Tagged #1
Ug! I have been tagged. And, not a normal tag where I tell the world about me. I can handle that. But, I have been tagged by Karen Einsel in the Next Best Thing Challenge, which means I have to bear my soul and reveal details of my novel. Oh, the horror. It might be before I am ready, but perhaps Karen is telling me it is time. So, here it goes.
What is the title of your book/WIP? I’m Coming Home
Where did the idea of the book come from? I am an American who lives in China and every year when I come back home it never fails, I meet a guy and as soon as I tell him I live in China, he is like, that’s cool and then moves on. I can’t blame them, really. China is far away. So, I was fascinated about this idea if just one time a guy thought of it as an interesting challenge. How is it possible to develop a relationship with someone who lives so far away? Also, I love New Orleans and it is great place to start a romance.
What genre would your book fall under? I have gone back and forth about this for months. I think I have narrowed it down to International Rom/Com Chick Lit.
What characters would you choose to play the characters in the movie adaptation of your book? The inspiration for my male character is Bryan Greenberg, so he could play him in the movie. As far as my main character, maybe Thandie Newton or Zooey Deschanel. A mix of beauty and quirky funny.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book? First of all, I hate this question. But, here goes: An expat living in China meets a guy on a business trip to America and falls in love over Mexican Food in the French Quarter, but will her demanding boss and her own sense of independence threatens what could potentially be her ticket out of her mundane boring life catering to the demands of others and ignoring her own happiness. I still hate this questions.
Is your book published or represented? Not, yet and no.
How long did it take you to write your book? 30 days – I wrote it during JuNoWriMo
What other books in your genre would you compare you book to? I love the quirkiness of the MC in Sophie Kinsella Shopaholic Books. My MC has some issues with self esteem and sticking up for herself and you want to tell her to get a freakin back bone already, but you like her, too.
Which author’s inspired you to write this book? Everything I read inspires me. Plus, places I have lived and visited, people I have met, music I listen to and tattoos (my characters alway have tattoos). I find inspiration everywhere. Like Karen, Stephen King is my favorite writer who makes it impossible for you not to get sucked into the world he creates and that is what I want my writing to do.
Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book. Part of the book takes place in Hong Kong and China where I get to pull in a few antidotes about life in China that you could never understand unless you have actually been there. I try my best to take you there.
Tagged #2
I was also tagged by EM Castellan in the Lucky 7 Meme. You ladies are really wanting me to put it all out there. Ok. Page 77, line 7, 7 lines from I’m Coming Home (You should be hearing the P. Diddy song playing softly in the background).
“Well, in the last hour that I have know him. He seems ok.”
“Is that it?” Sydney asked. “Ok. The two of you talked about computers for an hour and all you can say is ok.”
“What do you want me to say?” Kevin said. “He is handsome and has good teeth and he smells good, too. What?”
” I am just . . . I don’t know.” Sydney said.
“Listen, Sydney.” Kevin said. “You have a problem.”
Ok people, that is it. No more. I am done. The book is going in the filing cabinet until September.
**The tag rules also include tagging other authors, so my new followers below, consider yourself tagged.
Tattoos
Starting on Tuesday, I am going to bring to you a new feature; Tattoo Tuesday. It is my goal to bring this beautiful and often misunderstood art form to my readers. I will share information on artist, the art, the process, tattoos in pop culture and my own tattoo stories. I would love to share some of my readers tattoo photos and stories, as well. If you want to reveal your body art to the world, sent me an email with the artwork and the story. If you have an image that inspired the artwork as well, sent that, too. You can reach me at sydliyah at hotmail dot com.
I am am not an expert. I am just a tattoo’ed girl. So, if you have any questions that I know I am not qualified to answer, I won’t, but I will find someone who is and will.
Tell Somebody
When I discover great advice on writing, I have to tell somebody. I have two that I want to share this week:
Nightmares and Realities: Showing vs. Telling by Sevastian Winters – I finally understand the show vs. tell concept.
Dialogic – Part 1: He said, She said by A.M. Schultz – Great information on writing dialogue. And, he assured me there will be a part 2. Right, AM?
New Followers
- Brumshire Tales
- Vikki from The View Outside
- Jurist in Progress
- J.J. Anderson
- A.M. Schultz from Headspit – best name for a blog ever.
- Whitney Rains from A Serendipitous Happenstance – that’s pretty cool, too.
- The Incredible B*tch
- Clayton Diggs
- Sleepless in New Castle
- Craig Douglas from Grit Fiction
Weekly Schedule
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday Wednesday – Movie Quotes – full blog post version Friday – Blog Post Sunday – My Weekly Update
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
“A.M. Schultz from Headspit – best name for a blog ever. ”
Me and my computer screen blush!
And there will be a part 2… Eventually. 🙂
-A.M.
http://amschultz.com
http://amschultz.com/headspit
Ok, I won’t bug you about it for awhile. Take your time.
Congrats on all the tagging, you have a lot going on and it sounds like you had a very successful JuNoWriMo. See you at CampNaNoWriMo next month?
You are doing Camp NaNoWriMo, too. I thought I was the only crazy one. I am looking forward to now that I have something to write. Successful brainstorm/outline sessions yesterday, so I have somewhere to start.
Camp NaNoWriMo is August, correct?
Yep. You joining?
Possibly… After using JuNo as a “how not to write 50,000 words in a month” template, I may do a bit better this go around. Either way, I’m planning on hitting up NaNoWriMo with some fury.
Camp wasn’t in the initial plans but I figured what the hell. Have a new idea that I am working on. See what happens.
November will be a story I have been tossing around for years.
Three first drafts by the end of the year sounds pretty cool to me.
Absolutely… That is a fantastic start.
I absolutely hated (what I finished) of my JuNo project, which probably is a keen indication that I will not end up being an epic fantasty writer… that said, I meddled in a genre much different than anything I have before and it allowed me to remember where my strengths lied.
Now that Game of Thrones isn’t in season on HBO, I may be able to stick to that 🙂
Haha! Sorry I tagged you, but you did great! Been a busy week this past week here and hoping for a quieter week this next week! Always love your posts Sydney. Hope you are having an awesome day. 🙂
No worries Karen. I think I am ok with it for now. 😉 Have a great week.
just found your blog and i love it. can’t wait to read more. as a newbie to the tattoo world with a lovely fairy on my back, and as a writer… loved it.
Thanks Gabi. Welcome to the tattoo’ed person word. 🙂
So awesome + brave to share your work! Congrats, you are doing great!!!
Brave is a good word. I will say that to myself over and over. Be brave. Thanks.
Wow, well done for keeping up with all that tagging, I can never remember or be organized to post those things. Very brave of you to share your work, sounds like you have the roots of a good story there.
Thanks Charmaine. I love the story, but it is a long way from public consumption. I appreciate you comment.