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Saturday, 1 April 2017

A-Z Challenge 2017 - A is for Alistair

It's here! Day 1 of the A-Z Challenge 2017. I hope you'll join me for the month as I share my "Black & White Snippets" - snapshots of some of the characters, places and concepts that populate my forthcoming YA dystopian trilogy, Black & White. There won't be a lot of details or spoilers - just short scenes and vignettes that give you a hint of the world I've created. Today, it's A for Alistair.


Alistair couldn’t believe it. How could this be happening to him? In one way, he was glad this screening program had been introduced; he might never have known otherwise, but the idea of being sent far away from his wife and girls and having no contact with them was almost too much to contemplate.

He didn’t even know when he would be back. A year? Five? Ten? The idea of missing just one day of his precious angels growing up was heart-wrenching.


But if he didn’t go, he would be dead within a few years and then he wouldn’t be around for the rest of their lives.
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34 comments:

  1. Tasha Duncan-Drake1 April 2017 at 08:34

    Poor Alistair having to go away like that and not being able to be with his family. Great tension.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - Shapeshifters and Werewolves

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  2. Laura Clipson1 April 2017 at 08:47

    That is a tough decision to make! Poor Alistair.

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  3. Keith's Ramblings1 April 2017 at 09:09

    A difficult decision but one he has to make. A great first snippet Nick!

    Click HERE to read my 200-word tale

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  4. Hilary Melton-Butcher1 April 2017 at 09:11

    Hi Nick - a great introduction to your Black and White series ... oh I'd hate to make that sort of decision ... cheers Hilary

    A - Z Challenge 2017 post today is

    Aurochs

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  5. Sophie Duncan1 April 2017 at 09:17

    Now that's a tragic situation and a rough choice, but with a little hope at the end of the tunnel?
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries

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  6. Karnika Kapoor1 April 2017 at 09:54

    Dystopian! My anxious pleasure. That was engaging. Now I am curious what happens next. Hope to find out soon! :)
    Cheers!

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  7. Anmol Rawat1 April 2017 at 10:12

    That's an unfair choice, but so is life - unfair. Interesting! All the best for your book.

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  8. Sharon Himsl1 April 2017 at 10:25

    He's in a tough spot, no way out it seems. Good tension there.
    "Female Scientists Before Our Time"
    Shells–Tales–Sails

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  9. JeffO1 April 2017 at 13:04

    Off to a good start!

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  10. Alex J. Cavanaugh1 April 2017 at 13:05

    Whatever they found in the screening, best to take care of it.

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  11. Yolanda Renée1 April 2017 at 14:18

    Now that's an introduction!
    Choices, and dilemmas!
    Great start, Happy A to Z ing!

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  12. djinnia1 April 2017 at 18:37

    Already have the hook sinking in. Gots the feels from such a tough decision. I wouldn't even know what to do if I had to make a choice like that. Very intriguing introduction.

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  13. Shari Elder1 April 2017 at 18:47

    Great tension to kick off the blog challenge. Really draws us in.

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  14. Anonymous1 April 2017 at 19:41

    That's a great way to start the challenge and introducing this character!

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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  15. lyndagrace1 April 2017 at 19:59

    What a choice to have to make. But it sounds like Alistair didn't really have one, a choice that is.

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  16. Anonymous1 April 2017 at 20:04

    Longer snippets please, please, please...!!! ;)

    Can't wait for the next posts...

    Oh, and thank for visiting my blog. *crossing my fingers so I'll get to finish my A to Z posts on time*

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  17. Barbara In Caneyhead1 April 2017 at 20:51

    Sounds like an unwinnable situation! Heart-wrenching.
    Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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  18. John Davis Frain1 April 2017 at 20:53

    Way to suck in the reader. A life-or-death dilemma. I guess he has to choose life, but what other consequences will that bring? Hmmmmm... Guess I gotta come back to meet some more characters!

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  19. Michelle Wallace1 April 2017 at 21:19

    A great snippet, Nick!
    Intriguing.

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  20. Jean Davis1 April 2017 at 22:58

    That's quite the interesting conundrum. I wonder if his family is supportive or pressuring him. I'm intrigued. :)

    Discarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction

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  21. Anonymous1 April 2017 at 23:56

    Oh my! What a decision!

    Marquessa @simplymarquessa from
    Simply Marquessa

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  22. cleemckenzie2 April 2017 at 01:19

    Dilemma! Big one. Good luck on the trilogy and, of course, good luck on the AtoZ!

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  23. betty2 April 2017 at 05:46

    I too wouldn't want to be away from my family for any period of time, yet alone the time he thought it might be from his loved ones! Great theme/start to A/Z Good luck with it. I'll read as I can :)

    betty

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  24. Nilanjana Bose2 April 2017 at 06:24

    That's a tough choice for Alistair! Not nice to have to spend time away from family, hope things work out for him.

    Great start to the A-Z, all the best!

    Nilanjana.
    Madly-in-Verse
    Theme : Arabiana

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  25. Debbie D. 2 April 2017 at 08:01

    There's an intriguing start! Poor Alistair. I wonder what his affliction is?

    Debbie @ THE DOGLADY'S DEN Latest post: AZZURRO: Going AWOL in Switzerland

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  26. Sara C. Snider2 April 2017 at 13:01

    Ooh, very intriguing. Alistair is a great name. Perhaps not very lucky though, given the circumstances. ;)

    Magical and Medicinal Herbs: Ash

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  27. Stephen Tremp2 April 2017 at 15:53

    Nick, thanks for stopping by and good luck with the A to Z Challenge.

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  28. Clare2 April 2017 at 15:57

    You've already got me hooked from just one post! What's this screening process and what did it find in Alistair.

    Poor guy, getting sent away from his family. :( Better than dying though. I hope he makes it back to his wife and daughters.

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  29. Heather M. Gardner2 April 2017 at 19:11

    Dun dun dun!!

    Great start!
    Heather
    Co-Host, 2017 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge
    https://hmgardner.blogspot.com/

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  30. PJ2 April 2017 at 20:52

    Why does he have to go away? Why will he be dead if he stays? Why can't he have any contact with them? Too many questions.

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  31. Liz A.3 April 2017 at 03:42

    Is he dying? Uh oh...

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  32. Morgan Cartwright3 April 2017 at 06:26

    What is going on with Alistair? I'm hooked. I need to know more about him! Where is he going? Why does he have to leave? What kind of contagion does he have that forces him to leave his family?

    Can't wait to read more!

    Morgan
    onceuponatimeinhaz.blogspot.com

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  33. Anna Tan3 April 2017 at 08:40

    Uh oh, where does he have to go?

    Anna

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  34. Preethi Venugopala3 April 2017 at 21:18

    That was intriguing! To choose like that is so unfair.

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