raisingthesteaks-wip

[raisingthesteaks-wip]

First post. Pinned post?

Raising the Steaks, or RTS, was an idea I had a long long time ago. I wanted to write a children’s book. A picture book. A story about a young green haired witch saving the day. But when I started it, I realized I couldn’t condense it that much. My adoration for my OC and the simple world building I started was too powerful. I wrote a chapter one night and then lost track of it all.

I’d think about that chapter. And I’d write little notes in my phone. And every few months, I’d add another couple lines to a chapter 2 or 3. I’d bring up my children’s book idea in conversation. And people would say they’d read a book if I wrote it. Not necessarily my target demographic but badgers can’t be choosers.

As I add more and more words, I want to share what I have. And I don’t want to post chapter WIP after chapter WIP on my main blog. So. I have this one I can send to people.

So. Quick story introductions:

Seneca Rhodes is one of the two main characters. She’s a 17 year old high school senior and amateur practitioner of magic. She lives with her magic-knowledgeable parents and a ferret familiar named Ouija.

Genesis Amore is the second main character. Also a senior, she’s oblivious to the magic that exists in the universe. She’s the point-of-view audience-insert-type character. Her chapters are told from first person. She lives with her twin brother, Red, and her working mother.

Revelation “Red” Amore is Seneca’s best friend. He’s aware of magic and is fascinated. He’s Seneca’s guinea pig sworn to secrecy.

Dessie Aisha is a junior attending the same high school. She’s close friends with Seneca and Red. She suspects that there’s something “special” about Seneca. Her inherent interest in Seneca and Red drives Genesis mad with envy.

The story takes place in the small fictional city of Mungia, Arizona. The story begins in the early autumn of 2012 and is hypothesized to end in early winter. The city was decimated by a mysterious wave of cattle death that caused 90% of the people to move away years earlier. The city is small enough to have nothing to do but large enough to walk a mile in any direction and not see another person.

My goal of goals would be to write a trilogy. The third book would feature a mostly or entirely brand new cast. And could become its own series but I’m not thinking about that yet.

RTS 1 is most targeted to 14 year olds. It won’t feature anything gruesome or explicitly sexual. There will be no foul language either. It will contain heavy themes of childhood depression, trauma, anxiety, isolation. Death is a frequent topic. As well as survivors guilt. The overall society is xenophobic and untrusting. But there’s always hope.

RTS 1 is a queer story. The L, the G, the B, the T, and even the A. And I don’t mean Ally. There are allys though. I don’t foresee any explicit queerphobia.

TLDR: if a dark, queer PG-13 chapter book with dueling perspectives (1st and 3rd person) interests you, I hope you’ll try a chapter or two. Feel free to comment or share. Nothing is set in stone until it is. Whether anyone reads it or not, I’m going to finish this one day.