Tagged

K.C. Shaw, author of the awesome Evil Outfitters, Ltd (among other awesome stories) and lover of lists, especially lists that have been crossed off, has tagged me. I'll respond using my work in progress

What is the title of your book? 
The Knife That Parts The Night
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The main character, a thief named Amra Thetys, has made more than a few references about her rough childhood. In this, the third book featuring her, that childhood comes back to haunt her, in some ways literally. The idea came from an article I read years and years ago about the street kids of Brazil, and their plight- which includes off-duty officers paid by local businessmen to form death squads to get rid of the petty theft problem these street kids pose. 
What genre does your book fall under?
Sword & Sorcery
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Um. Oh, my. Well, since this is Hollywood we're talking about, Amra would have to be played by Milla Jovovich. Her partner, Holgren, would be best served by Adrien Brody.
What is a one-sentence synopsis of the book?
If I could put it all into one sentence, I wouldn't need to write the book. Let's give it a try, though: When someone sends you your long-ago enemy's head in a box, really, really consider just burying it in you back garden and forgetting all about it.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I'm done with agents, querying, and traditional publishing. 
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Well, it's a work in progress, as they say. I wrote the first two exploratory chapters eight years ago, and the outline five years ago. But since I just completed another book in the series, and since sales have started to pick up a bit, I've got some momentum now.
What other books would you compare this story to in your genre?
If you like Leiber's Fafhrd & Gray Mouser or Brust's Vlad Taltos series, you might dig this.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
There were a few people who a) prodded me to take back the publishing rights for my first novel from Random House and self publish, and b) urged me to write more Amra stories. So thanks to Ann, Anthony, SarahP and Phil, the most prominent, or at  least proximate, of those. And thanks to all the readers who had nice things to say about the first two Amra stories. I hope this next one does not disappoint.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Every time someone mentions my books to their friends, a puppy and/or kitten is saved from certain doom.
I'm s'posed to tag, but you know. That thing.

I suppose it had to happen.

So I uploaded The Blade That Whispers Hate to Smashwords, to check for formatting issues (it's currently there for free in all its first draft glory). Smashwords is the only place I've uploaded it.

Imagine my surprise when I saw it was being offered at Amazon. For $1.99.

At first I was like 'whu?' and then I realized.

Some bright spark pirated it and put it up on Amazon, hoping (I suppose) to make a quick buck before they were shut down.

Dude, I'm not that popular.

Anyway, I've notified Amazon, and posted a warning review.

The first draft, it is done.

The Blade That Whispers Hate is now officially a novel, with a beginning, middle and end.

It's now gone off to the motley crew known as the beta readers, who will delight in mocking my every typo, misspelling, grammar fail and monkey-brained plot twist.

2 chapters, (about 4,000 words) to go.

How soon is now?

Well you say it's gonna happen now
But when exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long...

(t.A.T.u.'s version, as I prefer to look at them rather than Morrissey)

#

Regarding BWH: I don't know how soon. It's coming. It's just decided to be... slightly more than I'd plotted out.

We're getting close. Really Close.

If all goes well, the first draft will be completed this week.