The Next Big Thing!!! - Win an Amazon Gift Certif.

I have been invited by author Regan Taylor to take part in a blog event where several authors will be answering a series of questions regarding books they are now writing. I encourage you to check out the blogs listed at the bottom of this post where you'll meet some very interesting authors. And, some of them are conducting contests where you can win a prize. I'm offering a $10 Amazon gift certificate for a question at the end of my list of questions and answers.

Sharon Poppen's Next Big Thing:

What is the working title of your book?

'The Band' is the sixth in a series of books about the Farrell Family which started with my novel 'After the War, Before the Peace' which takes place shortly after the end of the U.S. Civil War.  The time frame for ''The Band' is the 1950s and 1960s.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

At the end of book 5, titled 'Stephen's Boys', the main character is a wounded WWII vet who is trying to raise four sons on a ranch in Maui, Hawaii. When I ended book 5, J.J., the oldest son, stayed in my mind. Being a child of the early rock and roll era, I decided to take the Farrell family into the wild and crazy world of teen idols and how they approached being teen idols, touring, fame and drugs.

What genre does your book fall under?

It's Contemporary/Romance.

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

Channing Tatum could be J.J., Justin Bartha could be Johnny, Bradley Cooper could be Steve and Justin Timberlake could be Mikey.

What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A genuinely good man copes with the challenges of fame and fortune.

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

I have self-published one of my four novels and will not self-publish again. I have two potential publishers that are interested in the Farrell family series.

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

About one year. I would have liked to spend more time on it. In fact, if a missed a few days, my characters would invade my thoughts and lure me back into their realm. I was working on marketing my third novel 'Abby-Finding More Than Gold' and doing the final edits and prep for the release of my fourth novel 'Regardless' which was published in September of this year.

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

None come to mind at the moment. I started with a character who was a genuinely, dependable young man and took his character on a descent into wine, women and drugs, then tried to make my readers like him again. It will be interesting to see if this will pass the believable test with my editor.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Like I said earlier, the Farrell Family have always been almost 'real' people to me. In fact, one readers told me that he feels that the characters are so multi-dimensional real that he thinks I may have actually been a part of this family in a previous life. So, when book five ended, the oldest son basically said 'My turn. Now tell my story.'

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

The background story of the life, times and culture of the 1950s-60s as to interests, morals, locations and attitudes of the Baby Boom Generation.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blog! Your interest in most appreciated.

Now, if you're still reading, I have two requests to make:

1. Drop by the blogs I've listed below to discover some really good and interesting writers.
2. Leave me a comment about my Next Big Thing post and on Nov. 22nd, I'll put the names of all commenters in a hat and draw out one to win the $10 Amazon gift certificate.

Blogs to Visit:

www.regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com

www.christinelondon.blogspot.com

www.reginaandrews.wordpress.com

http://www.books-writing.com/interview-with-author-sharon-poppen

www.tracyriva.com