The Dreaded Author stretched out in her favorite writing chair, laptop ready, note cards spread out on the desk in order of planned events. With a fluffy polar fleece and a hot cup of tea, she was ready to spend a long comfortable morning indoors making characters suffer, jotting down evil plots and reveling in writing bliss.
“Bwahahahahaha!” Someone else’s maniacal laugh shattered the peace of the Dreaded Office.
Narrowing her eyes, the Dreaded Author flexed her claws, ready to deal out punishment to the intruder, but startled as a stranger descended from the ceiling. Wearing yellow spandex and flapping his cape, boots landed on top of the plot note cards and his white teeth flashed in a far too bright grin. “I challenge you, Dreaded Author! And you will lose! I am Synopsis Man, and evil knows no bounds!”
“I’m not afraid of something as short as a synopsis,” snarled the Dreaded One. “You’re nothing but a summary with a fancy title to sound more erudite. And I’m busy, writing! Minions!”
“They won’t be coming.” Synopsis Man gloated. “This contest in between just you and me.” Synopsis Man pulled out a sheet of paper and waved it. “It’s a contest you can’t refuse, if you want to enter the PNWA novel contest and prove your evil superiority that is!”
“Wait a minute! How did you get into my files? That’s mine!” With a roar, the Dreaded Author jumped to her feet and snatched the piece of paper away from Synopsis Man.
“Only four days left to enter, and look, right here!” Synopsis Man poked a yellow-gloved finger at the paper.
Despite wanting to send him flying across the room, the Dreaded Author couldn’t stop herself looking down and reading, The 28 page limit includes your 1 page double-spaced synopsis and the first 27 pages of your book (beginning with chapter one or prologue). While synopsises (or was that synopsi? The Dreaded Author wasn’t sure) were not part of the evil plan, this contest was. Contests being one way to gain the notice of big name editors. The Dreaded Author snarled in annoyance.
“So, Dreaded One, let our contest begin!” Synopsis Man shouted gleefully.
The Dreaded One shoved Synopsis Man hard in the chest, sending him flying back off the desk. “I already have a synopsis on file for this novel, so there!”
Synopsis Man though flared out his cape, gracefully swooping to the ground. “Ah, but that’s one page single spaced, and you need this one page double spaced! You have to cut half the words in the synopsis.”
With a twinge of trepidation, the Dreaded Author opened the document, and saw to her horror what the supervillian said was true. The synopsis was far too long. “Noooooooooo–”
With evil intent, Synopsis Man closed in, chocking off the Dreaded Author’s cry of horror.
***
Enough of this silliness. All paws on deck and prepare for the final launch of The Jolly Growler! I am pleased to announce I have a firm release date for Captain Bull and the Calico Avengers. Next Monday, Feburary 21st! Only a week and a half behind schedule, so pretty good, if I say so myself. I’ve gotten a book page up for it already on this site with the first chapter, if you want to preview it.
Also, Feb is the month for contests… time is running out both for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and the regional PWNA contest (if you’re in the Pacific Northwest). So, get those entries in.