By Piper Bayard
We usually avoid writing about writing on our blog, but it’s time for an update. Big things are happening for Holmes and I this year. Not only are we now featured bloggers at the Social N Network*, but we have been picked up by Stonehouse Ink Publishing. The first book due out is one of mine, SEEDS, a dystopian sci-fi that will be released this spring. Look for our Bayard & Holmes spy thriller, APEX PREDATOR, later this year.
When I mentioned our progress to our great friend and International Best Selling Author Vicki Hinze, Vicki immediately invited me to participate in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop.
A Blog Hop is a way for readers to discover new authors. On this stop, I’ll tell you a bit about SEEDS by answering ten set questions, and then I’ll link you to other authors who answer the same questions.
My gratitude to Vicki Hinze for inviting me to participate in this event. You can click the following links to learn more about Vicki and her books.
Website: Vicki Hinze
Buy her books: http://www.amazon.com/Vicki-Hinze/e/B000AQ48S4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
The Next Big Thing
1: What is the working title of your book?
SEEDS
2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
The story I like to tell is how I was SCUBA diving one day when a handsome merman with a striking resemblance to Hugh Jackman gave me a magic abalone shell with the word “destiny” engraved on it. I asked him if he’d like to have dinner with me. You know. As friends. I mean, my husband wouldn’t mind. Not too much. Hugh Jackman Merman declined with some tale about needing to sort his mer-socks. So I surfaced and opened the shell. Inside were the words “apocalypse,” “famine,” and “prophet.” Then, I fell into a magical sleep and woke up with the book fully formed in my mind. . . . That’s the story I like to tell.
The truth is that I haven’t got a clue. I wake up at 4 a.m. with this stuff in my head and write it down. I don’t make it up. It moves through me.
Hugh Jackman Merman, image from US Navy
3: What genre does your book come under?
SEEDS is a dystopian sci-fi thriller.
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
My dearest hope is that one day Kristen Stewart will star . . . Just kidding. Really.
The main character, Archer, I envision as something of a Kiera Knightley. Her love interest, Quinn, could be played by Ian Somerhaulder, Chris Pine, Liam Hemsworth, or Hugh Jackman Merman. I’m not picky.
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
In a post-apocalyptic world where hunger is a weapon, a huntress must befriend her worst enemy to overthrow a theocratic dictator before he exterminates her people.
6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
SEEDS will be traditionally published by indie publisher, Stonehouse Ink. I didn’t put much effort into finding an agent, but Holmes and I do work closely with our publishing attorney and fellow author, Susan Spann.
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
All my life. But for the purposes of this question, four months.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Parts of SEEDS have an unfortunate resemblance to THE HUNGER GAMES, which I never even heard of before writing my first draft. Apparently, almost every author who’s been in the business for long has suffered this unjust circumstance so I’m rolling with it. Taking it on the chin. Sucking it up. I don’t mind. Really. *stabs voodoo doll with pin*
9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
A friend offered me the opportunity to sell life insurance. It made sense and dovetailed nicely with my law degree. Thinking about it, I realized that if I accepted, I would die some day having never written a book. I declined her offer and got busy. So on all of those days when I’d rather watch the dog catch flies than work, I remember that I could be selling insurance and I clock in at the WIP.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
SEEDS, while it does not contain a Hugh Jackman Merman, is a story with many levels that can alter with every read. It can be a light action thriller, a future world escape, or an experience of the limitless change that is possible in one seemingly isolated act. Every reader will see something different in it.
This is what people are saying about SEEDS.
“With echoes of UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN and HUNGER GAMES, SEEDS is a sprawling adventure ranging across a world racked by post-apocalyptic want, denial, and prophetic dictum. Equal parts heroic quest and morality play, it races forward on a current of deftly woven characters and breakneck action, never failing to deliver what every reader wants—a helluva good story.” ~~ Ryne Douglas Pearson, screenwriter of KNOWING and bestselling author of SIMPLE SIMON and CONFESSIONS
“SEEDS envisions a terrifying and prescient future of a United States lost to the worst extremes. Piper Bayard’s wonderfully relevant and beautifully realized fantasy tale would make George R.R. Martin proud as it combines the best of CHILDREN OF MEN with Stephen King’s seminal THE STAND. . . . The result is a major debut that is not to be missed.”~~ Jon Land, bestselling author of STRONG AT THE BREAK and BETRAYAL
“Piper Bayard explodes on the scene in SEEDS. Creative. Imaginative. Chilling and reassuring. A captivating tale well told.”~~ Vicki Hinze, bestselling author of DUPLICITY
These are the other authors on today’s Hop:
3. Buzz Bernard
Below are the authors who will join the Hop next Wednesday. I hope you will bookmark them and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and New Releases.
1. Ellie Ann
3. K.B. Owen
5. Susan Spann
What is the Next Big Thing happening for you in 2013?
*The Social N Network is a network of news and events sites in over thirty cities across the US with a collective following upward of 500k. The flagship site is SocialInDC. Lonny Dunn of ProNetworkBuild is the brains and talent behind the business.
Sounds awesome,Piper. I’ve been wondering what it was about, and now I know! All the very best with it 🙂
Cheers!
Thank you, Nigel. 🙂
Congratulations!
Thank you, Kitt. 🙂
I love your project, Piper. And how cool that you are going with Stonehouse Ink! I see you’ve decided to return to your original title for the novel – looking forward to its release! And thank so much for including me in your “next big thing”!
Most welcome, Kathy. Thanks so much for your support. 🙂
Consider this a rousing applause! Huzzah!! Huzzah!!
Thank you, Jane. 🙂
Well-done and congratulations, Piper! As a fan of dystopian sci-fi, your book sounds like a must-read!
Thanks, El. 🙂
I’ve already had the pleasure of reading ‘Seeds’ and it is totally AWESOME! Both the book and its author deserve all the praise and notoriety that comes hand in hand with such talent. Good going, girl.
Aww. Thanks, Donna! 🙂
FINALLY? So did GODFIRE become SEEDS? I’m thrilled for you, and I can’t wait to read more than the byline! Awesome! This is your year! Woo hoo!
Ooops! That was FINALLY!!!!! 😉
LOL. 🙂
It did. Thanks so much for your support, Renee. 🙂
Woot! Congratulations, Piper! I’m looking forward to reading Seeds.
Thank you, Serena! 🙂
How soon can I buy it? I just love your voice and style, so I’m sure your book will be awesome, Piper. Plus, you just provided a very nice photo of Mr. Jackman. Thanks for that!
LOL. My pleasure, Julie. I don’t have any dates yet, and the title will probably change. You can see why I asked that Merman to dinner. Hope to see you at DFW this year. 🙂
I’m already registered, so you will most certainly see me at DFWCon if you are there. (P.S. I still have “shoot gun” on my life list.)
i’m very excited for you! can’t wait to get myself a copy, do keep us posted. i published two books of beat poetry, i knew they wouldn’t be big sellers, i think everyone in my family bought the first book, and i bought 3 of the second..hahaha…i looke forward to reading “Seeds” ~salud
Thank you! I appreciate your support. Will definitely keep you posted. 🙂
Congrats on the upcoming birth of your book. Sounds amazing. Best of luck to you on it’s success. From the sound of your endorsements, that won’t be difficult to achieve.
Thank you, Tami. I appreciate your support. 🙂
Congratulations! It sounds amazing and I look forward to reading it.
Thank you, Diana. 🙂
Congratulations! Well deserved, and couldn’t happen to a nicer person. I hope Holmes takes you out for a wonderful celebratory dinner. 😉
Thank you, Elizabeth. I appreciate your support. As for Holmes, he hates going out, but I’m sure the next time we get together we will celebrate with some of his awesome cuisine. He’s a great chef. 🙂
Congrats girl! It sounds like a great book and one that will be very successful! I can’t wait to read it!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Thank you, Susie. Happy New Year! 🙂
Congratulations Piper! So happy for you!!
Thank you, Ingrid. 🙂
I love to hear about people like you winning. That is great and I cant wait until Hunger Games is compared to SEEDS.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your support. 🙂
Well done Piper. Hoping to see your book in the bookstores soon.
I can identify with your comment about taking your whole life to write this book. It certainly feels that with the 1st one. I don’t know if you still feel the same after the 10th book, but hopefully will find out 🙂
Thank you, Shantnu. 🙂
Holy cats! SEEDS sounds wonderful, Piper! And that’s some heavy-hitting advance praise ya got going, too. Congratulations, I can’t wait to read your book.
Thank you, Amy. 🙂
WOW. Impressive. What a way to start a new year! Sounds great.
Thanks, Phil. 🙂
Can you hear me cheering from Canada? And I love the genre. Squee!! Any idea of release dates? 2014? Woohoo!
No dates, yet. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for your support. 🙂
Congratulations Piper! Is this the place where I get to say that SEEDS is AMAZING and everyone absolutely needs to put this on the must-read list for this year? Because it’s totally true!
And thanks for the shout-out and inviting me to play along next week!
Thank you, Susan! I appreciate your support. 🙂
Congratulations and Good Luck!!
Thank you, MaLinda. 🙂
Congrats, Piper! That’s awesome!!!
Thank you, Catherine. 🙂
SEEDS sounds great! I’m assuming we’ll be able to get it from Amazon.com?
I’m assuming that, too. Thanks, Vila. 🙂
Congrats, Piper. SEEDS sounds great!
Thank you, Stacy. 🙂
Awesome news – good on you, and good luck for “Seeds” and the “Bayard and Holmes” thriller to follow. Presume they’ll be on sale via Amazon?
That’s my understanding. Thank you, Matthew. 🙂
Exciting news, Piper! I’m getting in line now for the release! With advance praise like this, it’s going to be a blockbuster. Congrats!
Thank you, Patricia. 🙂
Just came back from seeing Les Miserables for the second time, tonight. You had me at ‘Hugh Jackman”. :-))
LOL. So did Les Mis. Have me, that is. What a great movie. Thank you, Kim. 🙂
You’re welcome!
I’m late stopping by, but I just wanted to tell you how excited I am to hear you have a book coming out soon. I can’t wait to read SEEDS.
Thanks, Marcy. 🙂