THE NEXT BIG THING GLOBAL BLOG CAMPAIGN

 

I'm happy to announce that today I'm hosting THE NEXT BIG THING blog campaign.

 

This is my opportunity to be part of an international campaign that began in Australia.  Authors and illustrators of books for kids and young adults talk about their recently published books and/or those that are soon to be released.  Each author who has been nominated turns around and nominates other authors.  We all respond to the same questions about our work.  Think of it as a global game of "Tag."

 

My next big thing is the true story of Monty, a remarkable rescue dog with an international following on Facebook.  From Nicole who rescues him, Julie who nurses and loves him, Dr. Balfour who treats him, Ginnie who adopts him, to his fans around the globe -- Monty's loving spirit captures hearts with his I-can-do-it grin and a wagging tail.

 

 

What is the working title of your next book?

 

Monty: A True Survivor's Story

 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

 

I was a part of Monty's social networking campaign and I knew the moment I heard his story that it was one that must be told.

 

What genre does your book fall under?

 

Nonfiction

 

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in the movie rendition?

 

Monty should play himself at least part of the time.  He has charisma, good looks, and that famous Monty smile.  As for the human cast.  I polled a few of Monty's friends and here are the results-- Nicole: Melissa McCarthy, Mel: Eliza Dushku, Dr. Balfour: Gerard Butler or Paul Rudd, Ginnie: Kristen Davis.  Julie suggested a contest to fill her character's role with an unknown.  Perhaps there should be a role for Sandra Bullock who has adopted two special needs dogs -- Poppy, who lost a hind leg do to an accident and Ruby, born with only her two back legs.

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

I worked about 6 months on the first draft.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

 

Abused, shot and left for dead in the desert, Monty is taken in by dedicated animal rescuers who launch an eighteen month long campaign via social networking that saves his life and makes him a world-wide celebrity with thousands of fans.

 

 

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

In content and style, MONTY fits between "Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance” Walker and Co.  2011 and  "Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again" Scholastic 2009 (feature film 2011).

 

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 

I've long had an interest in dog rescue and welfare issues.  I've fostered numerous dogs in addition to the rescue dogs that are part of my family.  I've walked picket lines to raise awareness about puppy mills, bailed dogs out of shelters, bottle-fed orphaned puppies, cared for the sick and injured, assisted at births, and shed tears over abandoned or abused dogs that didn't survive in spite of heroic efforts by veterinarians.

 

 What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

 

Even though Monty eventually lost a leg, he was adopted into a loving forever home. That could have been the happy-ever-after ending to his story, but Monty had more to share.  He went on to inspire others who are struggling to recover from devastating injuries and he leads the way in the annual Wag 'N Walk put on by Animal Rescue Volunteers Simi Valley, CA to raise money to aid other abused and abandoned animals.

 

 The Next Big Thing: Laurisa White Reyes is known by her writing friends as "the one with five kids." The most common question she's asked is "how do you find time to write?" to which she replies, "I don't. So I have to make time." After earning her B.A. in creative writing too many years ago than she cares to remember, she spent more than a decade writing for magazines and newspapers, and even worked two years as an editor for a small press. She gave up all that six years ago to live her dream of writing novels. Her first book, The Rock of Ivanore, published in 2012 with Tanglewood Press, began as bedtime stories for her son. The sequel, The Last Enchanter, comes out this October. Laurisa lives in Southern California with her family, 5 fish, 4 birds, 2 turtles, 2 bearded dragons, 1 dog, and a partridge in a pear tree.

 

 

See Laurisa's blog July 11at http://laurisareyes.blogspot.com/
Her next book is The Last Enchanter