Today is #sixsunday where writers share six sentences from their work. I have some exciting news (for me)– Secret Cravings contracted my novelette BEER AND GROPING IN LAS VEGAS! It is scheduled for release January 2013! I had two contract offers on it, and received a third just recently! Also, this will be my last post for 2 weeks — I’m going to the RWA National conference and I need next Sunday to get ready 🙂 Are you going?
Here’s my working blurb, which needs to be 150 words (it’s 149 right now). Thoughts?
Can a djinn and a magic slot machine bring two geeks together?
Riley McGregor is a geek trapped in a Good Ole Boy body and as owner of a microbrewery, smart chicks never look at him twice.
Rejected by a geek who wanted to “trade up,” Mirjam Linna would rather immerse herself in work than be the girlfriend-of-the-moment. Stranded in a Vegas hotel, she makes a wish—a night of hot sex with the man of her dreams. It’s granted. She agrees to dinner, but afterward, she’ll say thanks, but no thanks, and see what’s on the SyFy channel. But when they meet, they’re surprised to find they had a shared connection in their past. Sparks fly as these two learn to be in the moment, be themselves and find love.
Fans of Star Trek, Star Wars, Monty Python, Firefly and Marvin the Martian will enjoy this romantic comedy.
Anyway, in light of this development, I thought I’d share the opening lines, which has not been through the publisher’s editor:
Mirjam rubbed the tiredness from her eyes, but the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland still occupied the Rivenbark Hotel & Casino elevator with her. She blinked and squinted. Yep, and life-size. Complete with a hookah.
Plastic squeaked against glass as the caterpillar shifted to make more room. It made eye contact.
As always I welcome constructive feedback. Thank you!
To see snippets from others who are participating or to sign up yourself, visit here.
Thank you to everyone who comes by and comments each week!
Angela Quarles | Geek girl romance writer 
Cerridwen
/ July 15, 2012What a hilarious opening! So fun. Congratulations on your big news, and have fun at the conference!
Gem
/ July 15, 2012Like the set up. It sounds like it’s going to be great fun. Have fun at the conference. Not going this year but wish I was.
J.M. Blackman
/ July 15, 2012First, congratulations! That’s wonderful news! Whoo! Sorry to see you gone for two weeks, but can’t wait to hear about how RWA went. Your blurb is great. I especially like the fans of listing and the initial line. Excellent. And your opening lines are really intriguing. I would have to read more. Fantastically silly with a great tone of humor already. I’m sure it’ll be a hit!
Donna Cummings
/ July 15, 2012I’m so excited by your news! Your contract news — NOT that we can’t read anything of yours for two weeks. *frowns* I wish I would be at RWA, but I won’t be, unfortunately. I loved your six and the last line — “it made eye contact” — cracked me up!
Kate
/ July 15, 2012Easy fix for the word count problem: change “these two” to “Riley and Mirjam” or Mirjam and Riley.
Three contract offers? You’re living the good life, and you deserve it! We will miss you the next two weeks. Also we expect a full report when you get back.
The caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland? LOL I have to read this!
Angela Quarles
/ July 15, 2012Thanks!! And it doesn’t have to be 150 exactly, just letting folks know how much it currently was in case they had an idea to improve it, they knew they had an extra word to play with 🙂
Stephanie
/ July 15, 2012Uh …. that sounds like one of my bizarre dreams! SO happy for you and can’t wait to hear about RWA!
L.j. Kentowski
/ July 15, 2012Congrats again on the contract Angela! So excited for you! I thought the blurb sounded great. Very intriguing and really pulls the reader in. And speaking of pulling the reader in, holy cats, that opening scene was hilarious! Great 6!
S. J. Maylee
/ July 15, 2012Congratulations!!! Squeeeeee 😀 Very much looking forward to this purchase!!
What an opening 6, no wonder you had 3 offers
epbeaumont
/ July 15, 2012Congratulations on the contract! (and sorry to be out of touch as commenter and correspondent lately…)
I love this excerpt; it exemplifies my favorite moment: when, having laid the groundwork of ordinary life (and the extraordinary forces that run underneath it) the Story makes its appearance, and the plane leaves the ground.
Joyce Scarbrough
/ July 15, 2012Great six to show that there’s no telling what else is to come in this book! Congrats on the contract, and enjoy your time at RWA. Watch out for the elevators, though! 😉
Jess Schira
/ July 15, 2012I think your blurb sounds good. Based on what you’ve written, I’d pick up the book. Have fun at RWA!
Lila Shaw
/ July 15, 2012I’ll be at RWA, Angela! Are you going to the steampunk workshop by any chance?
Congrats on the contract (and the multiple offers!). The first six are terrific attention grabbers.
Angela Quarles
/ July 15, 2012Awesome, hopefully we’ll meet! And if there’s a steampunk workshop, I’m there (I haven’t had a chance to plan out my sched. I need to get on that, eh?)
Kate Meader (@KittyMeader)
/ July 15, 2012That last line is fantastic, Angela! What a fab opening – so descriptive and sets the scene perfectly. Have fun at RWA!
Carrie-Anne
/ July 15, 2012Congratulations on your contract! Your opening six lines are really fun.
Monica Enderle Pierce
/ July 15, 2012Congrats, Angela! Well-deserved success. 😀
And with this opening, I can see why they bought it. What a hilarious visual, and the sound just completes the picture.
Frank Fisher
/ July 15, 2012Nice opening and I like the name Mirjam (very creative). Hope all goes well at the conference and congrats on everything!
Angela Quarles
/ July 15, 2012Thanks! Actually I can’t take credit for the name– She’s Finnish-American and that’s the Finnish equivalent of Miriam, prounounced “MEER-yahm”
sueannbowlingauthor
/ July 15, 2012Hmm… Is there by any chance a scifi convention going on at the hotel? Great opening.
Angela Quarles
/ July 15, 2012Yup!
antoinettemsmut
/ July 15, 2012It’s kind of a hamfisted way to created drama, but Flaubert had them, so why can’t you? I’m talking about the one sentence paragraph. You could try this with “It’s granted,” as it’s own paragraph. It might work better visually as well.
Also, love your 6! I like the detail about the plastic squeaking on the glass.
Angela Quarles
/ July 15, 2012Thanks, that’s a good idea. I’m always a fan of the one sentence paragraph 🙂
Carrie Crain
/ July 15, 2012I want to go to RWA. Sounds fun! Have a great time. I am a fan of Monty Python, so I’m sure I’d enjoy this story. I love the elevator scene – cute and delightful.
A.S. Fenichel
/ July 15, 2012What a funny six. It’s an image most people can identify with and yet we know it’s not normal to see him in an elevator. Love it! Congrats!
Sue
/ July 15, 2012Well Ilike Kate’s idea I was going to suggest
as sole owner
or add luxury before hotel
but if it can be more than 150 words?
have fun at the conference
Sarah W
/ July 15, 2012I love the blurb and the opening — and the premise is excellent.
Have fun at RWA and don’t talk to any strange caterpillars!
Elin Gregory
/ July 15, 2012The blurb sounds brilliant – all my favourite TV shows – and the excerpt is a hoot. Are you sure it’s just beer she’s been on?
siobhanmuir
/ July 15, 2012What happens in Vegas…Great six, Angela. Love the last line. 🙂
Jessica Subject
/ July 15, 2012Fun and creepy at the same time. LOL
K.E. Saxon
/ July 15, 2012LOL! What a great opening to a story! Tere is no way a reader isn’t going to continue on to find out what the heck is going on. Great six.
I love the beginning and ending of your blurb. I like what is happening in the center, but I personally think it could use a little tweaking to keep that wonderful momentum going (which picks up again with the “if you like” portion.)
Here’s where it isn’t *quite* as superlative (IMHO) : “It’s granted. She agrees to dinner, but afterward, she’ll say thanks, but no thanks, and see what’s on the SyFy channel.”
It’s a little murky there. I’m not even sure it’s needed at all, but if there’s any way to combine those two sentences and make it more concise, it might work better. Dunno.
“But when they meet, they’re surprised to find they had a shared connection in their past. Sparks fly as these two learn to be in the moment, be themselves and find love.” This part would probably work right after “It’s granted”, but with only a comma in between?
I’m not the greatest blurb writer in the world, LOL, I can only say that it’s just not *quite* right. Know what I mean?
Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS on the sell! Loved all the snippets you shared.
Linda Morris (@LMorrisWriter)
/ July 15, 2012Yeah! So glad you sold it! Like I said, I had a feeling about this one! I hope you blog about your experience at RWA–I’d love to read it. I just got around to joining (bad writer!) and attended my first meeting yesterday, so I’ll be thinking of going next year when it’s in Atlanta.
veronicascott
/ July 15, 2012Who can resist an excerpt like that? Pretty amazing stuff, makes me want to read more right now, today…I’ll be at RWA so hopefully we get a chance to meet! Congratulations on the sale!
Kylie Scott
/ July 15, 2012Fantastic! Congratulations again, Angela. Awesome news.
Joanne Stewart
/ July 15, 2012Ha! What an opener! Fantastic six. I’m hooked. Congrats on the contract!
Mae Clair
/ July 15, 2012Congrats again on the contract. And wow, that definitely rocks as a winner of an opener! I know I’m gong to love this realease!
Maryellen Brady
/ July 15, 2012Congratulations!!! and fun snippet 🙂 have fun!!!
ellaquinnauthor
/ July 15, 2012Angela, Congratulations on your contract. I hope to see you at National’s