Title: PRIME MAPLE
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Word Count: 80,000
My Main Character’s Most Stressful Relationship is:
Ecophysiologist Jen Preston’s most stressful relationship is
with people. She’d rather hang with the trees. Except for Vic LaVigne. Her ex
has this way of putting anyone at ease. Might be how he won the Canadian
election by a landslide and was promptly named World’s Sexiest Prime Minister.
Holed up in her lab, Jen’s safe from his charms. But when Vic activates Code
Maple Leaf, she must cross the border to meet him in his buttery wood-paneled
office on Parliament Hill, in the glow of the roaring fireplace. She just needs
be professional. Keep her cool. No pressure.
with people. She’d rather hang with the trees. Except for Vic LaVigne. Her ex
has this way of putting anyone at ease. Might be how he won the Canadian
election by a landslide and was promptly named World’s Sexiest Prime Minister.
Holed up in her lab, Jen’s safe from his charms. But when Vic activates Code
Maple Leaf, she must cross the border to meet him in his buttery wood-paneled
office on Parliament Hill, in the glow of the roaring fireplace. She just needs
be professional. Keep her cool. No pressure.
Query:
American ecophysiologist Dr. Jen Preston is never, ever
getting back together with her old flame, Vic LaVigne. Even if he is “The
World’s Sexiest—and Most-Eligible—Prime Minister.” Because Vic is also Jen’s
Most Heartbreaking Ex, The U.S.–Canadian border is a line Jen won’t cross—until
her mentor is killed during a multi-million-dollar heist of Canada’s Strategic
Maple Syrup Reserve.
getting back together with her old flame, Vic LaVigne. Even if he is “The
World’s Sexiest—and Most-Eligible—Prime Minister.” Because Vic is also Jen’s
Most Heartbreaking Ex, The U.S.–Canadian border is a line Jen won’t cross—until
her mentor is killed during a multi-million-dollar heist of Canada’s Strategic
Maple Syrup Reserve.
Vic calls a “Code Maple Leaf,” summoning Jen from her lab
deep in the Maine woods to his office on Parliament Hill. He needs Jen—for her
scientific expertise. Vic tells Jen that the maple trees are in trouble. Then
he asks her (politely, of course) to continue her mentor’s research into the
problem, sweetening his offer with French-Canadian kisses. He had her at
Bonjour.
deep in the Maine woods to his office on Parliament Hill. He needs Jen—for her
scientific expertise. Vic tells Jen that the maple trees are in trouble. Then
he asks her (politely, of course) to continue her mentor’s research into the
problem, sweetening his offer with French-Canadian kisses. He had her at
Bonjour.
Prime Minister Charming soon faces stiff competition. As Jen
combs her mentor’s lab for clues, First Nations Mountie Kel Blacktail risks his
handsome neck to save her from a campus shooter. Kel escorts Jen to a field lab
deep in the heart of the Quebec sugar bush and proceeds to light her fire. When
Vic arrives to transport Jen back to his safe offices, she must choose whether
to risk getting burned by Vic again or hunkering down with Kel to save the
trees. Either way, she might lose Vic forever. Because the shooter is circling
back for Jen—and the World’s Sexiest Prime Minister.
combs her mentor’s lab for clues, First Nations Mountie Kel Blacktail risks his
handsome neck to save her from a campus shooter. Kel escorts Jen to a field lab
deep in the heart of the Quebec sugar bush and proceeds to light her fire. When
Vic arrives to transport Jen back to his safe offices, she must choose whether
to risk getting burned by Vic again or hunkering down with Kel to save the
trees. Either way, she might lose Vic forever. Because the shooter is circling
back for Jen—and the World’s Sexiest Prime Minister.
First 250 words:
Jen’s phone convulsed in her pocket. She filled the last
tube in the DNA sample tray, hung her pipette on the carousel, and snapped off
one purple glove. Jamming her free hand into the pocket of her lab coat, she
extracted her peripheral brain, calming it with a sure but gentle thumb, and
killed the music.
tube in the DNA sample tray, hung her pipette on the carousel, and snapped off
one purple glove. Jamming her free hand into the pocket of her lab coat, she
extracted her peripheral brain, calming it with a sure but gentle thumb, and
killed the music.
Multi-tasking was easy. Interruptions were annoying. Unknown
callers, unpredictable.
callers, unpredictable.
“Dr. Jennifer Preston?”
Full name. Red flag. The mystery caller also lacked the
Swedish accent of someone handing out Nobel prizes. Jen had wasted her time and
glove on a telemarketer. Or someone phishing.
Swedish accent of someone handing out Nobel prizes. Jen had wasted her time and
glove on a telemarketer. Or someone phishing.
“Y-e-es.” Jen swiveled in her seat, winging back her aching
shoulders. She arched her neck until her ponytail dangled like a loose leaf,
closing her eyes against the canopy of fluorescent lights. Her chambray TOMS
slid down the bottom rung of her lab stool to the speckled floor. Aaah. I can
spare a moment to—
shoulders. She arched her neck until her ponytail dangled like a loose leaf,
closing her eyes against the canopy of fluorescent lights. Her chambray TOMS
slid down the bottom rung of her lab stool to the speckled floor. Aaah. I can
spare a moment to—
“This is Sam Singh. I’m calling for—”
Jen sat up straight. Telemarketers didn’t self-identify.
“I’ll take it from here, Sam,” interrupted a man with a
voice so familiar Jen could taste it.
voice so familiar Jen could taste it.
Vic.
Jen dropped the phone onto the black lab bench like a hot
Pop-Tart and hit the speaker button.
Pop-Tart and hit the speaker button.
“Bonjour—Hello, Jen,” Vic said, and her heart whiplashed. He
sure got a lot of mileage out of that French. And what, six million votes? Jen
grimaced, then swallowed, burnt caramelized sweetness chasing bitter regret
down her throat. She should have hit END CALL.
sure got a lot of mileage out of that French. And what, six million votes? Jen
grimaced, then swallowed, burnt caramelized sweetness chasing bitter regret
down her throat. She should have hit END CALL.
So I guess I want to "shiver" on this? Basically, send me the query and first 10 pages in the body of the email. Be sure to include NoQS in the subject line. Send to: margaret(at)inklingsliterary(dot)com. Thanks!