Thursday, May 3, 2012

Writer's Voice

I'm partcipating in a multi-blog contest known as The Writer's Voice. Below is my entry and all cheerleading and comments are welcomed! Good luck to the other participants and thank you to Krista Van Dolzer, Brenda Drake, Monica B.W, and Cupid for organzing this amazing competition.



A Taste of Blood
Urban Fantasy

Alexandra Callahan knows the monsters hiding under the boardwalk are real; she just overlooks the fact her twin is one of them. Instead, she treats her mooching werewolf brother the same as any other family member who eats all the food and won’t do the dishes: with heavy doses of sarcasm, practical jokes, and a whole lot of ignoring the paranormal. But when their deceased father leads Alex to the murder scene of her friend Maddie, she can’t ignore Aaron’s furry side any longer. Not when a werewolf almost bites her head off and she stabs another in the face.

And those were the good guys.

Alex didn’t inherit the gene that makes her brother howl at the moon, but she definitely acquired the accompanying stubbornness and loyalty. Despite the pack’s claim otherwise, she’s convinced her dad is alive and knows something about Maddie’s death. Since he’s only appeared to Alex, finding him is up to her. It isn’t long before Alex contracts a maligned spell, pisses off the pack’s enforcer, attracts the attention of their devious wolfwitch, and becomes a Master Vampire’s thrall, all while pitching her advertising agency to a potential mega-client. When she confronts the wolfwitch about his secrets on the night of the full moon, a battle of wills becomes a battle within Alex’s body. The moon always wins.

Alex’s unveiling as the first natural female werewolf is sidelined when a pack member dies protecting her, forcing the pack to look within their ranks for a traitor. Betrayed by someone she trusted, Alex discovers the past never dies and what you don’t know will kill you. The Jersey Shore isn’t just for tourists and MTV anymore. The Jersey Shore has teeth.

A TASTE OF BLOOD, complete at 116,000 words, is an urban fantasy for adults who like their fiction more furry than undead.




Chapter One

The last time I saw my father, I broke my brother’s nose. Aaron simply wiped the blood on his suit’s sleeve and pulled me into a hug while I sobbed. As far as irrational outbursts went, it was spectacular, but we were twelve, at our father’s funeral and both a little emotional. Aaron just handled it better. Thirteen years later, he still did but I think even Aaron might have had something to say when Dad walked into Sawyers.

Martini glass pressed to my lips, I stared at the hooded figure sliding through the bar. His average height, dark shirt and jeans blended with the masses, but I thought I’d seen his face. He moved with purpose, the crowd parting like the Red Sea, as if they knew there’d be problems if they didn’t.

Invoking time-faded memories, the gait and crowd response raised the hair on the back of my neck. The conversation between my two best friends faded into the rest of the din. With shaking hands, I settled my glass on the table before I dropped it. Besides, the martini had already sloshed and no matter what anyone said, wasting a drink like that was sacrilege.

No. This wasn’t happening. The dead just didn’t casually stroll into a bar. My subconscious was projecting. It was dark; I couldn’t see. I was drunk. Daydreaming even. I threw explanations at myself, hoping one would stick, but apparently my brain was made of Teflon tonight.

“Alex? Earth to Alex.”

“Must have sighted a hottie.”




25 comments:

Adam Oster said...

Good Luck!

Matthew MacNish said...

Hi Kelly, I'm stopping by from the Writer's Voice Contest to wish you the best of luck! Nice to meet you.

I would've followed your blog, but I don't see a GFC widget.

Unknown said...

Wow, your writing is really smooth, and the concept is fresh. I tend to read Contemporary, but I'd make an exception for this. Good stuff!

C.G.Ayling said...

Good luck in the contest, thankfully you're in a different category to me... WAIT! there are categories, aren't there...?

:) good luck!

Anonymous said...

Good luck! #RebelLove

Krystalyn Drown said...

Great job. I love how your voice comes through in the query.

Brandi M. Lynch said...

Ooh! This sounds interesting, and I live your opening! Good luck!

Brandi #199

Amy Parker said...

Kelly, I loved your query, totally engaging and funny. Interesting start to what sounds like a good story! Good luck!!!

Kelly Metz said...

Thanks Amy!

Kelly Metz said...

Thanks Brandi! I enjoyed yours too!

Kelly Metz said...

Thanks Krystey!

Kelly Metz said...

Thanks Danni!

Kelly Metz said...

Lol. Thank you an good luck to you too!

Kelly Metz said...

Thank you! I enjoyed your entry too!

Kelly Metz said...

Thank you! Working on a complete site and blog. Hopefully soon!

Kelly Metz said...

Thank you!

Kristen Wixted said...

Good luck Kelly--I love your character's sarcasm. Really good stuff!
Kristen #147

Anonymous said...

Good luck from on Writer's Voice contestant to another!

Stefanie Marks said...

OOH I like werewolf stories. And your character's voice is great! Good luck!

Precy Larkins said...

A werewolf for a twin? Cool beans!!

Carrie Butler said...

Good luck, Kelly! :)

Ashley Maker said...

Enjoyed reading your entry! Best of luck :-)

Ashley #78

Dahlia Adler said...

Not my usual genre but reading your entry makes me want to make an exception immediately. Good luck from #70!

misstante said...

LOVE the opening line! hooked! good luck! ferris #175

misstante said...

LOVE the first line! good luck! ferris #175