Lesann Berry

The Next Big Thing is an ongoing blog hop designed to showcase the writing of up-and-coming authors. The rules are simple: answer ten questions about your current work-in-progress and tag other writers to continue the links…and you thought chain letters went out with lickable stamps.

Thanks to Kristal Hollis for tagging me in this meme. Be sure to pay a visit to Kristal’s blog, where imagination is the elixir of life. She has tons of fascinating information about, HOWLIN GRACE, the second book in her paranormal romance series called the Wahyas of Walker’s Run.

So here we go – some information about my latest and greatest WIP:

1- What is the working title of your book?

Passing Judgement – Short Stories about Serving Justice

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

I decided to create a collection of stories based around a central theme. I belong to a weekly writing group and generate a lot of shorts and starts, which provides a lot of raw material. It took a while to select a dozen individual works from the pile. It wasn’t until I began sorting that I realized the overall theme of justice being served.

3- What genre does your book fall under?

This is a little tricky to answer, but most of the stories could be characterized as mystery/suspense. Several feature main characters who are police detectives, but there’s also just some regular folks, and even a hitman or two. There might even be a suggestion of romance…cause warm bodies are always a good thing.

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

Sadly, I can’t even begin to figure out the cast of characters these stories would require. I think I’d opt for lots of no-name actors though because how fun would it be to offer someone their start in the business of their choice. I’d like that.

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

Passing Judgment is a compact collection of twelve short stories about people who deliver their own form of justice.

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

This collection will be self-published. Available soon!

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

The stories in this collection were written over the length of a year. Organizing them took another month or so. By far the most difficult aspect was deciding on a theme and figuring out which stories just didn’t fit tightly enough to be included. In the end, between writing, selecting, and creating the cover design, the book will have taken almost eighteen months. The next one will be much faster.

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

Any anthology or collection of stories is pretty similar. I’m fond of shorter short fiction, so these don’t compare to the almost-novella length stories of years past. Each of these stories is fast-paced and detailed.

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

I’m intrigued by people who sometimes go outside the laws and norms of society in order to do what’s “right.” What fascinates me, is our ideas of “rightness” are variable and influenced by any number of possibilities. Conflict is inherent in issues of morality and the application of the law. It never fails that moral dilemmas and tough decisions appear in my stories.

10- What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I like characters that push the reader’s buttons, both in positive and negative ways. I like to see people portrayed as the complex beings we are, flawed and filled with goodness. Bad guys who do good things and good guys who break the rules are far more interesting than the black and white hats of the old days (I’m not slamming cowboys here – I’ve got some of them in the pipeline too).

Next week you have the chance to hear from my very talented writer friend, Marcia Richards. She writes about sexy smart women and her latest work-in-progress is one you do NOT want to miss. Jumping aboard this week is Michelle Grogan, give her site a visit and find out what this romantic suspense author is working on these days.

Visit Marcia’s blog next Wednesday when she posts answers to these questions. Also don’t forget to check in at Michelle’s blog and catch her new work-in-progress. See you there!