Great News!

I'm so very excited to announce that I'm a finalist in the 200 word limit novel contest through 'Gearin' Up To Get an Agent' (GUTGAA)! The competition was FIERCE, goodness, I've never seen so much creativity in one place! Click here if you're interested in checking out the rest of the finalists! It's a privilege to have made it this far, and good luck to all!

Also, do you remember how I told you about my two eldest joining the swim team? If not, you are welcome to read about it here and here. Well, guess what? My 8 y/o, who is the worlds biggest sissy and wouldn't leave the side of the wall, let alone let her face get wet as of last summer, has managed to make it not only to A Regionals, but then went on to qualify for State! So, this Friday we're going on a road trip! Tomorrow night she'll walk in a parade-like at the Olympics, and then on Saturday she gets to race!

This is the final stretch of a very long road for us, and a memory I know she'll hold dear the rest of her life.

Hope everyone has a wonderific rest of the week!

Week 4: Gearin' Up To Get An Agent

So this is it, the last week of Gearin' Up To Get An Agent Blogorama aka GUTGAA. This week we were asked to post the first 200 words of our MS. Before I do so, I would like to give a big fat thanks to Deana, the ingenious mastermind behind all of this. It is only because of her diligence and hard work that this came together so beautifully. I would also like to thank the judges and peers who have participated! I have had the privilege to meet many fabulous, incredibly talented writers over the last three weeks, and I've loved every minute of it! I hope we stay in touch, urging each other on in our creative endeavors.

And now, onto my little offering this week.

A very short excerpt, the first 200 words of my YA Fantasy/Paranormal novel, Bound:

I see the note right away, perched on top of an avalanche of textbooks and binders that threaten to tumble out when I open the door. Delivered in the same fashion as the ones before it—slipped through the thin grate at the top of my locker. Also like the others, the cruel words inside fail to match its unassuming pink envelope.

Do us all a favor and kill yourself.

The scent of Abby’s favorite perfume rolls off the page, thick and sweet, nauseating.  This time my old ‘friend’ hasn’t bothered to disguise her handwriting. I look down the hall to find her staring my way, face bright with anticipation. She’s at her locker with her latest best friend, Maddy, by her side. When our eyes make contact she grins, and then leans to whisper in Maddy’s ear. Maddy quickly looks in my direction, expressionless. 

I notice they're dressed for tonight's game. With that same vindictive smile in place, Abby fiddles with the captain's pin she has hooked to her red and grey cheerleading uniform. The same pin I used to wear till I returned it to Coach last October, walking away from that part of my life.