The Next Big Thing - Vampires Gone Wild

Supernatural Underground author,  Helen Lowe, tagged me in the "Next Big Thing" and I'm blogging about it here, tagging other Sup authors too. It's a blast finding out whats coming up and today I'm thrilled to be talking about my newest story. Thank you Helen!  


1) What is the working title of your next book?

 Blood and Water, appearing the The Supernatural Underground anthology, Vampires Gone Wild, out February 12, 2013.

The book also features stories from:
Kerrelyn Sparks
Pamela Palmer
Amanda Arista.
  
2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

I have been developing the notion of an underwater, vampiric race over the last two years. I've written an alternate world epic fantasy around them, but this anthology called for paranormal romance and somehow the turn of the century San Francisco caught my eye. The fog, the ferry boats the steampunk feel. . . Blood and Water came from a deep, dark, unconscious corner of my mind. The Muse of this world was confronting in  many ways, but utterly worth it in the end. 


3) What genre does your book fall under?

 It's an Avon Impulse story, so 'paranormal romance.'   

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

  Ian Somerhalder playing Stellan Fletcher.

And, Deborah Ann Woll as Angelina.

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

San Francisco 1906, three days before the great earthquake, Stellan rises from his watery tomb, wanting nothing from "landers" -- unless it's dinner, but that's before he meets Angelina . . .  

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

This is an Avon Impulse book, published by HarperCollins USA. My agent is Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency in NY. She's the best!  

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

 Blood and Water is a 16k word novella and it took me 10 days to write the first draft. But, I'm a ten draft author, at a minimum. I don't write polished prose the first go round, or the second or third. I develop organically, and it can be time consuming. I spent another two months on the story, before and after it was read by three beta readers (one who's my former HC Aus publisher), and my agent, all with comments and insights that shaped the telling of this tale. Much of the time was also spend in research. The story is set in SF, 1906, before and during the major quake, prior to the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. There was so much to immerse in, the Model A cars, horse carriages, 'wheels' (bicycles) the fashion, mannerisms, photography, the Bay ferryboats, women's suffrage. Emancipation, Queen Anne homes, China Town . . . There are elements of steampunk as well. It was amazing to write this other world. Like traveling back in time.

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

Other vampiric, historical works of the paranormal romantic hue. I am thinking Souless meets True Blood meets The Vampire Diaries (1864 flashbacks).  

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

It began with a  John Watherhouse painting called The Siren.

I was fascinated by the idea of an underwater race, beautiful and god-like, but needing human blood to walk on land.  This notion of the Mar has been brewing in me for years now. I have a lot of passion for it (I'm writing two separate Mar series, one paranormal romance, the other fantasy). You could say, I'm obsessed!

Blood and Water is the first glimpse of this world, this race. You can see the mood board I made for it  on Pinterest.  

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

Sensual, spell binding, sexy and cinematic, Blood and Water will stay with you long after you finish the last page . . .

 Thank you Helen Lowe for tagging me! In turn I am inviting all the Supernatural Authors who would like to talk about their Next Big Thing.  In particular, I want to hear more about the other stories in Vampires Gone Wild! Officially, I'm tagging:

Kerrelyn Sparks
Pamela Palmer
Amanda Arista
Jamie Rush

How about you, readers? What next big thing are you up to? We'd love to hear! Comments welcome.

Kim Falconer is a Supernatural Underground author writing paranormal romance and epic science fantasy novels.

You can find out more about Kim at kimfalconer.com or on The 11th House Blog. She posts here at the SuperntrlUnderg on the 16th of every month. Watch for her next release, out February 12, 2013. Supernatural Underground: Vampires Gone Wild.