Shelley Watters is holding a competition.
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| Judith Engracia |
All you have to do is post the first 250 words of your manuscript for a chance to win a 10-page critique!
The guest agent for the competition is Judith Engracia of Liza Dawson and Associates.
Judith is building her client list and looking for all types of fiction, especially middle grade, young adult, urban fantasy, steampunk, and paranormal romance.
Title: STARRING
Genre: MG Magical realism
Word Count 30,000 words
Lucas Orme is a Twink, accepted at Tallin School because he has a glimmer of magical ability. It is bad enough to know you are failing, but Lucas knows it's worse to not remember and the Twinks who fail to meet the standards are wiped. Lucas passes a test, mostly by accident but he and his friend, Rowland, are accused of Starring - forcing magical ability to develop, by using magic - and the punishment for the crime is fiery.
STARRING
Mist from the river lay low and soupy, but not as thick as usual. It was well past midnight. Moonlight illuminated the grounds outside. It shone in at the first floor landing and pinned Lucas in its spotlight when he transferred his weight onto the top step and the whole world creaked.
The night staff desk was suddenly silent. The shushing sound he made wasn’t a wish or some well-worked magic: Lucas cursed. He whispered it a lot. Frozen - one foot hovering between steps - Lucas waited. Matron's snore began again, painful and high, like air escaping from the mouth of a stretched balloon. Lucas placed his foot as close to the wall as he could. He grinned. He risked the next couple steps more quickly.
"You won't be able to get out," a voice whispered, "the doors are charmed at night." In the shadow that fell over the first set of Quarters, Rowland, the Class Captain, leaned against the wall.
Lucas' heart flipped from anticipation to disappointment.
“Why?” Rowland moved in to the moonlight, “It’s not like your par–”
"I hate it here," said Lucas. Crumpling onto the step, he grabbed his bag and squeezed the air out of it.
Rowland held one palm to the landing behind him, put an index finger to his lips and said, "Shh!"
Lucas felt his fine hairs rise. The sound from his bag went from strangled to silent. Lucas jumped back to his feet again. "See?" he whispered loudly, "That's what I'm talking about. I hate it here."
I would love to read your thoughts on this wip. Thank you. :D
