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Hello! My name is Marci, and this is my first submission to the group. Thanks in advance for your time and any feedback/advice you’d like to offer. I’m looking for comments on character development, story pacing, and whether or not I’m doing okay on the wordsmithing front. While I write technical and marketing copy as part of my day job, I’m not degreed, nor do I have formal training, so I’m not sure how successful I am when writing creatively. This novel is an urban fantasy, primarily set in Northeast Indiana Amish country. As far as warnings are concerned, this excerpt—and future excerpts—feature explicit language, sexual situations, substance abuse, and violence. To clarify a bit, the sex isn’t as explicit as an anatomy lesson, but I don’t simply hand wave or gloss over things. I trust you’ll let me know if I’m out of bounds, here. The violence won’t be crazy, either; I flagged this chapter due to a graphic depiction of wild game being dressed after a hunt. So, with all that being said, if you’re offended by foul-mouthed alcoholic construction workers dwelling in rundown trailer parks, aging hippies peddling the best hydroponic marijuana found east of the Mississippi, consenting adults consenting enthusiastically, localized and/or obscure pop culture references, or rednecks enjoying so-called redneck pastimes (hunting/fishing/Coors Light/WWE/NASCAR), you’ll want to avoid this story. You’ve been warned. One-Sentence Story Summary: In a quiet Hoosier town, a directionless loser and his childhood friend must unravel the mystery of their past and master long-forgotten powers to save loved ones from a vengeful megalomaniac bent on destroying their universe. Chapter Summary: Baxter Phelps realizes he’s both hunter and hunted. Thanks again! I hope you enjoy. Marci