Would Stanley live to see his beloved village again?
All journeys must begin somewhere. When it comes to MG fantasy adventure, the hero often goes on a journey of self-discovery and epic proportions. And so it is in my new novel, The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt: Book I of Hartlandia. Our hero is reluctant to leave his village, but tragic events compel him forward to confront the villain Christopher Siren. The following is an outtake depicting the start of his quest:
Stanley Leaves Meadowwood
“Stanley couldn’t think of anything else that he needed to do in Meadowwood before leaving. In fact, he was rather amazed at how quickly his decision had been reached. Usually, Stanley was much more careful and considered in his deliberations. But when he stopped running last night after all those restless, angry hours, the choice was as clear as the day breaking upon him. A journey to Widow’s Peak, and to Christopher Siren, were the only things that could be done.
Stanley hadn’t walked more than a mile past the long, stone bridge out of town when he turned around and looked at Meadowwood. For one thing, he needed a rest. He had quite a bit of trouble going over the craggy hills that led into Rye. He tried not to think about the many more he knew lay ahead on his long trip.
Looking down from one of the hills, he could just about make out Meadowwood. Of course, he was too far away to see any individual townsfolk. But the rooftops themselves composed a city in miniature, with their triangles of eaves and dormers, their puffing smokestacks.
Stanley gave a heavy sigh and took one last look, as if to burn the town into his memory. Then he began walking, as quickly as he could, in the opposite direction. He did not glance back again. He wanted to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall, when it would be too dark to travel any more.”
Stay tuned for more!
Does Stanley succeed in his quest? Can he even manage to meet the evil Christopher Siren without getting killed? Will he ever return to his beloved village again? The answers to all these questions and more can be seen in The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt: Book I of Hartlandia. It comes out later this summer. In the meantime, read the entire first chapter for free!
What are your favorite hero adventure stories? What did you enjoy most about their fantasy quests? I know you have thoughts on this, so share them in the comments!
(Top image by John Palmer)