Thursday, January 17, 2013

My New Book: The Big Reveal

As some of you know, I have been working on a new novel forever for the last four or five months. This one followed a different pattern than most of my previous manuscripts, with more complicated use of language (which made the writing go more slowly) and numerous revisions based on feedback from my first readers and my agent, Elaine Spencer.

From the very beginning, Elaine and I were both really excited about this one; it was an idea no one had come up with yet (that we could find, anyway), and yet fit beautifully with the popular trend of modern fairy tales and fantasy romances. So I have been pretty secretive about the book, not wanting someone else to say, "Hey! What a cool idea! I'll write one of those." (Not that a book by someone else would be anything like a book by me, but still...)

Now, however, the book is going out on submission (meaning it is being sent to editors at the various publishing companies), and I think it is finally safe for me to share with you...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

 The Baba Yaga
For those of you who aren't familiar with the name, Baba Yaga is a figure from Russian fairy tales--usually portrayed as the "wicked witch" kind of witch, but also sometimes as a guide, or even a goddess figure. I took the character and updated her, making her into a not-quite-human kick-ass modern heroine. 

Here is the "blurb" (like what you'd find on the back of the book) for The Baba Yaga:


Baba Yaga
Blurb

You may think you know about Baba Yaga: the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales who lives in a hut that moved about on chicken legs, rides in a mortar and pestle, and eats small children if they misbehave. But you’d be wrong. For Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather, a title carried by a chosen few whose job it is to guard the borders between our world and the Otherworld and keep the balance of nature.

Barbara Yager is a Baba Yaga; trained since childhood by the previous holder of the title. Older than she looks, powerful beyond measure, and so far removed from the life of normal mortals, she has little in common with the human life she was born to. She travels through the country in an Airstream trailer, riding a classic BMW motorcycle and masquerading as an herbalist and researcher while she fulfills her duties. When she is summoned by a woman who is desperate to find her missing child, Barbara finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit, battling human enemies and Otherworld creatures, and most unexpectedly, her own heart.

Liam McClellan is the Sheriff of rural Clearwater County. Since a tragedy tore his life to pieces years before, he has dedicated himself to his job; protecting and serving the people who look to him to enforce the law. But after five children disappear in four months, without a trace or clue, Liam is beginning to wonder if he should hang up his badge. The sudden appearance of a beautiful woman with a dubious background and a curious habit of turning up where he least expects her makes him place her at the top of his suspect list, despite her uncanny gift for helping those in need. But as the danger mounts, and weird and inexplicable occurrences beset Liam and those he vowed to keep safe, he has to wonder if Barbara Yager is his enemy—or his only chance to save the lives of innocents in a world he no longer recognizes.

Natural gas drilling, political shenanigans, grieving parents, three mysterious motorcycle riders, twisted beasts out of nightmares, and yes, there are dragons. Because when Baba Yaga comes to town, nothing will ever be the same again.

You have probably heard of Baba Yaga—the archetypal wicked witch of Russian tales who lived in a log hut that walked about on chicken legs, rode through the forests in a giant mortar that she steered with a pestle, and ate small children if they didn’t behave. According to legend, Baba Yaga usually appeared as an ugly old crone, although she also wore other faces, and sometimes gave aid to a worthy seeker, if such a one could pass her tests.
You probably think you know who Baba Yaga is. But you’d be wrong. Because I am Baba Yaga, and this is my story.


What do you think? 

Anyway, wish me luck as my baby goes out into the world. And don't forget to enter the contest (found on the previous blog post) to win a Llewellyn Witches' Calender with my work in it. 

27 comments:

  1. Deb, sounds very interesting and certainly seems new and fresh. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks Kathy--new and fresh was what I was going for :-)

      Publishing is tricky, because they want something completely different...as long as it is like the things that are already out there and doing well.

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  2. It's an AWESOME book and some editor is going to be smart and snap it up, I know it.

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    1. Thanks, Jim! Alas, no goblins in this one...but there is a dragon disguised as a large white pit bull, and some pretty suspicious paranormal creatures.

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  4. Sounds fabulous! A totally new take on Baba Yaga with all sorts of other stuff mixed in! I can't wait!

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  5. I love mystery!!! Sounds like a great one!

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    1. This is a fun mix of mystery, fantasy, and romance. Something for everyone, one hopes!

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  6. I think it's brilliant. But you already knew that. ;)

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  7. I LOVE it! It's definitely fresh and interesting while sliding neatly into an existing, high-sales genre. WIN-WIN BABY!!!!

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  9. Wow. Weird formatting issues in the Chrome browser. Sorry about the delete and repost. Anyway, fantastic idea, and best of luck to you!!!

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  10. Sounds interesting... I've been so engrossed in nonfiction lately, but I think you are going to help pull me back into some enjoyable and intriguing fiction! ;)

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    1. Thanks Mel--have you read the epublished novel I have up?

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  11. Deb - this sounds so intriguing. I can't wait to read it! I have enjoyed your other novels tremendously but this sounds like it may be the best yet! What a great idea.

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  12. This sounds terrific. I love the genre of reframing old stories as long as it's a REAL reframing and not just a retelling! I look forward to hearing about your soon to be signed contract with a huge advance and an enormous print run...and a contract for three more books. AS I WILL IT SO MOTE IT BE!!!!

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  13. This sounds very cool. I studied Russian Literature and French Literature in college, so I will be waiting for this to hit the shelves! Awesome = Horoshii!

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  14. I want to read this book! It sounds awesome. :-)

    Blonde Betty

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  15. This sounds great! I can not wait to read it. Lots of luck with it!!!

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  16. I've never heard of this before. Which is great. Love new tales with witches. Can't wait to read when it comes out. Good luck with submissions.

    Dawn Chartier

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  17. Okay, I'm interested. Now all I need to know is where to find a copy.

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