PFS2012 Author Guest Post: Marissa Burt + INTL Giveaway

I want to tell you a sad story. Oh, how many times did I wish we would learn about the important things in school, like brushing up on classic fairy tales? All that time spent learning my times tables could've gone to places like Marissa Burt's Story, in which I role-played all my favorite fairy tale characters. Well, spending all that time pretending to study wouldn't have gotten me punished, that is. Anyway, one time I scrounged up the courage to request STORYBOUND early this year and was rejected. I told you it was a sad story. But, that doesn't mean I haven't stopped wanting to read this book! Especially after reading this scene and feeling sad because I can't smother Indy with huggles. But I'll let Marissa do the talking...

In early versions of Story’s End, the sequel to Storybound, I wrote several chapters from Indy’s point of view, something that was ultimately cut from the final version. I have a soft spot for Indy, though, so I thought to include a deleted scene from his perspective:

Indy raced up the path and burst through the kitchen door. The Resistance members were still circled around the kitchen table, deep in conversation. His father looked up from the parchment he was studying. “Endeavour! Where are your manners?”

Indy bent at the waist to control his breathing. “You don’t even know they’re gone?” He shook his head breathlessly. “C’mon! What are you waiting for? We’ve got to help them!”

Mrs. Merriweather’s face stood up, her face creased into a frown. “Who’s gone? Endeavour, you’re scaring us. Who needs our help?”

Indy grabbed the glass of water Peter’s cook thrust into his hands and gulped it down. While she refilled it, he managed to tell them what had happened.

“Peter and Una are in the Hollow?” Mr. Merriweather sounded furious.

“What did you tell them?” That was his father, anger written clear across his face.

“I told them nothing,” Indy said. The duty he felt toward Alethia now melted into a foolish feeling. How could he have been so stupid? He should have told the Resistance right away what Una was planning to do. “Una overheard. I didn’t know it would end like this.”

The others didn’t wait any longer. The kitchen was a whirl of activity. Professor Edenberry had gathered up an armful of cloaks from the pegs by the door and was tossing them to the others, careless of whether the right one found the right owner. Sam’s fur was puffed up in all directions as he followed the human activity with wild- eyed looks. The Merriweathers were shouting rushed instructions at Trix for the care of the other children, and Griselda was throwing some food into a canvas sack.

Before Indy had finished with his second glass of water, Trix was shoving them all out the back door. “Hurry, now,” she said. “Bring them back to us.”

“You humans are slow,” Sam said as he twitched his torn ear. He had outpaced them easily, and had been to the garden gate and back twice in the time it took them to make it through the yard.

They had only gone a little ways down the lane, when Indy’s father slowed to a walk. “Stop for a minute,” he called and directed the little group to circle up. “We’ve got to collect ourselves.” He rubbed his fist across her forehead. “I know we’re all worried, but we’ve gone and rushed headlong without thinking.” He looked kindly at the Merriweathers. “Two children are gone. We must attend them. But what of the greater picture? What of – ” he lowered his voice to a whisper. “The Enemy?”

The Merriweathers kept looking in the direction of the Hollow. Indy could tell they wanted nothing else than to spring over there without wasting time jabbering. He felt much the same.

But Griselda nodded. “You’re right, of course. We all can’t go disappearing after Peter and Una. Just like we couldn’t go with Edenberry when he left in search of Thornhill. There’s much work to do. We need to do something about Tale Master Elton. Resistance members are still arriving at Bramble Cottage. We haven’t even started the broadsides and – ”

“We’re going after them,” Mr. Merriweather said. “You can’t tell us not to.”

“Of course we wouldn’t,” Indy’s father said. “You must go. You and your wife. I’m just saying it doesn’t serve our cause for all of us to go.”

Indy stared down at the dirt road. It seemed white in the moonlight. He didn’t want to look at his father. Indy wondered what his father would do if his only son was lost somewhere in the Hollow. Would his father come after him? He couldn’t imagine his father wearing that fierce look that filed Mr. Merriweather’s face. He thought Peter’s dad might punch something if they didn’t stop talking.

“I’ll go with them,” Indy finally said. “Three should be enough.”

“And me.” Sam prowled around the nearest fencepost, wrapping his tail around the sharp edges. “I can track them.”

“Then it’s decided.” His father gave Indy a curt nod and turned to bid farewell to the Merriweathers. Indy should have been proud that no one questioned his going. He knew that even though they thought of Peter and Una as children, the adults saw him as one of them. As a member of the Resistance. As a man. And he would be glad of it once they started on their quest. But not now. For once, he wanted his father to look at him and worry whether his son would be safe.

Instead, Wilfred Truepenny turned to Griselda and Edenberry. “About the Enemy. What we should also think about is –” he was already moving back toward Bramble Cottage.

Mrs. Merriweather laid a hand on Indy’s shoulder. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“Of course,” Indy said. They set off at a brisk pace, and the evening wind that greeted them ended away any further conversation and drowned out the fading sound of his father’s voice.

Want to win something very awesome? Marissa Burt is offering one lucky winner the chance to read an ARC of Story's End as well as some bookmarks. Anyone can enter!
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In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself...

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

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Isn't Indy the sweetest, saddest thing? Let's break out the sob-pillow for him, because that's a sad story in the making. And I think I'm destined to become obsessed with all talking felines like Sam. Here's hoping I get to meet them all soon! Thanks so much, Marissa! Comment below if you have a thing for the cat and a hug for poor Indy.