Hi guys! Guess what? I made it through the Rafflecopter round of The Writer’s Voice Contest. A rather large thank you goes to the organizers: Monica Bustamante Wagner of Love YA, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat.), Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, and Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes. So now it’s time to post my query and first 250 words of my manuscript: YA historical with magic. Boo-ya!
Query:
Every woman in the Tesmond family line inherits prophetic abilities they must keep secret. Seventeen-year-old Carlotta yearns for the freedom to use her gift, but in the tiny hamlet of Greer, seers are met with swift trials and a hangman’s rope.
When Count Durante’s handsome son Hector discovers her hidden talent, he sails for Greer and kidnaps Carlotta, planning to use her visions to end the war in his homeland of Melita. Despite her formidable abilities, Hector somehow foils every attempt she makes at escape, always—maddeningly—one step ahead. She’s never met a boy she despised more and still dreamt of kissing.
As pirates pursue them, complicating the journey to Melita, Carlotta struggles with a new prophesy, one directing her to assist in the war effort, instead of finding a way home. Risking deadly consequences, her heart knows only one path—the one leading toward Hector, the boy haunting her dreams.
THE SEER is a YA historical with magic complete at 90,000 words.
My YA urban fantasy novel CRUX was published July, 2012 with J Taylor Publishing.
Below please find the first 250 words of the manuscript per contest rules.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Julie Reece
***
First 250 words:
Carlotta tensed, bound by her curse. A yellow mist enveloped her mind, wrapping it like the silken threads of a cocoon. She always resisted—at first.
Her fingers buried themselves in the hair at her pulsing temples. She winced as she pressed too hard upon the fresh bruise caused by a flying rock. Thrown by a pack of Greer children, tainted by their parents’ prejudices concerning the local ‘witches’, their missile had found its mark yet again.
Fighting her curse was useless, so she lowered her hands, and opened her consciousness, preparing for what the vision would reveal.
The mist cleared, yet she could not see.
She sensed a man in the dark space, shrouded in secrecy. Drawing her to him, his powerful lifeforce ensnared her.
“You will help us.”
“You might have asked,” she answered without knowing why.
“Does one need ask for what is already theirs?”
You are a bold one. “In this case, and as you need my help, yes.”
“Then I yield and make my request a formal one. Will you aid us?”
The cry of thousands swelled within her breast, crushing the air from her lungs. The dark man’s pain rose distinct above theirs to grip her heart, binding her to him.
“You want me to free them?” Her voice trembled. “I don’t know how.”
“You will … and incur both reward and loss.”
A cost? There always is.
“Your answer, Milady?”
“You have my word.”
“Look you then to the seas …”
May 2nd, 2013 at 12:53 pm
BOO YA!
May 2nd, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Hey, you! *waves* Thanks for dropping by 🙂
May 2nd, 2013 at 10:03 pm
Pirates and magic? AWESOME. Good luck!
May 3rd, 2013 at 1:46 am
I’m scooping up the good wishes. I covet them, thank you!
May 3rd, 2013 at 12:38 am
Once again I’m in awe. You rock
May 3rd, 2013 at 1:45 am
Aw, thanks my, friend!
May 3rd, 2013 at 4:28 am
Wow, that is a really captivating beginning. Good luck!
May 3rd, 2013 at 2:01 pm
I think I’d like to be a little more grounded in her actual surroundings before she has her vision (hard to do when you’ve only got a limited amount of words), but I did enjoy the exchange between the two characters. 🙂
May 3rd, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Thanks for the feedback, Annette! I actually have two warring beta readers on this issue. LOL. Another version of my ms has two paragraphs leading into this scene. I’ve gone back and forth on which is better. Thanks so much for your insight and for stopping by 🙂
May 3rd, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Pirates? Magic? What a fantastical premise. Good luck, Julie!
May 4th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Enjoyed your entry very much. The premise looks very intriguing. Best of luck to you! 🙂
May 4th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Great idea for an adventure story – sounds fantastic! Good luck!
May 5th, 2013 at 1:31 am
“She’s never met a boy she despised more and still dreamt of kissing.”
What a great query! Good luck in the contest.
May 7th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Sounds like an amazing story. Would definitely read something like this. Best of luck to you!
May 7th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Thanks so much! I really appreciate that 🙂
May 9th, 2013 at 7:40 pm
“Hi, Julie! I WANT YOU AND THE SEER ON TEAMCUPIDSLC13!!!!!!!!
I love the historical setting with the romance! And I love the intriguing set up in the first page! Yaaay! Excited to work with you on this!!
Come join me and TeamCupidsLC on Mt. Olympus!!”
~Cupid
YIPEEEEEEE CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! *Stuffs confetti cannon with hot pink sparkles and cupcake icing* BOOOOOMMMMM!!!!
~Sarey
May 9th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
OMG OMG OMG! Doing stupid dork dances and fangirl squeeeing!
Thank you so much. Freaking out.
XOXOXOXOXO