The Next Big Thing for Sunshine and Siestas

When I met Karen, I found her heartwarming and easy to relate to. She welcomed me into her circle of friends with open arms and the promise of food. It’s no surprise, then, that her first book is doing so well on amazon and in print! Dancing in the Fountain: How to Enjoy Living Abroad is the story of Karen and her husband’s decision to leave Cleavland and set out on a new life in Seville. From a lost dog on the trip over to renovating a lovable, if not dilapidated, flat on Seville’s busiest botellón street, Karen’s attention to the little details that make living life in Seville so sweet is paramount.

When she asked me what my Next Big Thing is, I was excited to be in good company. The truth is, there are so many things I’d like to do, so all of these sunny days spent inside at my computer – typing away blog posts, editing photos, working on my master’s in PR – will eventually get me to where I’m going.

What is the working title of your newest project?

Top secret, sorry! Hoping to launch it sometime in 2013, once I’ve completed a master’s.

Where did the idea come from for the project?

Five years of making it work in Seville. Five years of people telling me to make it happen.

This also confused me back home in Chicago.

And five years of being confused half the time.

What genre does your project fall under?

Somewhere between Fifty Shades of Being embarrassed on a Daily Basis and The Seven Habits of Jaded Expats.

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

Something once told me I looked like Michelle Trathenberg in the “Harriet the Spy” films. Since the only memorable thing about Michelle is her role as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl, I’m not willing to have her play me!

It would make sense to have someone with my Irish looks, speak fluent Castilian Spanish and be awkwardly nervous when first meeting people. I always said I wanted Anne Hathaway to play me in a movie (I’ve loved her since Princess Diaries), and would love Tina Fey to embody me, but I swoooon over Rachel Adams! Paint some freckles, tell her to gain some weight, and let her run loose in Seville!

I think it would be more funny to cast the parade of characters who have become part of my life in Spain. Who would get Kelly’s mannerisms? And imitate Kike’s funny dance moves? Like any author, I would die to get in on those castings and be able to say, “Um, no, you need more personality in that bilingual berating” or “Sorry, but your dancing isn’t awkward enough.” Any ideas??

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The Guiri’s Handbook to Surviving Life in Seville.

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

Going to be my own GAA hero. Haha, that’s my last name.

This will be a labor of self-hosted love. Total control.

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

At the moment, the manuscript I’ve got are ideas jotted down on hotel napkins, lesson plans and post-its in my day planner. I’m a sporadic thinker, but my other priorities at the moment are taking precedence.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Seville, on its own, is an inspiring place, but I needed to find a way to take it to the next level. I heard Dave and Deb from the PlanetD talk about how success in blogging comes from taking what you’re passionate about, mixing it with your talent, and finding a way to make money off of it. I love my personal blog and my voice, but it doesn’t turn over the revenue I need it to. So, time to diversify!

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

I’ve learned after five years of waiting in line, confusing words in Spanish with dirty ones, and nodding slowly without understanding what was going on. I’m going to make all of that simple for you.

I’ve got tons of friends who are doing really incredible things with their lives, so look for their posts next week for their next big thing (and follow them, too, because sharing is caring!):

The Spain Scoop- Nancy and Regina run a fun travel site about Spain, covering every topic you’d imagine and every region in Spain. They even let me write for them! Visit their page.