Shady Place
The Tracking Board’s 2016 Launch Pad Manuscript Competition
PROLOGUE
Jim paced their bedroom reeling from what had ended up being his last day of work. They always talked about major life changing decisions. This time they hadn’t talked about it, he just did it. He quit his job. He rubbed his hand over the stubble that had grown on his usually bald head and stopped to stare out of the window. He hadn’t always been bald, but when it started to thin, he just shaved . . .
Shady Place
The Tracking Board’s 2016 Launch Pad Manuscript Competition
PROLOGUE
Jim paced their bedroom reeling from what had ended up being his last day of work. They always talked about major life changing decisions. This time they hadn’t talked about it, he just did it. He quit his job. He rubbed his hand over the stubble that had grown on his usually bald head and stopped to stare out of the window. He hadn’t always been bald, but when it started to thin, he just shaved . . .
Luft / The Battle Within /
Chapter 1
Major Hugh Dégaré bolted upright, blinking in the abyss-like darkness surrounding him. As adrenaline pumped through his body, accustomed to racing from deep sleep to full throttle through years of practice, the familiar sights of his bedroom came into focus, everything tinted silver with moonlight through the bedroom window. A sound from across the room pulled his gaze to a corner. His wife, Elizabeth, sat on the floor, arms clu. . .
Luft / The Battle Within /
Chapter 1
Major Hugh Dégaré bolted upright, blinking in the abyss-like darkness surrounding him. As adrenaline pumped through his body, accustomed to racing from deep sleep to full throttle through years of practice, the familiar sights of his bedroom came into focus, everything tinted silver with moonlight through the bedroom window. A sound from across the room pulled his gaze to a corner. His wife, Elizabeth, sat on the floor, arms clu. . .
PROLOGUE
A light breeze swept across the valley, rustling the leaves and pine needles as the dusk sky darkened, slivers of pink and orange tinting the remaining clouds. The rancher maneuvered his horse back and forth, gathering the ewes, many with lambs, into a flock, taking mental note of how many lambs he needed to tag and tail dock. A long, low howl erupted in the twilight. He pat his horse on the neck as its ears flattened.
“Steady now, girl. It’s . . .
PROLOGUE
A light breeze swept across the valley, rustling the leaves and pine needles as the dusk sky darkened, slivers of pink and orange tinting the remaining clouds. The rancher maneuvered his horse back and forth, gathering the ewes, many with lambs, into a flock, taking mental note of how many lambs he needed to tag and tail dock. A long, low howl erupted in the twilight. He pat his horse on the neck as its ears flattened.
“Steady now, girl. It’s . . .
PROLOGUE
A light breeze swept across the valley, rustling the leaves and pine needles as the dusk sky darkened, slivers of pink and orange tinting the remaining clouds. The rancher maneuvered his horse back and forth, gathering the ewes, many with lambs, into a flock, taking mental note of how many lambs he needed to tag and tail dock. A long, low howl erupted in the twilight. He pat his horse on the neck as its ears flattened.
“Steady now, girl. It’s . . .
“Sea-beauty! stretch’d and basking!
One side thy inland ocean laving, broad, with copious commerce,
steamers, sails,
And one the Atlantic’s wind caressing, fierce or gentle--mighty hulls
dark-gliding in the distance.
Isle of sweet brooks of drinking-water--healthy air and soil!
Isle of the salty shore and breeze and brine!”
-Walt Whitman, “Paumanok” from Leaves of Grass
Chapter 1: "Talk of the Begi. . .
“Sea-beauty! stretch’d and basking!
One side thy inland ocean laving, broad, with copious commerce,
steamers, sails,
And one the Atlantic’s wind caressing, fierce or gentle--mighty hulls
dark-gliding in the distance.
Isle of sweet brooks of drinking-water--healthy air and soil!
Isle of the salty shore and breeze and brine!”
-Walt Whitman, “Paumanok” from Leaves of Grass
Chapter 1: "Talk of the Begi. . .
