The Next Big Thing

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A few weeks ago Anne Elisabeth Stengl (who, for the information of newer Scribbles readers, submitted to the grueling process of an interview here way back in September 2011) asked me if I would be interested in participating in an author blog hop.  The idea is to answer a series of questions regarding our "next big thing" - in this case, my work-in-progress.  It seemed a splendid opportunity to introduce Tempus Regina, though I doubt it will be much less nebulous at the end.

Anne Elisabeth posted her own answers last week, featuring her Summer 2013 release Dragonwitch - which I, for one, am eagerly expecting.  This novel will be the fifth in her dramatic fairy-tale series Tales of Goldstone Wood.  There aren't any spoilers, so if you haven't seen the post already, be sure to take a peek and do some ooh-ing and aah-ing.  If you've come from her blog already, then welcome!  And may I introduce...

the next big thing

1. What is the working title of your book? 

Tempus Regina.

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

 I think this was one of those stories whose title came to mind first, which is pretty rare for me. I had scraps of other ideas floating around in my mind—lost kingdoms and civilizations and curses and doom and all that jazz—and a few of them appended themselves to the title. Developing it into an actual story was, and is, somewhat slow going.

3. What genre does your book fall under? 

 Primarily fantasy, but to be technical, I would call it historical fantasy.

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

I’m not sure I’ve been rubbing shoulders with the characters long enough to pinpoint actors for them! On demand, however, I’ll do my best. Regina is a relatively easy choice: Katie McGrath would be little short of perfect. As far as looks go, Chris Hemsworth is not very far off how I envision the Assassin, but personality-wise I don’t see it working at all. David Tennant, on the other hand, has most of the personality and few of the necessary looks. I foresee this being a tricky issue.

I confess, I want Jeremy Brett for the Fisherman—which is sad, because Brett passed away some time ago. As a necessary second choice, I would cast Joaquin Phoenix—if he were younger. I’m always about ten years behind the times.

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

Centuries out of time, Regina Winters sets out to return to her own era and the brother who is her charge—no matter the cost to herself or to the world around her.

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

Represented by an agency is the goal.

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

It’s a work in progress! I only properly began in November 2012, but I am currently a raw 80,000 words in.

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

As far as books I’ve read go, I would say C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy, particularly That Hideous Strength; Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising; and perhaps some Stephen Lawhead. Judging only by hearsay and back-cover blurbs, I would take an educated guess and say Mary Stewart’s Arthurian Saga and maybe Marion Zimmer Bradley, though I don’t intend to read the latter to find out. However, I tend not to read books that might be similar until after I write my first draft, so as to avoid copy-catting as much as possible. I’ll get back with you at a later date.

9. Who or What inspired you to write this book? 

One of the most important elements of inspiration was a story my sister dabbled in years ago; she never finished, which caused me much chagrin, but the general idea stuck with me and eventually resurfaced. I think I was also inspired by a documentary—I forget what it was called—that I watched years ago on the discovery of underwater antiquities; that is something of enduring interest. A more recent, and more massive, blast of inspiration came from the realization that Tempus Regina was already linked to a novel Jenny is now working on (you can read about it by following the link to her blog below); though the connection was quite unconscious on both our parts, it has been extremely helpful to discover that these two novels are, in a way, “book ends” of one another.

To a lesser degree, I’ve been inspired by pocket-watches, Sherlock Holmes, ancient and medieval science, legends, Howl’s Moving Castle, a heap of music, and a great dose of white phosphorus.

jennifer freitag & faith king are participating in today's blog hop

&

I also tagged mirriam neal.  Keep an eye out! 

Beautiful People - The Assassin

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As with Katie's "Snippets" meme, I have not done a Beautiful People post since October.  It would appear that my little blogging world ground to a halt in October, or at least went into a series of fits and spasms.  I'll try to make it up by "introducing" a main character of Tempus Regina, whom you have already met (rather) via a few random sentences and an old excerpt that I have had to completely overhaul.  He is, unfortunately, so important to the story that I can say only so much about him.  But I'll do my best, and since he is of a gregarious bent, I daresay he will not mind.

the assassin

1. What does he look like?

The Assassin is, quite frankly, a big man.  He is probably around six feet tall, though no more than an inch or two taller than Regina herself, but he is also wide at the shoulders, stocky as an oak tree, and possesses quite enough brawn to knock a man flat.  (Of course he never hits backhanded, because no gentleman would.)  His hair, typical of the Saxons, is hay-blond; he wears it long and braids a long piece before each ear.  He has no beard, however, due to an unpleasant habit of singeing it. 

2. How old is he?

I have not gotten a straight answer on this point, but I should say he is around 24 years old when Regina first meets him.  Like Regina, however, he can seem much older; unlike Regina, he can at other times seem a great deal younger.

3. In three words, what kind of personality does he have?

Flamboyant.  Elemental. Vivid.

4. Tea or coffee?

He can make tea out of nearly any edible plant, but prefers stronger brews.  He has never tasted coffee, but I think he would like it if it were Turkish and black.  I daresay, too, that he would not be adverse to simply chewing on the beans; he is quite fond of chewing.

5. What is his favorite season or type of weather?

The Assassin is fond of a clean, sunny day at the end of winter, where the spring warmth is beginning to seep through and the first flowers are showing.  He likes a light breeze to take the edge off of it, a wide pale sky and a few cirrus clouds, and a sun as broad as can be.  Rain, snow, sleet and slush are all extreme nuisances; nights are good, but only warm ones in summer or, at the very least, early autumn.  He is a trifle picky in this regard.

6. If he had magic, how would it manifest itself?

The Assassin's magic would be of the elemental sort; he could command fire and water, but I believe earth and air would be his primary domains.  He would be, I think, extremely powerful in a raw, unfinished way; however, it is perhaps just as well that he does not have magic.

7. What are his favorite clothes?

The ones he wears.  He is not one to take careful note of what he has on - it's a wonder he has never forgotten clothes entirely.  He has a blue cloak that has been in his possession a long time, smells horrible and is quite worse for wear; I doubt he would comprehend anyone's objections to it, nor would it occur to him ever to give it up.  He is fastidious about his gloves, big leather things that he stitched himself and of which he is inordinately proud.

8. Is he musical?

Good gracious, no. This failing does not, however, keep him from singing and whistling with gusto and no tune.

9. Does he have any annoying habits?  Any habits at all?

Whistling is one of his primary habits, and even the birds find that irritating.  When he has once hit upon a joke that amuses him, he is likely to repeat it often in daily conversation; it will still tickle him six months later, and by the time a year has passed it will have cemented itself in his vocabulary (but he'll have forgotten its origin).  He fusses inarticulately to himself, burns things a great deal, always buys irksome horses, and refuses to bathe.

10. What do other characters think about him?

As a travel companion, Regina thinks him trying but, on the whole, not as bad as he could be.  She thinks he smells, that three quarters of his mind have not matured one jot since he was five years old, and that eight times out ten he has not the least notion what he is doing.  His religion, or lack thereof, is a source of irritation and wonder to her; his macabre jokes rub her fur all the wrong way.  However, she also admits him to be rather clever, in his own way, and not altogether unamusing.

Others tend not to think of him at all, or, if they do, they think him a sort of bodyguard or servant - or Saxon.  Animals are fond of him, though, probably because they always manage to extract treats from him.  If he had but one lump of sugar, he would give it to his horse (but it wouldn't be much of a sacrifice, because he doesn't like sugar in his tea anyhow).