The Next Big Thing -Two Old Fools on a Camel

Out of the blue, my good friend, Kiersten Rowland, contacted me and asked if I’d like to take part in the Next Big Thing online event. She’s a passionate animal and wildlife lover, and writes a brilliant blog about life and times in the Alpujarras. Of course I said ‘yes’. For you, Kiersten, anything!

The Next Big Thing is a series of questions that authors answer. So, *deep breath*, here goes:

What is the working title of your book?
Oh good, that’s easy! ‘Two Old Fools on a Camel’, subtitled ‘From Spain to Bahrain and back again’.

Where did the idea come from for the book?
It’s actually the third in the Old Fool series. The first two were about our life in a tiny Spanish mountain village, and ‘Camel’ is about our year teaching in the Middle East when the Arab Spring erupted last year.

What genre does your book fall under?
Oh, that’s a hard one! Can I pick three genres? It’s probably Memoir, Travel, Humour, and Cookery. Oh dear, that’s four…

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Hmmm… Julie Walters or Meryl Streep could play me. And I need somebody grumpy to play Joe… How about Jack Nicholson?

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Just one sentence? Okay… Two Old Fools spend a year in Bahrain, teaching Arab kids as the Arab Revolution breaks out. Oh, I forgot, with Arabic recipes.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
All my books take a year or more, because life keeps getting in the way. And grandchildren. And fiestas. And vino… It’s a miracle that I ever get any finished.What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Um, I don’t think I know of any. Sorry.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I’m so excited to announce that the lovely NADIA SAWALHA, (actress, presenter and winner of Celebrity Masterchef) has generously given me permission to use her recipes in my book! As I wove Spanish recipes through my first two books, I shall do the same with ‘Camel’ using Arabic recipes. Delicious!

And now I’d like to pass the torch on to these other writers, so that they can tell us about their Next Big Thing.

Alan Parks I can’t wait for this one! Alan’s written a great book, to be launched very soon, called ‘Bloody Hell, What’s an Alpaca?’ It tells of his move to deepest, rural Spain and how he and Lorna started up an alpaca farm. I’ve already seen excerpts, and believe me, this book is going to be fascinating!

My friend Sophie McCoy (Twittername @OneLittleEgg) is a TV producer/director and a very special lady. She’s just finished putting together a wonderfully uplifting book, ‘Tales from the Coop’, to raise awareness about battery hens. I challenge you not to laugh and cry when you read this!

Karen Wheeler Karen did a very brave thing. She threw away her high heels and glitzy media career to find peace (and maybe love) in rural France. Was she successful? Find out in ‘Tout Sweet’ and its sequels, all excellent books.

Karen McCann has written a really refreshing book called ‘Dancing in the Fountain’ about her life in Seville. Creating a new life in an old European city has never been so delightful, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny. Thoroughly recommended!

Molly Campbell Award-winning Molly’s ‘Characters in Search of a Novel‘ is very funny, and totally unique. Each story is a quick & often rib-tickling read, just what you’d want on vacation, in a waiting room, or on a long plane ride. What a perfect Christmas gift, or gift to yourself!