Teri posted her wonderful review today, and I want to share it far and wide. Some of the comments are making me very happy. Let’s drive Teri some traffic. She does so much for the author community.
Tag Archives: supernatural
Meet the Main Characters
Hi, all. Time for a bit more promo for Goodbye Old Paint. This time I want to talk about my duo of main characters. Let’s start off with Elizabeth “Lizzie” St. Laurent.
She’s a regular girl who struggles with the circumstances of everyday life. She’s from California and her parents are a pair to draw to. Daddy is a conservative attorney who was running for state senator when we last included him. Her mother is an old hippie. She loves California and has a fun vibe about her.
Lizzie falls somewhere in the middle. I try to have her stumbling and fumbling with something at all times. She has to use Daddy’s credit card more than once. She works odd jobs, waiting tables, landscaping, and even cut a deal with her apartment complex that covers her utilities in exchange for labor.
She has outstanding student loans, a well-used car, and sometimes struggles to cover the rent. I put her through a huge flood event, and occasionally leave her stuck in the snow somewhere. It’s a goal to have her face a lot of reality, because there are a few extraordinary events that make it into her stories.
This brings us to her partner, the hat. He’s a creature from another dimension who was summoned here by witchcraft, back in the days of the Greek City States. An old warrior was looking for an edge, and liked the idea of eyes in the back of his head. He paid the witch, and here we are.
The hat showed up with a few more tools at his disposal than opticals. He can transport his host to the last couple of places they transported from. He synthesizes with his host, so they can use his vision, be he can also manipulate the host’s body. He’s been used to mind control other people in a pinch, and a few other things.
He can change shapes, but must always be a hat. He’s bound to Lizzie’s bloodline for as long as it lasts. Surnames come and go, but bloodlines go on. This is how we got from Greece to Lizzie’s last name that sounds somewhat French.
Lizzie is the first woman he’s ever partnered up with. This leads to some misunderstandings along the way. Prior to Lizzie, he spent twenty years in a box. He missed nearly the entire technological revolution and this leads to a few foibles as well. No use partnering up with children, but once Lizzie came of age he found her.
When Lizzie wears the hat, there are some convenient things that happen. For one, by controlling her hands and fingers, the hat plays the upright bass. Lizzie is a good singer and they formed a small cover band, which is yet another of her odd jobs. She can sleep behind the wheel and the hat can drive her car.
On the other hand, the hat is a confirmed monster hunter, and he needs Lizzie to complete his goals. Things will get crazy from this point. The hat knows the family’s secret history, and has an extensive library of stories to share.
Technological differences, generational differences, male vs female points of view, and there is an opportunity for a few disagreements between the partners. They happen… frequently.
If all this sounds like fun to you, please check out The Hat Series. The newest volume is called Goodbye Old Paint.
Blurb: Lizzie and the hat haven’t been as careful as they think. When the FBI comes knocking, they know all about their nighttime pursuits.
Who even knew we had a Geospatial Intelligence Agency? This obscure part of the intelligence community has a problem that requires a special skillset. Lizzie and the hat are tasked with ridding the intelligence server farm of a gremlin infestation. They’re ill prepared for this one, because .357 magnum revolvers are designed to deal with larger and hairier problems.
The Feds aren’t giving Lizzie much chance to weasel out of the assignment, and they reluctantly accept the job. Lizzie faces some unique trials and has to make new friends to get through the assignment, and avoid a debilitating curse at the same time.
It’s been a hard road for Lizzie during this series, and she’s due for a couple of small upgrades. These are solo titles in a larger series, and you should be able to read any individual one without feeling lost. The series is dark humor at its base, but this one tends a little more toward the humor.
Purchase link. https://mybook.to/6Yp95
Series Link. https://mybook.to/TheHatSeries
Filed under Writing
Series Background
With the publication of Goodbye Old Paint, it brings the series to seven titles. I always tell people these are stand-alone stories that simply use the same characters. It’s an older way of doing things, similar to Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes. (James Bond, Perry Mason, etc.)
Still, some of you might be nervous about not having a lot of background. Here it is:
Lizzie St. Laurent is a twenty-something woman when the series begins, and she’s just lost her grandmother. She wants a memento but her uncle swooped in, claimed everything and began selling it off. In desperation Lizzie stole a box from the moving truck and her adventures began.
There is an old fedora hat inside the box. It turns out it isn’t really a hat, but a creature from another dimension. He was brought here by magic and is forced to always maintain the shape of a hat, any hat. He is the deep family secret that nobody knows about. He’s been in Lizzie’s family for a couple of thousand years, and whoever he partners up with fights monsters. Lizzie’s grandfather was the last one.
Lizzie and the hat form a symbiotic relationship. She gains some abilities, like being able to use his vision to watch her own back. He can control her body to a degree, which helps with long midnight drives. She carries two .357 Magnum Colt Pythons that have been magically enhanced. She can aim and fire one, and the hat can shoot the other one by using her left hand.
This bond also allows them to do other things. The hat has years of experience playing the upright bass. He simply needs to use his host’s body to do so. Lizzie can sing, and they form a group called Lizzie and the Pythons to make a little extra cash. This is also convenient for getting them out at closing time when the monsters show up.
The hat also has a couple of other magical powers that don’t take much explaining. If you pick up any book in the series, I try to make sure you won’t feel lost. There are a lot of peripheral characters, but I try to give them a brief re-intro when they appear.
My intention is these stories are dark humor. You’ll find a bit of danger, gore, and even a killing or two inside. There are also some absurd situational things going on, and a lot of snippy banter.
I hope you’ll give them a try. The newest one is Goodbye Old Paint.
Blurb: Lizzie and the hat haven’t been as careful as they think. When the FBI comes knocking, they know all about their nighttime pursuits.
Who even knew we had a Geospatial Intelligence Agency? This obscure part of the intelligence community has a problem that requires a special skillset. Lizzie and the hat are tasked with ridding the intelligence server farm of a gremlin infestation. They’re ill prepared for this one, because .357 magnum revolvers are designed to deal with larger and hairier problems.
The Feds aren’t giving Lizzie much chance to weasel out of the assignment, and they reluctantly accept the job. Lizzie faces some unique trials and has to make new friends to get through the assignment, and avoid a debilitating curse at the same time.
It’s been a hard road for Lizzie during this series, and she’s due for a couple of small upgrades. These are solo titles in a larger series, and you should be able to read any individual one without feeling lost. The series is dark humor at its base, but this one tends a little more toward the humor.
Purchase link. https://mybook.to/6Yp95
Series Link. https://mybook.to/TheHatSeries
Filed under Writing
Some serious research
Time for another post about Goodbye Old Paint. This one is about research.
People are often surprised to find speculative authors do a ton of research. It doesn’t matter if I’m writing science fiction, fantasy, or The Hat Series, there is always research.
I find it easier to sell the fantastic elements when there is a basis in reality somewhere.
What kind of rabbit holes did I venture down to prepare Goodbye Old Paint? Here’s a brief list, and I hope it baits you into reading the book.
• Jeep automobiles
• Spadefoot toads to develop the Spadefoot Curse
• The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. Part of our intelligence community.
• Magical uses for salt
• Uranium
• Varieties of fermentation as it relates to cooking
• Balloon separatory funnels
• The Titanic
• Julius Caesar
• FEMA relief
• The distillation of perfume
• More
If you’re wondering how I can shoehorn all of this into one short novel, you should checkout Goodbye Old Paint. It’s perfect for the Halloween season.
Blurb: Lizzie and the hat haven’t been as careful as they think. When the FBI comes knocking, they know all about their nighttime pursuits.
Who even knew we had a Geospatial Intelligence Agency? This obscure part of the intelligence community has a problem that requires a special skillset. Lizzie and the hat are tasked with ridding the intelligence server farm of a gremlin infestation. They’re ill prepared for this one, because .357 magnum revolvers are designed to deal with larger and hairier problems.
The Feds aren’t giving Lizzie much chance to weasel out of the assignment, and they reluctantly accept the job. Lizzie faces some unique trials and has to make new friends to get through the assignment, and avoid a debilitating curse at the same time.
It’s been a hard road for Lizzie during this series, and she’s due for a couple of small upgrades. These are solo titles in a larger series, and you should be able to read any individual one without feeling lost. The series is dark humor at its base, but this one tends a little more toward the humor.
Purchase link. https://mybook.to/6Yp95
Filed under Writing
A wonderful review
This one is for an older title, but it’s a pivotal tale in The Hat Series. I have another promotional post about that and will trot it out sometime this month. In the meantime, visit Robbie and get some Good Liniment.
Filed under Writing
In which I am a little thick
I’m still trying to promote Goodbye Old Paint. There will be a few posts on alternate sites, but a few of these will post here, too.
The publishing world is kind of a moving target, and I have used the series link a time or two. I never understood that you can buy all seven volumes for one click at this link. I kind of thought it was a simple organizational tool. Turns out, there is the ability to purchase the entire series for the low low price of $14.95.
Just imagine, you can read one per night, or one per Saturday afternoon throughout the whole Halloween season. Hideous monsters, human and societal dangers abound, and a multitude of jokes to keep you going. You might catch an ear worm from some of the music The Pythons play in each story.
I think it’s one heck of a deal.
It’s kind of a one shot opportunity. I’ll explain it this way. I intend to keep writing Lizzie and the hat stories. I have a bunch of them in mind. You don’t want to buy the whole series more than once, but volumes after your series purchase will be available as single purchases.
I admit to being a little bit dense when it comes to promotion. I love writing my stories. Those who give them a chance seem to enjoy them. When it comes to spreading the word, that’s not one of my strong suits. I never actually put two and two together about this series link until now.
Want to be one of the cool kids, pick up the series in its entirety right here. https://mybook.to/TheHatSeries
If you’re already into it, the single book link is what you’re looking for. Let me tell you about the newest one
Blurb: Lizzie and the hat haven’t been as careful as they think. When the FBI comes knocking, they know all about their nighttime pursuits.
Who even knew we had a Geospatial Intelligence Agency? This obscure part of the intelligence community has a problem that requires a special skillset. Lizzie and the hat are tasked with ridding the intelligence server farm of a gremlin infestation. They’re ill prepared for this one, because .357 magnum revolvers are designed to deal with larger and hairier problems.
The Feds aren’t giving Lizzie much chance to weasel out of the assignment, and they reluctantly accept the job. Lizzie faces some unique trials and has to make new friends to get through the assignment, and avoid a debilitating curse at the same time.
It’s been a hard road for Lizzie during this series, and she’s due for a couple of small upgrades. These are solo titles in a larger series, and you should be able to read any individual one without feeling lost. The series is dark humor at its base, but this one tends a little more toward the humor.
Purchase link. https://mybook.to/6Yp95
Filed under Writing
Goodbye Old Paint #freebook #Halloween #humor
Teri Polen is one of my favorite people. She hosts an event called Bad Moon Rising every October. Today is my turn, and I’m using this opportunity to announce the publication of Goodbye Old Paint. This is the newest volume in The Hat Series. I also have a couple of free books today and you can learn all about those over at Teri’s place.
Filed under Writing
#Newbook #Humor #Fantasy
Sally has a wonderful promo for “Goodbye Old Paint” today. She’s such a strong supporter for the writing community. Let’s send her some traffic today and return the love.
Filed under Writing
In the Tree’s Shadow #newbook
Hi all. We have a guest here today in the form of DL Finn. She’s here to tell us all about her newest publication, which is a collection of short stories.
Make her feel welcome. Use those sharing buttons at the bottom and check out her new project. Take it away, Denise.
Thank you for having me here today, Craig, to share my latest release, In the Tree’s Shadow.
I love to walk in the forest. My husband created a trail for me that we named the Magical Trail. It is decorated with statues andornaments in the trees. Usually, it’s a very peaceful place to walk, but there have been a couple of times when I felt a sinisterpresence in the forest. I passed on walking alone in those moments. It was like something evil passed through, and I didn’t want to run into that.
This story focuses on what happens if that feeling is ignored.Although Sena senses something, she still takes her loving German shepherd companion, Lucy, into the forest. Like her, I’ve always felt safe with my dog Sara. Even in her last days,when the walks were slower. I knew she wouldn’t be strong enough to fight off a predator, but it seemed like her presence was enough.
But what if Sena and Lucy find something that isn’t a bear or mountain lion on their walk? I may never know what evil passes through the forest on those few times I’ve felt it, but I explore a what-if for Lucy and Sena in the story “In the Shadows.”
BLURB:
A collection of short stories where dreams and nightmares coexist.
Nestled inside these pages, you’ll meet a couple in their golden years who take a trip with an unexpected detour, a boy desperate to give his brother the Christmas gift he asked for, a girl with a small glass dragon who is at the mercy of her cruel uncles, and a young mother who has a recurring dream about murder. You’ll be introduced to worlds where people get second chances and monsters might be allowed their desires, while angels and dragons try to help. Happy endings occur, but perspective can blur the line between good and evil in these twenty-seven tales. Since the stories vary between 99 and 12,000 words, whether you have only five minutes or an entire evening to settle into reading, there is something that will suit your time and taste.
I saved my work and turned off the laptop. Lucy, my devotedGerman shepherd, waited patiently for me to put on my shoes and tug on my warm coat and mittens. Stepping outside, I shivered and zipped up my coat as Lucy pushed past into the lead. The late afternoon sunbeams filtered through the pines and offered no warmth, but I found joy in the trees that glowed with autumn’s jewels.
EXCERPT:
It was my favorite time of year—the heat of summer was a distant memory, and winter’s chill hadn’t taken hold. Yet today it was different. As I stepped off the redwood deck, unease settled over me like I was being watched. I scanned the silent tree-lined perimeter, but I saw nothing unusual as Lucy sprinted to our walking trail. I quickened my pace, unable to shake off that disturbing sensation. Lucy’s piercing bark mixed with a gray squirrel’s loud chirp of displeasure as the small rodent raced up a cedar, sending chunks of bark flying.
“Just a squirrel,” I said, more to myself than Lucy.
I’d been jumpy lately. Well, more than normal. Living alone had always suited me, but recently it seemed as if my safe place in the woods was being invaded by the craziness I had long avoided. I brushed those feelings aside because I had work to doand books to write. I was a best-selling horror author with deadlines. I might write about scary things, but I knew ghosts and monsters weren’t real. They were just the way I made a living.
FUN FINN FACTS:
1. I was only a couple of feet from a bear who entered our garage. I took pictures and videos of it from the doorway. He wasn’t bothered by me being there as he ate our dog’s food.
2. I could not water ski like the rest of my family. Singles or doubles, it didn’t matter. However, I was good at being pulled on a tube.
Bio:
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, a unique autobiography, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
D.L. Finn Links:
Filed under Writing
Vacation day one: Author problems
I worked on Lizzie and the hat this morning, and am struggling with a few different things. This usually means it’s time to jump stories.
As I take this series further, I’m getting great mileage out of expanding the supernatural world around Lizzie St. Laurent. If you’ve followed the series, Good Liniment is a prime example. The witches coven is fertile ground to spawn new tales.
I’ve done some of that, but don’t want it to become a theme. I never want to feel like I’m dialing it in because I have access to more powerful characters to help Lizzie in her efforts.
My intent is for Goodbye Old Paint to be more light-hearted and geared more toward the humor side. Past tales did this with a scoop of graphic violence, but this one doesn’t really need that.
I finished my chapter this morning, and the monsters behind the story have all been dealt with. Problem is that I’m at just over 30,000 words. I want all these to come in at slightly over 40K. That’s one hell of a denouement.
I added a section about Night Bump Radio and that always seems to fit into these stories. What’s left is returning some of the blackmail to the government agents who forced Lizzie into this project, a gig with her band, then a girls night with her new besties. (Two witches)
At the outside, I could include an epilog about the government domestic spying. Kind of like horror films always show you the real monster still exists.
Including any or all of these things feels right, but I don’t know if there’s 10,000 words there.
Part of the fun of writing an ongoing series is all the new ideas. I came up with a cool character that’s going to force me to dive into philosophy, and a monster that’s kind of gruesome and unique. Fortunately, I have years to think about them and find a plot for them.
I’ll have to figure out how, with my monster killing the homeless people and leaving no evidence behind, how is Lizzie ever going to get on the trail in the first place. Right now my options are Detective Joe Yoder, or Kevin the vampire. Maybe something else will come to me in the next year.
I need to figure out my new unaffiliated witch/circus midget/former philosophy professor and what kind of monster Lizzie will be chasing to lead her to his door. Then it’s all going to lead to a bipolar talking toilet, because it is one of those stories.
I’ve started cheat sheets for both characters so I don’t forget anything.
It really does feel like time to switch back to Mari’s story in the swamp. Maybe something will pop into my head while I’m being more serious.
Filed under Writing
Entertaining Stories 