The Next BIG Thing...

This was passed on to me by my old friend and Horror writer Tim Baker, and I will keep the chain going from here and see where it ends up eventually. This is a chance for readers & fans, and the authors themselves, to broaden their knowledge about new projects to come and those who are working on them. The timing is right because I just ended a major novel project and had barely began another when these questions came along not long ago, so, let's see what comes of it! One of my author friends listed below could be writing the Next Big Thing in their current projects, who can say, but they will all provide a small sampling of their ideas for you to judge for yourself.

The Ten Questions on the 'Next Big Thing':

1.) What is your working title of your book?

'Black Horn: A Story of Miserable Witchery'

2.) Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea sprang from many subconscious inspirations that never found a home in my other projects, and from a few Welsh legends that are only in that part of the country. The thought hit me that no one had ever built a good story around them and it needed to have a voice and be brought into the readers' minds. It needed an audience and now is the time. 

3.) What genre does your book fall under?

Celtic Fiction/Horror/Historical Fiction

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

Eva Green as the She-Witch, she is perfect, beautiful and intense with a darkness about her. Ioan Griffudd, naturally, as the main character himself and Imogan Poots as his love interest, she fits the part ideally because of her grace and presence.   

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

The shadow of a ruthless witch falls over a special lake in Wales and those unfortunate enough to catch her interest, a life for a life and for a love long lost in time and to fate. 

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

Naturally it will be represented by an agency. I am presently trying for one with my previous work and once that is final this will be next on their list to sell for me.

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

At the moment I am barely into the first draft as I write this, with a long way to go. It won't be months until any draft of this is completed. 

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

The only close comparisons in tone, setting, theme and atmosphere to this strange book of mine would be Stardust, The Woman in Black and the movie Don't Be Afraid of the Dark for starters. 

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

I wanted to expand my literary skills and write something out of my comfort zone of writing. It may not seem like it being Celtic with magic, etc in it, but it takes place in 19th Century Wales with very human characters in modern times confronted with an ancient menace and threat. It is not like anything else that I have written or planned to write in the future and I wanted to show that I am not 'stuck' in just Steampunk Horror, Weird West Mythos or Dark-Age Celtic adventure fiction genres only. This is historical, very seriously so, with a thick romantic theme laced in with the terrible tragic story that makes it all come together. It really is very different from my usual style and approach, and hopefully it will come across good as well. Who knows, I might be good at writing this kind of thing.

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

To begin with I am using lots of the Welsh language in the book and it has a collection of old Celtic lore and myths, mostly obscure, mixed in with customs and traditions that will get the reader educated and familiar with a different time and place not far from our own. Forgotten and overlooked witch-lore from the Celtic countries will be the main theme, thus its secondary name 'A Story of Miserable Witchery.' The story has several mind-twisting plots in it, like a Celtic pattern, that will bend the reader's brain trying to figure out how it will end, it will be tragic but for whom in the story? As my friend Tim had done, so shall I, here is small sample from the novel to pigue some interest:

Edward’s green eyes scan the surrounding looming hills, his eyes ever watchful for the fading sun in the west as his focus for navigation. He has traveled on foot most of the distance, possibly half. Never has he willingly wanted to take on this lengthy hike alone or so close to nightfall, but he wanted to reach the inn before it became too late.

“What a fool you are Edward, a bloody fool.”

His legs now ached and his breathing was changing into a broken series of rasps. Without hesitation, he finds a mound of tumbled stones in the yellowed grass and slowly sits for a small rest.

Nothing but the shrill of wind over the Beacons and nearby peaks of Pen-Y-Fan and Corn Ddu mixed with the bleating of scattered sheep fills his ears. He hopes for a respite from this foolish idea of making the long walk by overhearing the familiar rattle of a coach’s wheels on the lane. Or to hear their horses whinny as they make their way across the wilderness, that would be something he would find pleasurable now and ease his journey.

But no such luck waits.

In fact the dull and biting winds and sheep bleats begin to wear on his nerves rather quickly, as though the wilderness of the Brecon Beacons is mocking his lack of success so late in the day.

Edward shifts his redwood pipe from his dry lips to his black gloved hand and flicks some ashes to the wind and resumes a smoke as before.

He leans the cane against the small cairn of stones under him and scratches behind his left ear and then another sound peaks his exhausted attention, a woman’s voice, singing against the flow of the winds. Beautiful, and lilting, her powerful notes carry in an unusual manner.

He listens intently to her every shift in note and change in tempo. Edward does not know this song. It sounds…old. Before he knew it, he was standing again and with cane in hand and now directed towards the voice, against the wind coming down from the tall broad and flat peak of Pen-Y-Fan.

Before now he had never really paid much attention to this legendary location. It used to be called Cadair Arthur, or ‘Arthur’s Seat’ in early times, a reputed place where the illustrious warlord sat for a rest during his bloody campaigns against the Saxons to the east.

Edward mumbles to himself with a curl of a smile under his heavy waxed moustache, “How lovely, a woman singing so compelling a tune, out here in the middle of nowhere. I must have a look.”

 EVEN MORE NEXT BIG THINGS

For the dark and horrific, Nathanial Connors, a fellow Damnation Books author, check out his projects past and present.

Old friend and also from the same town I live in, Stephen Wedel, the author of the Werewolf Saga and recently the hit novel he co-authored with Carrie Jones,  'Obsession'.