More Milestones

A young boy, after dreaming for years of becoming a magic-wielding Priest, finally manages to bluff his way into the clergy and learn the magical arts of healing despite having no magical ability.

Intrigued? Good. That's my elevator pitch for Lifebringer.
Uninterested? Good. I like having something to improve on.

On the notion of Lifebringer, it's reached the 20,000 word and 100 page marks over this long weekend just gone. The story has been more thoroughly plotted out and I'm feeling pretty confident in its direction. It's looking to be a long one, as I'm a bit under 1/5th of the way through. For comparison, Maiden Voyage clocked in at around 80,000. This one is looking more in the ballpark of 120,000-150,000. I like big numbers, they feel impressive to write...

Speaking of Maiden Voyage, it's done. I know, I said it was 'done' a few months back, but this time it's really done. It's been proofed and given a final tidy-up and is 100% ready to send out. Now all I have to do is send it...

Which is where that first line comes in. I've been doing my best to learn about how to pitch my book. To be honest, this is my first time doing this for a book so I expect that I won't be very good at it. In any case, here's what I have for Maiden Voyage.

First, the elevator pitch:

A young engineer in a post-apocalyptic Europe becomes involved with the rediscovery of lighter-than-air flight and joins in a landmark voyage across the continent.

And now, the grand display:

Malcolm Chevin is retiring at 22, after just one project as head engineer. It's been years since he fled his wealthy aristocrat parents and made for Switzerland, and it seems he's set for a quiet life. But it is not the nature of the young to live quietly.

When Malcolm volunteers himself to help build a breakthrough long-haul airship to ensure the retirement of elderly engineer Frederick Zeigler, he finds himself on the cusp of a scientific revolution, and in the midst of an arms race.

Now the airship, with Malcolm aboard, finds itself tangled in plots of sabotage, a relentless pursuit and an endless battle against the elements. Malcolm is no stranger to the military might of the Francs, but will his elderly colleague, his best friend and the ship's enigmatic captain fare so well? Or will the ship's maiden voyage be its last?

So that's that. I guess I'm posting this up here because on the one hand I want people to at least laugh at my failures, but I'd also be keen as mustard for some feedback from more experienced writes who happen upon this solemn blog.

In any case, thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, and wish me luck in this final leap into the abyss. And by abyss I mean contracts.