AW November Blog Chain Post
Day 8
Song that helped me out: Hoodoo, by Muse
Word Count: 24747
So what if I had to summarize my current novel for a back cover? AbsoluteWrite has a monthly blog post chain and this month, the prompt is:
Write up a back cover blurb for a book you have written or would like to write. It should be short, sweet, yet give a sense of people and events without totally spoiling the ending. NaNoWriMo participation is not required, and the blurb may be for fiction or nonfiction as you see fit
Figured eventually I’ll have to write one up any so…why not now? Gives me a chance to get some perspective on the current project.
Below is the blurb and then a list of fellow participants follows. Bear in mind this is the first time I’m writing a back cover blurb.
Aiden O’Connor was kidnapped when he was a teenager and turned into an assassin with genetic traits taken from species who have survived nature’s ultimate test: natural selection. A horndog always looking for a fight and has an ego to match, he has become tired of his master’s oppressive rules. Aiden betrays him to enjoy the freedom of being a wielder of great power.
It is then that he encounters his fraternal twin sister: Rosaleen, and her fiancé, Toan Rivers. Always playing by the rules, Rosaleen has been wary of a select few in the government she has grown to trust. With her gadget-building and rule-bending fiancé, she has begun to dig for the hidden corruption. Little do Aiden and Rosaleen know that they were brought together by the same dark force.
The corruption catches up to the twins, who are forced to work together to defeat enemies with a variety of genetic advantages.
Rosaleen’s goals are clear: to restore her country to what it proudly stood for.
However, Aiden’s true goals remain a mystery to everyone.
Of course, names and such are still not 100% confirmed.
The list of other participants and their blurbs! (Will be updated as more posts come in). Have a look!
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month’s post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com (link to this month’s post)
MysteryRiter - http://incessantdroningofaboredwriter.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
AuburnAssassin - http://clairegillian.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Jarrah Dale - http://brattysramblings.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
SinisterCola – That’s me!
dolores haze - http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Alynza - http://www.alynzasmith.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
writingismypassion - http://charityfaye.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Cath - http://www.cathsmith.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Inkstrokes - http://drlong67.wordpress.com/ (link to this month’s post)
egoodlett - http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
LadyDae - http://ladydaewrites.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
SuzanneSeese - http://www.viewofsue.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Stu Ayris - http://tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com/ (link to this month’s post)
Like this:
Posted on November 8, 2011, in Writing. Bookmark the permalink. 25 Comments.
I always like political intrigue in my stories so this one is worth a look.
The earlier drafts always seemed to lack major conflict, so I figured I’d add a dash of political trouble to a sci-fi story.
Here’s a super-quick down and dirty probably not even close to the story off-the-cuff blurb redux for ya:
Aiden O’Connor was kidnapped when he was a teenager and turned into an assassin BY THE XXXX. Tired of being used for their purposes XXX he makes a daring escape with plans to never look back – only to encounter his long-lost twin sister.
Rosaleen, and her fiancé, Toan Rivers, dig for hidden corruption in the XXX. Little do Aiden and Rosaleen know that the dark force they seek to uncover brought them together to use for its own purposes and is quietly working in the background.
To restore the country’s safety, the twins must battle enemies enhanced with a variety of genetic mutations as unique as their own. But time is running out – and the powers that be have already made their choice which twin will survive and which will perish….
Interesting spin on it!
Sounds intriguing. Though it starts off with Aiden a “horndog”?
I think if Aiden will be a true mystery he should be different than most guys. LOL
Very nice. I’d read it.
Well when you’re injected with something that makes you produce more hormones than a growing child, that can be a potential side-effect
Could be a good story. Good luck!
Thanks! I know there’s still work to be done, but there’s the potential.
I’m very interested to know which genetic traits were taken from which species. Would you mind sharing?
Well, right now there are traits such as camouflage, the ability to regrow limbs, producing powerful electrical shocks.
I also have some more…exotic ones (such as producing fire, freezing the air around them). For those, I’m adding to my world-building tasks that I should design some creatures that have these abilities.
Since many of the species are primarily predators, the folks given these traits also develop battle smarts to defeat their prey…er opponents.
EDIT: I also forgot to add – I am also looking into adding flaws as a result of being given these characteristics. For example, someone given the ability to produce fire from their bodies is forced to operate in a much more alert state. Their bodies are burning energy faster, they are so active they can’t sleep, etc.
Very cool!
Definitely add some flaws, make him relatable not a superhero. That said, sounds interesting. Running from their makers? An age old but great conflict.
I’ll keep an eye out for it, absolutely.
Thanks for the comments!
The blurb doesn’t do a good job of explaining it, but the character isn’t perfect by any means just because he has traits from species that are still alive thousands of years later. He’s one of those “bites off more than he can chew” kind of characters and thinks asking for help is a sign of weakness.
Assassins! Always good in a pinch. The blurb seems to promise some nice, violent contemporary SF at the very least.
Not quite sure if “horndog” fits into the style of the rest of the blurb, though. Unless it’s erotic too; otherwise I’d swap it out for something else suggestive of youthful rebellion.
Fair points. Appreciate the feedback!
I love the sound of the story. Honestly, I think the blurb could be tightened up a bit, but love the concept.
Eh, there’s a first time for everything right? Thanks for the comment!
I do love a dystopian tale, and with genetic engineering and assassins…I am there!
Thanks! Though I’ll be honest, it’s not a 100% dystopian tale. I’m seeing that the blurb may not be clear about the fact that the government is not corrupt, there are just a few corrupt politicians hiding there.
Genetically modified assassin with specially enhanced traits… I love the premise. Good luck with this, I would read it for sure.
Thanks! Initially I was just going for “hey give them some random power I pick out of a hat” but then I got interested in the idea of stealing specific traits from animals. Of course, I have to make up some creatures, but at least it sounds more…genetic-engineered
Pingback: Love In A Cold Climate | Diane Dooley
Pingback: Weekend Roundup: October 30-November 5 + Blog Chain « Neither Here nor There….
Pingback: » November Blog Chain – Book Blurb cathsmith.com
Pingback: November Blog Chain- Cover Copy | Inkstroke's Blog