Meredith Mansfield, Author

I’ve been tagged. The rules are:

Go to page 77 of current WIP

Go to line 7

Copy down next 7 lines/sentences/paragraphs & post them as they’re written

• Tag 7 other authors
• Let them know

Since I’ve barely started THE BARD’S GIFT and haven’t gotten to a page 77 yet (haven’t even gotten to page 2 yet) and I finished the revisions to FIRE AND EARTH and started querying it yesterday (fingers crossed), that leaves MAGIC’S FOOL. I’m starting the next round of revisions based on the critiques of my beta readers, so that counts as a WIP, too.

Going backward just a bit to start in a place that makes a little sense:

Vatar took a step back. As a Dardani, every instinct told him to keep that secret. Especially not to tell a stranger. “Why? I don’t want to.”

“Because Veleus understands these things better than any of us. He can help you, if you let him.”

“I’ll help you in any way I can, . . . son,” Veleus said.

Vatar scuffed one toe on the path. “It was just a dream.”

“We all thought that at the time. But not any more. Now I think you were actually talking to someone in your mind. Tell him.”

“What’s this?” Veleus asked, looking at Vatar again.

Seeing no way out of it, with everyone’s eyes on him, Vatar reluctantly recounted his three conversations with Thekila and how they had happened. And, at Mother’s prodding, he also told about the incident with the lions. Veleus listened with interest, asking pointed questions.

Hmm. Just looking at this makes me think I need a few more dialogue tags or beats. This bit comes at the point when Vatar first meets the person who may help him to understand the magic he’s been desperately trying to hide.

Now, if you’ve read this far and you haven’t already been tagged–you’re it.