I’ve just finished slicing up bits of my mid-grade novel and switching them with other diced pieces.  I’ve also cut whole chunks from the last three chapters and taken the setting at the end of the novel in a whole new direction.  Whether I’m brave and brilliant or just nicked in the head remains to be seen.

Here’s an excerpt from a scene that my characters are grateful I cut.  This woman might be charming, but she was about to dress active and athletic girls in silks, satins and hoop skirts!

“Well, now, you girls look like you’ve just seen your bitchy cousin Betty stealing all the whipped cream!”

The woman who greeted them was big, in every sense of the word.  She wore a voluminous skirt that swished around her hips and knees, but came in snug at the waist.  Her top was a well-filled blousy shirt that looked vaguely historic to Liz, and her rich red hair was swept up into piles of ringlets and curls on top of her head.  Here and there amongst the mass a jewel winked in the light.

But her face was the best part.  It was full, round, and beautiful.  Dark brown eyes that looked flecked with green or gold were set off by black lashes, and deep red lips sparkled around white teeth.  Even her ears looked lovely, sporting a pair of the coolest dangled jewel ear-rings Liz had ever seen.

“You’re the drama teacher?”  Tanya asked, and her voice had a bit of awe in it.

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