NOVEL NEXT 296: Coraline Maycroft. Nashville, TN
"Synopsis and first five chapters, as you comanded. Are you beta reading, HC?" I asked, handing him a sheaf of papers I'd printed in the resort business center.
"What is this? Paper? What it god's name are you doing destroying trees, Samantha?" HC scolded.
"You said you were a teacher. I figured you wanted print outs like my creative writing instructor in community college."
"You figured wrong, and that's the dumbest educator I've ever heard of, Sam."
"Fine. You caught me," I smiled at him, and he looked askance. "I was hoping my favorite author would give me some hand-written notes on the first book I intend to pitch to Known Cosmos Earth Press."
His eyebrows climbed his forehead, and he pinched his lips, holding in something that wanted to break out.
"Go on, HC, I know you want to."
"Aaaaghh! Sam! What's going on?! Spill it girl, now!!"
"Ha ha ha. Well, nothing major. I thought about what you said about Bitsy Joon, and found Sibsil Creed and the Known Cosmos Earth Press on stream. I sent a message through the Press's site so it wouldn't be within Purple Road in case we're being watched. I just followed up from the poetry contest. That's all. Nothing about Discordant yet."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
"Perfect!" HC's eyes were bright, practically glimmering in the afternoon light. "Absolutely perfect! Something is cooking, Samantha Mooneyhan, and I think it's been on a slow simmer for a long, long time. And whatever it is that's brewing just might boil over when Discordant hits the public. So, whatever is pouring out of your fingers and onto the keypad, let it flow. Miracles might just be around the corner."
"Well, I'm gonna keep going, but please, HC, read all of those chapters, and don't hold back. I need to know if I'm hitting it. It's gotta catch people right off the bat. Give them a laugh, then keep them coming back for more."
"I'm no amateur. I'm not going to let you pitch a book that's crap, Sam. I promise," he assured.
"Good. Then there's something else I want too."
One eyebrow quirked on that imitation-Santa face.
"Cora."
He leaned forward, peering, eyes wide, smirk on his closed lips.
"What? You can turn your face into an emoji? You look like those damn Discord eyes right now!" I complained.
"But what do those eyes see? The flicker of passion? True love in bloom?"
"Good god, you are NOT a poet. Or cupid."
"And yet, you ask about dear Cora, and the only one with answers about her is me, so what's it going to be Sam? Truth or dare?"
I rolled my eyes at him. "How about both? I wanna talk to Cora, okay? But, well—alone. And not on Discord. Which is full of creepy things watching everything everyone does. Not romantic at all."
He smirked to himself and flicked his fingers across his pad.
Bong!
Incoming message from HC with a contact attached.
HC: Coraline Maycroft. Nashville, TN.
I couldn't help the smile on my lips as I turned to go, all thoughts of my new book temporarily forgotten.
