The Next Big Thing — by Debra Daniel

Last Wednesday, local poet and creativity coach Cassie Premo Steele tagged me to write a blog post about my next big thing and this is what I came up with. As I was informed to do, I, in turn, tagged five other folks and asked them to follow the procedures set forth in The Next Big Thing meme, and I promised to publish their blog posts here.

Well, a week has gone by and I’m delighted to have new blog posts from four of the five folks tagged — fingers crossed on the last one, too.  I haven’t read any of them yet and I have to admit that I’m pretty excited to see what my colleagues and friends are up to.

So over the next twenty-four hours Jasper will be publishing the posts that were generated in response to my tags. But we don’t necessarily want this fun meme to end so soon.  We’d love to publish the posts of anyone tagged by the five people I tagged, too. Just send them to me at editor@JasperColumbia.com with “The Next Big Thing” in the title. And by the way, I wouldn’t mind being tagged again — I’m finishing up another really cool project that I’m itching to gab about!

Here’s our first post from author and poet Debra Daniel.

What is the working title of your book? 

Woman Commits Suicide in Dishwasher

What is the genre of your book?

It’s mainstream literary.

Where did the idea come from?

I saw the headline in one of those grocery store magazines and my mind started to spin.  (Pun intended.)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

First person interviews with Myrtle Graham’s family, friends and enemies attempt to explain and comprehend her bizarre demise while revealing their own secrets.

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

I worked on the first draft for more than a year.

Who or what inspired you to write it?

I wrote the first chapter as a short story, but it seemed that Myrtle Graham herself inspired me to continue.  The rest of the story had to be told.

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

I’m hoping that Muddy Ford Press will love Myrtle’s story as much as I do and ache to finally make that woman come clean.  (Pun intended.)

What other books would you compare this book to within your genre?

I’m not sure I can compare it to anything out there.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Shirley MacLaine would be perfect as Myrtle.  Hal Holbrook as her husband, Hamilton.  Of course, Shirley could also play Madame Fouche, the ballet mistress.  Sally Field could play Ruth, the next door neighbor.  Uncle Joe would be Ed Asner.

What else about your manuscript might pique the reader’s interest?

The story spans time from pre World War II to the present.  As each person gives their interview, the pieces of Myrtle’s life fall into place until you hear Myrtle’s own agitation in the final chapter.