The Next Big Thing is a blog chain in which participating authors answer ten questions about their current work in progress or upcoming publications. A friend of mine, Susan Furlong-Bollinger tagged me in this ongoing blog chain. You can stop by the Books Gone Viral blog at booksgoneviral.blogspot.com and learn about her forthcoming cozy mystery “Murder for Bid.” You can also read more about Susan on her website at www.sfurlongbolliger.com.
What is your working title of your book (or story)?
License to Lie
Where did the idea come from for the book?
License to Lie came about after a conversation about how men and women perceive the world differently. I immediately thought of a novel in which two characters experienced the same events, but gave their separate interpretations. It evolved past that premise into a book with alternating chapters using a “he said, she said” format. The characters don’t necessarily experience the same events, but they are working toward the same goal.
What genre does your book fall under?
License to Lie would be considered a novel of suspense.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Skip, who is a forensic hypnotist, would be played by Jeffrey Donovan of the TV series “Burn Notice.” Roxy, the consummate con artist, would be played by Hayden Panattiere, currently starring on “Nashville.”
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Never trust a soul…even your own.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
License to Lie will be published by Oak Tree Press in mid December.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first draft of License to Lie took six months to finish.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
This is a very difficult question to answer because the concept of dual protagonists runs against the conventional wisdom of “Thou shalt only use one protagonist.” In License to Lie, both characters have equal roles and the story is about how they both change, not just about one of them. However, of those books that are currently out, the difficulties the characters face in trying to avoid the obvious attraction that exists between them reminds me of “The Other Woman” by Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Oh my gosh, this argument is as old has the hills. It’s Mars vs. Venus; the war between the sexes; the difference between what he said and what she said. It all comes back to the same premise, I.e., men and women think, act, respond differently to situations as do those who come from opposite sides of the law. I wanted to bring that into play.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Here’s the tag line for the book: With $5 million and their lives on the line, can a determined criminologist and a beautiful con artist learn to trust each other—or themselves?
Hi Terry,
I love the License to Lie aspect of having two perspectives. It really adds flavor! Great article. Loved reading Photo Finish…McKenna character brought me to tears (laughing). I don’t normally laugh out loud when reading and actually startled my wife a couple times. Good job!
I like the idea of two protagonist working toward the same goal. What a great premise! I can’t wait to read License to Lie. Sounds like a great book, Terry. Enjoyed the post.