The Next Big Thing - Blog Tagging
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 2:54PM I was tagged in a blog by author Jayne Bauling so now it’s my turn to talk about my newly released novel Rock Steady which is the sequel to Turtle Walk. Three teen eco-warriors aim to save the country’s invaluable San rock art heritage, but along the way, they will discover that there are other things worth taking a stand for.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I’ve always loved the Drakensberg, and I’m fascinated the weird and wonderful San Rock Art around our beautiful country. I was horrified to learn that our art heritage is under threat not only from pollution, graffiti, and the weather, but also from theft. Around the world, the illegal trade in antiquities (including rock art removed from caves and rock-faces) is estimated at about 8 billion dollars per year. Only the international trades in illegal arms and drugs rank higher. I wondered what would happen if I pitted my eco-warriors against a gang of these thieves.
What genre does your book fall under?
It’s a Young Adult novel. I’ve had feedback from readers between 10 and 16 years. The older readers get more of the subtext and the subtleties, but it’s “clean” enough for younger readers.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
My daughter would kill me slowly and painfully if she didn’t get to play Sam! If the gods of movies ever decide to film this, though, I would only hope that they would cast South African actors – we have such talent in this country!
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Some things, both inside ourselves and out, are worth standing up for, and some things and people need to be stood up to!
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
About four months, with a bunch of edits and rewrites after that. I wrote this book much faster than the previous one, and I think it flows more smoothly as a consequence.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My inspiration for the series comes from the books I see on the YA bookshelves at book stores – almost exclusively written by foreign authors, telling stories very often based in fantasy, with a preponderance of male protagonists and feeble girl sidekicks who serve as loyal friends, victims to be rescued, or passive foils to the boy’s actions. With this series, I wanted to write realistic fiction (a break from wings and wands and fangs), telling our stories in our local settings, with smart, funny, resourceful, kick-ass heroines. In short, the kind of books I’d love my teen daughter and her friends to read. The feedback on that score has been amazing!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Readers have loved the humour and the romance. In this book, Samantha suffers at the hands of a poisonous teacher and her anxiety spikes as a result. I’ve let my experience as a psychologist guide the characterization of the teacher and Sam’s response, and I think any reader who has ever been bullied or found themselves freaking out, will be drawn into that aspect of the story.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
My book is published by Protea Boekhuis in South Africa.
Who are you passing the baton to for next week’s Next Big Thing?
I am passing it on to South African authors Louis Greenberg and Fiona Snyckers.
Louis Greenberg has most recently released creepy books The Ward and The Mall as half of the writing duo S.L.Grey (along with Sarah Lotz).
Fiona Snyckers’s most recent book is Trinity on Air, the follow-up to the successful Trinity Rising.