The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

[charlie_cochrane]

I was invited by clarelondon to take part in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop. Great way with words, our Clare, and a request which starts, "Now you may know I rarely do these "tag other people" things," is hard to resist. You'll find her post here.

What is the working title of your book?

Angel in the Window. The books starts with a reference to somebody’s resemblance to a stained glass angel and quickly you find out how un-angelic he can be. (There’s an angel in the window at our church which fascinates me, which is where I think the title and at least part of the idea came from.) 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Probably, in the first place, the huge number of Age of Sail books I’ve read over the years.  And the Age of Sails films I’ve watched/artefacts I’ve purchased/sailors I’ve ogled over. It seemed natural that one day I’d write something set in that era (although it's inevitably vicarious on the actual sailing and battle details because I get sick on the Isle of Wight ferry...)

What genre does your book fall under?

Historical M/M romance, with a bit of humour and a dollop of suspense. Our heroes are under threat from a slimy rat of a traitor.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?

Alexander: Someone a bit smouldering, like Dan Stevens (whom I’ve liked since ‘The Line of Beauty’, way before Downton).

Tom: Chris Robshaw, if he was an actor rather than a rugby player.

Actually, thinking rugby, which you may have noticed I sometimes do, Alexander could be almost any of the French team. They smoulder well. Sad how many of my characters look like rugby players in my bonce...

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

When a traitor walks your deck, who'll be the one to clear him off it?

Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?

Neither. It’s out from my old pals MLR on December 21st.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Um, there’s a question. I’d written the first draft of the story ages ago and had it in my WIP file, so it just needed taking out and sprucing up when I saw the MLR call for seasonal stories. That was a matter of a week or so.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre.

Ooh, that’s a tricky one. Maybe the Lee Rowan or Alex Beecroft Age of sail books, if that’s not putting myself in too exalted a company.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Tom Pullings, Spotted Dick Richardson and the other adorable junior officers from the O’Brian books. And maybe, just maybe, Archie Kennedy from the Hornblower TV series. *happy sighs*

What else about your book might interest the reader?

There are some secondary characters along the lines of the ones who lurk in the St. Bride’s books. Loud mothers, adorable young lads (midshipmen this time, rather than dunderheads), and a villain who makes Owens look positively charming!

My taggees, who'll be blogging on 12th December, are: Lucie Wheeler, kayberrisford, stevie_carroll and Barry Brennessel.