New Book

My last book attempt died...miserably. I finally gave it up for lost and started on this one. I storyboarded for about a week, and I just recently started writing the beginning. I'd forgotten how nice it is to know and like where the story's going, and I haven't been working on much else since I started (other than the NOSB briefing essay that I have to do--don't worry. That post will be coming soon enough). Here's a passage from my new book, Jane and the Fire Lords--a tale of strange happenings in an even stranger school. If you liked Harry Potter and are hoping for a rehashing of that, I suspect this story will prove utterly disappointing to you...


"I.." the man said, sweeping his arms open so that the cloak of glittering stars and nebula fluttered and curled dramatically around his beanpole figure. "...am Mr. X! I am the head professor of the arts of magic here, and as such, it is my greatest pleasure to welcome you all to the Griffinspoint high school for young and aspiring mages! I'm sure you've all been wondering when you'll get your chance to tour the ground properly. Rest assured, after we've finished with registration, you'll be taken around the school by various professors and staff to be introduced to the facilities. I will be conducting you all to the grand hall, where you'll be given your I.D. lanyards and divided into groups for the tour. Are there any questions?"
There was a slightly stunned pause, during which time the great Mr. X turned in a slow, dramatic circle, confident that the'd covered everything with sufficient pizzazz to leave them all meekly stunned for the rest of the day. He was a little perturbed, however, when a hand somewhere out in the audience shot up into the air. Annoyed, he nodded his head regally towards it.
"Yes?" he asked.
"What's with the ducks in the vents?" asked the kid--a shortish, curly-haired ginger with a face like a baby. A couple other voices chimed in in agreement, wondering aloud why they were supposed to ask about the ducks. Mr. X blinked in surprise, not sure how they knew about the ducks, and then on a hunch, turned around to look back at the school. His shoulders slumped a little when he saw the bedsheet hanging out the fourth-floor tower window with the message painted in red across it: "Freshmen! Ask Mr. X about the ducks in the vent!"
"That..." he grumbled, annoyed. "...Is my senior magics class. I think we may safely dismiss them as a bunch of wild hooligans, and move on instead to more pressing matters. Are there any more questions?"
A couple more hands went up.
"...That pertain to the subject at hand," he concluded.
The hands went back down.
"Very well. Everyone, through the doors, if you please."