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Author Insight
The "inciting" incident
Most books written these days start with an "inciting incident." It is the plot device that drives the story forward. Not all books start with it like this, in the first paragraph, but some do. The point is to hook the reader and keep them interested in what will happen next. When I was asked to write for Epifiction, my editor told me the story needed to be "melodramatic." None of my books so far have been like that so I wasn't sure where to begin. I decided to throw two sisters into a shark infested ocean and see what happened. It turned out to be a fun and wild ride.
Book Excerpt
Shipwrecked
JILLIE CLUNG WHITE-KNUCKLED to the bobbing wooden crate. Salt spray stung her eyes as waves splashed against her. How could this have happened? They'd been sleeping soundly in their cots when jolted awake by a loud explosion. Then voices, yelling, feet pounding--chaos. She'd grabbed Ruby's arm and suddenly the side of their room had collapsed into the sea, taking them both with it. She glanced sideways at her little sister. In the slim light of dawn, Ruby's already pale skin looked ghostly white, and Jillie could see her shivering.
Where were her parents? Were they bobbing up and down a few swells away, just out of eyesight? She'd called for them until her voice was hoarse, but heard no reply. She couldn't possibly be here alone with Ruby. Who would take care of them? Something grey sliced through the water three feet in front of them. What was it? Jillie stared at the space where the color had been and said nothing. Her mind tried to catalogue the triangular shape that had passed by, splashing salt water into her mouth, causing her to spit.
Like a car finding its gear, her mind grabbed a hold of the image. Shark!
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