Aunti B’s Book Club Blogfest

Time for another blogfest.  This time, Brenda Drake’s (click the link for all the deets and a list of other participants) teen book club will read our loglines and excerpts and pick the ones they most want to read.  Fun, right?

So here goes.  Sophie, a YA historical fantasy, may be renamed to The Bathsheba Medallion.

35-word pitch:

Sophie, a sheltered teen dancer stuck in 19th century Paris, must ignore her feelings for a passionate young gentleman, and rely on a thief to solve a century-old mystery about her mom to get home.

Pitch, Take Three:

Sophie, a teen dancer stuck in 19th century Paris, must ignore her feelings for a young Zionist, and rely on a thief to solve a mystery about her mom to return to the present.

250-word excerpt:

         My feet thud on the pavement and my ankles fail me.  I cry out in pain and surprise.

         I squint at the lights shining from streetlamps and rushing cars.  Too bright.

         Sounds bombard me from every direction:  car horns blare, music blasts, people talk, laugh, sing.  My head pounds.  I touch my temple and groan.

         “Est-ce que tout va bien, mademoiselle?  Avez-vous besoin d’aide?” a man asks, kneeling at my side.

         I wonder why he is speaking French.  Is everything okay, as he asked?  My whole body hurts.  I can’t seem to remember anything except French.

         Where am I?

         My head whips back and forth, checking out my surroundings.  I recognize the Place de l’Opéra in Paris.

         Okay, deep breaths.  I’m in Paris.  Mom’s birthplace.

         In a fog, I frown at the long, dark skirt, pointed black ankle boots, and a long-sleeved cream blouse scratching my neck.  Where are my shorts and flip flops?

         I stand, vaguely wondering what happened to my good samaritan, when a necklace bounces against my chest.  I grab the gold medallion and stare at the pattern that causes memories to wash over me. 

         Each wave threatens my balance.  I shiver in fear, despite the heat.

         What year is this?

         Another glance around confirms I’m at least close to my own time period.  Cars and motorcycles.  People wearing tee shirts, sun dresses, sneakers and sandals.  That sparks a new memory, of putting these old fashioned clothes on over lightweight, modern gear.  I smile and pull flip flops from my sleeves.

That’s it.  Feel free to give me feedback on the pitch and/or the excerpt.  Then I’ll be crossing my toes to win an awesome editing package from CA Marshall.

Thanks and have a brilliant week!