R.C. Hancock's Blog, page 3

Author Spotlight & School Visit

 

Getting kids to read can be hard. Especially if they’re determined not to.

Earlier this month I visited Ms. Holyoak’s 8th grade Language Arts students, about half of whom said they didn’t like to read.

I shared with them the secret to becoming rich and famous. (Hint: It starts with learning to love money reading, then ends with a million dollar book deal.) I’m still working on it, obviously. And I hope the kids are working on step one. (I gave them a list of my favorite books to start with.)

This is me subliminally comparing my book to Hunger Games so the kids will buy it. (In the lower left corner you can see the teacher’s hands writing a note to herself never to invite me back.)

Big thanks to my Author Buddy, Randy Lindsay, who came to the rescue when I finished 45 min early.  *that could’ve been embarrassing*

But the Author Spotlight isn’t on Randy. Today I’m going to tell you about one of the authors who’s books is on my top 20 list. Please welcome:

My first contact with Carrie was in a blog contest. As a finalist I got some celebrity coaching on my first page, and Carrie was awesome!

I picked up her first novel and literally made a fool of myself at work from laughing so loud. (If you tell anybody I was reading at work, I’ll deny everything.)

This lady is hilarious!! And her books are short and easy to read, making them perfect for bibliophobes. Her latest is Demon Derby. If you want to remain my friend, you have to check it out.

Carrie is not only a awesome writer, she’s also an awesome person. On top of all her deadlines, she managed to read my book in two days and gave me a sweet endorsement that I’m hoping will appear on my front cover when it hits the stores. Here is what she said about AN UNCOMMON BLUE:

“An uncommonly good adventure! I was blue when it ended.” – Carrie Harris, author of Demon Derby

So the moral of the story is, while you’re waiting to make your first million, it’s a good idea to make friends with other famous people.

 

thanks julumedia.com for the icon And Carrieharrisbooks.com for the other images

Share this:

Top 20 Picks to Convert Book-Hating Kids

The ALA have announced the top ten quick picks for reluctant readers.
But since my opinion is the only one that matters, here are the top 20 books I think will inspire a love of reading in self-proclaimed bibliophobes.

Here they are in no particular order.

 

Share this:

Short Story Writing Contest for High Schoolers

 

Know any 9-12 graders who like to write? One of my blogger buddies is hosting a sci-fi/fantasy contest with a cash prizes.

1st place–$75 to the author,

and $50 to their school library

2nd place–$50

3rd place–$25

Go here to check it out. If that doesn’t work try this: http://boldnewworlds.blogspot.com/201...

(And she’s admitted to me that she’s not been able to market it very well, so that means any entries will have a VERY good chance of winning $, and that virtually all stories submitted will be published in an anthology.)

This is an awesome opportunity for students to build their writing credits!

 

Share this:

Have a Blog? Want a free copy of my book?

I’ve already got nearly twenty awesome bloggers who have agreed to write a review of my book on their blog in Dec. Some are even doing interviews and giveaways. I was overwhelmed by the response I got, and am truly gratified to see that people are actually interested in reading it.
There is no limit to how many can sign up. If you have a blog, Cedar Fort will send you a free PDF copy of my book in exchange for a review. And if you have over 500 followers (on blog or other social media) they’ll even mail you a hard copy before it comes out to the public!)

So you can comment on this post to let me know you want to join, or make a comment on the official page, or email  Cedar Fort.

This is what the list looks like as of August 8th. (You should check out these cool reviewers and follow their blogs so you won’t miss their review in Dec.)

“An Uncommon Blue” blog tour schedule:

December 10: Crossroad Reviews • Wishful Endings • New LDS Fiction • GeoLibrarian

December 11: I Love to Read and Review Books

December 12: Mel’s Shelves • My Book a Day • Literary Timeout

December 13: Reading for Sanity

December 14: Jorie Loves a Story

December 15: The Phantom Paragrapher • Author Tracker

December 16: Fire and Ice

December 17: Deal Sharing Aunt • Book Club Sisters

December 18: Mom Loves 2 Read

December 19: Bookworm Lisa

December 20: Readalot

December 21: Read For Your Future

December 22: Katie’s Clean Book Collection

December 23: Author Jodi Woody

December 24:

I won’t feel bad if I don’t fill Dec 24th. There are much more important things to talk about on Christmas Eve than my book. (Besides, it’s a Sunday.)


Share this:

Meet Bruno Nazaire

Big thanks to Adrienne Quintana for tagging me in the “Meet my Character Blog Tour.”
Adrienne is a fellow Cedar Fort author, whose book, Eruption will be released in January. (I’m halfway through it right now, and trust me–you’re going to want to preorder.)
And now to introduce the hero of An Uncommon Blue!

This photo was taken by Bruno’s grandma on the day he became a fugitive (in case they never saw him again.)
What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

Bruno Nazaire is a figment of my insecurities. He’s everything I wasn’t in high school. Living vicariously through him has been very therapeutic.

When and where is the story set?

Bruno was born on the Island of Telesphore on the tiny planet of Port. Although it is “modern-day” in relation to Earth time, they are slightly behind in technology. They don’t know of other planets, and don’t have space travel capability.

What should we know about him/her?

He is sixteen, plays rugby, and struggles in school. Like all Portians, Bruno was born with a glowing colored palm which determines what social class he fits into and what kind of future career he’ll have.

What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

In defense of a 13-yr-old boy, Bruno accidentally kills a government official, which leads to a whole lot of people trying to hunt him down.

What is the personal goal of the character?

At first it is only to survive and get his old life back, but it would be a pretty lame book if he didn’t change a little by the end.

Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

An Uncommon Blue is book 1 in the Colorblind Series, and if it sells well, you can expect 5 sequels. (Follow me on FB for updates and giveaways.)

When can we expect the book to be published?

December 9th, 2014!!! But you can preorder it today, if you’re feeling impatient.

I nominate Marilee Jackson  and Randy Lindsay to join the tour and tell us about their characters.
Thanks, chickesmoothie.com for the Bruno photo.
Share this:

Cover Reveal – An Uncommon Blue

The cover is finally ready, AND I LOVE IT!

 

 

Thanks to the talented of Cedar Fort for the awesome cover art!

For those of you who’ve read the manuscript, you know that’s not exactly what the fires look like, (and for that matter, the city shown is a little more developed than Telesphore,) but as far as eye-catching symbols go, I think the cover is perfect!

What do you think?
Don’t forget, it’s coming out December 9th.
Worried you’ll forget? You can now preorder it at Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

(Stop vacillating and DO IT.)

Share this:

Top 10 Reasons Why Writer Groups Rock

Yup, that’s me hugging a man I just met.

Before you go calling my wife, I’ll tell you what prompted this PDA in the middle of a Barnes and Noble in Gilbert. This guy wrote an awesome book that made me cry. And as luck would have it, he also belongs to the writer’s group I just joined. (Cedar Fort Authors of AZ.) This is what Brock Booher looks like when he’s not hugging men. (Well, I guess he is still giving me a sideways hug… what can I say, we’re close.)

That’s his book, Healing Stone. You should read it. (Or we can’t be friends anymore.)

Speaking of friends, here are a couple more I made that night.

This is Shersta Chabot with her book, Till We Meet Again which is an awesome collection of poetry for those suffering from the loss of a loved one.

We’re trying to convince Shersta to leave her safe little non-fiction bubble and start creating her own worlds.

Here’s Randy Lindsay, the guy who organized this whole writer’s group and the author of a really cool apocalyptic story called:

How about that cover, huh? This one you can find at Deseret or Seagull book. (The main characters are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but you don’t have to be Mormon to enjoy it.)

And as I promised, here are my top ten reasons why writer groups rock.
10. The other writers have to be your friends even if you’re socially awkward.
9. Chances are they’re socially awkward too.
8. They understand you when you whine about synopses and amazon stats.
7. They help you learn from their mistakes.
6. They share in your success.
5. If you don’t have any yet, their success will inspire you to get some.
4. You create connections BEFORE you’re all rich and famous, thereby solidifying your place in the inner circle.
3. You can have your writing ripped apart by people who actually know what they’re talking about.
2. You can make yourself feel better by ripping apart their stories as well.
1. When you share your dream it gets bigger.

So now that you know why writers groups rock, go find yourself one. (And if you don’t want to be a writer, shame on you.)

Share this:

Book Review and Giveaway – Healing Stone

When I won this book through a Cedar Fort facebook giveaway, I was excited, but not ecstatic. It’s definitely not my preferred genre, but the premise sounded interesting.

Then I read it.

Holy. Mother. Of. Pearl.

It has been a long time since a book has made me do the “paper thing.” (That’s when the book is getting so good, and my brain keeps trying to skip ahead that I have to get a sheet of paper and hold it over the rest of the page to force me to slow down.) That is in addition to making me cry actual tears. I’m not talking about misting up. These were full on, sliding down my face, filling me up with happiness drops. (Although there are some horribly wrenching scenes, it was a happy part that made me cry.)

Mr. Booher, I seriously want to give you a hug.

This book did so many things for me. It made me want to help people, it made me want to live in the fifties, it made me want to date a black girl. (Note to wife: Don’t worry sweetie, that was only hypothetical want.)

Stop whatever you’re reading and throw it in the trash. Buy this book. Become best friends with Stone.

Seriously.

New. Favorite. Book.

I had decided earlier to give this ARC away upon completion, but now that I’ve completed it, I want to keep it.

I’m still going through with it, though. I’ll be purchasing a copy or two for myself, but this free copy needs to be thrust out into the world. My review was only the 26th on Goodreads and that needs to change!

If I can get at least ten people to enter this little giveaway, I will pick one of you and mail this slightly worn book to you with my very own money. I’ll even sign it as “friend of Brock Booher” …although I haven’t actually met him yet, he’s supposed to be in my my new writer’s group. I suppose I could get him to sign the copy as well, but no promises.

Here’s the deal. I’m going this on my FB fan page. Every like, share, and comment will earn an entry. And commenting here on this blog will earn you two additional entries. (So if you really want this book, you can enter a total of five entries.)

But like I said, unless ten people enter, I’m going to wait. I will not give up this gem on a failed giveaway. The whole purpose of this sacrifice is to let people know about Brock’s awesomeness, and four of my friends “liking” this is not going to cut it.

I’ll give you two days to get entries from ten different people. Now go tell your friends. (If they win it, you can borrow it from them.)

Now go!

 

Share this:

For Kids That Hate Reading

Last week I had a great visit with two fifth grade classes in my hometown of Heber, AZ.

In preparing for the presentation, I asked one of the teachers if there was anything specific she’d like me to cover. Her reply was very helpful.

“My kids seem to think that the whole writing process is a nightmare and particularly hate to do any brainstorming/prewriting. I’m mostly hoping that meeting an author will change their perspective on the power of the pen.”

I decided the best way to increase their interest in writing was to first interest them in reading.

I think it’s safe to say there is not a single successful writer out there that doesn’t love to read. It wasn’t my college writing classes or my desire to be rich and famous that inspired my writing career. It was the words of great authors (Dahl and Rowling especially) that inspired me to take up the pen.

So when I arrived at Mrs. Ballesteros’ classroom on Thursday morning, I started by asking how many of the students liked to read. A little more than half of them raised their hands, and I noticed some arms partway up, and a hands making a so-so gesture.

To all those that weren’t sure they liked reading, I said, “You’re reading the wrong books.”

My wife got through all of grade school, high school, and most of college thinking she didn’t like reading. After our marriage, I put a stop to that nonsense. I read her the entire Harry Potter series (with British accents and distinct voices) and by the time we’d finished she’d totally changed her perspective. What she’d mistaken for a “distaste of reading” was actually a distaste for certain types of books. As soon as she found a genre and/or author she could sink her teeth into, she realized that she LOVED books.

Now, she is a self-proclaimed sci-fi/fantasy nerd and if she’s near the end of a particularly good book, our kids will often end up in their pj’s eating cereal all day. Which I’m TOTALLY okay with.

I told the fifth-graders that I’d grown up loving reading (since I was horrible at sports I had to find something to do) but that in high school, I decided to make more of an effort to fit in. I played sports (horribly) and watch a lot of movies with my friends. While this was an awesome time in my life, my passion for books dwindled. I might have ended up an imaginationless illiterate, had it not been for Jo Rowling’s series. After I devoured Harry Potter, I got back into my childhood favorites, and discovered some new YA gems like Hunger Games, Bartimeaus, and Uglies.

Goodreads is Facebook for intelligent people and a particularly useful tool in finding good books.

Especially if you connect with friends that have the same tastes as you. It’s also fun for kids to rate the books they’ve read and see those covers sitting on their cyber shelves. Even if you don’t have any Goodreads friends, the site recommends other books based on your ratings of other books.

One secret I shared with the students is that they don’t have to finish books they’re not enjoying.

Unless of course, it’s for school. But if they pick up a book for fun, and after a few chapters aren’t excited to finish it, PUT IT DOWN. The author will never know. There are enough awesome books out there that they shouldn’t be wasting time on books that don’t fully engage them.

Graphic novels are great tools for easing kids into reading. Here’s one that I found particularly engaging.
The only way to find your future favorite books is to go to the library and start looking.

Every year, the ALA compiles a list of books they think will hook reluctant readers. I’m not sure if I share their taste, but their lists are here.

I also came across a guy (we had kickstarter campaigns at the same time) who has dedicated much of his life to helping boys love to read. He might be a good resource if you’ve got a particularly hard egg to crack. His website is here.

And just in case you’re debating whether it’s worth all the trouble to get your kids turned onto books, I’ve included the top ten benefits of reading which I got here.

1. Kids who read often and widely get better at it.

2. Reading exercises our brains.

3. Reading improves concentration.

4. Reading teaches children about the world around them.

5. Reading improves a child’s vocabulary and leads to more highly-developed language skills.

6. Reading develops a child’s imagination.

7. Reading helps kids develop empathy.

8. Children who read do better at school.

9. Reading is a great form of entertainment!

10. Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind.

So the next time your student tells you they hate reading, slap them upside the head with their library card.

 

Thanks Marti Ballesteros for the great photos!

Share this:

Sleeping Fatty (or The Exitor) chp 1

I can’t tell you enough what a help it was to get so much great feedback on my prologues. I’ve made the changes on my master copy and am looking forward to hearing your advice for chapter one.

The biggest thing is whether you think all this character building and introduction is taking too long. (The plot hasn’t really started yet …unless you count her crushing on Diego, so if you’re bored at any point let me know.) Beginnings have to be awesome. And I might just cut the whole party and move to the next scene (where something actually happens.)

As always, tell me if you’d read on and if anything needs fixing (or cutting).

Thanks!

CHAPTER ONE

FRIEND HUNTING

Nix wished she had a stack of pizzas and a cap. Maybe then people wouldn’t be staring at her like she was lost. She kept her head down and followed the stone walkway to the front steps of the mansion. There seemed to be no point in knocking since the door stood open and kids ran in and out at will. After waiting for a line of screaming girls to exit, followed by a shirtless boy with a pitcher of ice water, Nix smoothed her hair and stepped inside.

It was like walking into a palace. Chandeliers hung like crystal wedding cakes from the ridiculously high ceiling. Each room was twice the size of her trailer and perfectly color coordinated. Nix suddenly wished she’d dressed in something besides old jeans and her pink unicorn shirt. It felt morally wrong to be on the spotless white carpet with her nasty old sneakers. She had reached down to take them off when a brown dachshund appeared at her feet and began yapping. Even the animals could tell she wasn’t supposed to be there.

Nix abandoned the shoe removal and retreated to an area that looked like an indoor garden. The puppy followed, but after a few more menacing yips it seemed to lose interest and scampered out the front door. Through the window Nix could see it chasing a sopping wet girl who was now pursuing the shirtless boy with a pointy garden tool.

Inside, a few sets of parents talked near a grandfather clock the size of a refrigerator, and several kids ran up and down the stairs, but Jordan and Diego were nowhere to be seen.

Her original plan had been to keep Jordan from going to the party at all, but then Diego had shown up to give him a ride and Nix had gotten so completely tongue-tied that she ended up tagging along.

The winding drive up the hill had been enjoyable enough with Diego as scenery, but as soon as they were dropped off, the boys had disappeared. Nix was sure they hadn’t meant to leave her. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. Jordan was just excited to finally get invited to a real party. Nix didn’t blame him. They’d spent all of middle school being social rejects together. Now that he’d suddenly made a new popular friend, what was the point of keeping the dorky one?

But this dorky friend wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Nix was going to show Jordan that she could be cool too. She had absolutely no idea how she would accomplish this, but finding him would be a good start.

She passed a dining area laden with junk food. Even though she’d only had a jar of baby food for breakfast–her mother’s newest fad diet–she was too nervous to eat anything now. And anyway, she didn’t like eating in public. She always imagined people whispering, “What’s the fatso shoveling down now? Chips? No wonder she’s the size of a car.”

Next to the table, two boys stacked pizza slices on their soda cans so they could fill their free hand with cookies. They didn’t have shirts either. Why was everyone running around half-naked? Their shorts were colorful, almost like swim trunks.

Oh no. Nix made her way to the back of the house and looked out a window. Her worst fears were confirmed. She had come fully-dressed to a pool party.

Kids swarmed the backyard like ants, half in the water, half running around the sides, all of them smiling and wet. It looked like so much fun that Nix was tempted to take off her shoes and jump in. The pool was the size of a small lake, complete with waterfalls and hot tubs in every corner. An island of green foliage rose from the center of the pool and the kids seemed to be trying to fit as many bodies on it as possible. Jordan was among those trying to cram his way onto the island. A group of Asian girls screamed as they got knocked off into the water.

Nix felt a little better when she saw that Jordan didn’t have a suit either. He’d taken off his shirt and rolled up his jeans to the knees. Apparently Diego had forgotten to mention the dress code to both of them.

As Nix watched, she realized how much Jordan had changed over the summer. He’d gone away to his grandmother’s a short, skinny boy with white-blond hair and crooked teeth. He’d come back taller, tanner, with shaggy hair, braces, and a new friend who happened to have a beach house next to Grandma’s.

Of course Nix had recognized Diego at once from school–the boy was every freshman girl’s dream–but that didn’t make it any easier to give up her claim on Jordan. If the young Spaniard hadn’t been so courteous and so pleasing to the eye, Nix would’ve pounded him into a pulp by now.

As if her eyes had been subconsciously searching for him, she spotted Diego sitting on top of a fake rock, water rushing past him on the way to the pool. Nix gasped loudly, causing a few passing boys to exchange odd expressions. She ignored them, eyes still locked on the figure in the waterfall.

While she had always been mesmerized by his thick black hair and sculpted jawline, seeing him with his shirt off was an entirely new experience and she had to steady herself against the window. He wasn’t beefy by any means, but his distinct lack of any sort of fat made his sixteen-year-old muscles look much larger than they were, and his skin was the most beautiful shade of brown she’d ever seen.

Nix decided it wouldn’t hurt anything to have a seat out back.

By the time she’d found a semi-secluded chair that was still close to the pool, Diego had disappeared from his perch on the waterfall. Nix didn’t mind too terribly–there was still plenty else to look at. Boys with less than a full set of brain cells back-flipped off the diving board three at a time. A cluster of girls floated lazily on inflatable chairs, occasionally paddling to avoid the testosterone-induced suicide dives. Behind the pool, a group of boys played football in a large grassy area, surrounded by ferns and towering trees.

After a few moments Nix spotted Jordan and Diego again. They were playing some form of chicken in the shallow end with scantily clad girls sitting on their shoulders.

Nix felt a twinge of pain. Jordan was fitting in too well. He was slowly changing social groups. Leaving her behind.

The girls screamed and giggled as each one tried to shove the other off her steed. While it bothered Nix a little that Jordan wasn’t looking for her, she could see why he’d chosen to participate in this particular activity without her. The only thing Nix knew of that could support her weight on its shoulders was a Clydesdale.

Jordan seemed to have gotten the short end of the stick anyway. His girl was heavily freckled and had legs like tree trunks. Diego’s rider, on the other hand couldn’t have complemented him better. She was easily the prettiest girl in the pool. Her curly brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, revealing high cheekbones and a slender neck. Nix remembered seeing her between classes surrounded by hordes of admirers. The girl was a year ahead of them in school, but you couldn’t tell from her tiny frame. Diego seemed to bear her negligible weight without any effort, his tan arms locked tightly around her legs. Nix sighed. She’d have given her left lung to be that girl for the next ten minutes.

Maybe she should go talk to them, show them how cool she could be. But then again she didn’t want to make it obvious she had nothing to do. Not to mention, a fat girl walking fully clothed by the edge of a pool might prove an irresistible temptation to some boorish twerp.

Nix decided against going down to greet them. While she wanted more than anything to spend the evening with those two boys, somehow she doubted her hanging around as a third wheel would endear her to either of them.

However. If she could prove she belonged at the party, and could have a great time on her own, maybe they’d be impressed. Maybe they’d even come find her. That’s exactly what she’d do. She’d go make some friends of her own. She’d have fun. It was a party after all.

Nix started with the kitchen. She said hi to an older-looking boy who smiled, and quickly took his plate of chips elsewhere. While Nix orbited the food table, waiting for her potential new friends to get hungry, she sampled the refreshments. They tasted like ash in her mouth. Since she couldn’t relax enough to enjoy the food, she moved into the enormous TV room. She sat for a while, watching the movie–some romantic comedy set in a zombie apocalypse–but she eventually left after noticing she was the only one not cuddled in a towel with a partner. Even the adult chaperones were embracing in the semi-darkness.

Oh well, she wouldn’t be making many friends watching a movie anyway. After more wandering and aimless greetings to less-than-flattered partiers, Nix found herself playing with the dog. She’d finally gotten it to stop barking long enough to sniff the back of her hand and accept a scratch behind the ears. Soon it was trying to scramble up into her arms. Nix obliged, grateful to have finally earned someone’s approval. The dog felt amazingly light as she carried it into an adjoining room with a large leather couch. Nix played with her new friend for a while, letting it chase her ratty shoelaces around the carpet.

“There you are!”

Nix looked up. A striking blond girl stood in the doorway wearing a one-piece swimsuit and a towel around her tiny waist. Nix was getting tired of all these pretty people. Just once she’d like to meet someone that didn’t appear to have walked out of a fashion magazine.

“I’ve been looking all over for you, Princess!”

Although Nix wouldn’t have objected to being called Princess, she assumed the girl was talking to the puppy.

“Oh sorry, is this your dog?” Nix said, feeling like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.

“Yeah, but it’s okay–you can hold her. I was just wondering where she ran off to. Usually if she’s quiet it means she’s found something expensive to chew on.”

“My kitten’s named Princess, too,” Nix said before the girl could escape. “Actually it was Princess Toadstool. But then I figured out it was a boy, so now he’s just Toadstool. We actually have a lot of cats, but Toadstool is the only one I let into my room.” Okay, so that might have been a little more information than necessary, but at least the girl had stopped moving toward the door.

“Princess Toadstool?”

“My friend’s little sister named him–she’s big into video games.”

“Oh,” the girl said, obviously still confused, “Well, if everything’s okay…” She turned to go.

Nix scrambled to her feet. “So you live here? I mean, I figured it was either that or you brought your dog to a pool party.”

The girl smiled. “I’m Sara Hainsworth–what’s your name?” Even though she spoke genuinely, Nix knew what she meant–Who are you and why are you at my party?

“Nix Wack, I came with Jordan.”

“Jordan?”

“And Diego.”

That name seemed to ring a bell.

“Oh, how do you know Diego?” Sara said, reaching down to yank a

pillow from Princess’s teeth.

For a second, Nix was tempted to invent an intimate relationship

with the boy-model, but she didn’t think lying to people was considered an ethical way to make friends.

“Well, I don’t really,” Nix admitted, “but he’s friends with my best friend Jordan. He sort of invited me. I guess Diego forgot to mention it was a pool party.”

“I’m sorry,” Sara said, “would you like to borrow one of my

swimsuits?”

“I’ll be okay–thanks though.” They both knew Sara was just asking out of courtesy–the idea that Nix would fit into anything in Sara’s wardrobe was laughable.

But courtesy was courtesy, and it meant a lot to Nix since she hadn’t experienced much of it so far.

“Aren’t you swimming?” Nix asked, noticing Sara’s dry hair and suit.

“I couldn’t really decide what I wanted to do, so I ended up walking around and cleaning up messes.”

“If you need any help-”

Loud rap music filled the room, drowning Nix’s voice.

Sara pulled a shiny purple cell phone out of a place that made Nix blush, and put it to her ear.

“Hi Daddy,” she said with a grin, “how’s LA?”

As Nix scratched Princess behind the ears she felt a pang of regret. Sara talked to her dad like an old friend. What would it be like to have a father who seemed to care? Mr. Wack usually treated Nix like one of the cats. The one time she’d actually tried to talk to him, he’d glanced around the room in a panic as if hoping his wife would save him and then pretended to fall asleep.

“Yes Daddy, everything’s fine,” Sara continued, “I’ll make sure no one tracks mud in the house… or tramples your flowers.” Sara rolled her eyes for Nix’s benefit.

Nix smiled but didn’t know if she should keep playing with the dog and pretend she wasn’t listening or tactfully excuse herself.

“You’re not coming home until Wednesday!?” Sara said, looking up at the ceiling in exasperation, “Daddy I haven’t used the bathroom next to my room for a week because you left your dirty underwear in there–no I will not touch them!”

Nix decided the time for a tactful withdrawal had passed. She’d have to settle for an awkward one.

“Well, I’m going to…” Nix pointed to the other room.

“Bye Nikki,” Sara said with her hand over the receiver.”It was great meeting you.”

Nix didn’t bother to correct her. She left the dog in Sara’s

custody and escaped before she could hear anymore about her father’s personal hygiene.

Still, Nix couldn’t keep from grinning as she walked through the house. Despite the awkward farewell, she’d had a real conversation with the girl hosting the party, and what’s more, Sara had acted like it was okay she was there! Any embarrassment Nix had felt about sneaking in uninvited was replaced by a glowing adoration for Sara Hainsworth. She’d proven that just because you’re a gorgeous princess doesn’t mean you can’t be civil to the trolls.

Nix followed her stomach–her appetite had abruptly returned–back into the kitchen where she feasted on cold pizza and flat root beer. She felt a little guilty for not sticking to the baby food diet–she actually wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds herself–but Nix didn’t believe anyone could really survive on fifteen ounces of food a day.

Apparently the novelty of the pool was wearing off, because the snack area had attracted a small crowd of. After half an hour Nix had said hi to three girls and twelve boys–about half of whom pretended not to hear her. But Nix didn’t let the rude ones bother her. She had befriended the Lady of the House, and any added friendships with the commoners would just be a bonus.

Nix’s patience paid off. As she polished off a cookie, a muscular black boy appeared and asked her where the bathroom was. Of course Nix had no idea, but that didn’t lessen the thrill of an attractive boy initiating contact with her.

This whole getting-in-with-the-popular-crowd-thing was easier than she thought. Pretty soon she’d have more friends than Jordan and she’d be inviting him to parties.

As the boy walked away in search of a toilet, a sweet flowery scent tickled Nix’s nose. A group of girls approached the food table. Nix was just about to recommend the peanut butter cookies, when the girls strode past her and started up a flight of stairs.

Nix took a slow breath and patted at her hair. So far her friend-making attempts had been one on one–it was time she ditched the fishing pole and got out the jumbo-sized net. A little bait couldn’t hurt, either. Nix quickly wrapped four peanut butter cookies in a napkin and slid them into her pocket. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? Passing out food was a guaranteed way to earn people’s trust. Then while the girls were eating, Nix could say something funny and make them all laugh. They’d be painting each other’s nails in no time.

By the time Nix got up to the second floor, however, the girls had vanished. Nix hesitated for a moment, but the weight of sugary awesomeness in her pocket spurred her into the empty hall. About halfway down she heard muffled voices. A polished wooden door stood closed on her right. Here goes nothing.

Nix turned the knob. The door swung open silently, revealing a

large study filled with filing cabinets and black leather armchairs. No girls. In fact it was as if someone had gone out of their way to make the room as masculine as possible. Fly fishing lures, signed baseballs, and at least a dozen Penn Law School pennants covered the walls. The only thing missing was a rug made of some sort of decomposing animal and a prominently displayed firearm.

She turned and with a sinking feeling, saw someone standing in the corner. Nix cried out in surprise before she realized it was only her reflection. An ornate full-length mirror hung on the wall opposite the door, and in the dim light, Nix hadn’t noticed the unicorn shirt.

She was about to go try another door when she caught a glimpse of the backyard through a large window. Would Diego and Jordan still be in the pool? Nix couldn’t resist crossing the room and taking a peek out back.

The afternoon sun splashed off the trees, casting a fiery glow on the few remaining swimmers below. Nix didn’t see either of the boys, but the view was still breathtaking. In fact, the breeze rustling through the tree branches looked so refreshing that Nix unlocked the window and slid it upward with a clunk. The air was warmer than she expected, and horribly humid, but the smell of the outdoor paradise was incredible. Who would’ve thought coming ten miles up a hill could make such a difference? It was like a completely different world.

A ledge extended just outside the window and for a moment, Nix

was tempted to climb out onto the roof. Yeah right. Even if becoming a quadriplegic might make Diego notice her, Nix wasn’t particularly fond of pain. And a tumble off the roof was sure to be fraught with it. The thought of Diego reminded her that she was supposed to be out earning her popularity, but Nix couldn’t bring herself to close the window just yet.

The gigantic black shadow of the house loomed over the pool, slowly sliding over the empty grounds toward the golden trees. There among the vegetation, something flashed. Nix watched for a moment and spotted movement in the bushes where the grassy yard turned into forest floor. Probably a raccoon or a squirrel. But could an animal reflect the sun like that?

“What are you doing?”

Nix nearly fell out of the window in her hurry to turn around. A tall red-haired girl who had apparently just discovered gold eye-shadow stood in the doorway.

“Were you eavesdropping on us?” she said with a look of utter disgust.

“I was looking out the window,” Nix muttered, trying to make sense of the accusation, “how could I…”

“Oh, sure,” the girl said, injecting each syllable with venom, “like you couldn’t hear us.”

Nix stood with her mouth slightly open. She had no idea how to reply to that.

“Who is it Porscha?” a low female voice called from across the hall.

“Don’t ask me,” the red-head replied, “some weird girl, hiding

in Mr. Hainsworth’s office.”

Nix felt the blood creep up her neck. “I wasn’t hiding, I…”

“Bring her in here, Porscha,” the throaty voice called.

Porscha grinned maliciously. “Shall we?”

Nix swallowed. They hadn’t gotten off to a great start, but there was still time to salvage things. She still had the cookies, after all. Holding her head high, Nix followed Porscha out of the study and across the hall.

As they stepped into what only could have been Sara’s bedroom, the strong flowery scent enveloped Nix and her confidence instantly evaporated. She was a leprous baboon, surrounded by lionesses. Of the five girls surrounding her, there couldn’t have been a zit or mascara clump between them. Nix recognized a couple from school, but only vaguely. Whoever they were, they sure seemed to be making themselves at home. The girl that had been sitting on Diego’s shoulders in the pool was now stretched out on the bed, still wearing her swimsuit. Her face threw her off for a moment and Nix realized why. The only person she’d ever seen wear that much make-up was her own mother, who usually resembled something between a geisha and a circus clown. But the strange thing was that the girl actually looked good. In fact for the first time Nix could see what make-up was intended for. To make beautiful people more beautiful. Nix couldn’t help wondering if a little make-up might improve her own looks… if even just a little. She realized she was staring and quickly lowered her eyes. So much for thinking up something funny to say.

Porscha pulled a chair out from a desk and sat down. The girl on the bed looked Nix up and down and then spoke.

“Aren’t you the girl that came with Diego?”

Nix nodded, somewhat relieved she had made the connection.

“What did you say your name was?”

“I’m Nix.”

“Ticks?” she said, provoking a few chuckles.

“Nix. It’s short for Phoenix.”

“Oh, I know you,” she said, comprehension shining in her eyes, “You’re that Phoenix Ivory girl.”

Nix shifted uncomfortably. She didn’t like where this was headed. But amazingly, the girl didn’t say anything else about her name–instead she sat up on the bed and adjusted her bikini top.

“My name’s Fawn,” she said. “This is Sandra, Porscha, Becky, and Heidi.”

Nix didn’t know if she should shake hands with all of them or just say hi, so she compromised and gave an awkward nod. By the simpering manner that the other girls watched Fawn, it was obvious she was the leader of this group.

“Pretty good party,” Nix said, as if she went to these things all the time. “I would’ve brought my swimsuit, but I’m not a very good swimmer.” Not a very good swimmer? She was getting lamer by the minute. Maybe it was time to break out the cookies.

“Don’t they call you Dumbo?” a girl said from the floor.

Nix felt her face grow warm and absently raised a hand to hide it. The downside to her olive skin was that when she blushed, it only showed in her forehead and neck. That might not have been so bad except her embarrassment didn’t reveal itself in a pink, even hue, but in deep red splotches that made her look as if she’d been smacking her head on a table.

“I, uh…”

“Sandra, it’s not nice to call names,” Fawn said, “Phoenix is much better than Dumbo, anyway.”

Nix lowered her hand and mumbled a thank you.

“Oh, I didn’t mean that in a mean way,” Sandra said, “I was just trying to figure out if you’re the same girl that likes to hang out in graveyards.”

“Graveyards?” Porscha said with a tiny smile.

Nix shrugged. If she ever found out who started spreading that around school she’d staple them to the wall by their earlobes. “Um, it’s not that I like graveyards per se,” she said scratching a non-existent itch, “I just think they’re peaceful and…”

“So you’re friends with Diego?” Fawn said, apparently bored with the current conversation. “Well, I just met him tonight, but-”

“Do you think he’s cute?”

One of the girls that might have been Becky or Heidi giggled from the oversized beanbag in the corner. Nix knew it was a loaded question but trying to pretend Diego

wasn’t every girl’s dream would have seemed ridiculous.

“Doesn’t everybody?” she said, feigning a sudden interest in the ballerina bear wallpaper.

“Do you like him?” Porscha asked, her eyes wide for dramatic emphasis.

Nix didn’t say anything. Had they seen her watching him at the pool? Was her interest that obvious?

“Because if you do, we could set you up,” Fawn said with a grin, “I bet he’d be totally into that unicorn shirt.”

“And those greasy pants,” Porscha said. “Did you put a piece of pizza in your pocket for later?”

“I don’t like him,” Nix mumbled, her forehead suddenly ablaze.

Fawn stood up and stared directly at Nix’s polka-dotted face. “Of course you like him, Nix. But just because my boyfriend felt sorry for you and gave you a ride, doesn’t mean he’s suddenly into fat awkward girls.”

The room fell silent. The scent of sickly sweet flowers was overwhelming. Nix smiled weakly and looked down at the bed. For some reason the pattern on the white comforter suddenly commanded her focus, refusing to let her eyes free. Some part of her hated the design and she felt a tiny twinge of relief when the image blurred. But at that point Nix realized hot tears had filled her eyes and unless she acted fast, the room full of girls would see them spill down her cheeks.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Nix muttered as she stumbled out the door. Behind her, the girls broke into quiet giggles.

“The bathroom?”

“Fawn, you are so mean,” one girl said between laughs, “she’s probably going to go drown herself in the pool now.”

“Just as long as she takes off those nasty shoes first.”

Snot and tears streamed down her face as Nix rushed toward the stairs. Halfway there she glimpsed a shadow on the stairwell. Someone was coming up. Nix turned around, opened the nearest door, and dove into the darkened room.

After making sure the door was locked behind her, she laid on the cool tile and cried as soundlessly as possible, scolding herself for coming with Jordan and wishing there was some way she could just be alone in her own bed.

Share this: