The Next Big Thing: Escaping Wonderland

Hi I volunteered to be tagged from Kelley Lynn's post which you can check out by clicking her name. Her idea is definitely fun and adventurous and I hope you will enjoy mine as well. You can also read more about this w.i.p. here.

The Next Big Thing Bloghop

This blog hop includes ten questions to help you learn more about an author’s current work in progress. So here we go.

1. Working title for your book?

Escaping Wonderland.

2. Where did this idea come from?

Funny enough it happened through my 2012 Nano project Gold. This spawned as an extra then I scrapped Gold in December. No matter though, I'm glad to have Escaping Wonderland which I'm writing as a stand alone. I've wanted to write a non-sequel book for a while and Nevermore is the only other project I have that might be a stand-alone. But since the latter won't be finished anytime soon, I'll settle for Escaping Wonderland which has Alice as a teenager trying to get out of Wonderland after nearly being executed by The Queen of Hearts.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult Fantasy. It is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland.

4. Which actors would you chose to play your characters in a movie rendition.

This is what I think Alice should look like. This is a picture of Cariba Heine when she was younger. She's 24 now but any actress who can fit this look would be perfect for Alice. This pic is probably during Cariba's stint on the show H2O: Just add Water.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

I'm going to cheat and do a four-sentence one instead.

Saviour turned fugitive Alice has to escape Wonderland before the queen haves her head. With Max Hatter; son of the man who betrayed her as her heart's desire and two 'talking' animals as her only source of help, what could go wrong? But as they seek the hat that will get Alice home can she hold her pain and broken heart in check as Max tries to worm his way back into her heart. Also can she really run away from her prophesied role to save Wonderland and if so, at what price?

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

My plan is to get an agent for this one.

7. How long did it take to write the first draft?

Haven't finished yet and a ten page critique I won from Candy Apples Books has pointed out some flaws I need to fix.

8. What other books would you compare this to?

Right now it's just a retelling of the Alice in Wonderland story for the young adult market.

9. Who, or what inspired you to write this book?

Like I said earlier my 2012 Nano project.

10. What else about this book might pique the reader's interest?

If you enjoy your fairytale with dark elements and not all fluff and rainbows this is for you. Readers get to follow Alice after she's been disenchanted and brokenhearted by the true dark face of Wonderland and watch as Max tries to bring back her faith and trust. If you like your romances with the significant other earning their love and not just 'falling for each other,' this is also for you. Lastly if you like books with a surprising twists. This one has a few. So in closing if you like unique tales that don't follow the storybook 'has to end this way' formula, then Escaping Wonderland is the book for you. With an ending that might actually surprise readers and a story about friendship, love and sacrifice.

Well that's it everyone. I'll now pass this unto five people. Hope to hear about your next project soon.

Morgan Shammy

Jenny Morris

Elizabeth Seckman

Carrie Butler

Victoria H. Smith