Lindsey R. Loucks tagged me in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop earlier this month and now I’m paying it forward. Thank you, Lindsey! I will answer ten questions about my book, and then tag five other authors for next week.
Here are the ten questions and answers:
1. What is the title of your book?
18 Things
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
Caffeine and chocolate! I mean, it originally came from my cousin being diagnosed with leukemia and writing a bucket list story that happened to involve teenagers. Then I realized that’d already been done with A Walk to Remember, so I took out the cancer and put my own twist on it.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
YA paranormal romance . . . could fall under inspirational too.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Deborah Ann Woll from True Blood would play my main character, Olga, which is funny because Lindsey also picked her for one of her characters. I swear I didn’t copy . . . I had her mind for a few months now.
Oh heck, I’ll go ahead and pick the whole Jedi Order (that’s what my group of friends call themselves in the book . . .yep, Ima Dork).
Nate=Zac Efron (I had a crush on this kid since my daughter got “H.S. Musical” for her 6th birthday. Thank God he’s of legal age for me to lust after now, and 100x hotter!)
Conner=Landon Liboiron from “Degrassi: The Next Generation”
Sean=Corbin Bleu (yessss, I do love me some H.S. Musical!)
Kyle=Logan Lerman from Percy Jackson
Tammy=Jamie Lynn Spears from Zoey 101
Nicole=Miranda Cosgrove from iCarly
5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A teenage girl compiles a list of eighteen things to complete the year of her eighteenth birthday at the suggestion of her therapist as a way to heal from the pain of her best friend’s death and in the process discovers a big secret that will change her life forever. (And breathe . . . I’ve never had to do that before and I hope I never have to again, lol).
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will be published by Curiosity Quills Press.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
About two months. Then I rewrote a few parts, polished, and scrubbed for *cough, cough* . . . um, too many months to keep track!
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Stacey Kade’s Ghost and Goth Trilogy.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Lots of people, but mostly Jesus, George Lucas, and my hubby!
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? It’ll challenge your mind, turn your world upside down, make you question why you are here, make you fall in love with larger than life characters, and give you some good LOL moments (well, that’s what my betas told me so I’m hoping they’re not pathological liars) . Those are the makings of a true literary marauder. And I will hire those really scary clowns from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights to chase you around your house until you buy it. Just kidding . . . maybe.
Tag! The following five people are IT!
1. Allison
2. Kirsten
3. Tamara
4. Pk hrezo
5. Nancy S. Thompson
Speaking of Nancy . . . I’d like to feature her AWESOME trailer for her upcoming book. Enjoy and see you next Wednesday–hopefully I can reveal my own book cover by then *squeeeeeeeee*
Jamie Ayres 
Nancy’s trailer is great!
And your list of who inspired you made me smile.
In every author’s speech I make, I’m gonna say, “And before I begin, I’d like to thank George Lucas for his inspiration and hope he’s not a stickler for copyright.” hahaha
The trailer’s goood. Very intriguing! LOVE Deborah from TB. Beautiful woman. I missed the entire HS Musical craze but Efron had me @ 17 Again. And yes, isn’t George Lucas awesome?! Spielberg, Cameron and he are my hereos. Can’t wait for 18 Things’ debut 🙂
Ohmigosh! 17 Again . . . must go watch again:-)
Ah Jamie, hippity-hop and off we go again. I love that you and the “crew” from Alex to my dear friend PK have yet another challenge I can follow. Love the description of the book, always love your posts 🙂
Thanks for hopping by:-)
I remember first hearing about your book a year or so ago during a blogfest (GUTGAA, maybe???). It’s always intrigued me so. I can’t wait to read it! But your cast dates me, makes me feel pretty old that I only know a handful of those names. It would make a fantastic film though. Anyway, thanks for the shout out & for featuring my trailer. I really appreciate your support! As for the Next Big Thing, I did that one a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun. But yeah, writing a one-sentence logline is tough. I’ve had to do it for my pub & a writer’s conference. Thanks again, Jamie!!!
Yes probably GUTGAA! Now I get to be a judge for it this year . . . are you doing that too? Anyway, figures you’ve already been tagged but I thought it made a great lead in:-)
I love knowing more about your book! And I’m certain Zac would be perfect as one of your MC’s.
I’d probably creep him out following him around the set though. The director would constantly be yelling, “JAMIE! YOU’RE IN THE SHOT AGAIN!” Me: *tongue hanging out*. . . oops, sorry guys!
Yay! Your book sounds amazing, and I’m sure Deborah would love to be the main character in the movie. She’ll only be in my movie for one photograph and that’s all! 😉
If I could pick someone to look like, I’d be her! Soooo pretty
That is SO cool that your book is coming out. You must be crazy excited. I actually already played this game once when someone else tagged me, but I’m going to play again cause it’s fun and I’m really missing my first manuscript. It will be cool to dust it off and answer some questions about it. I really tried to get an agent for it, with no luck–but now that I’m done Against the Falling Moons, I’m going to revise parts of Skipping Time and try it again.
And, when I answered the casting questions about Against the Falling Moon, I totally cast Zac Efron as my MC, Luc. I also cast Logan Lerman as his best friend, Sin. haha. Apparently we have similar taste in barely legal guys. hehe
Thanks for picking me. Your book sounds really cool!! I love your logline. 🙂
SOunds fun . . . can’t wait to read your post:-)
Thanks for the tag! Your book sounds fantastic. I love that you were inspired by Jesus and George Lucas! haha. You rock!
They’re a winning combo!
I was just talking about Zac Efron the other day. He’ll always be 17 to me and I can’t think of him any other way. I’ve loved your story idea since I read it in the CQ contest. ;0)
Thanks for the tag! I am soooo doing this one. 🙂 I especially love that I get to cast my characters. I’ve been thinking about that question all day, ‘cuz now that Zac Efron is busy starring in your book, I’ll have to find somebody else. 😉
I enjoyed the trailer too. I missed it when Nancy had it on her site, so I’m glad I had a chance to catch it here.
Aw, I just love the sound of your book. Can’t wait to read it.
And wow Jesus and George Lucas in the same sentence got the wheels in my brain cranking! lol
Thanks for the tag!! 😀
Chocolate and caffeine influenced – love it. The premise of your book sounds so good. Can’t wait to read it.