Dancing with Dragonflies (very rough) Excerpt

I've been writing in my new book today. It's a young adult book (my first) that I have decided to call "Dancing with Dragonflies." That title has been in my head for about five years and last year, I finally thought up a decent plot to go with it. I'm really loving what I have so far. There are 12,000 words to this new book as of 6pm August 2nd, 2011.

I have decided to post a teeny tiny (and very rough) excerpt from my new book, to give you an idea about it. I hope it piques your curiosity and you will join me on this journey when it's ready for the public :-) I'm hoping to divide this into a trilogy of about 30-40k words per book, perhaps more, since it's YA.

Well, here you go:

Dancing with Dragonflies Excerpt

Copyright (c) 2010-2011 Sara Vance-Hogan

No part of the following may be used without the author's written permission. If you steal any of these ideas, Sara Vance-Hogan has the right to hunt you down and tickle-torture you before taking legal action ;-)

A long, long time ago, the world was in peril. The lands were dead or dying in most places, and destructive fires were born daily. It was said the planet was angry with man. For man had become greedy and bloodthirsty; all he seemed to do was lie, cheat, steal, and war with one another. The blood of the murdered soaked into the grass and almost killed the planet by poisoning it.

One day, a little girl was out looking for food with her family. It had been days since they had eaten. They searched among the dead grass and trees, but found nothing for a long time.

Finally, the little girl wandered off on her own and stumbled upon a single green plant with five pieces of ripe, orange fruit – just enough for her, her mother and father, and two sisters.

Somehow, the girl knew the fruit was like no other and would make her and her family’s bellies full with one just piece. It is said the little girl became overjoyed at the sight of the beautiful plant and cried before picking the fruit. She knelt beside the plant and said a small prayer:

“If everything could be as beautiful as this, I don’t think anyone would ever be sad or angry again. Please cover our planet with colors this bright and food this filling so we may be given another chance to flourish and keep this planet alive and beautiful.”

She picked the fruit and showed her family, and for that night, their bellies were full.

Hours after the family had left, something wondrous happened. The little girl’s tears that had fallen to the dirt gave life to something grand. In each spot where a tear had fallen, a creature was born: the first of the dragonflies.

The dragonflies quickly grew and flew all over the planet, gathering seeds and water and planting them everywhere. They used their power of life to make everything grow in only a matter of days. They worked and worked until the planet was beautiful and abundant once more. The four wisest of the dragonflies also made the Four Lands of Season where, no matter what the planet looked like elsewhere, the climate and life would always be certain, so that there would always be a chance of rebirth for the other parts of the planet; for here, there would always be life or unlife and the planet would never cease because there would always be creatures and plants.

Right before the four wise dragonflies died of old age, they gave a piece of their heart to each Land of Season, so that if ever the planet was in trouble again, the four pieces could be put together to give life once more, in any way the heart was needed.