The Hunger Games

Husband and I saw THE HUNGER GAMES movie last weekend.  No, I won't be writing a  review.  I'm not the arbiter of What is Good and What is Bad. Being a writer myself, I don't like to pronounce judgements on a work of art that someone just poured her heart, soul and guts into. Although, on the other hand, I don't mind telling you my opinion if I feel strongly about something.

And, yes, I do have a very strong opinion about THE HUNGER GAMES:  I absolutely love it. 

That movie was awesome.  Not perfect.  Some of those shaky cam close ups made me dizzy.  But the film stayed mostly true to the original story and presented the novel pretty much the way I had imagined it.  The actors, sets and costumes were great.  HUNGER GAMES is the biggest YA book to come along since TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER so I'm happy to see it turned into an intelligent, well produced film.

What I really love about HUNGER GAMES, both the movie and the book, is its strong female lead: Katniss Everdeen.  She's a rich, multidimensional character.  She kills people when she has to. She falls in love when she needs to. She questions the world she lives in. She survives. Writer Suzanne Collins allows Katniss to be who she is. She didn't follow the same old precepts about girls that we've been taught to expect. Yet, she didn't shy away from giving Katniss a nurturing side.

I write YA novels that feature strong female lead characters so it's wonderful to see something like HUNGER GAMES be so successful.  And it's a good sign that so many recent movies have featured assertive girls: WINTER'S BONE, TRUE GRIT. (Another of my favorite novels.)  Maybe mainstream media will loosen up a little and realize that girls in stories can have more than just two dimensions. They can have longings and desires and flaws and goals of their own.  They're not just eye candy for the boys.  And power shopping isn't their only ability. 

I haven't read TWILIGHT yet, but it's on my list. Now I'm thinking I'd better get to it. TWILIGHT has its many fans, but it has its detractors too.  Mostly they complain that Bella's character isn't a strong, independent individual.  I'm curious to see which side I'll come down on.  Although to be fair, I'm not that interested in vampire stories so TWILIGHT has a mark against it already. 

Contest Time! Birthday Blowout First Page Contest

Being the industrious, ambitious writer that I am, I've decided to enter yet another contest put on by the wonderful Shelley Watters of the Is It Hot In Here Or Is It This Book? Blog. No, gentle readers, I didn't win the last one. But in the spirit of never-say-die, I am ready for another go.

The Birthday Blowout First Page Contest is being judged by Victoria Marini of Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency. This time the contest is only open to writers of YA or Middle Grade Fiction, and (yay for me!) I happen to write YA and Middle Grade Fiction. (It's also open to writers of memoir, pop-culture non-fiction, and women’s commercial fiction, but never mind that) The lucky winner will receive a full request from Victoria (which will include at least a partial critique). She will also request partials for the runners up that she selects.

So with apologies for repeating myself, here again for your perusal are the first 250 words of my novel.

Title: DARKLING
Genre: YA Fantasy
Word Count: 68,000
email: worddance8@aol.com

CHAPTER ONE
THE RENEGADE

The heavy stoneware crock slipped from Taela’s grasp, and smashed to the dirt floor. She jumped back as shards of pottery and summerbeans scattered at her feet. She bent to clean the mess and heard footsteps approach from the other side of the weathered door. Cursing herself for her carelessness, she ducked behind a barrel.

Blood rushed in Taela’s ears. Ribbons of moonlight shone through the slats of the storage shed illuminating the casks, barrels and crates stacked around her. The sour smell of vinegar soaking the dirt overpowered the scents of aging wood and hay.

The wooden handle turned and the door inched open. Taela hunched in the shadows, holding her breath. A young woman wearing a white nightdress entered, flickering candlelight illuminating her face. Selita. Long brown hair hung loose around her shoulders and she carried a wooden spoon as if it were a club. Misshapen shadows cast by the candlelight danced on the opposite wall.

Taela shifted to ease a cramp and her boot scuffed the hard-packed dirt. Selita turned toward the sound. “Who’s there? Show yourself or I’ll let in the dogs.” She was bluffing. The dogs weren’t anywhere near or their yapping would have given Taela away. Selita took another step toward her hiding place.

Taela cursed under her breath. She'd almost gotten away with it. Conceding defeat, she stood. “Selita, it’s me.”

Her cousin shrieked, then laughed. “Taela, you nearly startled me to death! I thought you were a Terrinian raider.”