Life without Blue - 68, 000 words
Three friends make it out of the crash alive.
Drew, the driver, walks away with a single scratch, easily mended.
Gopher loses his sight.
Ryan falls unconscious in the ambulance, but she’s awake and talking when her mother kicks Drew out of her room.
But when Drew goes to visit her the next day, Ryan’s bed is empty, and the hospital staff informs her of her friend’s death. Ryan’s mother shuts off her phone, surrenders her precious pug to the local shelter, and ships her body to Louisiana for a private family funeral – all before Drew realizes the need for farewell. The only connection she has left is the notebook they shared as a creative outlet – Ryan to write, Drew to draw.
When a mysterious new entry appears in the notebook, Drew quickly realizes that she may not have to say goodbye after all. When her desire to prolong their conversation jeopardizes her only remaining friendship with Gopher, Drew struggles to move on without leaving Ryan behind.
Drew, the driver, walks away with a single scratch, easily mended.
Gopher loses his sight.
Ryan falls unconscious in the ambulance, but she’s awake and talking when her mother kicks Drew out of her room.
But when Drew goes to visit her the next day, Ryan’s bed is empty, and the hospital staff informs her of her friend’s death. Ryan’s mother shuts off her phone, surrenders her precious pug to the local shelter, and ships her body to Louisiana for a private family funeral – all before Drew realizes the need for farewell. The only connection she has left is the notebook they shared as a creative outlet – Ryan to write, Drew to draw.
When a mysterious new entry appears in the notebook, Drew quickly realizes that she may not have to say goodbye after all. When her desire to prolong their conversation jeopardizes her only remaining friendship with Gopher, Drew struggles to move on without leaving Ryan behind.
The Wandering House - a work in progress
Graft - 56,000 words
When her mother gives her a new dress, Raine has good reason to be suspicious. She can't recall the last gift she received from her mother, and there's been no money for clothes since they sold the last of the pigs. But when a woman arrives at the farm and offers to buy Raine, her mother's intentions become clear. After all, it's easier to sell a girl in a nice wrapper than in her dead father's overalls.
However, her mother needn't have bothered with the dress. Raine's new owner is interested only in her eyes (one green, one brown) - the attribute that makes her the perfect replacement for Wynne Wyther, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner. Wynne's death has thrown her family into chaos and placed their image in a tenuous position. Once she arrives on the plantation, Raine is expected to take the dead girl's place in a desperate attempt to coax the family matriarch back from madness.
Although the Wythers value her far more than the coins they paid for her, Raine has little desire to act as their doll and attempts to escape. But the Wythers aren't prepared to let their new daughter walk away, and Raine will be forced to fight, not only for her identity, but for her life.
However, her mother needn't have bothered with the dress. Raine's new owner is interested only in her eyes (one green, one brown) - the attribute that makes her the perfect replacement for Wynne Wyther, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner. Wynne's death has thrown her family into chaos and placed their image in a tenuous position. Once she arrives on the plantation, Raine is expected to take the dead girl's place in a desperate attempt to coax the family matriarch back from madness.
Although the Wythers value her far more than the coins they paid for her, Raine has little desire to act as their doll and attempts to escape. But the Wythers aren't prepared to let their new daughter walk away, and Raine will be forced to fight, not only for her identity, but for her life.