Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Next Big Thing

My thanks to Delinda Mccann http://delindalmccann.weebly.com/blog.html for inviting me to be a part of this week’s The Next Big Thing blog posting group.

The Next Big Thing is a meme that is creating an ever-growing wave through the blogs of authors who write in a variety of genres, with each participant answering the same questions about either a work in progress or a work currently being marketed. Each author then chooses five other authors to keep the chain going. The following is my contribution:

What is the title of your book?

. . . And the Whippoorwill Sang

How did you come by the idea?

The idea for the title was originally, "And Then There were Five' but there was a book on Amazon with that title. I was writing the part in the book with the help of one of my daughters, about how much Noelle loved the illusive whippoorwill that sang happy songs in springtime and guttural dirges of sorrow in autumn when it had to fly south. My three younger girls tried in vain to find the nocturnal bird but only even caught sight of it's tail feathers. Noelle loved all birds and drew pictures of them. We researched the bird and found that legend has it that the whippoorwill helps carry the souls of the departed to Heaven--and then we knew we had our title.

What genre does your book fall under?

Non-fiction/family/memoir

Which actors would you choose to play your characters if it were a movie?

My grand kids think Glen Close or Susan Sarandon should play me and a young Christopher Plummer would be perfect for my husband as he was a "Sound of Music" dad. My six kids would have to have different actors for different years of their lives. The time period I wrote about would have had Michelle Phillips as my oldest daughter, Kimber, Valerie Bertonelli as Kelly, Jaqueline Smith as Noelle, Scott Baio as Dante, Cindy Nicholas as Nicole and a very young Tom selleck as Michael.

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

Happy times, a sunny, a driving drunk, eight lives forever changed.

Will your book be self-published or traditional?

Traditional- Lspdigital with publisher Linda Daly

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

This first half was finished about seven years (1988) after the tragedy, but then I ran into a memory block caused by the trauma, and two heart attacks , plus two open heart surgeries, the need to help my oldest daughter raise her young sons, and did not write the second half until 2006, helped by the memories of my other children.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It's definitely a book like, "Cheaper by the Dozen" with a sad, bittersweet, yet uplifting ending.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

This book is a death bed promise to my dying daughter that I would let the world know who she was and somehow make her death stop other DWI deaths. I will promote this book until the day I drop.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Readers love the comedic escapades, and "Erma Bombeck" style humor by me. They love the way I weave the historical happenings into the story. Most readers feel they have literally jumped into the story with my family and me and feel like a part of us--something that touches my heart.

The authors I’ve chosen to continue the chain are:







22 comments:

  1. And what a wonderful book it is! I recommend it highly!

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  2. Micki's book comes highly recommended. Just check out her reviews http://www.amazon.com/And-Whippoorwill-Sang-Micki-Peluso/product-reviews/1466497076/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

    Described as wonderful, poignant, funny, and tragic...

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  3. I can honestly say this is a book you don't want to miss reading. You will laugh and cry as you become a part of this family. The writer writes from her heart and she draws you in. I know because I have read it twice and will read it again sometimes in the future. This is the type of book that you read more than once.

    Ciao,
    Patricia

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  4. Deirdre, Thank you so much!!

    Sharla, so happy to have you stop by and make such nice comments!!

    Patricia,

    You and another friend also named Pat are the only ywo friends I know who reread my book--hck it even starts to bore me!! I so glad you do!!

    Micki

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  5. Micki what a wonderful interview. I am slowly getting through it one chapter at a time and will timely post my review on amazon, or do you just want me to hurry and post it and give you five stars now:):):) Because what I've read so far it is amazing, funny, sad and raw honesty.
    Your one in a million.

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  6. Such a heartwarming post Micki. As you know, I am reading your sweet book as we speak and I am anxious to write a review in the hope that I will do your work justice. I completely empathize with your loss and know first hand that the sadness never goes away, although the sweetest memories will always bring a smile to your heart as though she is right beside you, no farther away than the next room.

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  7. The interview looks good. I'll add my voice to the praises for And the Whippoorwill Sang. It was an excellent read--funny, heartwarming and inspirational.

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  8. Lori, finish it first because it ends a little upbeat. Funny, I thought you read it already and did a review--losing my mind.

    Linda, it has occurred to me that this book may be too painful for you to read having lost a daughter who even looks like mine--so please do not continue reading it if it brings back sad times for you.

    Delinda, thanks, I am so glad you liked it.

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  9. Micki,
    I loved your interview blog answers. You are such a delightful writer as witnessed by many. I too have now read your book twice-that says a lot as not many books hold my attention long enough let alone- twice!
    Looking for a release? Laugh and cry with Micki-a Must read.

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  10. Wow! When a reader want to keep reading your work it says so much about the message yo have to share.

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  11. Anyone who has lost a child because of a drunk driver should read this to help them heal.

    Micki, I love your writing style and I'm sure Noelle is smiling down at you from Heaven.

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  12. Rosemary, thanks so much and I can't believe you're actually reading it twice, although I often browze through your travel book which is always on my coffee table :)

    Jon, thanks so much--that's a great compliment!!

    Trish, So many supernatural things happened as and after the book was written that we are aware she's here still. I have a great picture up om my fb fan page showing my great grandson, Seth at her tombstone. His father was born on the same day as Noelle died, two years later--his two year old face is so pensive you would swear he senses something. Noelle still after all these years never lets any of us find her gravesite without a long hunt--she messes with us :)

    Hugs to you all, Micki

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  13. I LOVE Mickis book so much! It was one of the first ones I read, written by a "fellow writer" I "met" online... and I was fascinated. It made me laugh and cry and thinking...
    Thank you for sharing this - and thank you VERY MUCH, Micki, for giving me the chance to be part of this chain!!!
    Hugs
    Raani

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  14. Micki, please do not take down this post. I am Tweeting and Hooting! Love you :-)

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  15. Thanks, Sharlaa, I have 47 followers but they either don't visit or don't leave comments. I'm typing up your poetry book review tomorow--it got too late tonight.

    Love, Micki

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  16. Warn me to get the tissues next time. Much love for you and your family

    Louise

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  17. Louise, sorry about that--tried to make it a celebration of her life, not a eulogy of her death but you can see how that worked. Thanks for dropping by!!

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  18. Nice interview Micki, and now that I can comment on your blog I will be visiting more often:)

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  19. Lori, always nice to see you. I haven't been getting your bog posts lately?

    Micki

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  20. Please, Micki, leave this post up! I'll publish on Google once in a while! And you know your book is on my Website! I'd like to see people what a wonderful author and person you are by reading this post too!!!

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  21. OKay Raani, but I have to soon add the group list here since I don't know how to work my website, so it will be down under the list in about a week. I'm doing a new interview the 28th--if it's good you might want to post it on your site. I taking the best of all my interviews and trying to make a superb one.

    Love you, Micki

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  22. Micki,

    I don't see anyplace special to leave a remarks, so I am leaving it here. I want you to know that I hope yo do not delete this post. I will do a little more to encourage others to read it as well. Many blessings, Louise

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