The Next BIG Thing!

Welcome to The Next Big Thing, this is sort of a unique take on a blog hop. Every week, a blogger posts, then tags 4 other authors who will post the following week, and they will tag four. I was tagged by Lex Valentine at Sunlight Sucks, so go check out her post too!

For me, the Next Big Thing is actually a 3 book project I'm developing. Its called The Aphrodite Project, the premise is that the goddess Aphrodite runs a security/investigation firm. The primary mission of the Aphrodite Project is to hide the existence of the gods and goddesses from humanity. If a nymph runs amok or a minor god goes rogue, Aphrodite sends out an agent to resolve the situation. In the case of this trilogy, the cases are all very close to her heart. :)

What is the Working Title of Your Book?

Its called The Tenth Muse. It is the first of the trilogy and I wanted all the titles to reflect the nature of the protagonists. For example, book 2 is called Dirty Deeds, and the final book is Mayhem, Maybe. This title describes what happens when the God of Lust (Eros) meets the son of one of the Nine Muses. Inspiration meets lust and the end result...Love. :)

Where Did Your Idea Come From For This Book?

I was working on a novella called Mayhem, Maybe, about a Greek god hunting down a rogue trickster. The more I thought about the story, the more potential the overall concept had for a series. What if the God of Effeminate Men (Hermaphroditus) falls in love with the rugged son of Hephestion and Athena? Or Chaos and Logos...I drew heavily on my background in classic mythology for this.Anyhow, I remember reading that the androgynous fashion model Andrej Pijac wanted to someday be the first male Victoria's Secret Angel. (I believe David Chiang expressed the same sentiment at some point.) Then I imagined a scenario where a rapscallion of a Greek god did just that. Who could it possibly be? Eros, of course, as he has his own set of wings. After being photographed and plastered all over the internet, Aphrodite discovers what her darling son has done and sends someone to rein him in. Since Eros is of the body, I needed a character who was cerebral, and chose a man who is from the dynasty of the muses. His name is Rees and I don't want to say much more about him. :)

What Genre Does Your Book Fall Under?

It's a m/m fantasy. It's set in modern time but there are plenty of sidetrips into other worlds.

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

Wow...I've been thinking of this for awhile.  Since I don't watch much TV and don't really go to the movies, I'm not familiar with many celebrities. But for this story, there's a real emphasis on the worlds of fashion and theatre. Alexander Skarsgard would be perfect for Eros, aside from being runway ready, he could convey the broad spectrum of emotion the out-of-control god experiences. And I have the feeling he'd have no problems putting on a corset and wings for a women's fashion show! Or kissing another man, for that matter. :)

 And for Rees, well, I need someone beautiful, geeky and brilliant. So Matthew Grey Gubler fits the bill for that character. Rees comes off as an unworldly innocent, but he's a hunter and is manipulating Eros into a corner. He also has that family history, from the lines of muses and Memory. People tend to love having him around, particularly the artsy sorts. Which can lead to problems...can an artist become addicted to their muse? If so, what will they do to keep the source of their inspiration?

There are a couple other very important characters in this book, both female. One is Aphrodite, aka 'Dita.' She's the Greek goddess of love, sex and fertility. And I can't think of many actresses that I can see playing her. She's lush, abundant and eminantly fuckable. Think old school: Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot. She's the woman men want to see naked. In their bed.

The other character is Rosalinda. She's a runway model about to topple into obscurity, and her role in the book is vital. She's thin, elegant and  remote. Rosa is brilliant, but an addict and and at 26 years old, world weary. On the surface, she's the woman most women would like to be. I can see Anne Hathaway in the role.

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

 When Eros goes rogue, a cool-headed young scholar must capture him, body and mind.


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

The series will be represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Agency. 


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

I did the first draft as my NaNoWriMo project, so it took a month. 


Who or What inspired you to write this book?

It sprung out of another project, I was matching up ideas for pairings out of the Greek pantheon. Anyhow, I remembered Andrej Pijac stating that he'd like to be the first boy Victoria's Secret Angel, and immediately visualized the first scene of the book.

What else about your book might interest the reader?

It's turning out surprisingly emotional and sticks to a theme I use a lot, which is being true to yourself. Both Eros and Rees make a journey that leads to an unexpected conclusion. Surprised me, too! You'll also get some cross-dressing, matchmaking and will meet the most divinely beautiful man in the entire Greek pantheon.


Person who tagged me: Lex Valentine (go check out her Next Big Thing!)

Suckers…erm…people I tagged:  

Christopher Koehler
Amy Lane
ZA Maxfield

E.M. Lynely