Be Inspired (Redux) & The Next Big Thing Award!

Though I have been tagged with the "Be Inspired" meme before, there weren't any questions attached to it in that particular version. Now that the groovy Michael Offutt, author of sci-fi/fantasy novel Slipstream, has tasked me with bragging about one of my own books, I feel compelled to comply. Thanks for thinking of me, Michael!

I was also tagged by author Kate Larkindale of Fiction and Film for the "Next Big Thing" award - thanks so much, Kate!

I've merged these two memes into one post because the questions in each are nearly identical. (And because I don't like to work too hard, as many of you already know.) For each, writers are asked to discuss one of their books. There's really only one question that varies from one meme to the other, which I'll note below.

1. What is the name of your book?
That Fatal Kiss.

2. Where did the idea come from?
My interest in Greek mythology and my weakness for a passionate love story. (More about this in #8.)

3. In what genre would you classify your book?
Romance (mythical).

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
As I wrote That Fatal Kiss, I couldn't help but envision British actor Jeremy Northam as the male "lead," Hades—there's a sensual mastery he brings to pretty much every role that I always saw as perfect for the Lord of the Underworld (picture the scene in the movie Possession in which he's unlacing Jennifer Ehle's corset and you'll know just what I mean) (if you've not yet seen the film, I really think you need to). For the female lead, Persephone, I never had a particular actor in mind...I envision her as being in her early 20s (so to speak; time is relative for the Greek gods) (I imagine), with long, rich auburn curls, and amber brown eyes. She's intelligent, witty, and compassionate. I'd maybe say Kate Winslet (who I think would be a great leading lady for Northam, regardless of the project) except she's matured a bit for the part (the way she played Marianne in Sense and Sensibility is sort of, though not quite, how I'd see her play Persephone). The only other person who comes to mind is Emmy Rossum (as she played Christine in the 2005 Phantom of the Opera adaptation) (only, you know, a bit saucier).

5. Give us a one sentence synopsis of your book.
Gah, I suck at summarizing my stories, but I'll try:

Hades, fearsome Lord of the Underworld, wrests youthful goddess Persephone away from her life aboveground to be his bride—but the powerful goddess may yet escape him...if she really wants to.

6. How long did it take you to write the first draft?
Hmmm...a year (ish)? I was unemployed for about three months and began writing TFK fast and furious then, but slowed down when I got a jobby-job.

7. Is your book already published (Be Inspired)/will it be self or traditionally published (Next Big Thing)?
Not yet/it will probably be self-published, unless some publishing miracle comes to pass in the immediate future...

8. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I'd become interested in Greek mythology as a kid and the bug for Hades and Persephone's story bit me in my adolescence. With my imperfect understanding, I found it sooooo romantical that the powerful god wanted the goddess sooooo much that he just couldn't help but ransom her away to his underground kingdom, though part of me didn't think it was fair to the poor gal to just take off with her without first asking if she wanted to go. Later, in college, I took a lit course that examined the Greek myths and, as part of my research, read some folks' opinions that Persephone and Hades' marriage was one of the few faithful and happy ones among the gods; that when together, they ruled harmoniously; and that at least once Persephone displayed some jealousy for/possessiveness of Hades when a sneaky nymph put the moves on the goddess' man. Er, the goddess' mate. Anyway, the dark romantic in me perked up at the idea that Persephone grew to want Hades just as much as he wanted her. Then it was just a hop, skip, and jump to imagining their rocky road to love and I just had to put my revisionist interpretation of the myth in writing.

9. What else about your book would pique the reader's interests?
Um...maybe the following snippet?

“Enough,” Hades said, closing the distance between them.  “I have taken you with your father’s consent, as custom allows.  You are in my kingdom, under my rule, and if you have any care for your continued well-being, you will get into my bed.  Now.”  And with the removal of the pins which held together his black cloak, he stood naked before her.

The anger warming Persephone clashed with another fire that roared to life within her.  She choked on a breath and turned her face from him.  “Be warned; I will resist you with the full force of my being, through violent means, if necessary.”

His large, unyielding hands encircled the soft flesh of her upper arms as he said, “If you must.  Though your surrender to me would prove more satisfying to us both.”

You're supposed to tag five other writers, and so I tag:

L.G. Keltner, Writing off the Edge

Mina Burrows, books for paranormal and mystic minds

Elise Fallson

Siv Maria, Been there, done that

Melissa Bradley, Melissa's Imaginarium

I hope y'all check these gals out!

The Dark Romance of N...

Red text below = linked text. Click to check stuff out!

Need You Tonight ~ INXS
This is another song I absolutely fell in love with in late 1987. It froze me in place the first time I heard it, and I remember thinking then, at that very moment of immobility, that a) the thing that first attracts me to a man is his voice, and b) it would be a spectacular hit. And it was.

Natural One ~ Folk Implosion
Now, this tune came off the soundtrack for an incredibly disturbing film called Kids, which I haven't watched in its entirety because I simply can't make myself do it - not because it's bad, but because I can't stomach the subject matter. Nonetheless, the song's lush, insistent bass line works its mojo on me (as any sultry bass line will) and I can't help digging this tune. Curiously, whenever I hear it I think of British actor Jeremy Northam, who, I am sure, would disavow any connection to the song and, perhaps, carefully back away from me whilst discreetly reaching for his mobile phone and dialing 911 (or 999, if this were to go down in the UK). There's no reasonable explanation for this association, so you'll have to make do with an unreasonable one - I believe that this song was getting a lot of airplay on my beloved local alt rock radio station, WLIR (now defunct but still available online, thank GOD!), around the time Emma came out (which starred the very man himself as the dreamy Mr. Knightley). Anyway, I'm linking a trippy fan video, below, because the official one's kinda gross and I want nothing to detract from the woof! factor of the song.

Nothing Lasts Forever ~ Specimen
A horrifying realization struck me over the weekend: namely that, for a self-proclaimed Goth Mom, I'd included precious little in the way of proper Goth Rock in these Blogging from A to Z Challenge posts. Next came an existential crisis in which I questioned whether I was more Goth or Rock Mom and how, if I'd been wrong about my Goth-nicity, I could carry on living. I took a bad turn and, a few shots of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur later, resolved my cognitive dissonance with the conclusion that, though my taste in music runs more toward the Rock, my sensibilities are more Goth, so I'm good. Mental breakdown averted, I fished through my memory banks for a Goth tune, so as to even out the scales a bit, that would be in keeping with my A to Z theme. Unfortunately, the ones that came to mind were for letters already done - HOWEVER, this song growled at me from the depths of my poor tortured psyche. I'm not 100% sure what it's about (and I can't find lyrics for it anywheres), though it's got a line about "...flying like a moth into the flame...", so that's hot, right? (Like, literally?) Plus, the guitar and bass are all le rawr rawr, which satisfies me.

The song itself does not run as long as the video clip.