The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I was tagged by my friend, Margaret Larsen, of the Words and Works blog for the Next Big Thing blog hop. I agreed to answer questions about my latest middle grade/YA novel in 'The Borderlands Trilogy.' 'Secrets of the Medicine Pouch' is a mystery/adventure for all ages, but written particularly for young readers.

Q: What is the title of your current work?
A: Secrets of the Medicine Pouch, Book Two in The Borderlands Trilogy

Q: Where did the idea come from for the book (series)?
A: This series was born out of my love for indigenous culture, particularly Tohono O'odham tradition of the SW, resulting from years of middle school classroom teaching

Q: What genre does your book fall under?
A: Middle grade/YA fiction, mystery/adventure

Q: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
A: 'Danny Rivas' - Layne Alten (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Cold Case), 'Diego 'Digs' Ramirez' - Arsalan Ghassemi (Iranian child actor), 'Old Joseph' - Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves)

Q: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A: Wise old Joseph; a Tohono O'odham healer, his grandson, Danny Rivas, and Danny's pal, Diego 'Digs' Ramirez, risk their lives to unravel the secrets of Chief Jonathan Gray Horse's sacred medicine pouch and save their people from destruction

Q: Is your book self-published or represented by an agency?
A: Represented by an agency - Andrew J. Whelchel III, GTR, Inc., Elizabeth, CO

Q: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
A: The first draft took four months

Q: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
A: 'Touching Spirit Bear,' Ben Mikaelsen   'Hatchet,' Gary Paulsen   'Crossing the Wire,' Will Hobbs

Q: Who or what inspired you to write this series?
A: My inspiration comes from the struggles of O'odham reservation families to provide a better life for their children

Q: What else about your series might pique the reader's interest?
A: The three books in the series: 'Gift of the Desert Dog,' 'Secrets of the Medicine Pouch,' and 'Coyote-meeter's Abyss (coming in 2013), are adventure/mystery stories which take place in the dangerous desert/mountain borderlands area of southern Arizona

Q: Where can readers purchase your books?
A: All titles can be purchased at B&N, B&N.com, Amazon.com, and all independent booksellers (greater Tucson - Mostly Books, Bookman's, Green Valley Book Shop)

Q: How can readers contact you?
A: Visit me at my website: www.robertlhunton.com  Follow me at my blog: www.desertdogblog.blogspot.com   Follow me on Twitter: @DesertDogWriter