Dialogue Writing Samples
Writing Samples
Title: “Rubberband Lazer; Or, The Adventures of Casey Norider and Jaq Synergy”
Genre: Space Western Comedy
Context: Jaq (pronounced “Jack”) reunites with Holyfire the horse, Casey the sheriff, the two munchkin cousins Tag and Urit, and Kalei the fairy. This is set on Bahm Prime in an odd Wizard of Oz like rendition.
“Holyfire… I had wondered where they hid you.” Jaq smiles.
“Don’t you worry, young Miss.” Urit says while adjusting a strap to his backpack. “We made sure Longface here got a nice bushel of hay before he bedded down in the stable last night.”
Jaq raises an eyebrow. “Stable? That’s a bit of a coincidence.”
“Why do you say that?” Urit asks with a touch of confusion.
She clarifies. “I just wouldn’t have thought you get that many visits from horses, is all.”
“Oh, no… we rarely get visits from horses. In fact, you could probably say that we’ve never received a visit from a horse before until recently that is—”
Tag interrupts. “What she is probably getting at cousin, is that we don’t get a stable amount of visits to rationalize having a stable.”
Urit blinks his eyes while scratching his head. “What does stability have to do with a stable?”
Tag shakes his head. “Don’t you know anything? It’s to prevent it from falling over.”
“No-no-no.” Jaq says to better their attention. “I was simply commenting on how I found it strange that you’d have a stable available, considering that Holyfire is the first horse to ever visit.”
“Ah!” Both cousins expel.
Tag is the first to answer. “I guess it is better to say that it is also the first time we’ve ever had a stable.”
Kalei, too excited to wait for the cousins to release the news, blurts it out herself. “They built him one! Oh – you should see it Jaq, it’s enormous! I could fit all my brothers and sisters in there and still have room. Trust me, I have a huge family, so that is saying a lot.”
“Pfft! It’s not that big.” Tag dismisses with a wave of his hand.”
“Only took five of us.” Urit mentions with a shrug.
“Barely broke a sweat.” Follows his cousin.
Urit frowns. “Broke a couple of windows though.”
Tag crosses his arms. “Horseshoes is definitely not your game.”
“I apologized, didn’t I?” Urit mentions.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen.” Casey intercedes with pleasantness. “Are you ready to go?”
“Go?” Jaq asks.
“Well, yes, the Alleauchsindfreis are taking us to the castle. It’s just a day and a half journey from here and they are going to help prevent us from getting lost.”
Tag rolls his eyes. “I don’t understand how we can get lost, you just follow the red brick road.”
“Well, they could if they were color blind.” Urit counters.
Tag’s eyes lighten up. “I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose they could accidentally follow the yellow brick road.”
“What’s down the yellow brick road?” Jaq asks.
“Oh, you don’t want to go that way.” Tag says. “It’ll take you to the city.”
“The green city, cousin.”
“Yes, with green people.” Tag affirms.
“With green faces. Sadly, those folks are always sick.” Urit grabs his stomach.
“Much preferred over blue faced people.”
“I know!” Urit frowns with sincerity. “Those poor chums are always suffocating.”
“Sorry that I asked.” Jaq says while rubbing her temples.
Title: “Giselle” (Unpublished)
Genre: Historical Gothic-Comedy Fiction
Context: Set in 1562 in the forest not far from Dernau in the Rhineland.
“This place that you are taking me, it has good wine, you said?” Duke Albrect asked from the back of his prized mare, as they made their way down the dirt road.
His companion gazed warmly up from the horses left flank and attempted to use his liege’s shadow to block out the noon day sun. “The best, Sire, or as much as I’ve been lead to believe.”
“Why have I not heard of this place? Dernew, you said?”
“Dernau, Sire, located in the Ahr River Valley, if I’m not mistaken. If you recall, we were told in Frankfort to cross the Rhein River and follow the Ahr River west until we reach Dernau.” The seventeen-year old, Wilifred Nizen replied.
“Dernau… Dernau…” He rolled over and over again. It sounds French, and all this talk of wine reminds me of their brand. Do you think they are a French speaking community?”
In the distance Wilifred could hear a wood thrush and a woodpecker. A bush rustled from some forest creature, most likely a rabbit, and it rushed off into the Ahrweiler Wald.
“Hardly, Sire, I believe it has a long history of being part of the Holy Roman Empire and is mainly Germanic.”
“Ah-hah!” Albrect exclaimed with a finger off his chin. “But that is exactly who we don’t want to be.”
Wilifred raised an eyebrow. “My Lord?”
“How are we to enjoy the wine festival being the Duke of Swidnica. We need to blend in with these common folk. Dressed as I, the women would fawn over my title and the men over my wealth and prestige. Where’s the adventure in that? Had I wished to be fawned over, I would have stayed in Silesia or found invitation to one of our King Ferdinand’s events.” He shifted his sword hanging from his belt.
“Adventure?” The squire questioned quite surprised. “Pardon me for saying, but I thought we were coming for the wine? We need not be disguised to enjoy that. It may even grant us a few free bottles, which certainly helps with the purse. Need I remind you that your family put a fortune in restoring that castle?”
“What is a Duke without a castle? What is a castle without walls, towers and a moat?”
“No moat, Sire.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“We didn’t have the budget for a moat. Besides, the community would not appreciate the smell.”
“High walls and high towers are good, but it is against all that is knightly to not have a moat. Now it will be silly to ride out on a drawbridge that has no moat to guard against.”
“No drawbridge either, Sire.”
Albrect stopped his horse and looked down at his squire with a face awashed with grief, as if his heart had been struck by a needle. “No drawbridge, either? Just another compromise to fit the budget, I assume? That Italian bled my family dry and he couldn’t fit in a simple moat or drawbridge?”
“Why are these things so important? The land is simply not suited for a moat, and with no moat, there is no need for a drawbridge.”
“It is what knights do; to ride out in suited armor across drawbridges in order to save damsels in distress or come to the aid of their Kings when the oath of fealty is invoked. It’s adventure, Wilifred, true excitement that enters one’s soul when God, Kings or duty calls on us. And if not me, then my children and their children. What would I tell my son when he asks, ‘Why don’t we have a moat?’, tell him the truth? Look him in the eyes and say, ‘Sorry, young prince, it wasn’t in the budget?’ I don’t know if I could bear it.”
“I think you are confusing this conversation with one you had with your father. Pray tell, what was his answer?”
Albrect sighed. “It wasn’t in the budget.”
“So we are in the understanding that this trip to Dernau is just about the wine, yes?”
“There is more to Dernau than just wine, my faithful squire. There are people to know, men to shake hands with and women to explore.”
Title: “Lights Out: Book 1”
Genre: Middle Grade Post-Apocalypse with Superpowers
Context: Twelve-year old Shelly Wynn, her best friend Abby, a younger kid named Thomas and his animated stuffed rabbit named Percy, have arrived at Thomas’ cousins’ house after all the adults have vanished.
The ride was difficult in the dark, if not spooky. Normally at this time of night the town would be alive with activity. Tonight, it seemed like everyone was hiding under their covers.
Despite the shadows that lurked behind them, the mansion provided them a beacon of hope as all the lights still shown despite the blackout.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Shelly asked as she took in its size.
“This is a really big house.” Abby added in awe. “Your cousin lives here?”
Thomas giggled. “Yup! I come here all the time.” He unslung his backpack and eased it to the ground to allow Percy to leap out of the pouch.
“Many times have the three of us sat down to tea. Lee-dee is a fantastic hostess.” Perceval announced as he adjusted his belt.
Shelly insisted that she bring her hula hoop with her, just in case they needed it. She checked it on her shoulder and then turned off her flashlight.
“Why are the lights still on?” Shelly asked out of curiosity.
Abby shined her light up to the roof. “Solar panels. I saw them as we rode up. They collect power during the day and store it inside somewhere.”
“Well those are useful.” Shelly started up the walk and climbed the stairs. “Should we ring the bell?”
“Do it.” Thomas giggled again.
Everyone stood close behind when Shelly rang the bell. They waited a few minutes but the bell went unanswered.
“I hope Bill didn’t disappear too.” Thomas worried. “I liked Bill. He’d always give me high-fives every time I came over.”
“Who’s Bill?” Shelly asked as she rang the bell again.
“He’s the doorman.” Thomas replied with more cheer.
“Like the butler?” Abby asked.
“No – that’s Henry. Bill just gets the door.”
Shelly shook her head and rang the bell for the third time and sighed. “Rich people.”
“I wish I had a doorman and a butler.” Abby mused. “A maid would be nice too, and maybe someone to do my homework for me.”
They waited a bit longer but still no response.
“I don’t think anyone is coming.” Shelly concluded in disappointment.
“No worries! Lee-dee gave me a key just in case.” Thomas dug into his pocket and pulled it out for everyone to see.
“You mean we could have just gone inside?” Shelly asked slightly annoyed.
“I’m sorry.” Thomas said as Shelly took his key. “I wanted a high-five.”
Percy spoke up with reassurance. “Despite the delay, it was certainly the polite thing to do, Thomas.”
“I suppose it was.” Shelly agreed as she unlocked the door. “If no one is home, at least we’ll be able to see.” She opened the door and let everyone enter before her. She then gave Thomas back his key.
“Someone has to be home.” Abby deduced. “I mean, rich or not, they are obviously concerned about the planet and wouldn’t just leave the lights on all day and night. As she entered the foyer, she clutched her fists together in front of her chest and shook with excitement. “This-is-so-amazing!”
Shelly walked in after her and saw what had sparked such a reaction in her best friend. The floor was marble, with walls fit with white wooden panels, lion claw tables with bushy plants and stone busts of famous people. On the walls were beautiful paintings of far off places and mirrors far larger than any person. There was a grand staircase that lead up to the higher floor balcony and above that a sparkling glass chandelier.
“Wow.” Shelly uttered aloud.
Abby stood next to her. “Wowie-jowie… look at how tall that ceiling is. It’s like the gym.”
“You could fit an entire warren of rabbits in this room and a little garden as well.” Percy admired.
“It’s okay.” Thomas rolled on his heels and casually skimmed the room. “I’m sure Lee-dee is in her room upstairs—” He spotted someone and pointed to the balcony. “Hi, Lee-dee!”
Shelly and Abby looked to where he was waving and both were struck by a sinking feeling in their stomachs. Slowly and quietly, making her way down the stairs, was a girl in designer jeans, a pink skirted blouse and shoulder length crimped blonde hair. They both knew her too well. It was Lydia Gaines.
Thomas shouted up to her, happy to see his cousin. “Hey, Lee-dee, where is everyone?”
Lydia rudely put her finger up to her lips and harshly shushed him.
Shelly immediately came to his defense. “Don’t shush him!”
Lydia shushed her more harshly.
“Listen, Gaines, I didn’t bring Thomas here to be harassed—”
A deep laughter bellowed out into the foyer, echoing from the hallways and somewhere a door slammed.
Lydia stopped in her descent and clutched the railing tightly.
Abby grabbed Shelly’s arm in fright. “What was that?
“Lee-dee.” Came the haunting voice. “Lee-dee.” It spoke again as the pounding of heavy footsteps grew closer by the second. A tinkling came from above, as the chandelier shook with each thump. “Lee-dee. Lee-dee. Lee-dee. Lee-dee. Lee-dee. Lee-dee. Lee-dee. Lee-dee Lee-dee Lee-dee Lee-dee Lee-dee Lee-dee Lee-dee Lee-dee!”
The pounding emerged from the hallway on their right and it neared them like a hungry lion.
Shelly backed away with Abby in tow and Percy leapt into Thomas’ arms.
“I think we should go, Shell. Right now!” Abby warned as she retreated.
Shelly didn’t question her suggestion. She ran to the door and hastily opened it. She only got it halfway before something heavy struck it and stole the doorknob from her hands. The door slammed shut!
She jumped away just in time to avoid a fountain of spit drop onto the floor from above her. Shelly looked up and screamed from the sight of the creature that clung to the wall like a spider. His body was lean and lanky, as large as an adult, wearing black pajamas and a hideous smile that extended from ear to ear. A long and bumpy tongue lulled out of his mouth that oozed with saliva. He had eight eyes which glowed a fiery red.
Title: “Blades & Ballet: Enemy of the Wind”
Genre: Young Adult Dark Fantasy
Context: Vera, Nam, Felicity, Ayran, have carried Vera’s best friend Thera back to their camp after running from an encounter with “Old Shook” whose gaze causes people to see the future. Thera is nonresponsive and everyone is in panic. Gander is a hound with feathers who belongs to Vera.
Vera cupped their hands against her cheeks to cradle their head. Vera looked deeply into her eyes. “Please snap out of it!”
Thora was distant, her eyes cloudy, like a swirl of murkiness which reached back to the deepest portions of her mind.
Gander whimpered his own vexations and worry.
“This is your fault, Nam!” Felicity jabbed her finger into the finnae’s sternum. “If it wasn’t for that kaedra-cursed idea of yours, Thora wouldn’t be like this.”
“How was I supposed to know that this is what would happen?!” He shouted back to defend himself both against Felicity and also the guilt which trying to well up his throat. “Besides, she didn’t have to come along, she chose to come with us, which means it’s just as much on her as the rest of us.”
“Hey!” Vera barked over their shoulder at the feuding teens. “This isn’t helping! You’re not helping!”
Aryan was pacing back and forth, not knowing what to do until an idea jumped into his head. “Maybe she’s cursed! How do we break curses?” His fingers drummed across his lips. He snapped his fingers. “True love’s kiss! Is Thora dating anyone?”
“What? No! What’s wrong with you!?” Vera angrily spat back.
Felicity retreated from her assault against Nam and slid forward, “No, he’s right! True love’s kiss can remove curses. You’re best friends, right? Maybe that’ll be enough.”
“I’m not kissing Vera without her permission and she’s practically comatose!”
“But you’ve kissed before, right?” Nam asked as he crowded around Felicity and Aryan who now hovered above Vera and Thora.
“Just on the cheek a couple times. As friends.”
“Then kiss her on the cheek as friends!” Aryan encouraged with desperation settled deep into his voice.
“Geez, fine! I’ll kiss her.” Vera was now as uncomfortable as they were panicked. But, what other options did they have? They knew a pantomime to heal wounds and remove disease that they had used on animals before, and while likely that Thora would consent to having them used upon her to bring her back from whatever affliction she currently suffered from, it was very unlikely that the pantomime would have much effect since none of those fell beneath the influence of Vera’s star constellation.
Vera leaned in and gave Thora a quick peck on the cheek, much in the same way as they had previously kissed in the past – as anything else would seem beyond what they’ve consented to. There seemed to be no change in her symptoms.
“You call that a kiss?” Nam asked, but was elbowed by Felicity.
“This isn’t for your judgment or entertainment.” Felicity shot him daggers and Nam shrunk down inside himself.
“I’m sorry.” He muttered then remained silent.
“Thora! Come on. Don’t make me have to get an adult, they’d be really mad.” Vera half-joked as tears welled up in their eyes.
Gander’s ears suddenly lifted as if he had smelled something on the wind. Then Thora seized Vera’s wrist, and squeezed it tightly as she took a huge gulp of air as if she had been drowning.
The whiteness in her eyes cleared like the parting of mist. She violently pulled her arms and legs close to herself and scuttled backward a full stride, before recognizing her current surroundings. Everyone else reared back uncertain what was to happen next. However, Thora looked around, then landed on the familiar face of her best friend. Her fingers fell upon her cheek.
“Did you kiss me?” Thora asked all confused.
Vera lurched forward and wrapped her arms around the Fauni. “I’m so glad you’re okay! I was so worried! Everyone thought you were cursed and so I kissed you to break the spell.”
“No, I…” Thora took a big breath and wrapped her arms around her friend. She pressed her cheek against Vera’s head. “I wasn’t cursed, I—I had so many images, sounds and feelings inside my head it was so overwhelming, and I saw… Vera you…”
“What did you see?” Felicity pressed.
Aryan too was eager to know. “Yes! Tell us what you saw!”
There was a quiver in her voice, a sorrowful plunge into some internal void as she remembered one scene in particular, one that had played in great detail over and over again. The cracks… her best friend. “I…” she shook her head and did her best to push it deep inside of herself. “I saw something… I just don’t want to talk about it.”
Felicity’s eyes widened with realization. “You saw the future, didn’t you?”
Vera interjected. “She said she doesn’t want to talk about it. How about you all just lay off. What’s important is that she’s okay!”
Felicity sighed and relented. “You’re right. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Aryan looked around at their campsite then tried to gauge the level of dim in the sky. “We should head back. We need to get dressed and ready for the Danse de L'arrivée. Vera, you’ll be there, right?”
Vera examined Thora’s olive face to double check that she was fine before responding, “And watch you all fall flat on your faces? I wouldn’t miss it!”
“In that you’re going to be greatly disappointed!” Nam threw his arm around Aryan’s shoulder. “I’ll have you know that we’re the best dancers Tandermundt has ever seen or ever will see.”
“You better hope so, I would hate for your handfasting to be darkened by a misstep.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Nam waved the notion away as if it were unpalatable food at a royal setting.
“Are you going to be okay to walk?” Vera asked. “If not, we can just sit by the fire for a while and warm up.”
Thora shook her head, her antlers carving through the breeze. “No, I can walk. I want to get out of here.”
Vera nodded and helped their friend to her feet, and together they made their way back towards the village.