2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award - SUBMITTED!

Tonight I pulled the trigger and submitted my entry for the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!  Now, the waiting begins.  On 18 Mar, they'll announce the entries selected to move on to the Second Round.

The 300-word (max) pitch I'd prepared went through a number of edits (mostly tonight, to tell the truth).  I received a lot of helpful suggestions from friends, most notably from fellow author Kim Stokely, who always sees things I don't.  Thanks, Kim!

So...here's the version that went forward:

THE MENGELE EFFECT

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Category

On the last night of mankind's reign, the Reaper rides the wind, and falls from the clouds.

A single raindrop is the catalyst which opens a Pandora's box of genetic horrors, long-forgotten amidst the rusted steel of a Kansas City salvage yard.  The mutations spread swiftly, and a new species catches the scent of prey.  Dawn reveals a dead city, eerily quiet and still.  The mutant beasts hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of day's end.

Biowarfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour fights a daily battle to keep America safe from the world's tiniest, most fearsome weapons.  Ordered to investigate the unfolding crisis, she barely escapes the creatures' nocturnal onslaught, saved at the last instant by Colonel Garrett Hoffmann, a man who'd lost hundreds of his troops to a furious wave of things bombs and bullets couldn't slow.  Together they work to halt the plague, but time is short.  Frantic for answers, President Andrew Smith is pushed to consider unthinkable action by members of his own government, trusted advisors who have long prayed—and prepared—for this day.

Carolyn and Garrett race to stop the creatures—the spawn of perverse genetic research performed in Auschwitz’s filthy labs, refined by Cold War enemies and perfected by nature—before a desperate President unleashes the fury of America's nuclear arsenal on his own soil...and his own citizens.

***

Wish me luck!

2014 ABNA...Final Version?

After receiving some much-appreciated feedback from a few friends (thanks Kim, Melanie, Frank & Angela!), I've changed the pitch again.  Here's version #3.  I think this might be the final version...?

THE MENGELE EFFECT

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Category

On the last night of mankind's reign, the Reaper rides the wind, and falls from the clouds.

A single raindrop becomes a catalyst, opening a Pandora's box of genetic horrors long-forgotten amidst the rusted steel of a Kansas City salvage yard.  The mutations propagate swiftly, and a new species catches a scent.  Dawn reveals a lifeless city, quiet and still.  The mutant beasts hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of day's end.

Biowarfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour fights a daily battle to keep America safe from the world's tiniest, most fearsome weapons.  Ordered to Kansas City to investigate the unfolding horror, she barely escapes the creatures' nocturnal onslaught, saved at the last instant by Colonel Garrett Hoffmann, a man who'd witnessed the slaughter of hundreds of his troops—and innocent civilians—by a fast-moving wave of things bombs and bullets couldn't stop.  Together they work to discover a manner to halt the spread, to uncover a weakness.  But time is short.

President Andrew Smith, former Navy Admiral and battle-scarred hero, helplessly watches as city after city is eaten alive, the military’s conventional might useless against a swarming foe that inexplicably—and exponentially—replenishes its numbers every twenty-four hours.  Frantic for answers, the President is pushed towards the unthinkable by members of his own government, trusted advisors who have long prayed for this day...secret followers of an ancient order sworn to destroy civilization in order to save their own souls. 
       Carolyn and Garrett race to find a way to stop the creatures—the spawn of perverse, decades-old genetic research performed in Auschwitz’s filthy labs, refined by Cold War enemies and perfected by nature—before a desperate President unleashes the fury of America's nuclear arsenal on his own soil...and his own citizens.

2014 ABNA...Ready, Set, PITCH! (Part Deux)

The other day, I posted a 300-word pitch for the upcoming 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) competition.  I've written a second version of the pitch...and I'm looking for feedback!

Here's the second version...let me know what you think!

THE MENGELE EFFECT

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Category

On the last night of mankind's reign, the Reaper rides the wind, and falls from the clouds.

A single raindrop becomes a catalyst, opening a Pandora's box of genetic horrors long-forgotten among the rusted steel of a Kansas City salvage yard.  The mutations spread quickly.  Dawn reveals a dead city, stripped of life by a new species that moves on four legs...sometimes, two.  The mutant beasts hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of day's end.

Biowarfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour fights a daily battle to keep America safe from the world's tiniest, most fearsome weapons.  In her world, the twisted rubble of September 11th is only the beginning; a string of chemical and biological attacks, each more terrible than the last, drive Carolyn to fight back in her own way—with computers, test tubes, and unmatched expertise.  Ordered to Kansas City to investigate the unfolding crisis, Carolyn escapes the creatures' nocturnal onslaught at the last instant, saved by Colonel Garrett Hoffmann, a man tortured by the vision of hundreds of his troops—and innocent civilians—massacred by a fast-moving wave of things bombs and bullets couldn't stop.

President Andrew Smith, former Navy Admiral and battle-scarred hero, watches as city after city is eaten alive by a swarming foe that inexplicably doubles its numbers every twenty-four hours.  Frantic for answers, the President is swayed towards unthinkable action by members of his own government, secret followers of a century-old order sworn to destroy civilization in order to save their souls.
       Carolyn and her team race to find a way to stop the creatures—products of perverse genetic research performed in Auschwitz’s filthy labs, refined by Cold War enemies and perfected by nature—before a desperate President unleashes the fury of America's nuclear arsenal on his own soil...and his own citizens.

2014 ABNA...Ready, Set, PITCH!

The 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) competition is just around the corner.  I'll admit, I'm a moth, and the ABNA is a flame!  I first entered the contest in 2011 with my first novel, THE COMING--it made it to the Quarterfinals round (top 250 of 5,000 entries).  In 2012, I submitted my second novel, THE MENGELE EFFECT...didn't make the first cut.  Tried again in 2013...same result.

So...why try again, you ask?  Why not!  The ABNA judges make their initial cut based on a 300-word "pitch"--basically what you'd read on the back of a dust jacket or on the inside flap.  Later, they look at a 5,000 word excerpt, and finally at the entire manuscript.

Below is my edited, edited, re-edited, tri-edited, and edited again 2014-version pitch for THE MENGELE EFFECT.  Let me know what you think!  I'll be sending this off Sunday (16 Feb), so any comments are welcome!

THE MENGELE EFFECT

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Category

The survivors would tell stories of this night...a quiet, peaceful evening in America's Heartland that marked the beginning of humanity's war for survival.   The Reaper, patient and devious, comes with the rain.  A single drop finds purchase.

The mutations, sudden and furious, begin in a Kansas City salvage yard; hours later, the light of day reveals a dead city, stripped of life by creatures torn from a madman's dreams.  On this night, the gates of Hell swing wide, releasing the spawn of mankind's hate to pour across the Midwest in an unstoppable, ravenous wave, slowed only by the sun's killing light.

Biowarfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour fights a daily battle to keep America safe from the world's tiniest, most fearsome weapons.  Ordered to Kansas City to investigate the unfolding horror, she barely escapes the creatures' nocturnal onslaught, saved at the last instant by Colonel Garrett Hoffmann, a man who'd witnessed the slaughter of hundreds of his troops—and innocent civilians—under the creatures' horrific advance.  President Andrew Smith, former Navy Admiral and battle-scarred hero, helplessly watches as city after city is eaten alive, the military’s conventional might useless against a swarming foe that inexplicably—and exponentially—replenishes its numbers every twenty-four hours.  Frantic for answers, the President is pushed towards the unthinkable by members of his own government, trusted advisors who have long prayed for this day...secret followers of an ancient order sworn to destroy civilization in order to save their own souls.

      Carolyn and her team race to find a way to stop the creatures—products of perverse, decades-old genetic research performed in Auschwitz’s filthy labs, refined by Cold War enemies and perfected by nature—before a desperate President unleashes the fury of America's nuclear arsenal on his own soil...and his own citizens.

Wish me luck!