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I've been putting one word after another, for some purpose or another, for about as long as I can remember. My main focus to date has been fiction, in the form of playscripts or novels, although I went through a phase of self-indulgent poetry as a teenager (doesn't everyone?) and have dabbled in journalism (being shortlisted for The Daily Telegraph's Young Science Writer Award in 1999 with an article on quantum mechanics). More recently, I've taken up blogging, and have had travel articles commissioned both online and in print.
This page summarises my recent fictional endeavours.
Currently being serialised online at http://www.charanthe.com
My main project at the moment is a series of novels set in the Charanthe Empire and surrounding regions. The story follows Eleanor as she leaves school and tries to find her place in the world.
The legends tell of a secret society of assassins whose aspirants have to reject their career assignments and survive as social outcasts while they search out their elite training academy. When Eleanor and her schoolfriends are given their assignments she's more than a little disappointed, and tempted by a more unconventional course. In desperation, she rejects her assignment and the quality of life she would have been guaranteed... but her subsequent search carries her even beyond the boundaries of the Empire.
It's looking like being a three- or four-book series - volume one is currently being serialised online. If it was good enough for Dickens....
First draft completed.
On a dystopian near-future Earth, the world is beginning to divide into those whose genes were selected before birth, and the 'naturals' who were conceived the old-fashioned way. Max's parents gave up everything to invest in his genes, but now he's one of an increasing number of children trapped between the increasingly-purist Natural movement who reject all modifications, and those who had the wealth to buy the very best genetic code.
My first foray into sci-fi was a result of NaNoWriMo 2008, and will soon be undergoing brutal revisions.
Second draft currently under revision.
Ailith doesn't know what she wants - but she knows she hasn't found it yet. Terrified by her parents' expectations that she'll drift into the family business and marry her father's apprentice, she's easy prey for a secret society of alchemists - who offer her what looks like an easy way out. She jumps at the chance to escape and enjoy herself for a while - but the mission they give her, at a distant baronial castle, leads her to question the moral fabric of society.
First draft in progress (pending a visit to Chicago).
In the underworld of 1920s Chicago, we witness a battle of wits between the city's only honest cop, an accidental prostitute, and a young gang member desperate to carve a reputation.
Once-a-year madness.
In 2009, for the third year running, I took part in National Novel Writing Month (misnamed, really, as it's an international event). The goal is to write 50,000 words during the month of November.
| Date won | Wordcount | |
| 2009 | 28th Nov. | 50,768 |
| 2008 | 27th Nov. | 50,660 |
| 2007 | 13th Nov. | 50,447 |
| (c) All content copyright Rachel Cotterill 2009 [site map] |
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