Plot Summary from Query:
God answers nearly all of fifteen-year-old Crystal's prayers. At least
that's the way it seems since time slows down so she doesn't miss the
bus and speeds up so she doesn't have to answer questions in class.
But
after she discovers a note in a box hidden in her attic detailing how
her now dead mother sought the help of witches to conceive her,
Crystal’s faith becomes one giant question mark. She tracks down the
witches and demands answers. Supposedly, Crystal is the human
incarnation of magic—the only person whose magical potential is
limitless. The witches also claim she's been answering her own prayers
with her magic.
Although skeptical about being magic, Crystal's curious and struggles to learn how to fly and plays with magical fire. But it's not all fun and games. Witches and
shamans have been fighting for centuries, and now, both sides want to
use her power for their own gain. Then a witch hunter captures her
boyfriend, and several shamans snatch her aunt. For someone with
limitless magic, Crystal should be easily able to rescue them but every
time her emotions run amuck, her magic goes haywire. If she can't learn
to control herself, she'll never be able to save them or end the war.
Instead, Crystal just might start the Apocalypse and doom the entire
world.
First 250 Words:
"Crystal? Are you dressed yet?"
Crystal Miller groaned and rolled over. Covering her head with her pillow, she peeked with one eye at her alarm clock. If she didn't leave the house immediately, she'd miss the bus.
She scrambled around the room, hopping into jeans, trying to throw on a shirt and brush her hair at the same time. Somehow she wrestled her way into some clothes (whether or not they looked good together she hadn't the time to worry about) and ran downstairs. Her kiss missed her mom's cheek. "Bye, Mom!"
"Wait, Crystal, you forgot your school bag." Her mom held it out for her.
Crystal grabbed it and groaned again when she spied the kitchen clock. There was no way she'd make the bus. It probably drove past her house five minutes ago.
Still, she had to try. She'd been oversleeping a lot lately, and her mom couldn't drive her in anymore. Her boss was rather strict, and Crystal knew she couldn't be late many more times before he threatened to fire her.
Crystal threw her bag over her shoulder and hurried out the door. As she raced to the end of the long, windy driveway, she prayed, Please, dear Lord, let the bus be there. Please let the bus be there.
She ran with her eyes closed. She never prayed with her eyes open. When she reached the end of the driveway, she opened her eyes.
The bus was just pulling to a stop.
Crystal grinned. Thank you, Lord.
Woo hoo! congrats for making it in! It was touch and go there for a moment
ReplyDeleteI saw that you made it in - number 68. WOOT! Congrats, Nicole. This is going to be so fun.
ReplyDeleteI really like the query. This is an interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool concept! Good luck :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!!
ReplyDelete*High-fives* on making it in--best of luck!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you thus far. I love the prose. Your words are so descriptive that the imagery just leaps to mind.
ReplyDeleteI literally "ooo-ed" out loud when I read this, what a great premise! Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I LOVED the opening sentence of the query - very original! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI remember this from YALitChat. Love the lines: "She ran with her eyes closed. She never prayed with her eyes open."
ReplyDeleteBest of luck, Nicole!
Wow, those are crazy stakes! Well done!
ReplyDeleteBoth are awesome. Like really good. Congrats Nicole. Hope you have more good news.
ReplyDelete"She ran with her eyes closed. She never prayed with her eyes open. When she reached the end of the driveway, she opened her eyes."
ReplyDeletevery nicely said.
Good luck in the contest!
Whoo hoo, I'm glad you made it in as well! This sounds AWESOME! Good luck on your entry Nicole!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, from a fellow #YALITCHATtter ;)
ReplyDeleteNice entry! It's got a great hook, and I like the excerpt. Good luck in the contest!
ReplyDeleteHey Nicole! Witches, Shamen and God! What a combo! Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! : )
Congrats on making it in! This sounds great! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! Good luck! :D
ReplyDeleteThis sounds fantastic..good luck...
ReplyDeleteOh, this sounds amazing!! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe idea that she struggles with her faith in the midst of all this other information is what really captured my attention! It's definitely a unique approach I've never seen before! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAwesome query!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the beginning. Good luck with your queries!!!
Awesome!! Very cool concept ;o) Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI like your first 250! Your story sounds really Interesting and original. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteBrandi #199
I like Crystal's voice--nicely done.
ReplyDeleteGood luck-
Kristen #147
btw I LOVE your blog.
Good luck one contestant to another. Original premise for sure!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Nicole! :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, what a cool premise to have her be the incarnation of magic! Great job and best of luck :-)
ReplyDeleteAshley #78
You and I seem to enter the same contest often. :-) Good luck in the contest! tasha #119
ReplyDeleteI like it Nicole! Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteLove her absolute faith that God is doing her a solid by not making her answer questions in class. Great characterization. You've got an interesting concept. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI love your query, especially the first paragraph. Well done! Good luck as the contest continues! Thanks also for stopping by my blog. WVC #28
ReplyDeleteI'd love some of her magic when I'm running late on the busy freeway in the morning. lol
ReplyDeleteThe faith question is intriguing.
Good luck!
Tina (#194)
The premise here sounds like a lot of fun - and definitely unique.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in the contest!
ps. I love your blog design :)
Wow. Looks like a lot of power for one girl to get a handle on.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Nice premise, and great line 'She never prayed with her eyes open..."
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! And good luck!
Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteDear Nicole,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment - why didn't I spot you as a re-enactor (that's UK for Renaissance) from your piccie?
So what you've done is leave the rest of us pretenders to the magical realms with nowhere to go (if Crystal is the human incarnation, how can anybody top that!) Talk about taking it to the limit ...
Luckily, I love your concept, voice and everything about your blog so I'm not jealous in the slightest, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.
Best of luck to you and Crystal
Cheers
Jacky (#130)
xxx
Interesting premise and great writing! Good luck!
ReplyDelete-Sarah #146
Love the premise and beginning. I'd keep reading to see what happens.
ReplyDeleteHuh, interesting concept. How does what happens affect her faith?
ReplyDeletewell, i'm impartial to witches...this sounds great! best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNicole,
ReplyDeleteGreat concept and interesting read. My only question is your starting point. How does this connect to your inciting incident? Starting points that begin when a character just wakes up have become somewhat cliche. I'd suggest another look to see what precipiates the inciting incident and draw/hook the reader in from that point.
Great so far! And thank you for your kind comment on #142, THE PACKING HOUSE.
What an interesting concept. I kinda love the idea of magic = crisis of faith. Good luck in the contest!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting; magic and faith conflicting can make for some great struggles for main characters. ^_^ Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYour premise sounds interesting. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an original concept and I absolutely love it that you take a story here~ wishing you the very best of luck getting picked!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful blog you have here. Great entry!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
Carolyn, #157
Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI love the tension you've established between Crystal's faith in God, and her discovery that it's her magic helping her along. Very cool concept! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteNicole,
ReplyDeleteI just read your query - it is very tight and polished, well done! Your hook drew me in, and then took me into what seems like an amazing journey for Crystal. Very archetypal and profound.
Good luck in the contest and keep up the writing!
John Krissilas
#196
This sounds like it'll be a really fun read! I also like the query. Casual but it gets the points across. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! And great ending at your 250 words!
ReplyDeleteI love the first line of your query. I was immediately jealous. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Leslie #116
Your query is excellent! Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteFirst - I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. The wings and the fonts you use for the titles of the posts are so cool!!
ReplyDeleteSecond - I love the premise of your story. Good luck!! :)
~TL Sumner #132
Best of luck - I love you site - and I love the query and first 250!
ReplyDelete- Random, Entry #165
"... Crystal just might start the Apocalypse and doom the entire world" -- nice!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you!
Loved this! Great writing and made me want to read more! :) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh good luck!!! They both sound great. WIll we be seeing it on the committee soon??? :)
ReplyDelete