Yes, believe it. This post is going to be truthful 100%

I know. Your minds are blown!

This post is also going to be quite a bit (and by that I mean very) different from my usual stories. Not only is it going to be true, it’s going to be about a project I’ve been working on for a while. If you’ve read any of my earlier posts, you know that I have been editing my novel for a while now. I wrote it in a week, it sucked, and I have been editing it ever since (going on 2 years now). Little to say it’s a long process that I will not repeat again. Next time I write a book (and there will be a next time because it’s fun) I will make sure I’m not writing a bunch of crap all at once.

But it’s not so crappy anymore and as I prepare to begin the search for an agent, I thought I would give you all a sneak peek at what I have been working on. I’m actually steeling this Q&A from one of the blogs I follow (so thank you juliathewritergirl)!

Without further ado, let’s begin, shall we?

What is the working title of your work-in-progress?

The Jewel of Thieves

What is the genre?

YA Fantasy

Where did the idea come from?

Honestly, I’m not exactly sure. A lot of it was separate parts I was daydreaming about and playing around with in my mind. Then one day my grandfather said something that caused it all to slam together and thus the idea was born.

What actors would you choose to play your characters in a film?

Off the top of my head? I have no freaking clue. Issabelle (the main character female) is spunky, tough, and independent. Maybe if Keira Knightly and Emma Stone merged into one super actress…

Daniel (the male lead) is arrogant, self-righteous, and courageous. It would have to be someone who could portray a strong, independent, pompous character with grace. I’ll have to get back to you on that one. Suggestions?

Write a one-paragraph summary.

Oh, crap. That’s a lot to say in one paragraph. So how ’bout I give you two?

Issabelle is the daughter of the King’s greatest thief, the Maker, but that doesn’t mean she’s protected from everything. Especially not Daniel, the sole son of the Captain of the Royal Guard, and the one person most determined to destroy her life completely. During Daniel’s attempt to kidnap Issabelle in the hope of finally capturing her notorious father, the youths are taken captive by a gang of rogue criminals whose unclear intentions pit them against one another on a dangerous search for the one thing that could save each of them: The Jewel of Thieves. A legendary gem of infinite power, it promises Issabelle the escape she and her father desperately need to finally rid themselves of the Guard, and for Daniel, the honor and respect from his father that he has been searching for. But only one of them can get what they want.

However, finding the Jewel is not as simple as they thought, and the web of lies that surround its existence introduce the two to a much darker world of manipulation and scheming than they had ever known before. Now Issabelle and Daniel must each decide what is most important to them–the people they have each sworn to protect–or their own lives. With the existence of the kingdom hanging in the balance, will Issabelle be able to accept the person she was born to be?

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

Agency. Hopefully. If I can find me an agent. Let’s go!

How long did the first draft take to write?

1 week. It was freaking awful. Now it only loosely resembles what it used to be.

What other books would you compare this to, in your genre?

Let’s see…it’s not heavy fantasy but it definitely contains fantasy aspects. Think The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima, meets Hero’s Song by Edith Pattou, meets The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer, meets Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde (even though this one is really not like the others, I like the main character, she has spunk)!

What else about this story might pique the readers’ interest?

Although some things may appear obvious within the story, nothing is as it seems. Bad guys, motivations, and even the Jewel itself remain a mystery. And with two hot-headed, constantly arguing main characters, things are bound to get interesting.

 

So this is what I’ve got for you. I hope it’s a good teaser. More to come later? We’ll see.

Mel