What is the working title of your next book?
I am working on two--The Daughter of Nostradamus and A Poet for the Dead.
I am working on two--The Daughter of Nostradamus and A Poet for the Dead.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The whole book of Daughter came from the title of the one short story of the same name. Although much has been said about Nostradamus, he still seems enigmatic because of his predictions and relatively scandalous reputation. I thought it would be great to make him even more notorious and give him some terrible offspring. And I wanted this book to be about women--horror featuring women as the lead character. A Poet for the Dead started by changing nursery rhymes to bleak interpretations of the sweet poems they once were. Some were funny--for example:
Jack and Jill went up the hill
A'runnin' from the zombies
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill ate him
Don't know if that one will make the book--but that is how it started. :)
The whole book of Daughter came from the title of the one short story of the same name. Although much has been said about Nostradamus, he still seems enigmatic because of his predictions and relatively scandalous reputation. I thought it would be great to make him even more notorious and give him some terrible offspring. And I wanted this book to be about women--horror featuring women as the lead character. A Poet for the Dead started by changing nursery rhymes to bleak interpretations of the sweet poems they once were. Some were funny--for example:
Jack and Jill went up the hill
A'runnin' from the zombies
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill ate him
Don't know if that one will make the book--but that is how it started. :)
What genre is your book?
The Daughter of Nostradamus is certainly horror. Dark, depressing, psychological, medical, medieval horror. Each story is different, and half are written by my friend, author Lucy Bloodwell. A Poet would probably fall under horror too.
The Daughter of Nostradamus is certainly horror. Dark, depressing, psychological, medical, medieval horror. Each story is different, and half are written by my friend, author Lucy Bloodwell. A Poet would probably fall under horror too.
What actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Natalie Portman as a young Anna in Daughter of Nostradamus, and Isabella Rosallini as she gets older.
I think Jeff Goldblum would make a wonderful Nostradamus.
And although Dave Navarro is a guitarist, he sure has a good look for the movie!
Natalie Portman as a young Anna in Daughter of Nostradamus, and Isabella Rosallini as she gets older.
I think Jeff Goldblum would make a wonderful Nostradamus.
And although Dave Navarro is a guitarist, he sure has a good look for the movie!
Since A Poet will be illustrated, I will use a classic drawing by Edward Gorey to show my inspiration.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your books?
The Daughter of Nostradamus would be: Thirteen desperately dark tales from Penelope Crowe and Lucy Bloodwell. Hold onto your crosses...
A Poet for the Dead would be: Even the dead deserve lullabies.
The Daughter of Nostradamus would be: Thirteen desperately dark tales from Penelope Crowe and Lucy Bloodwell. Hold onto your crosses...
A Poet for the Dead would be: Even the dead deserve lullabies.
Will your books be self-published or represented by an agency?
Not sure about that yet. All of my books as Penelope Crowe have been self-published at this point, but I have a few things on the horizon that might lead me in other directions.
Not sure about that yet. All of my books as Penelope Crowe have been self-published at this point, but I have a few things on the horizon that might lead me in other directions.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Hard to say. Some parts I tear through. A few of the stories I wrote in no time, literally just poured right out in one sitting. Others I am still struggling with.
Hard to say. Some parts I tear through. A few of the stories I wrote in no time, literally just poured right out in one sitting. Others I am still struggling with.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
The story The Daughter of Nostradamus is probably like a mixture of something by Poe because it has an older feel to it, much older than any of my other stories. Carcinex could be compared to The Hot Zone or It's Alive--medical/scientific disaster that is touted as a miracle. Hard to say because there are many stories. I would compare A Poet for the Dead to Edward Gorey--it will be illustrated.
The story The Daughter of Nostradamus is probably like a mixture of something by Poe because it has an older feel to it, much older than any of my other stories. Carcinex could be compared to The Hot Zone or It's Alive--medical/scientific disaster that is touted as a miracle. Hard to say because there are many stories. I would compare A Poet for the Dead to Edward Gorey--it will be illustrated.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
For Daughter it was the title. It all came from the accidental utterance of that phrase. Then I could not get it out of my head. Poet is just a compilation of things that have been happening for years--it was just a matter of getting them in one place.
For Daughter it was the title. It all came from the accidental utterance of that phrase. Then I could not get it out of my head. Poet is just a compilation of things that have been happening for years--it was just a matter of getting them in one place.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
One of the stories in Daughter is purposely vague, and although the tale is told, the reader is left to figure out how all the characters relate to one another, if at all. The anthology will appeal to the true lovers of dark horror. One of the stories, ABSORBED, was number one in short stories and number two in horror on Amazon for many weeks. Poet will be for you if like like the dark side of things...very dark.
One of the stories in Daughter is purposely vague, and although the tale is told, the reader is left to figure out how all the characters relate to one another, if at all. The anthology will appeal to the true lovers of dark horror. One of the stories, ABSORBED, was number one in short stories and number two in horror on Amazon for many weeks. Poet will be for you if like like the dark side of things...very dark.
Here are five lovely authors I’ve tagged to tell you about their Next Big Thing:
Brooklyn Hudson--http://brooklynhudson.blogspot.com/
Jason Duke-- http://shadowsfromthewasteland.wordpress.com/
RaeAnn Hadley--COMING SOON
Kristy Carey--www.vintagefusionsjewels.com
Dawn Torrens-- http://dawnsdaily.com/2012/11/20/my-next-big-thing/
Brooklyn Hudson--http://brooklynhudson.blogspot.com/
Jason Duke-- http://shadowsfromthewasteland.wordpress.com/
RaeAnn Hadley--COMING SOON
Kristy Carey--www.vintagefusionsjewels.com
Dawn Torrens-- http://dawnsdaily.com/2012/11/20/my-next-big-thing/
Now that was fun! I might have said it before, horror isn't my thing really, but this is something I MUST pick up! I recently read Alfred Hitchcock's, Stories to be Told With the Door Locked and I loved it. I had previously read a similar book of his, Stories to be Told With the Lights On & this kind of reminds me of those, only a little creepier, if that's possible. Thanks for sharing "The Next Big Thing" ~ you may just be right:)
ReplyDeletePaul R. Hewlett
Thanks Paul! I can only hope you are right.
ReplyDeleteI love Hitchcock too :)
I saw The 39 Steps on Broadway not too long ago--was orignally a dark war-type story...somehow through re-writes and Broadway magic they made it hysterical.
Amazing :)
Thanks so much for stopping by--love the support.
XO
Pen
Pen you are such a talent!
ReplyDeleteThanks Van.
DeleteGlad you stopped by--and I appreciate the nice comment.
XO
Pen
Looking forward to your new stuff Pen---looks very interesting
ReplyDeletePenelope I have to agree with Van you have an amazing talent :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul--thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not up your alley though--too scary :)
XO
Pen
You have such amazing talent that seems to flow so naturally! I am excited and looking forward to your new work!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Dawn!
ReplyDeleteI know horror is not for everyone but I guess I am slightly obsessed :P
I think my family wishes I was hooked more on something that would teach me how to cook and clean better--oh well!!
Thanks for coming.
XO
Pen