I spent last weekend and most of last week fighting with internet problems. As a result I was unable to visit as many blogs as I would have liked, hopefully I'll make up for that this week.
This week I found out that my YA manuscript, Dwarfed, made it to the Amazon Breakthrough Novelist quarterfinals! That's not quite the same thing as a publishing contract, but I'm a big believer in celebrating all accolades. Amazon even posted a link to my excerpt (okay they posted all the quarter finalist's ) It served as a reminder that I've focused all of my snippets on Grace, Luke, and a piglet, but have somehow managed to ignore Grace's pet duck Adelaide. It's time to correct that oversight.
I
crest the hill separating the house from the giant pond. Below me, ducks float
on the pond, like a living Monet painting.
I
let myself into the pen and walk to the shoreline. Standing on the slight
decline, I’m careful to keep my feet well away from the disgusting clumps of
algae, feather, soggy pieces of straw, and duck droppings congealing where
water and land collide. Rippling V’s spread over the water, as the ducks turn
and paddle to the far edge of the fenced in area.
“Adelaide.” Several white ducks look at me.
I ignore them and try again, gentling my voice.
“Adelaide?”
Jess, you painted the scene so well! AND, holy cow!!! How did I miss that you'd entered this in ABNA?? Congrats, girl! I'm so proud of you! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I usually enter but I've never made it to the quarterfinals before. I'm not expecting to make it through the next round, the contest came up before I could finish editing (my plot still has a few minor holes that need filling), but I'm still excited and super proud of DWARFED.
DeleteCongrats on the Amazon award!
ReplyDeleteBecoming a quarterfinalist is wonderful!
Great snippet. You created a calm, comforting pastoral scene in the readers' imagination. The Monet analogy was an appropriate choice.
Thank you :)
DeleteHow fitting that you mentioned Monet, because you really did paint a picture with this snippet! Looking forward to meeting Adelaide too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the ABNA advancement! I'll be rooting for you to go all the way!
~Joyce Scarbrough
Thank you :) Going all the way would be great, but I'm happy to have gotten this far. The great thing about spending my entire childhood showing livestock is a well developed sense of reality when it comes to competition. But thanks for the well wishes. Every little bit helps.
DeleteI could see the ducks swimming. Such a vivid well done scene. I'm so looking forward to more. Congratulations on your advancement. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the vivid details - stepping on duck droppings wouldn't be a nice feeling for me either. Congrats on making the quartefinals.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who spent most of her childhood barefoot on a farm that had both ducks and chickens, I can assure you, it's not. It doesn't take long to learn to consider foot placement.
DeleteCongrats and great snippet.
ReplyDelete~Summer
My 8
Oh, Jess, I'm so proud of you and this story. And as for this snippet--you've got the straw, droppings, feathers and disgusting debris that is part of the beauty of a farm pond and ducks. Been there!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gem! I'm loving Wolf's Tender, you did a great job with the book.
DeleteCongratulations on the quarter finals! This farm you have us visiting is so true to life - well done excerpt as always!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That's such awesmazing news! (Fully liberated that word from my niece.)
ReplyDeleteThis scene is so well done, it feels like I'm right there trying not to have yuck smush through my toes!
Great job, Jess :)
Hmm ... I might have to borrow that word. I can think of a few times I could have used it during the past few weeks.
DeleteHuge congrats, Jess! It's a well-deserved honor.
ReplyDeleteAdelaide is a great name for a pet duck! As usual, I could really picture the scene here. Sure makes me wish it was summer!! Curious about how Adelaide will react to Grace, because I'm betting *something* will happen :)
I'm glad you like the name. Grace is an illusionist & uses the duck in her routines. She's named Adelaide after famous female magician, Adelaide Herman.
DeleteWow. A St. Patty's Day congrats to you for Amazon Quarter Finalist. Woohoo!! Good luck. I love this heartwarming story.
ReplyDeleteYay! Congratulations! And great descriptions in this snippet!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah!
DeletePerfect description! I just got home from walking my dog at the duck pond near our home. She loves to wade in that muck! Congratulations on the Quarterfinalist. Very impressive!!!
ReplyDeleteI know a few dogs who are the exact same way. Thank you!
DeleteCongratulations! And excellent description to make the scene very real. Well done. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful descriptions! I felt like I was there.
ReplyDeleteLoved the description! And that's a perfect name for a duck. :) Now, does she know her name? Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching the quarter finals.
ReplyDeleteLove the description in this snippet.
Congratulations on the quarter finals. That's a pretty big deal i think. I liked your description of the pond.
ReplyDeleteWow! Congrats on the Amazon final, Jess! That's fantabulous! Loved the scene! Was right there!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Amazon award! :-D Applause, applause....
ReplyDeleteI had internet problems myself yesterday and know how that is. Aggravating! :-p
Enjoyable snippet and I love this line, especially:
"like a living Monet painting"
Well done.
I used to raise ducks . . . I love 'em, nasty little featherbutts that they are.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching the finals! :)
Mine were Khaki Campbells (in later years hybridized with a bit of Blue Swedish and Cayuga) and my "duck pond" was a permafrost sinkhole lined with plastic, but your description of the shoreline was perfect. They did a great job of keeping the mosquitoes under control.
ReplyDeleteThe description of the edge of the pond was superb. I could see it and it kind of grossed me out. lol I love that she called gently to the bird. Terrific excerpt. Congrats on making it to the quarter finals! Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, the way you painted a picture with words. And congrats again, I think it's fantastic and well-deserved that you're in the Quarterfinals. They have excellent taste. :)
ReplyDeleteTalk about trying to find a needle in a haystack - or a feather in grass. Congratulations on reaching the quarter finals. Nicely done, Jess. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the description at the water's edge. Very realistic. Congrats on your 1/4 finals too!!
ReplyDeleteGreat description. Congrats on your great news! The rest will come if your persistant. :)
ReplyDelete:) That's what I'm counting on!
DeleteCongratulations on your great news. And I enjoyed this snippet and the twist at the end when I assume Adelaide is not just a duck/goose.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! And I love the way you write about animals. This brings to mind the duck pond behind my house so vividly.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a fantastic description. You go from the "ick" reality of ducks at the pond to the beauty of the rippling Vs in the water.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
DeleteCongratulations! Quarter finals are huge! Well done, Jess!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love this snippet. I love that Grace has a pet duck, and that her name is Adelaide. I do kind of miss the piglet pictures though.
Hey Jess, I tagged you over at my blog for a writing 'blog hop' kind of thing, where writers get to answer ten different questions about their WIP. I hope you'll do it!
ReplyDelete~Aidyl
(Here are the questions: 1: What is the working title of your book?
2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
3: What genre does your book come under?
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?)