The conversion begins!

About three weeks ago, I started learning how to convert my stories into movie-script. The first one I wrote was my Romantic Comedy, Inspirational, "Dreaming of You." I still need to tweak some places in the script, but overall, I'm pretty darn happy that I was able to do it!

The next story I'm converting is my Young Adult Fantasy, "The Witch Hunt". I'm having MORE fun with this conversion, believe it or not, and hopefully, it doesn't take me long to finish this one, too.

I thought I'd give you a sneak peak of the scene I just converted. My three characters, Rick, his sister Brooke, and their neighbor, Eric, have been inside the haunted house. Brooke took a book, which she wasn't supposed to take. They hurry out of the haunted house, and back down to their home. Now this scene takes place next...

Mr. Kings lumbers toward them.  The scent of alcohol is heavy in the air.  The forty-year-old, brown hair, man wasn't very large, but because of his bushy beard, and blood-shot eyes, he was an intimidating man.

Mr. King glares at Eric.

MR. KING
You've been up to the house, haven't you?

Mr. King's attention drops to the book in Brooke's hand.  He scowls and points at the book.

MR. KING
That came from the house.

Brooke trembles with fear

.

BROOKE
Yes, Sir.  I didn't mean to take it, I just--

Mr. King swings toward Eric and growls.

MR. KING
Get rid of it now!  You know full well the evil that book holds.

Eric doesn't move.  He doesn't speak.  Mr. King steps closer to his son, staring him down.

MR. KING
You are the keeper now.  It's your responsibility.

Eric gives a quick nod and looks away.  Mr. Kings mutters something under his breath, turns and sways as he heads back toward the house.  Eric's jaw hardens as he pushes his fingers through his hair.

BROOKE
Eric, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to upset your dad.

ERIC
He's always mad.  But he's right.  Everything that comes from that house is evil, especially the book.

Brooke gulps and looks at the leather-bound book.

BROOKE
We need to take it back, immediately.

Rick snorts

.

RICK
I'm not going.

Eric rolls his eyes at Rick.

ERIC
Well, at least you were brave enough to go up there and take some pictures.  Heaven forbid you have to return to there.
(shakes his head)
I'll take it back myself.  I don't want either of you near that place again.  And besides, you heard my dad.  It's my responsibility.

BROOKE
I'm coming with you.
(glares at Rick)
Because I'm not scared.  It's not like this was your fault, anyway.  So if we disappear, I hope your guilt-stricken for the rest of your life.

Eric bites his bottom lip as he tries to keep the grin from tugging on his mouth.  Brooke smiles at Eric, noticing that he's holding back a laugh.

Eric motions his head to Brooke.

ERIC
Come on, let's go.

Rick stays behind, as he'd promised, as Brooke and Eric walk up the hill toward the haunted house.

BROOKE
I can't believe my brother, sometimes.  He's become quite the dim-wit lately.

They pass an alley, and a dog starts barking.  She quickens her step until she's right beside Eric.

Eric zips up his jacket and stuffs his hands in the pockets.

ERIC
Maybe you were being a little hard on him.

Brooke laughs.

BROOKE
Hard on him?  You saw the way he acted.

ERIC
There's always a reason people act the way they do.

BROOKE
Yeah, because he's selfish and rude.  And.. an idiot.

They remain quiet as they continue to the house.  They reach the property, step through the fence, and head toward the house.  Brooke glances longingly at the book in her arms.

BROOKE
Eric?  Aren't you the least bit curious to what's inside the book?

She traces the gold lettering pressed into the soft leather.  Pale moonlight reveals what looks like faint scorch marks along the edges of the pages and cover as if it had almost been burned.

ERIC
I'm not curious at all.  I know how vile that thing is, and the kind of magic--
(he stops, hitching a quick breath. He looks up into the sky)
At least it's not too cold for a walk tonight.

Brooke arches an eyebrow curiously.

BROOKE
Magic?  Eric, were you trying to say magic spells?

Eric flicks the flashlight on as they near the front porch.  The crow bar Rick had used earlier to break the board away was still laying near the door.  Eric leads the way, walking inside first.  Brooke follows.

INT. HAUNTED HOUSE, INSIDE - NIGHT

They walk through the entryway and into the library.  Eric stops and points toward the bookshelf.

ERIC
Okay, put that thing away and lets get out of here.

Sighing, Brooke steps forward and balances the book on the edge of the shelf.

BROOKE
Aren't you curious to take even one little look?

ERIC
Brooke, I don't think--

Before Eric can stop her, she flips the book open and props it on her forearms.

BROOKE
Just a peek, and I promise to put it back.  I just want to see what kind of stories are in here.

Eric moves next to her.  His body is rigid and his jaw his hard.  He shines the flashlight on the book.

ERIC
Okay, hurry, so we can leave.

Brooke stares at the words.  She runs the pads of her fingers across the thick parchment.

BROOKE
Listen to what is written on the first page.
(clears throat)
To read and truly understand, one must fight the danger at hand.  To solve the riddles in this book, one must go to their heart to look.  To be freed from the mysteries' hold, one must learn from the stories untold.

Feeling puzzled, Brooke looks at Eric.

BROOKE
What do you think that means?

ERIC
I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about this.  Let's get out of here.

She slowly turns the page, and her breath catches in her throat.  She runs her finger across the large script words Hansel and Gretel.  A brightly painted forest scene covers the rest of the page.

The green, red, and blue colors splashed on the page seem to swirl around the parchment.  Quickly, the picture began to grow...

Not believing what she's seeing, she blinks and looks again.  Towering trees, and lush, green bushes, stand out like three-dimensional pictures in a pop-up book.  The painting of Hansel and Gretel seem to come to life, as well.  Brooke even thought she could see a gingerbread cottage.

Beside her, Eric's gaze is glued to the page.  He can't move.

Slowly, tendrils of white mist lifts from the book and drifts toward them.  A sense of panic grows inside of Brooke and she clamps onto Eric's arm.

BROOKE
Wh-what's happening?

The tendrils grow larger.  Claw-like fingers curl toward them, reaching out to take hold...

ERIC
Run!

They struggle to move their legs, but they can't.  It's too late.  The white mist surrounds them and pulls them into the book.

Exciting review!!

I found an awesome review that I just had to blog about!!

My first YA Fantasy book, The Witch Hunt (book 1 of the fairy tale series, Where Dreams Come True) was reviewed by InD'tale! magazine! Not only did the reviewer give it a 4.5 star review, but they gave it a "Crowned Heart" for excellence, which means it's one of their TOP PICKS!

The Witch Hunt (Where Dreams Come True#1) Marie Higgins, Dusti Miller FANTASY:

The story’s prologue occurs in 1720 Salem, Massachusetts, with a cursed book snatching two teenage brothers from their world into a fantasy forest. The first chapter picks up in current day Salem, with football-jock-cheerleader chasing Rick Stevenson taking on a hundred-dollar dare from fellow jocks to break into the local “haunted” King family house. His nosey (and polar opposite) twin sister, Brooke, follows him inside, hoping to talk him out of it. Eric King, their strange, reclusive neighbor discovers them but not before Brooke takes the troublemaking book. Eric is the King family’s “Keeper” of the book, but is no match for Brooke’s curiosity. Eventually, all three teens are sucked into a land of macabre fairytales gone wrong.

This story is sure to tickle the fantasy of YA readers, keeping them glued to the pages until the very end! Although television series like “Once Upon a Time” have cheated stories like these of their uniqueness, this one is still quite an entertaining read, with plenty of conflict for young minds to ponder. What’s more, the story is bursting at the seams with uplifting morals and lessons in the form of facing fears, respecting opinions of others, and most notably, not judging a book —or individuals—by outward appearances.

Ms. Higgins and Ms. Miller have scored a winner with this fantasy geared toward younger readers from pre-teens to fourteen or so, as well as more mature readers who are young at heart! Lori Leger

Here is the link to the online magazine - http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2016/may/

My very first Young Adult Fantasy story!

I'm very happy to announce that my very first YA Fantasy story has been released!!

I'm also very nervous. This is the first time I went out on a limb and wrote this kind of book. Thanks to my niece, Dusti Miller, she helped me turn this story into one that readers of all ages will love. (grins)

I thought I'd tease you with the prologue. ENJOY!

PROLOGUE

Salem, Massachusetts 1720

Jasper King dashed across the field, ducked under the wooden gate, and ran as fast as his fourteen-year-old legs would carry him. Fear of the unknown spread through him like wildfire. With each step, his buckled shoes slipped on the damp grass and he struggled to stay upright. Afraid he might drop the black, leather-bound book, he clutched it tighter and hurried toward the house as though the devil himself was on his heels.

As he came closer to the two-story A-framed house, tears stung his eyes. Ma’s laundry hung on the clothesline, and the aroma of baked bread and freshly churned butter filled the air. When he reached home, he would feel safe and secure. He hoped. But then he must find a way to get his brother back and destroy the book—Satan’s own tool—once and for all.

Jasper’s mind reeled with fear. How had he allowed this to happen? As he sped past the well, his toe caught a stone. He stumbled and flailed to the ground. The book flew from his hands and bounced open in front of him. Sharp rocks bit into his knees and palms and he cried out. The pages, like wicked eyes, pierced his soul. Panic grew inside him, overshadowing the pain of his wounds.

Jasper scooted away from the book. He dared not touch it for fear its vileness would sink into his skin like venom from a snakebite.

“Let me be,” he shouted at the book. “You will not take me!”

Above him, thick, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and the air turned chilly. The wind whipped violently around him, tearing at his clothes and hair. Jasper’s heart sank in despair. He knew what was coming. He swallowed hard and clenched his fists. Not matter what, he couldn’t allow the book to weave its magic spell around him as it had David.

Only a short time ago, he’d watched helplessly as the book had taken his brother. Taken him! David’s screams still echoed in Jasper’s head. He covered his ears, closed his eyes, and prayed the memory would quickly disappear.

There was only one logical explanation. Jasper’s grandmother had been hung for witchcraft, and although the family believed she’d been judged wrongly, Jasper now had a different opinion. Obviously, the book held some kind of power. Had his grandmother truly practiced witchcraft and cast a spell on its pages?

A high pitched whistle emanated from the book. In the distance David’s voice called out to him.

“David? Where are you?” Jasper cried.

“Please…help…me…” Each word of David’s plea grew softer until it silenced completely.

Tears spilled down Jasper’s face. He wiped the back of his cuffed sleeve across his cheeks as helplessness expanded in his chest. What would he tell his ma and pa? He was certain they would never believe what happened. Even now, Jasper wondered if he was dreaming. But he’d watched how the pictures on the pages shifted and grew…

He shivered. Nay, this was not a dream. Something evil had settled inside the book and was after him, even after snatching his brother.

A white mist swirled from the pages, rising up like smoke from a chimney. Within seconds, the mist had transformed into hands…their beastly claws reaching toward him.

Jasper cried out. He scrambled to stand, but slipped and slammed to his knees once again. Perhaps he would meet his brother’s fate after all. Who would tell his family what happened to them? Who would destroy the vile book so it never devoured another soul?

Warm tears slid down his cheeks. He blinked them back and looked toward the house. He saw his ma running through the tall grass toward him. She called out, but the bitter wind kept her words from reaching his ears.

The white mist thickened around him. Jasper’s body froze, as did his mind.

Perhaps this was a dream after all…

Click to purchase on Amazon

Fairy-Tale Series "Where Dreams Come True"

In my last post, I showed you two of the stories I'll be writing for my fairy-tale series, "Where Dreams Come True". Since then, I have decided to add one more book. I have been working on this Young Adult Fantasy story for a few years now. I got the idea from a dream (like most of my stories), and I discussed it with my nephew, Luke, who at the time was a young teenager. Together, we figured out a way to make this Young Adult story into a Fantasy!  I'm excited to finally finish this story, and even more excited to have my niece, Dusti Miller, helping me write it.

"The Witch Hunt" (my twisted version of Hansel and Gretel) will be the first book released in my fairy-tale series, and it will be available in ebook and paperback formats by the end of November 2015. Just in time for Christmas!

The second story in the series to be released will be "Champion" (my twisted version of Robin Hood). It will be out spring of 2016.

The third story to be released will be "Once Enchanted" (my twisted version of Rapunzel). I'm hoping this will be out summer of 2016.

Introducing....

I've decided to write 'outside of the box'. I'm used to writing romance with adventure, mystery/suspense, and humor. I'm used to writing on-the-edge stories that keep the readers turning the pages. I'm used to writing historical, contemporary, romantic comedy, paranormal, and time-travel. But...I've never written a story for teenagers before. However, the story will have adventure, humor, and suspense...and maybe some mystery. And, there is a chance of a love story. And why not? There was a love story (of sorts) in Harry Potter's series, right? So I'm jumping in with both feet and writing this book. I hope I don't sprain an ankle or something.

My cover artist, Sheri McGathy has put together another AWESOME book cover for me. This is just PERFECT for my story. With any luck, I'll have this story written by Christmas.

 

Salem, Massachusetts

Fascinated by the boarded up house on the hill, three teenagers, Jace, Brooke, and Rick are drawn to the ancient rumors surrounding the abandoned place.  According to local legend, teenagers have been disappearing from the house for centuries.  Determined to solve the mystery, the friends uncover a book that may hold the key to the mystery. 

However, after opening the old book to search for clues, something phenomenal happens… the pages literally suck them in.  They now find themselves in a literary fantasy world with no way out.

Will they find their way home or will they be forever trapped in the pages of the book battling strange creatures?