Entry #6: GERALD AND THE AMULET OF ZONRACH

Title:  GERALD AND THE AMULET OF ZONRACH

Genre:  Upper MG, Humorous Fantasy

MS Word Count:  77,000

Pitch: 

In the realm of Wyverndawn, a wizard’s height is the mark of his power, so demotion of an entire inch is disastrous for twelve-year-old Gerald. 

Looking to gain a few inches, Gerald attempts to create a village landmark using his superior wizarding skills. But the spell he bought --from a guy who knows a guy-- is a tad more powerful than he anticipates. Causing the earthquake that aids the escape of a dangerous wizard does not enhance his stature, either physically or with his superiors.

A red-faced Gerald finds himself banished from his village along with the one inch demotion; two more and he’ll join his father as a Royal Equine Poop Disposal Coordinator.

Gerald’s hopes of returning home hinge on repairing the devastation he caused and thwarting the evil wizard’s plans of seizing Wyverndawn for his own. Failure could mean Gerald’s next spell might well be his last.

First page: 

A jet of blinding light flashed across the room, ricocheted off the window frame and disappeared up the chimney.

"Oops..."

A rumble under Gerald’s feet steadily increased in strength until the floor beneath him rolled like a ship in a storm.

This can’t be good, he thought, squinting at the new crack in the end of his smoldering wand.

Trying to stay upright, he staggered to the window at the front of his weather-beaten cottage. The small hill, and new village landmark, supposed to be growing outside --to improve the view-- failed to materialize. But the cotton ball clouds, normally gently drifting on the warm summer breeze, were now whizzing by. His brow furrowed as he caught sight of villagers clinging to structures for dear life. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when the village herbalist flew past his window and, as he followed her progress across the green, he spotted Lord Moleheart hanging onto a tree like a flag in a gale.

“Kack!” said Gerald.

The bedroom door flew open. “Gerald!  What have you done?” shouted Colin, dodging flying crockery as he made his way across the room.

“Hmm?” replied Gerald. The point of his tall and illegally obtained wizard’s hat twitched, as he blinked rapidly at the devastation occurring outside. 

Colin, who had been posted to Molehaven a few weeks ago as Gerald’s assistant --a position where roles seemed to change with alarming regularity-- very rarely shouted. If he could get away with it he even whispered his spells. So, shouting indicated Gerald had been especially naughty and confirmation came when he shrank one inch before Colin’s eyes.