NaNoWriMo Book Project - New Horizons - Excerpt

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I thought you might like a taste of the book I'm writing for the NaNoWriMo 50K challenge. This is from the first chapter. It is day 4 of the 30 day challenge and as of right now I have 9637 words and three completed chapters. All-expense paid trip to Buenos Aires for qualified musician, willing to teach music and tour the country, playing at various festivals and events. Must audition. Selection will be made when all auditions have been heard. Looking for a variety of musical talent, room for ten talented musicians. The qualified musician will receive a good salary and a teaching position. Opportunities include playing at various festivals and events. Lodging provided. Must apply for passport before audition if you do not have one. Qualified musicians will depart JKF International Airport in New York City on June first. She paid the audition fee, and arrived half an hour before she was to perform. She heard other good musicians on a variety of instruments. Peter had encouraged her to audition, though he wasn’t able to participate due to family and job obligations. She was the only member of the group who didn’t have any commitments she couldn’t get out of. Shanara encouraged her brother to audition as well, and was delighted when he did. He was between job commitments at the moment, so the audition came at a good time for him. She was given ten minutes to perform her selection. She had chosen Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major op. 35. Ten minutes wasn’t long enough to do the piece justice, but it was enough to let the judges know her talent. Shanara verified she had her passport at the time of the audition. She had received the acceptance letter two weeks after the audition, along with her plane ticket and told to bring whatever she wanted to make her feel comfortable. So, she did. She packed everything she owned in four large suitcases, garment bag, cosmetic case, and trunk. Her father entered the room. As slim as her mother was, her father was broad-shouldered, husky, dark brown hair and eyes to match. “Your mother said you were ready. Are you sure you have everything? You didn’t leave anything behind?” he said, a grin on his face as he looked around the bare room. “I have everything, Dad. Now, I have a plane to catch.” Her brother entered the room behind their father. “I have all my bags and trunk in the car already. What’s taking you so long?” Shanara looked at her brother, a smile on her face, grateful to have his company on the trip. “I’m glad you’re going with me. It won’t feel so lonely. Besides, unlike you, I want to be prepared for anything.” “Welcome to Aerolineas Argentinas flight 1301. It’s winter in Buenos Aires, with a temperature of 65º and sunny, though it is expected to be 48º when we land at 4:30 in the morning. My name is Captain Fredericks and my co-pilot is Captain Everson. Enjoy your flight.” As they prepared for take-off, the flight attendants went through the emergency landing information, showing them where the emergency exit was on the plane, and where the life preservers could be found if it became necessary. They also showed the position they would need to take should they crash. “Do you want to watch the movie?” said Michael. “What are they showing?” “They have a selection, one is Let There be Light.” “Really? I haven’t seen that one yet. So, yeah, let’s watch it.” As soon as the seatbelt light went off, Shanara and Michael unbuckled their seatbelts and leaned their seats back to enjoy the movie. They had just finished a late-night snack when the plane went through an electrical storm. Lightning flashed around the plane, but there weren’t any clouds in sight, at least none that Shanara could see as she gazed out the window. The seatbelt sign came on, and everyone put their seats in an upright position and prepared for the worst. Only the worst didn’t happen, at least not from what Shanara could see, or not see. “That was a strange storm. What can you see out the window?” said Michael. “Nothing. I mean, literally, nothing. Before the storm there was ocean beneath us, now there isn’t even water.” Suddenly the plane took a sharp turn upward and Shanara could see the mountain peak in front of them. “Where did that come from?” said Michael. “I have a feeling we’re not on earth anymore,” said one of the passengers, her eyes glued to the window. “I bet you’re right. Nothing looks familiar,” said a male passenger. As soon as the plane righted itself, the captain came on. “I know many of you are wondering where we are. So are we. Our navigational charts are useless. We had just passed into what is commonly known as the Bermuda Triangle, and though I’ve flown this path many times, nothing like what we just experienced, has ever happened before. We are looking for a place to land, and hope we can find a civilization who will not shoot first and ask questions later. For now, please keep calm. You will know what is happening at the same time we do. Captain Fredericks out.” “Okay. Now I’m glad I packed as much as you did,” said Michael. “Mom said you packed a trunk, so I know you don’t have just your clothes.” “We were going to be gone for a year, so I thought it best not to leave anything behind.” “That’s not our moon,” said a male passenger behind them. “No, it’s not,” said Shanara, seeing a larger moon than she was used to seeing. “Look over there. Is that another planet?” said a woman, a few rows ahead of them. Shanara focused on the terrain below them and the moons or planets she saw out the window amid a vast array of stars. It was clear they were no longer on earth, but where they were, she hoped they would soon find out.