The Next Big Thing

I was supposed to do this yesterday, but the day got away from me. Oops. I also think I might be one of the last ones in line because it seems like my writer friends have all participated in this already. Therefore, I am tagging nobody. The buck stops here. I am answering the same questions as my fellow writers have about my current work-in-progress, and I will hopefully not bore you to tears. Here we go!

What is the working title of your book?

My next book is called Olive Oil & White Bread, and that’s the name. No “working” in this title. I’ve been wanting to use it for a while. It actually comes from something Bonnie said to me once, and I’ve been saving it ever since.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I’ve been writing romance for more than ten years, and by far the most common question I receive from readers has been, “When will you write a romance about a long-term couple?” I’ve been rolling ideas for it around in my head for a few years now, and I feel like it’s finally time.

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s a romance, but not in the traditional sense in that it doesn’t really follow the standard formula. It’s romantic drama, I guess I’d call it.

Which actors would you choose to portray your characters in a movie rendition of your book?

Well, Angie is Italian and looks it, and Jillian is the blonde, blue-eyed ‘white bread’ of the duo. Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw from Grey’s Anatomy would be perfect.

What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The love of a lifetime. (Is that corny? It is, isn’t it?)

What is the longer synopsis of your book?

Angie and Jillian meet for the first time in 1988. Their families are very different. Their careers are very different. Their love is timeless. Olive Oil & White Bread follows that love for 25 years as they deal with the ins and outs, the ups and downs of life. What kinds of obstacles do we hurdle over the course of our lives? Careers, homes, family, aging, loss, promotion. Angie and Jillian will face it all, but not always well. And not always together. Can their love stand the test of time?

(That’s kind of corny, too, but this is a really hard question!)

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

This one will be published by Bywater Books. It’s due for release in February of 2014.

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

When I finish it, I’ll let you know.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Well, as I said above, I’ve received a lot of mail from readers asking for a romance about a long-term couple. As most people know, I’ve been with my partner, Bonnie, for 18 1/2 years, so I am half of a long-term couple, and I am very familiar with the bumps, obstacles, and disasters you can and will face in the course of your life together. I thought it would make an interesting story. Each half of this couple is very real to me. Each of them make mistakes or do stupid things or exercise terrible judgment. So do we all (so have I, so has Bonnie). It’s what makes us human. I find the act of plowing through all the crap in order to find our way back to the very basic love that brought us together in the first place incredibly interesting and uplifting. I’m hoping this book will give my readers the same joy and the desire to root for these women as they struggle.

What else about your book might pique your readers’ interest?

It’s a romance, but it’s a little bit different. I think readers will like that (read: I hope readers will like that).