Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Writer's Voice 2013!!!

"The Writer's Voice" is a multi-blog, multi-agent contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid's Literary Connection, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat). Monica B. W. of LOVE YA, and Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes.


I'm in! I've made it through the first part of The Writer's Voice. Yeah, okay...it was just a lottery pick, but my name was chosen! And for those interested, here is my entry. :)


SMOKE AND ASHES Query 

Dear Awesome Agent,

Genies don’t only grant three wishes, they grant wishes for three weeks. And if their lamp breaks while they’re on assignment, they die…leaving a layer of ash and a blackened singe mark.

When sixteen-year-old Brielle gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington, she abandons her Saharan prison only to discover that someone’s out to kill her kind—one smashed lamp at a time. She needs magic to solve the mystery, but won't get it until her assigned human, Addie, makes a wish. Unfortunately, Addie isn't "the wish-making" type, more like an anti-social teen who wants nothing more than her bright pink accessories and addiction to Mountain Dew.

It’s bad enough that Brielle can’t reveal her true nature, but without magic or help from a disorganized Council, her last option is Rockafel: a smokin’ hot genie who has a history of trouble. She’d love to avoid him, but he has magic and she doesn’t want to die. With three weeks on assignment, Brielle has days left to find out who’s behind the murders before they get a hold of any more lamps—especially hers.

SMOKE AND ASHES is a YA Urban Fantasy novel complete at 67,000 words and is a standalone with series potential.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Michelle Merrill


First 250 words. 

I stared through the window at the Council Member’s back. This was the fourth time I'd come to make my request—same day each year with the same Saharan sun reflecting in the glass. That sun followed me, trapped me, hunted me with its rays, suffocating me with a constant reminder that I couldn’t leave. There was no escape.

My fingers tightened into a fist and the grains of sand pricked my skin. I lifted my arm and knocked on the window three times.

The Council Member turned around and nodded as if he expected me. Seconds later, the other two Council Member’s joined him and an argument broke out—no doubt discussing my problem but never coming to a conclusion.

Same old, same old.

I squeezed my hand tighter and slammed it against the window. They didn’t even flinch. Maybe overreacting was the only way to get something done. “Hey,” I yelled. “I’m right here. Come out and talk to me.”

Finally, they formed a single line and filed out the door.

“Happy birthday, Brielle.”

“No. It’s not. But it could be.”

One Council member cleared his throat. I held my breath and waited for him to tell me something good. 

Those few seconds felt like several minutes. “We can’t help you.”

I cursed the seven dunes and felt my hope collapse. “Can’t or won’t? It’s been four years since my lamp was put into storage by a human. I could be helping someone, getting my magic. You three can’t even figure out who’s in charge.”


And...that's it! I hope you enjoyed it! 

Thanks for stopping by.

25 comments:

  1. Congratulations on making it through the first pick. I have to say, your story idea sounds awesome! If I read that summary on the back of a book, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat. Good luck!

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  2. Wow! I love the concept. Genies are a lot of fun! Good luck with your entry :)

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  3. Love your opening here! And genies are great fun! Good luck with this :D

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  4. My fav line: "I cursed the seven dunes". G'luck with the coaches. [And, possibly, agents.]

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  5. I remember loving this from WoC - and it's great to read your first 250 words. :) Good luck!

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  6. That's a great opening! I love your query, too--genies make for some pretty interesting characters.

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  7. I never liked the council ;) It's been years since I read this (I still remember it though!) and your query does a great job of capturing your story and what it's about!

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  8. Genies? Nice! :) What a fun concept! Best of luck to you!

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  9. I love your premise Michele. Genies - so awesome! Your query's really well written, and the antisocial teen/freaked out genie combo sound intriguing. Good luck!

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  10. hey! I read this the other day over on Nazarea's blog. So glad you got in, and I love the changes you made to your 250! Great voice and I love that you used the name Addie. That's my name! (Well, technically, it's Adrianna, but I go by Addie) Best of luck- I'm rooting for you!

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  11. I really like that the MC is the genie, not the human girl. Very cool. Best of luck to you. :)

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  12. I love the time crunch! And the fact that she's got to rely on a bad boy to get her out of it. :) Good luck!!

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  13. I remember this from WoC! The genie premise is interesting and the idea of a solving a mystery without the necessary magic sounds intriguing. Good luck! :)

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  14. I LOVE the premise and I love the first page! Awesome! Good luck!

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  15. I love it. I used to live in the Tri-Cities. Good luck!

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  16. Like this premise! Much grittier than any other genie tale I've come by, and it's goooood. If you need a comp, Jackson Pearce's AS YOU WISH features a genie POV, but it's a much lighter story. This sounds dark, dark, dark, and I love it. :) Luck to you!

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  17. Sounds like a really interesting concept!
    Good luck!

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  18. Your query sounds awesome! You go, girl! Nice conflict mentioned, nice mystery, everything! Best of luck to ya!!!

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  19. This sounds like SO much fun (and I love the name Brielle)! Best of luck :)

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  20. Nice query! I love the whole idea of this, and your first page!

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  21. I thought I already commented on this, but I really, really love it. Totally the kind of book I'd dive into and lose a day or so reading! Good luck.

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  22. A big congrats and good luck!! I like the query :)

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