Trick or Treat #D9 – Gone By the End of July

Title: Gone By the End of July
Category: YA
Genre: Contempora​ry-Literar​y
Word Count: 50,000

Pitch: He left for work the morning of July 23rd, and she filed a missing persons report exactly two days later. Now she waits, replaying memories of her father over and over again in her head, until the day she learns the truth. He didn't just leave them.

Question 1: In your MC's voice, what costume character do you relate most to and why?

I guess if I had to choose, I’d say The Little Mermaid. Daddy taught me how to swim, and ever since then I've always had a thing for the water.

Question 2: As an author, what makes your manuscript a tasty treat (aka marketable/unique)?

As an author, I believe what makes my manuscript a tasty treat is the unique voice of my main character, and there’s also a slight air of mystery that could keep any reader enthralled.

First 200 Words:

My grandmother, Stella, could sense death before it happened, and she was as normal as any southern grandmother could get.

She told me once that sense was worry, and it shouldn't be ignored. Sometimes when I’m alone I can feel it growing inside of me like some gross parasite, withering around and making me a wreck. For once I want the worry I feel to go away.

Some days, like today, if I close my eyes and stand really still I can feel it in my bones and along my skin. And as if someone’s bony finger ran down my spine, I quiver.

There are a lot of things to be worried about: Daddy who’s running late for the first time since I can remember, Momma who’s the most miserable woman on earth, and me because no matter how hard I try I can’t stop thinking about a boy who isn't my boyfriend.

His name is Tommy Baker. And like I told my best friend, Lucie, over lunch yesterday, there’s nothing worse than being kissed by a boy who’s called you string bean since the day you first met.

2 comments:

  1. I, too, love Little Mermaid. Have some starburst!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This manuscript sounds like a tasty treat that sticks to your teeth! A chewy toffee should be just the thing!

    ReplyDelete

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