OK, now I’m caught up on posting chapters (but I’m still way behind on writing.) Oh, and I accidentally left off the first sentence of Chapter 7 when I posted it. I’ve fixed that.

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Chapter Eight

Sitting in the front passenger seat of the Minnow, Aidan stifled a yawn. It had taken him over two hours to get back to sleep, and it felt like his alarm had woken him almost immediately after.

Jessica pulled the car to a stop at the same place as yesterday.

“Out,” she said.

“But I’ll be late for Chemistry again.”

Jessica winced. “Mr. Carlson? Doesn’t his hand freak you out?” Read More »

A little late because I’ve been pretty busy the last couple of nights:

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Chapter Seven

“Hey!” Aidan yelled at the stranger. If there was one thing he remembered from the safety lectures the police gave at school every year, it was to make noise if someone is trying to kidnap or abuse you.

He scrambled out of bed and got to the door. He twisted the handle but it didn’t turn–it took Aidan a moment to remember he had locked it.

“Dad!” shouted Aidan, hoping he was loud enough to reach his father’s room down the hall.

“Fear not, I will explain,” said the stranger. His English-accented voice sounded vaguely familiar.

Aidan looked back over his shoulder at the man. “Stay away from me, you pervert!” His trembling fingers finally managed to unlock the door, so he yanked it open.

An identical stranger in chain mail stood outside the door. Read More »

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4 5

Chapter Six

Aidan’s dad parked his Kia in their garage. As they got out of the car, Aidan said, “Please don’t tell Jessica.”

His dad pause, hand on the open driver’s side door. “Tell her what?”

“That I fainted.” He didn’t want her to have something else to be ashamed of him for.

His dad nodded.

After going inside, Aidan studied in his bedroom. He spent extra time on chemistry, English, and American history–those were the classes Gwendolyn was also in, although she only sat next to him in chemistry. If the teachers asked him questions and he knew the answers, maybe she would want to study with him. Maybe she would come over, and they would sit on the couch next to each other, and–
Read More »

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4

Chapter Five

Arthur’s arms ached as he raised his sword to parry yet another blow from Mordred. I’m nearing my end, he realized. Merlin was right to warn against fighting today.

He tried to ignore the moans of the wounded and dying men around him. For a too-brief time, his own men had succeeded in surrounding him, separating him from Mordred. But Mordred’s superior numbers had worn them down, allowing his son to confront him once again. A handful of Arthur’s men still fought on against Mordred’s remaining men, but they could no longer aid him. He was alone.

At least Mordred was alone, too. Read More »

Well, November 11 was my most productive writing day so far: 2750 words. That brings my total to 9500 words. I’m still behind, but not quite as far behind.

Previous chapters: 1 2 3

Chapter Four

Aidan met up with Earl at the cafeteria for lunch. As they stood in the line, Earl said, “Didn’t know Carlson was going to pair us off like lab rats, or I’d've saved you a seat.”

The smocked lady behind the lunch counter handed Earl a plate of meatloaf in some sort of gray sauce.

It was hard for Aidan to keep from smiling. “I don’t know. I think things turned out OK.” He reached out and took his plate from the lady.

“Oh-ho!” Earl grabbed a small bowl of red gelatin cubes. “There was . . . chemistry between you and your lab partner?” Read More »

Previous chapters: 1 2

Chapter Three

314. A sign on the door said “Mr. Carlson.” Aidan double-checked his schedule, then tentatively pulled open the door. Unfortunately, it made a repetitive clicking sound as it opened, so as he entered he found all eyes in the room focused on him.

Aidan looked around the room for a place to sit. There were two tall chairs per lab table, and most of them seemed occupied.

“Most of you probably think chemistry is all about mixing stuff up in beakers and making them go kablooey!” said Carlson. Read More »

Chapter One was posted here.

Chapter Two

Aidan sat in the front passenger seat of the Minnow, the powder-blue, twelve-year-old Ford Escort hatchback that belonged to his sister Jessica. In his lap, he clutched his backpack full of textbooks for his first day of classes at Camelot High.

“I can’t believe you didn’t make the football team,” said Jessica as she guided the car along Main Street in Camelot, Connecticut.

“Well . . .” Aidan squirmed in his seat. “Coach Zimmerman said the track team needed me more.” He sort of said that, at least.

“Our football team hasn’t won a game in three years. It almost makes me embarrassed to be a cheerleader. Almost.” She flicked invisible dust from off the maroon and gold Knights logo on her cheerleading uniform. Read More »

King Arthur waited on the dew-slicked grass in the small valley between his army and Mordred’s. The clouds hung close, hiding the sun and almost merging with the morning mists that still clung to parts of the lowland.

How very like Mordred to force me to wait on him, Arthur thought as he watched his son approach from the opposite hillside. He shook his head. This was a time to find common ground, not criticize. He needed to make peace.

“Fine day for a battle,” said Mordred, stopping five feet away. He was flanked by four of his knights, as was Arthur.

“Perhaps when you’ve aged another twenty years,” said Arthur, “you will not be so eager for fighting.”

“Hah!” Mordred spat on the ground, just missing Arthur’s left boot. “Old as you are, if you weren’t outnumbered, I wager you’d be eager, too.”

Read More »

Well, I’m behind. As of right now, my word count stands at 5864. To be on track, I’d need to have written another 7500 words or so.

But I’m going to keep on going. And, in order to give myself more public accountability, I’ve decided I’m going to post the first draft of my novel here on my blog. I’ll post a chapter a day until I either catch up to what I’m writing or finish the month.