.

1: What is the working title of your book?

Ask Me To Stay

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

I was participating in the international 3-Day Novel Contest and I wanted to write a short, emotionally satisfying story about returning home with an undeserved reputation. All I knew when I sat down to start it was that the novella featured two estranged brothers and their best friend, a death and a lie. Then fingers went to keyboard and an entirely unexpected first sentence appeared. After that, I was hooked. I had to finish Ethan's story.

3: What genre does your book come under?

Contemporary rural romance - the setting is a fictional small town in country New South Wales, Australia.

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

In my wildest dreams, Ethan Foster the story's male protagonist would be played by Jared Padaleki. His brother Dean would be played by Jensen Ackles and their best friend Caleb O'Hara would be played by Alex O’Loughlin. Samantha O'Hara, Ethan's high school sweetheart, could be played by Ellen Page. In my mind, little Nina Foster looks a little like child actress Ashley Boettcher, and her brother Rowan like child actor Owen Best.  

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

Ethan Foster has been protecting a secret for almost a decade, but when he faces losing everyone he's ever loved all over again, the past becomes too heavy a burden to bear.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

Contracted by Penguin's Destiny Romance, scheduled to be released April this year.

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

Three days. I wrote into the early morning, all through the day... I achieved nothing else for an entire long weekend.

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

Perhaps Kelly Hunter's Wish and Rachael John's Jilted. Both are rural contemporary romances. Kelly's is a novella about two people trying to come together despite a traumatic past and the scrutiny of a small town. Rachael's female protagonist returns home notorious and persecuted for running away many years ago. My character Ethan is the same, he has an undeserved reputation and a childhood sweetheart who still stirs his heart.

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

The challenge of drafting a complete work under an absurd deadline was what initially inspired me. I wanted to see if I could do it, and what I could produce under pressure. Prior to that, I kept imagining a man driving through the night, led home by the magnetism of family and obligation.

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

This is the first in a novella series about the lives and loves of Ethan, Cal and Dean. The second and third novellas are expected to come out later this year, so you don't have to wait long between reads. There's a strong focus on family, forgiveness and self-sacrifice, and a gorgeous little girl who stole my heart. The story begins a few days after a tragedy but don't be put off by that because it's also very light-hearted; I want you to laugh and sigh. This story will make you feel good, author's promise!

Thank you to Patricia Zick for inviting me to join the blog hop. Patricia's Next Big Thing Blog Hop post is here. Please take some time to visit her website and blog and read about her latest release, contemporary literature novel, Trails in the Sand. 
Web: www.pczick.com
Blog: www.pczick.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PCZick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCZick

See below for a list of fabulous authors you should acquaint yourself with:

Keziah Hill

Author of steamy erotic romance and romantic suspense, Keziah has been recently published with Momentum, and Harlequin imprint, Escape Publishing. 

Web: http://www.keziahhill.com

Blog: http://keziahhill.com/blog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeziahHill

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeziahHillAuthor

Jennifer St George

Contemporary romance author of The Convenient Bride talks about her latest release with Penguin imprint, Destiny Romance, Seducing The Secret Heiress, here. 

Web:  www.jenniferstgeorge.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenStGeorge/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.s.george.31?fref=ts

Imelda Evans
Published with Destiny Romance, Imelda's debut novel Rules Are For Breaking was a finalist in the 2012 ARRA Awards Favourite Contemporary Romance category.
Blog: http://imeldaevans.wordpress.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Imelda_Evans
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImeldaEvansAuthor

Louise Reynolds
Another wonderful Destineer, Louise's title Her Italian Aristocrat takes contemporary romance readers abroad.
Website: http://www.louisereynolds.com.au
Blog: http://louwrites.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouiseHReynolds
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseReynoldsauthorpage

M.O Kenyan
Author of  Shades of Spring 1964: Letters to my daughter; you can connect with her the following ways:
Web: http://t.co/0G7bLz2o
Blog: www.mokauthor.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOK_Author
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MokAuthor?ref=hl