Jen Minkman - YA Paranormal and Dystopian Author

Thanks to Irma Geddon for tagging me on this blog hop! Her blog can be found here: > http://irmageddon.com

1: What is the working title of your book?
The Boy From the Woods. Actually, that was the very first thing I came up with. I started writing the story with that title in mind.
2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
Strangely enough, watching the story 'Ondine' (with Colin Farrell) inspired me, even though there is absolutely NO reference to mermaids of any kind in the story.
3: What genre does your book come under?
It is a contemporary romance with paranormal elements and a little bit of mystery.
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Tough one! I think I would choose Cassie Blackwell from 'The Secret Circle' as the female lead, Julia, and Mick St. John from 'Moonlight' as the male lead, Michael. But they should both be younger, about 18 years old :)
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Girl gets dumped by her major crush, but boy suddenly wants her back after having a brush with death... and he seems to have really changed. Can he win back her heart? (< okay, that's two sentences, sorry!)
6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
It will be published by an independent publisher in Holland (because the book was originally written in Dutch) and will be self-published in English everywhere else. Same with my first paranormal romance 'Shadow of Time' which is already out on Amazon.
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
A few months. After that, I was so busy promoting my other books in Holland that I let it be for a while and then came back to it after half a year to have a fresh look at it.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I don't think there are any, but if I had to name one, I would choose 'The Tricksters' by Margaret Mahy. 
9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I guess my many walks in the forest with my late grandmother made me love the woods so much that I wanted to write a story about it.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
It will actually be one of the very first trade-published YA paranormal romance novel in Dutch. In my own country, most publishers buy the rights to bestselling foreign novels in this genre, which unfortunately puts us Dutch nationals at a disadvantage. I am therefore very proud I persevered and made sure it would get published here in the Netherlands.