It is a time for quiet reflections. Not the calm and serene ones because the smooth waters are interrupted by drops making ripples.
One of the most gentle of gentlemen died unexpectedly. For many years his unassuming, affable influence permeated from behind his raised newspaper like the wreaths of smoke that drifted above his invisible head.
I'd sit and watch his slippered foot bounce to the rhythm of a lilting Irish melody, and wait. He knew I was there. He would wait, until I began to fidget. Slowly he would lower one corner of the broadsheet newspaper, his defence against the pack who had invaded the quiet world he and my aunt inhabited, and grin. His round face was one great smile.
He, to me, was the other way to be - composed and tranquil - I didn't know what it was he had when I was small - fifth of eight, with six brothers (three younger and three older) all still living at home - but I knew he had something I didn't see anywhere else, envied him, I loved him.
Uncle Sean, I hope all the traditional Irish greetings were true for you.
You are missed.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
a tiny query *shush!
Dear Agent
I am seeking representation for NEAR EDGWARE, a YA paranormal romance complete at 72,200 words.
Sixteen year old Jess Trainer does not understand Caleb Ridgeway. He alternates between interest and the cold shoulder. She could manage her emotions if he did not give her reasons to hope, but this on-off attraction drives her to the brink of stalker status.
Aware that the insular Ridgeway brothers have unique abilities, she suspects this why Caleb says their relationship cannot develop. When she finds out he is part of a pack rather than a family she is plunged into the seething war of attrition being fought in the woodland between those born human and those born were. Caleb is so traumatised after an attack Jess fears he will never recover. Can Jess help him back to reality, back to a time before the pain, back to her love?
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be happy to send you the synopsis and first three chapters.
Sincerely
Elaine Smith
Then I had an amputation to perform. Dr Anne said it was necessary and she had a lot of second opinions.
NEAR EDGWARE
CHAPTER 1
A FEW SMALL DIFFERENCES
Dad parked infront of the white, stone entrance. Even there I could see things had changed. On the new school crest a beast stood on two legs. With sharp teeth and raised claws, it glared down at the visitors to school.
I scanned the familiar, red brick building as I walked around the car to join Dad, "It looks different... larger than I remembered. Have I shrunk?"
Dad put his hand on my shoulder as we stepped into the reception area. He pressed the buzzer, and my arm, while we waited.
The secretary wove between the desks towards us, her expression was brighter that the "Welcome to Woodford College" banner on the wall.
"Hello, I'm Simon Trainer. This is my daughter, Jess. We're here to see the Headteacher."
She picked up a pen and tapped it on the diary, "Mr McIntyre is in his office. I'll let him know you've arrived. Please, push the green button and I'll let you in."
We sat beside the office and watched her hurry down the brown tiled corridor. I smoothed the fabric of my trousers over my knees, made sure my toe tapping was invisible inside my shoes.
"Mr McIntyre will see you now," whispered the assistant when she arrived back beside us.
Glancing at Dad I saw him narrow his eyes and straighten his shoulders, "It'll be fine."
We followed the secretary into a room dominated by a long, curved desk. Our view of the new Headteacher was limited to a glimpse of his mid-brown hair, and the jacket of a charcoal suit, as Mr McIntyre turned to reach into a low drawer in the filing cabinet behind his chair. I watched his chest expand as he drew in a deep breath before he swivelled back around.
I am seeking representation for NEAR EDGWARE, a YA paranormal romance complete at 72,200 words.
Sixteen year old Jess Trainer does not understand Caleb Ridgeway. He alternates between interest and the cold shoulder. She could manage her emotions if he did not give her reasons to hope, but this on-off attraction drives her to the brink of stalker status.
Aware that the insular Ridgeway brothers have unique abilities, she suspects this why Caleb says their relationship cannot develop. When she finds out he is part of a pack rather than a family she is plunged into the seething war of attrition being fought in the woodland between those born human and those born were. Caleb is so traumatised after an attack Jess fears he will never recover. Can Jess help him back to reality, back to a time before the pain, back to her love?
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be happy to send you the synopsis and first three chapters.
Sincerely
Elaine Smith
Then I had an amputation to perform. Dr Anne said it was necessary and she had a lot of second opinions.
NEAR EDGWARE
CHAPTER 1
A FEW SMALL DIFFERENCES
Dad parked infront of the white, stone entrance. Even there I could see things had changed. On the new school crest a beast stood on two legs. With sharp teeth and raised claws, it glared down at the visitors to school.
I scanned the familiar, red brick building as I walked around the car to join Dad, "It looks different... larger than I remembered. Have I shrunk?"
Dad put his hand on my shoulder as we stepped into the reception area. He pressed the buzzer, and my arm, while we waited.
The secretary wove between the desks towards us, her expression was brighter that the "Welcome to Woodford College" banner on the wall.
"Hello, I'm Simon Trainer. This is my daughter, Jess. We're here to see the Headteacher."
She picked up a pen and tapped it on the diary, "Mr McIntyre is in his office. I'll let him know you've arrived. Please, push the green button and I'll let you in."
We sat beside the office and watched her hurry down the brown tiled corridor. I smoothed the fabric of my trousers over my knees, made sure my toe tapping was invisible inside my shoes.
"Mr McIntyre will see you now," whispered the assistant when she arrived back beside us.
Glancing at Dad I saw him narrow his eyes and straighten his shoulders, "It'll be fine."
We followed the secretary into a room dominated by a long, curved desk. Our view of the new Headteacher was limited to a glimpse of his mid-brown hair, and the jacket of a charcoal suit, as Mr McIntyre turned to reach into a low drawer in the filing cabinet behind his chair. I watched his chest expand as he drew in a deep breath before he swivelled back around.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
I might be 2,940 to him but he is first to me
Slightly side tracked from my work, I accidently logged into my Twitter account.
OMG!
I found my ninety-first follower.
I clicked to see who was selling me something I didn't want
and guess what?
You never will, so I'll tell you -
it was like this -
(oops - I've already done that part) -
my ninety-one is number one...
my first ever Poet Laureate!
No?
Yes!
No, friggin' way!
Yes, friggin' way!
I've got my very own Poet Laureate on the line,
well, page.
See, I'm not greedy, other people might want a brace
of Poets Laureate to chase
And now I've thought of it
stalking Poets with the monicer Laureate is apppealing
but that will have to wait
'cos I'm a bit psyched:
I might be 2,900 and-what-ever to him
but, he's number one to me!
Drop by any time you like
I'm cool
No gushing here.
Just me
and little poetry.
LARRY JAFFE - POET LAUREATE
YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
International Reader for the UNs Dialogue between Citizens etc
can pop by for poetry, or tea, any time he likes!
OMG!
I found my ninety-first follower.
I clicked to see who was selling me something I didn't want
and guess what?
You never will, so I'll tell you -
it was like this -
(oops - I've already done that part) -
my ninety-one is number one...
my first ever Poet Laureate!
No?
Yes!
No, friggin' way!
Yes, friggin' way!
I've got my very own Poet Laureate on the line,
well, page.
See, I'm not greedy, other people might want a brace
of Poets Laureate to chase
And now I've thought of it
stalking Poets with the monicer Laureate is apppealing
but that will have to wait
'cos I'm a bit psyched:
I might be 2,900 and-what-ever to him
but, he's number one to me!
Drop by any time you like
I'm cool
No gushing here.
Just me
and little poetry.
LARRY JAFFE - POET LAUREATE
YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
International Reader for the UNs Dialogue between Citizens etc
can pop by for poetry, or tea, any time he likes!
Still writing revisions of the Query letter
This is still long :( Can you spot any obvious things to cut?
Dear special Agent
The attraction sixteen-year-old, Jess Trainer, feels for Caleb Ridgeway is driving her to the brink of stalker-staus because his hands linger even while he is trying to push her away.
Jess abuses her position on the Year Book Committee to dissect the Ridgeway brother's files. In their previous school and the bizarre meanings of their full names she finds two possible reasons why Caleb and his brothers isolate themselves to the finges of all social circles . Given the choice between private-school snob and werewolf, the second option seems more desirable.
Their relationship plunges Jess into the seething war of attrition being fought in the woodland around Woodford between human hunters, once-human "werewolves" and those born Were. Jess finds this reality hard to stomach, she loves someone who is neither human nor wolf - he is Were.
It is Jess who runs to call back the others who were out on patrol and prevents a massacre when the pack are attacked by feral, once-human, Were.
In the aftermath of the attack, when only one of the feral Were escaped justice, Caleb is so traumatised the pack fear he may never recover. Despite the danger Caleb could kill her, or worse, Jess risks her humanity to help him remember the time before pain. She coaxes him back from the brink of madness, with her love.
I teach Year 6 children, coach football and the Chess Club; I also counsel children with behavioural difficulties.
My novel entitled NEAR EDGWARE is a YA paranormal romance set in a normal secondary school and the woodland, called the Weald, which surrounds the town of Woodford, near Edgware. It is complete in 72,200 words.
Many thanks for your time
Elaine A M Smith
As with my initials I would have to describe my writing as more Kelley Armstrong and less Stephenie Meyer.
I can't think how - or where - to put the comparative part - it is corny and trite currently but ... where does it go?
Dear special Agent
The attraction sixteen-year-old, Jess Trainer, feels for Caleb Ridgeway is driving her to the brink of stalker-staus because his hands linger even while he is trying to push her away.
Jess abuses her position on the Year Book Committee to dissect the Ridgeway brother's files. In their previous school and the bizarre meanings of their full names she finds two possible reasons why Caleb and his brothers isolate themselves to the finges of all social circles . Given the choice between private-school snob and werewolf, the second option seems more desirable.
Their relationship plunges Jess into the seething war of attrition being fought in the woodland around Woodford between human hunters, once-human "werewolves" and those born Were. Jess finds this reality hard to stomach, she loves someone who is neither human nor wolf - he is Were.
It is Jess who runs to call back the others who were out on patrol and prevents a massacre when the pack are attacked by feral, once-human, Were.
In the aftermath of the attack, when only one of the feral Were escaped justice, Caleb is so traumatised the pack fear he may never recover. Despite the danger Caleb could kill her, or worse, Jess risks her humanity to help him remember the time before pain. She coaxes him back from the brink of madness, with her love.
I teach Year 6 children, coach football and the Chess Club; I also counsel children with behavioural difficulties.
My novel entitled NEAR EDGWARE is a YA paranormal romance set in a normal secondary school and the woodland, called the Weald, which surrounds the town of Woodford, near Edgware. It is complete in 72,200 words.
Many thanks for your time
Elaine A M Smith
As with my initials I would have to describe my writing as more Kelley Armstrong and less Stephenie Meyer.
I can't think how - or where - to put the comparative part - it is corny and trite currently but ... where does it go?
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Hi! A warm welcome from less-than-sunny Watford
WHY CAN'T I CUT AND PASTE WORD DOCUMENTS HERE ANY MORE? I'M SOOOO BORED WITH TYPING EVERYTHING OUT!!!!!
I've written a super-specific version of my Query letter, as per the instructions on the Public Query Slush Pile, but now I'm sitting on a mountain of post-it notes containing a few things I ought to be doing I can't face typing it out, again!
I've written a super-specific version of my Query letter, as per the instructions on the Public Query Slush Pile, but now I'm sitting on a mountain of post-it notes containing a few things I ought to be doing I can't face typing it out, again!
Monday, 18 January 2010
Query letter?
NEXT STOP - The Public Query Slush Pile - it's time to get savaged over there!
Dear Agent
I have recently completed my 72,200-word YA paranormal romance entitled Near Edgware, and I hope you might consider representing me. My writing lulls with school-based settings and bites like a Kelley Armstrong.
Sixteen-year-old, Jess Trainer, has a lot in common with Caleb Ridgeway: the athletic skills, unusual senses and the feeling of being something different - a little apart from their peers. If her parents had told Jess their family secrets she might have understood why she is attracted to the boy who cannot let anyone see the other side of him.
Jess does not understand why Caleb fights to keep her at a distance when their classes, common interests and the almost addictive attraction makes being away from him unbearable. After spending time together Caleb's scent lingers on Jess' clothes, this brings out the worst kind of wolves still living in England. The sight of Caleb, and his protectors at work, is the solution to the puzzle she has been piecing together. Jess finds the reality hard to accept, but she realises she loves someone who is neither human nor wolf - he is Were .
Jess risks her life, and her humanity, to reach a traumatised Caleb after the pack is attacked. Only she can guide him back with her love.
This book can stand alone but it has series potential.
I am a teacher with the usual English qualifications and a less usual counselling one.
Thank you for your time,
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Anne says, "Still, no!"
Anne says, "No. Not like that, like this..." She gave me enough frame to work with so I could improve my query - hook, line and...
Dear Literary Agent
My novel NEAR EDGWARE is a YA paranormal romance complete in 72,200 words.
Sixteen-year-old, Jess Trainer, has a lot in common with her classmate Caleb Ridgway: the athletic skills, unusual senses and the feeling of being something different - a little apart from their peers. If only her parents had told Jess their family secrets she might have understood why she is attracted to the boy who will not allow anyone to get to know the real him.
Jess does not understand why Caleb fights to keep his distance when their classes, common interests and an almost magnetic attraction keep pulling them together. His resistance crumbles and he trusts Jess with his heart. When his lingering scent puts Jess in danger, Caleb rescues her and his secret is revealed. Can Jess still love him when she knows he was born Were?
Jess becomes the Pack's protector when they are attacked. She risks her life, and humanity, to reach a traumatised Caleb, and guide him back to her love.
This book can stand alone but has series potential.
It is more specific and precise but what can I tell, I wrote the last twenty-two!
Thanks to Anne and Keren, what was long is now much shorter.
Donna - we are agreed - this is the Query - without the writer's biographical details
Please feel free to add your thoughts, I'm finding it incredibly helpful.
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