I’ve been tagged by my new friend, writer JJ Marsh, to do this meme.
The idea of this is that a writer puts up a post on his or her own blog answering ten questions about his/her work in progress, and then “tags” three writers to do the same. Then, the writer posts a link to his/her “tagger” and to the people he/she is “tagging” so that readers who are interested can visit those pages and perhaps discover some new authors whose work they’d like to read.
I’ve chosen to focus on my completed – and soon to be debut – novel Balthasar’s Gift, rather than my work-in-progress, because the latter is still in bits and nowhere near being a coherent, pleasing whole of which I can speak in sensible sentences. It’s still at the stage of being a feeling, a synopsis and a few thousand words on my laptop. However, when I do think about it, I feel little short shards of joy that are painful and pleasing at the same time – but it’s too close to talk about.
So, herewith, I give you The Next Big Thing meme:
What is the working title of your book?
Balthasar’s Gift. It was always so. My German publisher has indicated that it will need a different title in German, which is probably sensible as Balthasars Geschenk doesn’t have much of a ring.
Where did the idea come from for this book?
Two places. First, a huge feeling of rage that Thabo Mbeki’s government were denying that HIV caused AIDS and thus killing people with their lack of action. Second, an image of a juggler. I put the two together.
What genre does your book fall under?
It’s crime. The first draft was literary fiction, but luckily I woke up to the fact that this story needed to be told in a very specific way, and by a very specific character who I needed to create specifically for the purpose.
Which actors do you have in mind to play in the movie of your book?
I wrote this role for Charlize Theron. But if she turns it down, my other choice is Jodie Foster, circa The Accused. As for the love interest, Spike, I spotted him on the street in Heidelberg a few weeks ago but I’m not sure if acting’s his gig.
What’s the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Oh bloody howl. This is so difficult. Here’s a little something I wrote last night but it’s by no means the final version:
Journalist Maggie Cloete has no idea what she’s in for when she investigates the murder of Balthasar Meiring, an AIDS activist, and discovers that the family of AIDS orphans he’s taken in are being targeted by a dubious local politician and a posse of vengeful gangsters.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I have an agent, who has sold the German rights to a publisher in Hamburg. We are still looking to nail down the English rights. However, if we don’t succeed in selling BG into the English market, I have not discounted self-publishing. It’s a lot more respectable nowadays, especially if authors are happy to be both professional and entrepreneurial.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the novel?
Fifteen long months. This baby has been slow in the making: four years, in fact. However, I think by writing a novel I have learned how to write a novel and with better planning, Karkloof Blue will take less than half that time.
Which other books in this genre would you compare to your novel?
It’s Nadime Gordimer (South Africa, politics, pain, race, redemption) meets Janet Evanovich (gritty, acerbic, tart).
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Inequality – the unfair deal some people get and the privilege others get just by dint of birth – and how people challenge their birth-right to make a new world for themselves.
What else about your book might pique a reader’s interest?
It’s feminist crime fiction. I believe in turning over stereotypes – men as warriors, women as victims – and giving power to the disempowered. Writing that was a lot of fun, but it was also a challenge to me, as I had to keep to keep questioning my own filters and biases and trying to break through those. Whether I’ve succeeded fully still remains to be seen.
Who to tag?
Well this meme has been around some, but how about these favourite writer friends of mine?
If I haven’t tagged you, please feel free to play!
Charlotte's Web 
November 14, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Excellent.
I cannot wait to read Balthasar’s Gift. My German is rudimentary at best, so I will have to wait for the English version.
I also think I will take this meme on myself. Having just drafted my book proposal (which is now being professionally edited) I have some thoughts on the book that are bite-sized and (hopefully) digestible.
Brilliant, Charlotte. Even when you’re writing about writing, you engage your reader.
November 14, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Hooray, Sandy! Consider yourself tagged. (Am also deeply curious to hear more about your book …)
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November 19, 2012 at 4:58 am
I really enjoyed reading about your novel to come. I hope it does get English rights, but if not, let me know when it is published by you, so I can get a copy. it sounds good, interesting, and it’s a mystery – and like your commentator said, you can make answering these questions interesting. So I want to read your novel. The one word synopsis was fun, too. I use it also in my writing – it does help to focus the story I find, when I remember what the synopsis is. Good luck Charlotte, and really, my fingers are crossed that the English rights will be sold to someone, and soon.
November 20, 2012 at 9:45 am
I too might have to wait for the English version of your book to come out – either way I am looking forward to reading it.