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

The Mating Game Bloghop: Escaping Wonderland

Today Victoria Smith and company are hosting The Mating Game Bloghop. I'll be using my WIP Escaping Wonderland. How this came out is a funny story. I started Nano with Gold who was a stripper running away to Wonderland along with Wolf and The Mad Hatter. But due to a fall, illness and computer trouble I had a lot of drawbacks and ended up not reaching my Nano goal. During that time I started to realize though that there were things I didn't like about the story including the fact that Hatter's issues were eclipsing Gold's. So by December I decided to make some changes and in a few days I decided to split the idea into two different novels. Escaping Wonderland and Gold. Gold now had Gold (Goldilocks) running away but not to Wonderland and Escaping Wonderland gets Hatter but it's his son who is on the run with Alice.

Now back to the bloghop. I will be using my starring characters Alice and the Hatter's son Max Hatter to answer the judge's five questions. They were almost a couple when Max's father betrayed her to The Queen of Hearts. Escaping Wonderland starts with Alice breaking out of prison just before her execution and going on the run with Max.

Question 1: Tell us about a memorable experience you shared together.

Alice: Wow um....there's quite a couple. I guess if you want lovey dovey stuff then it was when I wasn't a fugitive. Um...Max, his father and I were at The Grand Tea Party where we were celebrating the anniversary of The Mad Hatter's business. Max and I were laughing up a storm and held hands a lot. We weren't official and I hadn't yet decided if I was going to stay in Wonderland forever or go home. It was perfect. Then the queen's guards ran in and I got arrested. *Sigh* Learned quickly that The Mad Hatter had agreed to let Wonderland's ruler arrest me for treason.

Max: That was a horrible memory.

Alice: Well Mr. Perfect share yours.

Max: Okay. It was at night and we were watching the frogs do their symphony on the lily pads under stars. You were so perfect in the blue dress I'd bought for you. While we listened to the music I couldn't help but stare. The light from the moon and the stars gave your blonde hair an ethereal quality. You glowed and I couldn't stop watching that glow. And that was the first time I took your hand in mine. Really took your hand in mine and when you finally turned, you went red and pulled away. It was sweet.

Alice: Oh.

Question 2: What would your character do if the one they wanted was terrified of their feelings and pushed them away?

Max: Guess this is my question. (Alice rolls eyes) After my father betrayed Alice our budding relationship hit a brick wall. Though we're together again, it's not the same. Alice won't open up her heart again but I won't stop. I'll help her go home and both along the way and there I'll do everything possible to earn back her trust and hopefully later, her heart. If I have to die to save her, I will. I love her.

Question 3: What is one of the roadblocks standing in the way of you getting together?

Alice and Max: The Queen of Hearts a.k.a. The Red Queen.

Max: Red Queen is her execution nickname.

Alice: Well you answered the last one so it's my turn. The Queen of Hearts wants me dead because I'm the saviour for Wonderland. As long as I'm alive her rule is threatened. Also The Hatters are a powerful family with the first born sons having the ability to teleport between worlds and on rare occasions bring something over from somewhere else. Me and Max possible getting together has her mind brimming with crazy theories and she'll rather kill Max, the last living oldest son in the family line than risk me getting a chance to use the power against her. Short story, she's nuts.

Question 4: So, how would how would your characters describe the other person, using only one word at a time? 

Alice: Um...Helpful?

Max: Seriously? Beautiful.

Alice: Brave.

Max: Amazing.

Alice: Arrogant.

Max: Jaded.

Alice: *growls* Handsome.

Max: *beams* Extraordinary.

Alice: *smiles* Devoted.

Max: Loyal.

Alice: *voice cracks* Loyal.

Alice: Loving.

Max:.....

Question 5: What was the first thing your main characters noticed about each other?

Alice: Yeah...I don't like remembering when I first came here. Now all the can think about is how...

Max: Fine I'll answer first. You were a bit disheveled.

Alice: I had just came through a wormhole from a hat!

Max: Portal. You were disheveled for company with the Hatters but you were also beautiful and the moment I saw you I knew you were special. But again you were a mess when you arrived.

Alice: Well..I noticed that you wore a suit...like an old guy.

Max: That's so not what you thought! I was only telling the truth.

Alice: Fine. I saw a teenager in a suit starting at me. I noticed you were...handsome and looked snappily dressed. And your face had a bit of an...arrogant look.

Max: What!

Alice: Well you kind of were looking at me up and down like...

Max: But you were....

Alice: Okay! Okay! Don't say it anymore please.

Max steals a kiss on the cheek.

Alice punches him in the shoulder. Then she blushes and stiffles a giggle.

Max: You liked it.

Alice: *acting coy* Maybe.

So that's it everyone. Remember to visit the other blogs participating in this bloghop and have a nice day.