Heart's Hand (Book)

*Heart's Hand* is the second book in the Stacey Monners trilogy, and the fourth book by date in the Face of God series.

## Background

In *Heart,* Stacey loses her best friend in a car accident and learns how to better use her ability to grow plants, while she has dreams with demons.

## Introduction

Following the events of the previous book in the series, we start off where we left off with Stacey finishing finals for her sophomore year. She's invited to a party, where Syl and other friends are, and we see her looking scrolling through texts and notifications on her phone while drunk in a quiet moment when things are slowing down, and she looks at a text from Eli that was opened a long time ago, and keeps scrolling.

As time goes on, we see her at home with her parents in the other room, and the tv is on to the news, which is covering information on Thomas Manns, as well as guests weighing in on their thoughts of technology being hidden from the public. Her dad comes in with a beer and comments on how crazy it is. She is texting Syl and gets another text from him asking if she's seeing this

The reader sees a description of her current year, outlining several challenges. In the middle, she is called in by the US government, just as Thomas is more of a threat. Her family finds out about her. She has to decide if she wants to help or not.

She has an interaction with Thomas, and then a debrief; Stanley is assigned to interview her because he was affiliated with her campus case. This may be the first time Stacey sees him. When she talks with Thomas, she learns that the government was behind Rose's death.

Initially she goes to Syl and her friend at home, named Kierson. These are the two people that she's out her trust in with the strange things that are happening. Besides her friends, she also confides in John Smith her counselor, and Claudia and Syl are the only people she tells about her power. Essentially these are the people she trusts to tell no one and with her under an NDA, she can't tell anyone.

## Act Two Premise (Possible)

Following the set up in act one will lead to an act two that is different from the first book, and also an unexpected event considering the urbane setting of *Heart,* as well as what seems to be a similar set up for this book. The Monners will go on their yearly hunt, and this will take up approximately 250 pages, i.e. the entire second act. Thus, the tone of this book will be different from the last. Dan will get injured and it will require her, Cole, and Dan to be resourceful as well as put Stacey in a place where she will use her power or not to save them from death.

Cole will go back to get help while Stacey stays with Dan. There is a storm that comes during their being stranded and this is caused by the Frozen Vagrant intentionally, but this detail isn't revealed until a later book, possibly *Heart of Heart's,* which may include a time jump showing Stacey after graduation and now at an accounting firm; this book would possibly include a plotline where Ava meets the frozen vagrant and begins to develop her powers--showing the connection between Amos and Ava, the Light and the Fire of God.

Creating an entire second act in a hunting/frozen wilderness setting will require resourcefulness of the author as well, but can be done by focusing on the very simple details of each character's characterization as well as actual character. Such an event may cause later implications for any of the characters, possibly even PTSD.

It may be the Claudia or another friend comes along for the hunt, and the unexpected injury would most likely scar that character psychologically. This could also be a way to include additional characters in the series, such as rescuers or other hikers who come in contact with the Monners. One character point for Stacey that will be introduced is her dogged pursuit of something; this would be a seemingly contradictory dimension if you consider her on and off studies from the first book. Since *Heart* shows a Stacey that is out of character considering the plot, the reader could be introduced to the Stacey they saw a glimpse of at the beginning of *Heart,* but a little different.

Regardless, concerning the hunt, Stacey will be following a single animal, even wanting to hunt it after her dad is injured; she will follow a blood trail, which symbolizes her dog like pursuit of something she wants as well as her tendency to do forensic research, her adding things up, which relates to her wanting to be an accountant.

Cole runs into another party of hunters and they go back to Dan and Stacey, but have to go slowly because of the storm. While in this party, Cole uses his extraverted skills to relate to the party, as well as his other skills.

Heart's Hand refers to not only Thomas' role in the series, but the practical efforts that Stacey and others have to go to survive, hand being a metaphor for practicality.

Together, the four books, "The Prequel," *Heart, Heart's Hand, and Heart of Hearts,* create a coming of age arc for Stacey that will allow her to shift into the real world/fantasy world dilemmas kicked off by *Gems.*