Muskoka Novel Marathon

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Merim & The Fourth

By Jennifer Turney
2018 Winner: Young Adult

Chapter 1

Merim and Janus clawed through another mound of soft, wet moss, the earthy scent causing each of them to sneeze in turn. She, wearing the last small pair of gloves and he, shouldering the bag and insisting she move faster at their task. It wasn’t often that they found a pocket of such fresh, lush greenery, deep in the thick and mountainous Asian landscape. They were eager to collect it before someone else came to claim it, not that the nomads ran into strangers often. It also wasn’t often that Merim and Janus were able to work together companionably.

[Read more…]

Ghost of A Chance

By Lenore Butcher
2019 Honourable Mention: Adult

Thursday dawned with ominous dark clouds in the sky. Krystia, always sensitive to barometric pressure changes, had a headache and seemed out of sorts. She had planned to head over to the spa site to check on the progress but ended up deciding to stay home in bed all day and see if she couldn’t soothe it away. Thursday night was family night and she didn’t want to ruin it by feeling ill. [Read more…]

The Reasons

by Kevin Craig
2008  Winner: Adult

CHAPTER ONE: Tobias Reason

My mother was always losing things. She once lost my dead sister. She spent years looking for her, but by the time she had lost Deja she was far too gone to realize there’s no finding the dead. When you lose sight of them, they are gone forever.

I was ten years old when Deja died. She was the oldest Reason child—gifted, bright, and headstrong. She had just finished high school and was contemplating her next steps in life, pondering her choices. [Read more…]

Sebastian’s Poet

by Kevin Craig
2007  Winner: Adult

CHAPTER ONE:

I first met the poet in 1973. I was a child, cleaning up after one of my father’s infamous parties. I can still recall that encounter. I found the poet passed out on our living room couch. He was sprawled in such a way I had to move his arms to clear the mess on the coffee table. His hand was resting inside the detritus of an overflowing ashtray. Putting my collection of beer bottles down on the table, I tried to move his hand without waking him. [Read more…]

The Beautiful Summer

by Brenna Pinckard
2013 Young Adult Runner Up

Chapter One: Ready

It is the middle of June. School has ended, and there is a sense of enchantment in the air. The dream of summer has become a reality; the mere thought of it causes my body to buzz with energy. This buzz is reflected on Katie’s face as she looks over at me from her place in front of the mirror. I can see it in her – she’s lighter, happier. School isn’t just over for the year, it’s over forever. And that makes the idea of this summer, the fact that we have ten beautiful, hot weeks stretching out in front of us, seemingly for eternity, all the more appealing. [Read more…]

Dear Jo

by Christina Kilbourne
2003 Winner

November 10
Dear Diary;

Everything is black, so black I can’t see through it. When it first started closing in around me, I thought I’d be okay, that I’d let it creep in a little way and then fight it back when I had the energy. The thing is, I didn’t realize it was stronger than me and now I’m afraid I won’t ever win. [Read more…]

The Roads of Go Home Lake

by Christina Kilbourne
2002 Over-all Winner

After Hamar died, I took the kids into town for pizza. Gunner had been to the pizza restaurant lots of times before, but the other kids never had. So we dressed up in our best clothes, the same we wore to the cemetery for Hamar’s funeral, and piled into the truck. Gunner drove with the twins and me in the front seat: the boys sat in the truck bed with their backs against the cab and their arms hugging their knees. It was a warm day and the sun was burning strong. I felt good with a bit of Hamar’s money tucked in my pocket and my kids smiling and chattering with excitement. Gunner looked proud to be driving us, going out to dinner like a family from a TV show, and I was proud of him, my eldest. I knew I wouldn’t often spend the money on stuff like this, but now and then I thought we deserved it.

[Read more…]

A Chain of Broken Hearts

by Sharon Frayne
2019 YA Winner Excerpt

Chapter One: The Girl Who Wouldn’t Cry

Mama’s voice trails off as I stare at a crack in the sidewalk and imagine myself fall and smash my face on the concrete.

“You need to read his letter,” she says and hands me a sealed white envelope with my name in Papa’s handwriting. I grab it, shake my head and stuff it down into my leather bag with my epi-pen and sketchbook.

“I hate him. He’s dead to me.” [Read more…]

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Don’t Miss These Great Replays

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  • From MNM to International Bestseller with Amy Stuart (Recording) $10.00
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  • Open Writer Coaching with Kate Arms (Recording) $7.50
  • How to be Ridiculously Prolific at an MNM (Recording) $0.00
  • How to Win a Muskoka Novel Marathon (Recording) $0.00
  • How to Do Professional-Quality Worldbuilding (Recording) $10.00
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A huge thank you to our writers, fundraisers and s A huge thank you to our writers, fundraisers and supporters! So far, we’ve raised over $8,500! Did you know you can still make a donation until September 15 to help support @ymcasm Literacy Programs in Huntsville? Visit the link in our bio!
1 more day of #writemnm2022! Did you see KM won o 1 more day of #writemnm2022! 
Did you see KM won our raffle for the beautiful quilt!? 
So much fun still to be had! Don’t miss out on tonight’s midnight reading!
#muskokanovelmarathon starting right now!! Check #muskokanovelmarathon starting right now!!

Check it out! 
  #muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel. 
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We are so excited to sit down and write with you!! We are so excited to sit down and write with you!! If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time :)
Everyone is welcome!
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July 15-18
#muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel

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Kyle Glenn
Brooke Cagle
The #muskokanovelmarathon is coming up! We know th The #muskokanovelmarathon is coming up! We know that you are busy getting ready just like us!  We would love to see where you are going to spend your time writing. Post a pic of your space and Tag us!

It’s not to late to join us!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio
July 15-18
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Joyful
Come join us for the Muskoka Novel Marathon on Jul Come join us for the Muskoka Novel Marathon on July 15-18 

It doesn’t matter what you use to write, we are just so excited to get writing!!

Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio.  #muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel #writingtogether #handwrittennovel #typewritter

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alejandro escamilla
christin Hume
Do you love getting cozy with a cup of coffee? We Do you love getting cozy with a cup of coffee? We do! You could win this beautiful quilt made by one of our lovely writers by visiting the Shop section on our website! Proceeds from this quilt go directly to YMCA Literacy Services! Link in bio!
What is the Muskoka Novel Marathon? It’s an oppo What is the Muskoka Novel Marathon? It’s an opportunity to give yourself the gift of time and space…
To create your story
To write your heart out
To explore!

Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio
July 15-18  #muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel
Looking for a space to write? Check out the #Musko Looking for a space to write? Check out the #MuskokaNovelMarathon for an amazing space to write with others from July 15-18!
Sign up using the link in our bio!

#writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novels
It’s coming soon!! The #muskokanovelmarathon is It’s coming soon!! The #muskokanovelmarathon is less than 2 weeks away!!

Join us July 15-18 and use the time to write your heart out!

Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio!

#muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel

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