Saturday 20 August 2011

SEEDER'S POISON Excerpt: Procrastination at its Best


Remember this morning/yesterday (for some readers) when I set those grandiose goals to finish off my first book? Here's what I've been doing instead. The first snippets of my dystopian novel titled SEEDER'S POISON. Can I have my procrastination award now please?

When I was much younger and being especially rebellious, my mother used to lecture me and say that there is goodness in everyone. Even the Seeders. I remember how she would pull me aside and clasp her earth worn hands to my mouth when the Seeders passed us in the streets, fearful of what I might say. My mother’s ivory skin and raven locks were a stark contrast to the fairness of the farming population, and I would catch the Seeders watching her, their greedy eyes narrowed and always resting upon the three leafed tattoo on her left cheek. Often the Seeders would harass us in town, despite my father’s merchant status and once, when she didn’t know I was watching from the oak tree above, my mother emerged shaken, the sleeve of her favourite dress in tatters, from the opulent house of the head Seeder.
Still she would sigh and press my grubby face to her skirts, reminding me that we were all of the earth and malice harboured would only fester and destroy what little peace our world managed to eke out after the wars. I still wonder if they would have spared her if they knew she was their steadfast advocate. Somehow I doubted it. I was just ten when they killed her. When her Wanderer brethren dared to rise up against the Seeders in their Citadel so far from our home in Region 4. I still wake shaken from my memories of the night they came to take her away. The night her screams shattered any softness her lessons planted in me. The night a small group of farmers broke their code of non interference to spare me a similar death to hers.  

16 comments:

  1. Something new! Sometimes it is refreshing to work on something new.

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  2. ooo goosebumpy! I am the biggest dystopian novel fan, that sounds super, super cool!

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  3. Ohhhh, I want to read more! Worth procrastinating on your other book, as sometimes the muse simply can't be ignored!

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  4. Oooo! I'm intrigued. Go on, tell me more. ;)

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  5. What?! You never said you were working on a dystopian novel as well, you secretive multitasking, multiwriting gift writer...

    I dont think I like it when you post an excerpt because it makes me really want to read the rest of it and I dont want to have to wait for...hmmm...how long before you send it out into the world. This one is VERY intriguing. Your writing has such a restrained beauty, you dont go nuts with the adverbs and the adjectives ( like i tend to do...ugh) and what does come through, is riveting stuff. Please tell me that you are almost done with the whole book?

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  6. Oh and wanted to add - I firmly believe in working on more than one thing at a time. The only thing that kept me sane when writing the emotionally racking tsunami book (mothers losing two children, fathers crying because they were laden with the guilt of not being able to save their families and more) was because I was writing the YA fantasy romance book at the same time. Which is why i like to call TELESA my 'trashy' book. It was the light relief that I could just write and enjoy being with.

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  7. Beth: Yes, now that IRON WILLED is all done, I am looking forward to some new characters to work with!

    Alana, Alexis & Jenny: Dystopian is my new YA love. Until I get a handle on Steampunk! SEEDER'S is in it's infancy but now I have more time I should be able to whiz through it.

    Lani: I've made references to writing a dystopian but wouldn't allow myself to get started before my first book was all done. I am the queen of using other books to procrastinate on the one I should be writing. I was already a quarter of the way through IRON WILLED'S sequel before I finished editing. SEEDER's is pretty new but I am really excited about it so I can see myself withdrawing from the world and getting it done in 3 months. It's a bit eco controversial too so I'm hoping I won't get in trouble for it! Oh and also, what you cal restrained is me wanting to get the ideas out of my head and rushing to get something done! But you're right, I'm not creative enough to add adjectives and things. I do way too much telling in my books.

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  8. You're definitely good at leaving us wanting more, but hey that's what most writers do. :) I feel sad for the character, but at the same time I'm interested in what her world is like. I'm horrible at commenting. Loved what you sent.

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  9. Dreamer: I'm glad you liked it. May end up being too scary a read for you though.

    Ash: What's wrong with your commenting ability?? Just read your email as well. Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my stuff!

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  10. I always feel like I'm just repeating myself or I that I start to sound generic. No prob.

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  11. Generic comments are good if they're all positive. Hehe. That's why I'm a stalker and try to be the first to comment. Then I look like the original one :)

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  12. I absolutely LOVE dystopian novels and this one sounds so cool! From the (awesome) snippet you gave us, I can tell that it takes place in a complicated, dark, and fierce dystopian world -- just the way I like it! :)

    Don't worry, Lan -- I'm really big on procrastination, too! But I don't think it really matters how late you do it as long as you get in done, right? As long as the effort is good! ;)

    I can't wait to hear more about this!

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  13. Dystopia is awesome! Very excited to read more of your writing. Thanks for sharing!

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