As of the end of the day yesterday, my Camp Nano Stats are at 12,927 words.
That’s spread over two projects – a young adult fantasy novel and a romance thriller. This isn’t the traditional way of doing a national novel writing month. Traditional national novel writing months focus on writing one novel, starting day 1 of the month.
However, because I do this multiple times during the year (November and April as well) I tend to take the summer camp to catch up anything flagging.
I’m actually over 40,000 words into the young adult novel, and the romantic thriller is undergoing the 3rd edit.
In the effort to get back to work, I’m going to slap a snippet of the young adult fantasy novel up here.
***
His arms burned from holding Isabo and he lifted her higher, forcing her face into the crook of his neck. She made a hiccup of pain but otherwise didn’t fight him. Corbin took the moment to secure his cape around her torso better, then froze, his gaze locked on something behind Kevin.
“What is it?” He asked, pivoting on his heel.
A hooded figure in white stood there, too transparent to be solid. A thick fog poured out from it, curling around their ankles and mixing with vines. The face was in shadow, if indeed there was a face, and it floated forward until it was close enough to touch. It smelled like summer rain and green things, but there was a chill that seemed to sink deep down into Kevin’s bones and for several seconds he couldn’t move.
“No,” Corbin whispered beside him.
“W-What is it?” Kevin asked again.
The figure leaned forward and Kevin could see that yes, there was a face. Not hideous or frightening, but smooth and young, with a full mouth that could only be feminine. An ethereal hand moved toward Isabo and paused, hovering just above the arrow in her back.
“It’s a Keeper,” Corbin said.
Kevin kept his gaze on the ghostly figure. “What?”
“The curse keeps everything in balance,” Corbin said, but his attention remained fixed on the Keeper too. “That includes how many people each House commands. If a person dies in House Dorne, then two others are claimed as well. One from Christof and one from Liir.”
It was getting harder to breathe but Kevin managed. “And this thing…”
“Keeper.”
“This Keeper thing… it kills people?”
“To maintain the balance, yes,” Corbin said. He seemed to shake himself from his momentary shock and concentrated on Kevin again. “They’re indiscriminate about it. They take young, old, healthy, sick, doesn’t matter. And this one is waiting to see if Isabo dies.”
Kevin took a step back. “But that’s just cruel.”
“That’s why it’s called a curse, Kevin. It isn’t meant to be pleasant.”
***
To anyone participating in this month’s Camp Nano, I hope you’re having fun! Keep writing and moving forward with your work.
AJMaguire 