K. A. Laity

Weird Noir: coming to print!

About a month ago I got tagged by my pal Vic Watson to talk about my ‘next big thing’ (i.e. work in progress), and I just got retagged by Kemberlee Shortland and Nancy Holzner, so here we go again. Sadly, I’m not yet done with this novel:

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing

What is the working title of your book?

White Rabbit.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

A couple of things: I was at a talk and concert by Spacedog’s Sarah Angliss in Hackney and I scribbled down the phrase, “luminiferous ether.”I didn’t have any plans for it at the time, I just like the way it rolled around in my head. I had decided I wanted to write a crime/noir novel (I blame Mr B who led me into the genre like a stranger with candy) and then I realised I had the first line. Then it started rolling and it’s just kept rolling.

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s crime, but it’s got some supernatural elements, so I guess I could maybe fit it under the weird noir umbrella. What can I say? I like the neighborhood.

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

Tilda Swinton. She could play all the parts and it would be amazing. The love scene would be particularly interesting, so I guess I better write one.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A fake psychic who might not be, a murdered trophy wife, a ruthless media mogul, a weird drug cult: it spells trouble for someone. Wow, I have to work on that hook.

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

I’m far too lazy to self-publish so I’ll have to seek out someone to publish it. I’m sure someone will eventually. I hope. Eek.

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

I’m still writing it. I started in August and I’m up to 27K 32K but the pace has slowed as the semester started and I got this flurry of publications (and started the novella too, like an eejit).

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

I’d say it’s a mash up of Dashiell Hammett, Hunter S. Thompson and the lyrics of Mark E. Smith, but that would sound pretentious so I’ll just say the Dandy and the Beano.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Well, the title gives away a connection to Lewis Carroll and Jefferson Airplane, but a more apt inspiration comes from the B movie Blue Sunshine, which I was obsessed with for a while years ago and can only remember the vaguest bits of now — but what I recall must matter. And the three wise men above.

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

There’s a ginger cat! And a character inspired by my pal Chloë, so there’s some salty colorful language. I like to think it’s funny. It makes me laugh anyway. >_< But it’s also creepy and atmospheric, or I’m trying to make it so.

OTHER NEWS

NoirCon write up tomorrow (I hope). My idea for an art installation, ‘Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful’ is featured at Wild Violet this week. I am crazy busy and full of ideas but really short on time. In addition to the novel, there’s a novella in progress that I want done this month and there’s a short video idea and I was going to make a trailer or two as well. We shall see.