My Weekly Update – Tagged Twice, Tattoos and Tell Somebody

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

 Weekly Schedule

Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday 
Wednesday – Movie Quotes – full blog post version
Friday – Blog Post 
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 

My Weekly Update – Just Write!

JuNoWriMo

It was really all about writing last week.  I have been debating whether to release any excerpts from my WIP from Junowrimo.  But, it just isn’t ready yet.  Or, to be honest, I am not ready,yet.  However, to avoid being labeled a big tease, I will give you a little insight into my first novel.

Tentative Title:  I’m Coming Home

Main Character’s Loves and Hates:

Sydney Smith (I know, I really need to change her name.  This isn’t an autobiography. May change it to Emilynn) – More on her description later.

Loves:  writing, traveling, tattoos, mexican food and days where no one telling her what to do or asking her to do stuff for them.

Hates:  Negative people and people who make statements about people that sound like a compliment, but are actual an insult.  Ex: When Sydney ask her boss, Linda what she thinks for the new guy she meets, Linda said, “John is really friendly, he flirts with everyone.”

John Alexander Osha, IV – think of Bryan Greenberg’s character in Prime mixed with Jude Law charm (without the English accent)

Loves: computers, playing golf, watching basketball, hip hop and cute girls with tattoos

Hates:  Girls who don’t realize how amazing they are and people who have an over exaggerated sense of themselves.

Linda Ryder – Picture a mix of Chris Everett Lloyd’s athleticism on Kim Zolciak from Real House Wives of Atlanta body.  Fake hair included.

Loves: expensive stuff, young men, and being famous

Hates:  Buying things on sale, procratination in others (has no issue doing it herself), and people who don’t give her credit.

Trina Watson – Picture your best friend who always tells you the truth.

Loves: her cousin, telling the truth and alcohol which she can’t have because she is 5 months pregnant.

Hates:  Sydney’s boss, Linda

Alex James Ryder – good looking guy who doesn’t think he is (don’t you hate those types).  A voice of reason; clean cut golf pro type.  Addias golf shirt and pants by day.  T-shirts and cargo shorts by night.

Likes:  teaching golf, playing golf, talking about golf, watching golf, his friends and the F – word

Hates:  people who are dishonest and people who take life too seriously

Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana – specifically at a golf course and in several locations in the French Quarter

Genre:  I have no idea.  I do know it is not science fiction or horror. Two people fall in love in the midsts of some funny  situations and someone doesn’t want them to be together.  You tell me?

 Ok, that is all that I am authorized to reveal at this time.  Maybe more next week.

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop

I decided to base a short story on my novel for Writer Wednesday Blog Hop that I may or may not incorporate into the story.  I received some great comments in regards to that story that I want to share.

Nicole had this to say – “Great post!!! And God I could relate. To the feeling she had about wanting to feel special to the early morning walk. I loved it!!
 
Anna said, “Your story gives me such a good feeling, almost like something beautiful is about to happen.  And of course, something does… I think I would love to read your novel if this is just an excerpt from it:)”
*I told Anna, she gets the first copy.  
 
Check out Carrie and Anna‘s take on the same photo prompt.  

Thanks so much for the great feed back.

New Followers

I wanted to say thank you to my new followers as well.  Go check out their sites, there is some great stuff out there in the blogesphere – the first time I have used that word.

Jenny Falls
Lime Bird Beth
MAN VS BOOKS CLUB
The Phantom M-pire
Chrissy50
Robert Medak
Wendy Lu
Ross Gale
Talin or Fali
The Phantom Child
Heaven for Earth
Maggie Mae
Texan as Kitchen
Sysiphus47

This Week’s Schedule

Monday – My Interview with JuNoWriMo host and participant – Anna Howard
Tuesday – Movie Quotes
Wednesday – Writer Wednesday Blog Hop
Friday – General Blog Post
Sunday – My Weekly Update

*And be sure click the Sydney Aaliyah Writes page for daily updates on my JuNoWriMo progress.