** Updated **
Hey, thought I'd make a post on the YA Novel I'm working on.
Currently working through a second draft, started writing it about 10 months ago while traveling Europe. I love the fact that as I explored the world I ended up writing a story set in Australia (where I live).
One-Liner:
A teenage boy becomes haunted by hidden secrets from his past when he is abandoned in the Australian Wilderness with his friends.
One Paragraph Concept:
Callum's life was never the same after his mother's death. In the days after her funeral he was abandoned in the Australian Outback by his father as a 'way to grow'.
Five years later, Callum's adventures in the wilderness have become tradition and now it is his brother Connor's turn. Asked by his father to go and protect his younger brother, Callum begins his journey with his girlfriend Alley and best mate Jem. But a dream starts to haunt his sleep. With a brother looking to him for approval, a friend looking for good time and a girlfriend who has also experienced death and is fragile to the point where any psyical contact needs permission, it is clear to Callum that this time he will be battling more than the elements.
Sample: Taken from Chapter One:
I spoke about Dad never being the same. Though he may have never been normal, Mum’s death was no help. Christian O’Reilly (I know, another C! …Don’t push me.)
Born in Ireland, Christian came to Australia with my grandparents when he was a teenager. After several jobs here and there, he decided to settle in with a construction company before popping the question to Mum. Not the most enjoyable job, but he manages to endure it, plus it pays the bills.
What sets this whole story into motion is what happened after Connor’s fifth birthday. Three days after the funeral. That day is forever burned into my memory. Dad dropped my brother off at the Bishops, and then drove out of the city. Curious as to where we were going, I asked Dad, but he never replied. Just kept driving with a blank look over his face.
Over an hour went by, we were well past the city and surrounding suburbs. Somewhere in the country, driving along a dirt road, surrounded by thick bush land.
“Open the glove-box,” Dad said, he was nervously biting his knuckle as he drove.
Doing as I was instructed, I pulled out a thin cloth.
“Put it over your eyes, like a blindfold…” There was something in his voice, hesitation…
“Why…”
No answer. I wrapped it around my eyes. Everything went dark, and several minutes later, the car rolled to a stop. Dad got out of the car, then opened the passenger door. Taking my hand, he led me out of the car. I felt leaves crunch beneath my shoes, we were off the road, walking through the bush. In the distance I could heard what sounded like a river or creek, beneath the chirps of birds and rustle of trees.
The cloth was quickly becoming damp, as the summer’s heat blazed down upon us. Beads of sweat were pouring down my forehead.
“Now Callum…” my father began. It dawned on me that his voice was scaring me. “Right now you’re confused. You mother, bless her, has gone up to heaven. I can’t have you being weak, not now. You’re Irish, it’s in your blood, you need to be strong. You need to learn how to be strong.
He placed his hands on my shoulders, gave them a squeeze, I tensed up.
“Callum, I want you to count to twenty, then home.”
I repeated, “Count to twenty… then home.”
“That’s it. Good lad.” The uncertainty in his voice helped spread the fear across my body. But I did what I was told. I began to count.
Dad was moving around, I could here his boots walking over the leaves.
8… 9… 10… There was a thud. A car door being shut? No it couldn’t be.
13… 14… 15… An engine started.
I started to count out loud. Holding onto a hope that dad was close by. That he would here the fear in my voice and tell me that everything was going to be ok.
“16… 17… 18…” Nothing, there was nothing. “19…” I didn’t want to finish. I didn’t want to take off the blindfold. Finally I managed to get out the last number. “20.”
I stood there. Not sure for how long. My arms hung by me like two weights were pulling them to the ground, keeping me from using my hands to remove the blindfold. I wanted to keep it on forever. I didn’t want to remove it and see… well to be more accurate, what I wouldn’t see. Sure enough, when I gathered enough strength and courage to tear of the piece of cloth, and after my eyes adjusted to the light… I was alone. Surrounded by thick bush-land. Dad was nowhere to be seen.
I looked in the direction of where we had come. The highway wasn’t far away. I could hitchhike, or find someone to call for help.
Then my head turned towards the wilderness. Dad had brought me here for a reason. To grow, to become stronger. Face my fears and emerge as a better person. I had to respect that. I knew what had to be done. The first step was the hardest, but it got easier as I moved forward. Somehow I was going to have to survive out here. Alone.
Thanks for you time reading this post. Let me know any thoughts.
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