Author Ru Freeman invited me to play writer-tag. Read about Ru's newest book HERE (available mere months away) while I lace up my Chucks, and visit her blog at www.rufreeman.com. Below, my answers to the question "What Are You Working On, Writer Dude?"
1.What is your working title of your book? The Brothers Jetstream: Leviathan (originally 'The Brothers Jetstream: Afropuffs Are the Antennae of the Universe' -- Yeah. We'll put that one away and save it for the sequel...)
2. Where did the idea come from for the book? A long time ago, in the library of Wayne State University, a group of white students were talking, I have no idea about what, but it had the feel of Dungeons & Dragons. When I--a tallish black guy--approached their table they stopped as though a switch had been flipped. Not a lull, a complete and total stop. I immediately thought "secret enclave" and became the character Milo Jetstream, on a mission to destroy secret enclaves everywhere. It was a funny, goofy name befitting a ridiculous, goofy situation, and this funny, goofy name stuck with me through the years, decades really, even getting Milo a brother: Ramses Jetstream. Now, if you have two black brothers named Milo and Ramses Jetstream, there is absolutely no way they are not going to be adventurers against the status quo, and raconteurs of mystery.
3. What genre does your book fall under? Science fiction adventure. Buckaroo Banzai by way of Ralph Ellison.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Milo, Michael Jai White. Ramses, Idris Elba. But this blockbuster movie would work best with an unknown cast.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Adventurers fight to give truth and art one last stand.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? There's publisher interest... but we know how that goes. Agents/Publishers, call a brother!
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I started this between 2 other books that I wanted to self-publish to get a taste of what the whole Kindle/Nook bid was like, so it's been in the slow cooker on low for about 3 years. This year I kicked the temperature to high to complete the first draft.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? As mentioned, Buckaroo Banzai (but that was a movie), but book-wise: The Coyote Kings: Space-age Bachelor Pad.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book? All the science fiction and adventure that told me to sit back while the daring white guy saved the world. The English Major in me said, 'Hey, I'm a daring guy... for a nerd. I'm sure there are some cooler, daring, black guys who could save the world.' Like to see them? Here they are!
10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest? It features a beef with Bigfoot between the main characters. And there's a group of angels called The Battle Ready Bastards.
NOW CLICK HERE, QUICKLY!
1.What is your working title of your book? The Brothers Jetstream: Leviathan (originally 'The Brothers Jetstream: Afropuffs Are the Antennae of the Universe' -- Yeah. We'll put that one away and save it for the sequel...)
2. Where did the idea come from for the book? A long time ago, in the library of Wayne State University, a group of white students were talking, I have no idea about what, but it had the feel of Dungeons & Dragons. When I--a tallish black guy--approached their table they stopped as though a switch had been flipped. Not a lull, a complete and total stop. I immediately thought "secret enclave" and became the character Milo Jetstream, on a mission to destroy secret enclaves everywhere. It was a funny, goofy name befitting a ridiculous, goofy situation, and this funny, goofy name stuck with me through the years, decades really, even getting Milo a brother: Ramses Jetstream. Now, if you have two black brothers named Milo and Ramses Jetstream, there is absolutely no way they are not going to be adventurers against the status quo, and raconteurs of mystery.
3. What genre does your book fall under? Science fiction adventure. Buckaroo Banzai by way of Ralph Ellison.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Milo, Michael Jai White. Ramses, Idris Elba. But this blockbuster movie would work best with an unknown cast.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Adventurers fight to give truth and art one last stand.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? There's publisher interest... but we know how that goes. Agents/Publishers, call a brother!
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I started this between 2 other books that I wanted to self-publish to get a taste of what the whole Kindle/Nook bid was like, so it's been in the slow cooker on low for about 3 years. This year I kicked the temperature to high to complete the first draft.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? As mentioned, Buckaroo Banzai (but that was a movie), but book-wise: The Coyote Kings: Space-age Bachelor Pad.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book? All the science fiction and adventure that told me to sit back while the daring white guy saved the world. The English Major in me said, 'Hey, I'm a daring guy... for a nerd. I'm sure there are some cooler, daring, black guys who could save the world.' Like to see them? Here they are!
10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest? It features a beef with Bigfoot between the main characters. And there's a group of angels called The Battle Ready Bastards.
NOW CLICK HERE, QUICKLY!
"Afropuffs are the anetennae of the universe." I love it. You are officially the funniest person I know.
ReplyDeleteSister, that shameless attempt to get another pie recipe out of me worked. Blueberry or peach? (Gracious Revolutionaries, if you haven't read any of SVH's Robin Hudson mysteries, click/copy paste to laugh your buttocks down a size in time for summer: http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Gotta-Hudson-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B006PPPVTY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362353036&sr=1-1&keywords=sparkle+hayter )
ReplyDeleteBlueberry! I already have your peach cobbler recipe. But no need to send dfit now. I'd much rather you finished this book. I'm dying to read it and then see the screen version so I can complain about how it's not as good as the book. :D
ReplyDeleteOh, the movie will suck. Somehow or other Channing Tatum will wind up playing Milo Jetstream. Mofo Sis, you rock my little writing world!
ReplyDelete