Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Amber Mauldin's Current Query II

I know it says part II up there, but this one is not actually a revision. It's another query for a different project. You can find Amber's original post, with the link to her blog, here. And you can find the critique, here.

So here's the new query:

Time seems to stop right before you die. Amber Harville knows this all too well. When she is kidnapped and raped at fifteen, she is certain her captor's next step is to murder her. She never imagined he'd dump her out of the car with the threat of- "If you tell anyone, I'll kill you."

His first mistake was choosing her as his victim; his second was letting her go.

She flees to the nearest house and they call the police. Three days later he is caught. But the damage has been done and Amber begins to spiral out of control. Her emotions teeter-totter between fear and rage. Every stranger becomes a possible predator and every public setting has the potential for a repeat snatch and grab. She begins to carry mace and knives, hoping it will be enough to keep her overwhelming terror at bay, but it is like pouring water on a bullet-wound. And her parents don’t help the situation by pretending nothing has happened.

With an impending trial around the corner it seems her nightmares will never end. A summer foreign exchange program which sends her to Spain is exactly what she needs- an escape. A gorgeous Spanish boy awaking her stone-cold heart is the last thing she wants- a distraction. Should she stay with the boy she loves, or should she return home and see to it that her attacker be put away for good?

PERFECTLY BROKEN is a YA narrative memoir complete at 55,000 words. It is an inspirational story about a girl who finds a strength she never knew existed and a love she never knew was possible. Thank you for your time.

That's it.

I'm sure you have some questions, but please save your feedback for tomorrow, and thank Amber for being courageous enough to share this with us so that we all can learn together.

16 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sounds dark and gritty.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Whoa...sounds intense.

Elise Fallson said...

Strong emotions here...

Amber said...

Thanks Matt for all that you do on here. I'm looking forward to all the constructive criticism tomorrow.

Talli Roland said...

Interesting! I've got some thoughts - looking forward to seeing what you think, Matt.

Nancy Thompson said...

Intense is right!

farawayeyes said...

Wow!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Memoir, huh? Ouch.

Christina Lee said...

Wowee, and a memoir. So powerful!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Memoirs are so in right now.

Jess said...

Wow~ powerful, intense stuff. Looking forward to Matt's thoughts.

Jen said...

Sounds very real. A far cry from the fantasy that seems to be around every book shelf corner. And I think that is its strength.

Cheers,
Jen

Maurice Mitchell said...

Great query

Anonymous said...

Questions? Yes I do. See you tomorrow.

Colene Murphy said...

Wow. That gave me chills! I'd definitely read that!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I have to admit to inside info...I've gotten the privilege of reading the first few chapters of this story and Amber tells this tale with such honesty and with sparks of humor that it is a heavy subject, but still an "enjoyable" read.