About The Next Competitor

Written by KP Kincaid

236 pages / 63000 words / 5x8 trade paperback
ISBN: 978-1-60370-907-1
eBook Information:
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub

It’s the all-important Olympic season and eighteen-year-old American figure skater Alex Grady is discovering that there are many obstacles along the way on his quest to win a gold medal. For starters, he has to get through endless hours of practice under the watchful eye of his stern and slightly terrifying Russian coach. Then he has to contend with his all-American rival, Tanner Nielsen. Tanner has the talent, looks, poise and picture-perfect girlfriend that make him the ideal poster boy for United States figure skating.

Alex has the talent and his looks aren’t bad, but the filter between his brain and his mouth is missing, and he definitely doesn’t have a girlfriend. He doesn’t have a boyfriend either, although he finds himself thinking far too much about pairs skater Matt Savelli, which is ridiculous, since goody two-shoes Matt is totallynot his type. Besides, Alex doesn’t have time to worry about dating, not with the Olympics looming, right? Can he find a way to go for the gold and still remain true to himself?

Sample

Slam. I slide across the ice, pain radiating from my hip. Missed it again.

Mrs. C issues her verdict. “You think of too many things. Think of only the jump.” She claps her hands together sharply. “Again.”

I sigh as I heave myself off the ice. I think this day could possibly go on forever.

As the afternoon drags on, Mylene and Matt practice one of their lifts that has a blind entry — they’re facing different directions as the lift goes up — and three changes of position in the air.

Mylene grins as she soars through the air. They cover the whole length of the ice with this lift, and they make it look easy as they speed along, Mylene’s position shifting until all her weight is balanced on her hip in the palm of Matt’s hand and her arms and legs are spread out like a star.

“Alexander.”

I blink back to attention and find Mrs. C gazing at me. “Huh? Oh, sorry.”

“You watch boys on own time.”

I nearly choke in surprise. “What? Him?” Matt? No, no, so not my type. Sure, he’s cute, but no. “I’m not watching him.”

She ignores me. “Spin from the top.”

I bite back another denial, since I know it’s a waste of my time. As I practice my spin again, I’m still a bit shocked that she said what she did. Even though Mrs. C knows I’m gay, it’s not like we talk about it. We don’t talk about much other than business. And as if I was checking out Matt Savelli.

As he and Mylene whirl by again in another lift, I pointedly look away.