Collaboration Project Reveal - Already There

This sorta looks like Lucy, though she's a little
too 'done up'.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Thank you Jen Morris for reminding me about the post I was supposed to do today. Oh gosh, it's been one of those days already. :)

So, today Jen and I are SUPER excited to share our collaboration, a YA Contemporary called ALREADY THERE. Jen Morris is the voice of eighteen-year-old Charlie and I am the voice of Charlie's younger sister, Lucy.

And since we spent a while on the query, I might as well use that to give you an idea of what it is about. As always, if you have ANY feedback on the query or my first 250 words for Lucy PLEASE feel free to let me know.

And, to check out Charlie's first 250 words, written by Jen, go here.

For eighteen-year-old Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Grace, high school is over and the most exciting road trip with her three best friends is on the horizon. Far more exciting than her parents realize. The real reason to pack everyone into her friend Hope’s BMW and hightail it from Chicago to Los Angeles is for the final round of a singing competition. First place wins a recording contract.

The clothing and body type is right
for Lucy in this pic. Her face is more
like the first one.

No one needs this contract more than Charlie. Every day her father mentions her stupid decisions and abysmal future. When Charlie tells her father about their road trip, he allows it under two conditions. Charlie’s sixteen-year-old, super annoying, uber responsible sister, Lucy, must go along. And they have to stop at their grandparent’s ranch in Sherman, Texas.

Nothing will keep Charlie from the stage, the only thing she’s remotely good at. So she takes Officer Lucy’s accompaniment and the visit to the grandparents in stride. But when the girls lose the competition, Charlie’s world falls flatter than sister Lucy’s chest.

She can’t go home to a life with no future and a father waiting to ground her just-barely-adult ass. So Charlie convinces her parents to let her and her sister spend the summer at their grandparent’s. After all, they used to do this often. Years ago. When they had some things remotely in common.

Though the ranch was chosen as a last resort, it might be exactly what the two need. Amidst the horses, country air, and ranch hands, clarity for Charlie and Lucy’s futures, as well as their relationship, rises to the top. It’s not something they find. It’s something they realize is already there.

And the first 250 words from Lucy:

            I hate when they do this.

            As Charlie would say, ‘Damned if I do. Damned if I don’t.’

            I wouldn’t say that because… well… I don’t really say anything. And if I do say something I most certainly wouldn’t swear. My parents hate it when Charlie uses that kind of language.

            Granted, they do pay attention to her. Even if they are only telling her to behave.

            The only time I come up in conversation is when my parents use me to show Charlie how she should act. Which then makes her despise me even more.

            Mom’s talking to Charlie, though the glazed-over look Charlie has says she’s not listening. And just under the glaze of her eyes is a fire. That fire is meant for me. But it won’t roar to life until we’re out of earshot from the parents.

            I’ve heard rumblings of a road trip to LA for a few weeks now. All closed door stuff. Charlie really doesn’t have an inside voice so when she thinks she’s whispering to her girls over the phone, I can make out about half the words through her bedroom door.

            Not that I eavesdrop on purpose or anything.

            I’m not going to lie. I’d be totally excited to go on this road trip with Charlie if it weren’t for two things. Charlie hates me.

            And Charlie really hates me.