Tuesday 24 June 2008

Matchsticks, Moths & Machinations

I've finally started writing my next children's novel - working title: 'Matchsticks, Moths & Machinations'. Here's a 'first draft' extract:


The First Chapter

The Malodorous Mademoiselles

Molly Beaumont chased after the blue and grey socks that had slithered off the Wormald sisters’ stinky feet. They slipped under the coffee table, took a detour around a threadbare armchair and escaped down the hall. She had a stitch in her side and a nasty smell up her nostrils. The peg on her nose was no longer adequate protection from the collection of whiffs that steamed from the bedrooms, the parlour and the sisters.

As furniture bumped against her legs and doors smacked at her elbows, Molly was finding the chase difficult and tiring. Everything seemed to be against her catching the rotten things.
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I've put an optimistic 50,000 words as the word count I'm aiming for. Fingers crossed. I also need to start planning 'The Poisoned Apple II'. Another request for a partial today (eek!) for 'The Poisoned Apple', also an ejection, and the undying hope that one day someone will ask for a full. I also need to start writing something for the Necrotic Tissue anthology 'Malpractice'.

11 comments:

Mary said...

ANOTHER request! This is looking GOOD!

Love the opening of your new novel, and would definitely continue reading. :)

Jacqui said...

Mmm. Love the visual of the socks sliding off and running away. I am definitely curious.

Crossing my fingers for you on the request, etc.

K.C. Shaw said...

Nice opening! Good luck with it--it sounds like fun!

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks, girls!

Fox Lee said...

I tried to write a children's book once. It was about a penguin and a little boy. I like penguins, not so keen on children. Unfortunately it probably showed ; )

Fox Lee said...

The really silly part is that my mother seems to think children's books are easy money!
She keeps suggesting it to me and mentioning people she knows who could do illustrations *sigh*

Maybe she just wants to get me out of horror?

Shari Green said...

Delightful excerpt! Hope you have fun with this project. :)

Good luck with the requested partial!

Anonymous said...

Holy crap. 2 partial requests in what...3 days?

That's awesome. Congrats! I know you must be excited!

J.C. Tabler said...

See? SEE? What did I tell you about that book, eh?

Now, remember to autograph a copy for me...

H. Pinski said...

Oooh, now I must know more about Malodorous Mademoiselles!

Thanks for visiting me and I'm glad I found your blog! Good luck with the querying!

H. Pinski

Cate Gardner said...

Natalie, my mum is the opposite to yours. She wants me to start writing another horror novel and not a children's book.

Shari - thanks for visiting.

Barry & JC - I'm expecting my 'go away' any day soon.

H - thanks for returning the visit.