Welcome to the NEXT BIG THING Blog Hop.
What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s a way for readers to discover authors new to them. I hope you’ll find new-to-you authors whose works you enjoy. On this stop on the blog hop, you’ll find a bit of information on me and one of my books and links to other authors you can explore!
My gratitude to fellow writer Ara Grigorian for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following link to learn more about Ara and his work.
http://www.araTHEwriter.com
In this blog hop, I and my fellow authors, in their respective blogs, have answered ten questions about our book or work-in–progress (giving you a sneak peek). We’ve also included some behind-the-scenes information about how and why we write what we write–the characters, inspirations, plotting and other choices we make. I hope you enjoy it.
Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions. Here is my Next Big Thing!
1. What is the working title of your book?
The Exile
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was in a half-sleep state ine day when this paragraph floated, fully formed into my head, “There is only what is, what happened. The words come much later, corrupting everything with meaning, bastardizing every experience with greed, pride, and fear. ANd when you finally find yourself in a moment of pure joy, words dissapoint you in their descriptive inadequacy.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
Literary fiction, historical fiction.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition.
I’ve never thought about this and doubt I would have much control of such an unlikely thing.
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When young Turkish businessman Orhan Turkoglu learns that his beloved grandfather has left the bulk of his estate to a total stranger named Seda, he flies to Los Angeles, to get some answers; what he finds there will forever change the way he sees himself, his family and his country.
6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
The book is represented by The Markson Thoma Agency in NY.
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Seven years. I never had a complete first draft because I edit every word, sentence and paragraph as I go along. SO essentially, the first draft was also the final draft. Plus, with a book like this which takes place in part in a foreign country, there was so much historical and contemporary research to do.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Birds without Wings by Louis De Bernieres
9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My great grandmother was a survivor if the Armenian Genocide. She told me her story when I was only 8. I knew even then, that I needed to share it with others.
The two questions I was obsessing over when writing this book were:
- How is identity formed? Is it by class, race, gender, and occupation? Who would we be if all those things were taken away from us?
- Does the past really effect the present and the future? Specially on a national level? Are we responsible for the sins of our grandfathers?
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The love story between Lucine and Kemal is definitely a popular subplot. And people seem to love the character of 89-year old former prostitute, Fatma.
Below you will find authors who will be joining me by blog next Wednesday. Do be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and New Releases! Happy Writing and Reading!
Barbara DeMarco Barrett http://www.barbarademarcobarrett.com/
Lisa Sanchez www.thelisasanchez.com