Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Writer's Voice


Title: Diamond Tears

Entry #104
Genre: YA Fantasy
Word Count: 65,000

Query

When her father does things like slam her head into the fridge, sixteen-year-old Emma Sullivan copes the only way she knows how: she steals her mom's pain meds and piles on extra makeup. What really hurts is that her mom would rather pretend she's a total klutz than admit life is less than perfect. Emma has no one in her corner until she meets her late grandfather's best friend, Ed Rossi. Certain that her grandfather would've done anything to stop the abuse if he'd known, Ed helps Emma run away and promises to keep her out of her father's hands.

Ed's plan goes to hell when Emma finds a magic key that belonged to her grandmother and ends up stranded in another world. Things only get worse when she meets some of the locals—people who think having a key that'll always take them home is worth killing for. Won't even be all that hard for them, since they can all shift into animals that could literally tear her apart. Except Robin, who's been bullied ever since everyone realized he's just a robin (hence the nickname). Robin sees Emma as his ticket out and plans their escape. Given the mob of shifters out for her blood, joining forces with Robin is her only real option. They begin searching for a key that can lead Emma home, all the while trying to find Robin his fresh start.

Emma knows going home, where magic is nothing but fiction and people don't even know about the keys, is the logical choice. Ed promised her the safe and normal life she'd always dreamed of. But as she moves from world to world, she can't decide what she really wants. Sure, magic can be super dangerous. Any member of the fairy royal family could probably kill her with a thought. Or there's the Shakespeare-obsessed firebird, who has a tendency to set things on fire when he gets frustrated. But she's just as fascinated as she is afraid. And as Robin shifts from reluctantly accepted partner to the most important person in her life, she has to decide just how safe she really needs to be.

First 250 Words

When my left temple slammed into the refrigerator door, I knew I'd have to get up extra early the next morning. It would take forever to do my makeup and hair so no one would see the damage. My vision blurred to a whitish haze for a couple of seconds, and I took that opportunity to go limp, dropping to the floor. Not because I needed to. No, I could take much more than that without going down. But because he lost interest when he thought I was out for the count.

"Emma?" my father muttered, nudging my side with the toe of his three hundred dollar shoe. I didn't react in any way. He cursed under his breath, and I heard the sounds of his footsteps through the floorboards when he walked away. "Grace!" he shouted as he moved toward the back of the house. "Emma fell again and hit her head! She's in the kitchen!"

I could hear the murmur of my mother's voice, but couldn't distinguish any words. I knew the gist of her reply anyway. Oh, poor, clumsy Emma, always hurting herself. Of course I'll go help her. Why don't you relax and have another glass of wine, dear? Even if that wasn't what she said, it was close enough.

Thanks mom.

I heard the door to my father's office slam, followed by my mother's hurried steps. I waited long enough to make sure he didn't change his mind and come back, and then picked myself up off the floor.

17 comments:

  1. This is super interesting... love the fantasy element to what is typically a contemporary story. Best of luck in the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I absolutely LOVE the sound of this. Great premise! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This entry looks great! Good luck in the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your first 250 words are great - so powerful, and they really paint Emma's suffering. I'm really intrigued by the fantasy plot twist, too. Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your first 250 - really made me feel for the MC. Good luck!

    Andrea #32

    ReplyDelete
  6. Interesting mix of fantasy and contemporary. Good luck in the contest! April #61

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, you really got me to relate and care for Emma in the query. I love that she's not perfect--she has her flaws, and that makes her all the more loveable. Great job with characterization, and good luck!

    SC (#159)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Ashley, I'm visiting your blog from the Writer's Voice Contest, and I wanted to wish you the best of luck! I'm also now your newest follower, so: nice to meet you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for all of the comment love! It's so exciting to know that people are able to connect with my character! I wish all of my fellow contestants the very best of luck! :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! Very gritty. You've done a great job of connecting a real world problem to a fantasy element in a meaningful way. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Whoa - this is compelling. I'm guessing the reason her father is such a jerk is tied in somehow to the fantasy element? I want to know! :) Really gripping opening. That dad has to pay! Wishing you the best - #197

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very interesting, Ashley. :) Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm already hating the abusive dad. Nice job bringing in emotions early on. Makes the reader immediately sympathize with the protagonist. Well done!

    Good luck!

    ~Cherie #136

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the title. Good luck!

    ~Nicole, entry 68

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just stopping by to say good luck!

    Krystalyn #87

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, holy emotions Batman! I went from being heartbroken and angry for Emma to being super intrigued by the world-building in your query paragraphs. Powerful stuff! Best of luck :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gripping.
    Best of luck!
    Carolyn, #157

    ReplyDelete