Lorina Stephens was kind enough to tag me in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop, which is a Goodreads promotional enterprise among indie authors and publishers to highlight authors and books which might otherwise slide under the radar of many readers.

We all answer the same 10 questions, which allows readers an opportunity to receive a brief overview of either a published work or a work in progress.

1. What is the working title of the book?

Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

I grew up reading comic books. I always wanted to be a superhero myself and tried various things to get my own super-powers (too goofy to go into at this point). When I started writing, I knew the story of a boy who wanted to become a superhero was one that I had to eventually write.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult (YA) Fantasy

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Tough question. I haven’t really seen any young actors who could pull off Mik right now. Jennifer Lawrence would be great as Miss Purdy. John Schneider as the father and Amanda Tapping as the mother.

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

8-year-old boy decides to become a superhero and protect his town.

6. What is the longer synopsis of your book?

Mik Murdoch, a kind-hearted eight-year-old decides to become a superhero after watching Spider-man at the movies. His first challenge though is how to do it? Can he somehow get super-powers through radiation or chemicals? If so, how? He begins his journey by striving to gain powers of his own, helping people along the way and dealing with issues that all young people face (like bullying). He eventually comes to realize that the true mark of a hero isn’t any special abilities but how you work to help people and be a good person. 

7. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Mik Murdoch was published by Five Rivers Publishing on August 1, 2012.

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

22 days. The first draft was written during NaNoWriMo.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My love of comic books was really the basis of this book. I also wanted to write something that my children could read and enjoy.

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

While this book is a YA fantasy, the characters are very real. Mik faces a lot of hard choices and problems that most, if not all, children come up against. Bullying, peer pressure, self-sacrifice and loss. Mik is a kid who makes both bad and good choices and he has to deal with the repercussions of both. I’ve read chapters of the book to my Scout Troop and to others and the things Mik does to try and gain super-powers have had them all groaning and giggling at the mis-adventures.

Mik is the boy I would like to have been when I was young.

The novel is available in both print and eBook versions through online retailers globally, and will soon be released as an audiobook through Iambik and Audible.

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop bounces over to Aaron Kite on January 23rd. Aaron’s debut novel,  A Touch of Poison, is coming out later this year.

Tags: 5 rivers, aaron kite, boy superhero, five rivers, five rivers publishing, lorina stephens, Michell Plested, mik murdoch, nanowrimo, next big thing blog hop