A Bloomin’ Otherworldly Pigs Snippet

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Pigs Road Moon unsplash composite
Deme and Honeybell, otherworldly pigs of Atonement, TN

Welcome, everyone.   I hope you’ve had a wonder-filled week.  Something fun and unexpected happened to me.  More on that in a second.  First things first.

If I had never written Atonement, Tennessee then I would have never started this blog.  I wouldn’t have written any of the 1920s serials, or met any of you wonderful people. 

I was privileged to become acquainted with baker, blogger, and author Robbie Cheadle back when I did the “Thistledown — Midsummer Bedlam” serial.  Robbie’s talents have blossomed so much that she now has two blogs to support her diverse forms of writing and creativity:  Robbie’s Inspiration, and Roberta Writes. 

I was delighted when Robbie told me she read Atonement, Tennessee — and thrilled when she mentioned that she was going to review it this weekend.  (Update:  Link to Robbie’s review.)

Now my other wonder-filled moment of this week.  A friend returned from a vacation to New York and brought me a very special little treat.  The reason why it is a special treat is that someone was reminded of my characters and books even while having a wonderful vacation.  That means a lot to me. 

Pink Pig with Glowing Pigs cover

She gave me this little pig figure, and it was so much like Deme and Honeybell, the otherworldly pigs!  The little pink, winged pig with a feather boa grunt-snuffle-snorted its way into a gift shop.  (Now Honeybell is in my head, demanding a feather boa, and Deme is wearing a crown, although she’s gotten it lopsided…)

The glowing pigs were not in the first novel, Atonement, Tennessee, but they have several short stories, and they made a couple of brief appearances in Atonement in Bloom.  In honor of The Glowing Pigs, I’m sharing a snippet from “Bloom” that includes them.

After a strange day, Ralda Lawton is having a restless night. First she has a frightening dream, but she manages to go back to sleep.  Then she wakes again and…

A Glowing Warning

black sailing boat digital wallpaper
Johannes Pleino, Unsplash

Lilith made an odd meow and jumped up from her spot on the bed and over to the dresser.  I closed my eyes tighter, because it seemed almost as if the light switch had been flipped.  I cracked open my eyes, desperately wanting to sleep.  I reached for the nightstand lamp to turn it off, but found that it was not lit.  Yet the bedroom was illuminated by a soft radiance.

My gaze moved from the lamp to the dresser where I’d heard Lilith jump.  From that vantage point she watched something in feline fascination.  Sleepily I sat up so I could see what had her attention.  When I looked, I questioned both my wakefulness and my sanity.

Glowing pigs gathered around, circling my brass bed, snuffling and snorting.  After a moment their random grunts came together as one rhythmic voice — grunt-snort, snuffle-grunt-snort.  The chant went on until it started to sound like my name, Ral-da, Esme-Ral-da.

One pig moved away from the rest of its drift, as I had learned a group of young pigs was called.  I marveled to realize that it had blue eyes.  I didn’t know pigs could jump, but it bounded onto the foot of my bed.  Sitting back on its curly porcine tail, it locked its sapphire orbs onto my own eyes.  Maybe I could have looked away from that intent gaze, but I was too dumbfounded to try.

Pig in water forest-simon-1139462-unsplash
Forest Simon, Unsplash

“Deme, no.  You are too bold!” I heard one of the other pigs say.

“Don’t be silly Honeybell,” replied the pig that jumped onto my bed.  “Besides, you know this must be done.”

I actually put my finger into my ear and twisted it around, as if I could fix the crazy things I was hearing.  Even in a dream, pigs shouldn’t talk.  And of course I must be dreaming.  It had to be the wretched brass bed messing with me again.

The pig on the foot of my bed snorted in a way that sounded like chuckling when the other one spoke.  I gathered this blue-eyed one’s name was Deme.

“Ralda-Esmeralda, you must take great care,” Deme spoke to my continued amazement.  “There are too many supernaturals in Atonement, Tennessee, too many different plans are in play at once.  More than one of them is very dangerous!  And the Keeper of the Eastern Winds is not present to protect you,” the porcine voice warned me.

♣ — ♣

Had Ralda fallen into another dream?  Surely such a thing couldn’t happen.  Yet then again, Atonement, TN is no ordinary town.  If you want to know, you’ll have to read Atonement in Bloom.  

I hope you’ll join me Wednesday for Hidebound Hump Day and another chapter of Copper, the Alchemist, and the Woman in Trousers.  The random “things” driving the next episode are Indian Head Penny, and Brocade of a White Lion.  You’ll also meet characters from the Pip-verse!

I’ll be looking for you at the station! 

***

Now some shameless self-promotion.

Atonement in Bloom

Amazon UK

Pigs collection cover banner

The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee

Amazon UK

Atonement Video Cover copy

Atonement, Tennessee

(E-book still on sale at 99¢ )

Amazon UK

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Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I

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The Three Things Serial Story: A Little 1920s Story Kindle 

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2015 and 2018 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

95 thoughts on “A Bloomin’ Otherworldly Pigs Snippet”

  7. Pingback: A Bloomin’ Otherworldly Pigs Snippet – Where Genres Collide

  9. I loved this scene in “Atonement in Bloom!” Esmeralda had more than one occasion to question her sanity in the story, but this was at the top of that list. 🙂 Thanks for sharing it here and I’m very glad you started this blog, because if you hadn’t, I would have never met you and my world would be missing a piece. Hugs, my friend!

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    1. Dear Jan, I’m sorry for the late reply — your comment didn’t show up in my inbox. That is such a lovely thing to say. 🙂 Thank you so much for the smile you just gave me. You are a wonderful part of my world too.
      I’m glad to know you particularly liked this scene — that’s great feedback for book 3. It was one of the most fun parts to write. Have a marvelous Monday. Mega hugs!

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    1. Thank you Andrea. It’s helped me try and focus on the good and on progress, rather than on setbacks. You know — it seems like at least a step backward for every step forward. Thanks for brightening me back up after a difficult morning. Hugs on the wing.

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    1. I thought so, Staci. And she actually apologized that it wasn’t expensive. I couldn’t have liked it better if it had been a fortune. Somebody actually thought of my story while on a dream vacation. That’s worth so much more.
      Happy weekend hugs.

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    1. I’m always glad to give a giggle — and so are the pigs. 🙂 Thanks about the review too, Mary. It’s good to see book 1 getting attention. I’ve tried to make a point of spotlighting both with the “Bloom” release, since it had been years since the first book. I hope you have sunshine rather than the cold rain we have here. If not, stay warm and dry. Great big hug.

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  17. I follow Teagan but have yet to read her books. With each post and with each excerpt she draws me in and my desires grow. Can’t wait to read, but will start with the first book. I tell my self, “Pigs? Come-on! Yea Pigs!” This is a must-read.

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    1. Hi Chuck. It’s good to see you. LOL, those little glowing pigs snuffled right into my heart. They are not in “Atonement, Tennessee” (book 1) but I do recommend beginning with it. The pigs began in this “prequel” story: https://teagansbooks.com/2015/02/10/valentines-day-in-atonement-tennessee/
      And they just kept snorting back into my head.
      Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hugs!

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    1. Hi Robbie. Thank you so very much for taking time to read “Atonement, Tennessee,” and then even more time to write and share your wonderful review. You’ve kept me going through a difficult (neighbor noise and loud ongoing barking) long weekend.
      I think you would like the parts with the pigs in “Bloom.” It helps me add the element of whimsy to the story.
      I appreciate your feedback about the dreams. That’s actually very helpful to know that went over well. It helps me know what elements to carry over to the third book.
      Grunt-snuffle-snort hugs!

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        1. I’m sorry to hear that Robbie. I’m like that about not being able to go back to sleep too. I live in a townhouse, so the noise is right on the other side of my walls. And the walls made of big bricks (that I thought would be “thick” and help) — it turns out brick carries and amplifies the sound. So it’s like surround sound barking (or hammering as the case may be).
          I can’t keep this headache away. Maybe the weather has a hand in it…
          Enough of me whining. It’s going to be a good week! Hugs.

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  20. Ahhh, the unexpected joys, life can give you those, who knows when, who knows who or where, but wow, they rule! What a kind friend, truly the glowing pig’s wings. 🐷
    Thank you for this gift, dearest Teagan. I woke to heavy rain and chill and this brightened and warmed my day.
    Wishing you all the best, always; so thankful every single day that we found each other in this giant virtual haystack. ❤️
    Mega with rain comes the blooms hugs xoxoxoxoxox 🤗🤗🤗

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    1. Hi Donna, you ray of sunshine. If I’ve given you a moment of that in return then I’m delighted. Thank you so much for visiting.
      If only my other neighbors were like that one… She is sadly one of a kind here.
      (The barking just doesn’t stop, and my headache hammers harder with every bark.)
      Stay warm and dry. It’s been much colder than it should be here too, although not as cold as there.
      Here’s to hot soup for lunch. And here’s to you. Mega grunt-snuffle-snort hugs!

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  22. Two of my favorite characters. I remember this scene and I remember chuckling first when I read that Lilith jumped from “her spot on the bed,” thinking “even in Atonement, cats are in charge.”

    I hope you’re having a great long weekend, Teagan.

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    1. Haha. Naturally cats are in charge. Thanks for making me chuckle. I’m honored that you remember particular scenes.
      I’m really trying to have a good weekend, but my neighbors’ barking dog hasn’t given me a moment’s peace. The barking goes on at full volume for hours and hours, amplified and carried into surround sound by these brick walls. I’m ready to accost those 2 little self-entitled $h!#ts by barking in their faces. Loudly. I can get loud. And they’ve driven me barking mad.
      I guess it keeps me determined to get out of here, despite any setbacks.
      Anyway, I hope you are having a great long weekend. I’m sure it’s even colder there than here. You and Maddie bundle up! Chin rubs to MiMi and MuMu.
      Grunt-snuffle-snort hugs!

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        1. Sorry to hear that, Dan. Especially the smoke. I had that issue with a previous pair on the other side. They’d use a smoker (outside) and all of it would come inside my place, no matter what I did. So much that you could actually see the smoke in here.
          You’re right — anything I do will only make it worse. I had the HOA write them a letter about the barking, but that did no good. Neither did personally bringing it to their attention at 2AM one morning (obviously they knew)…
          I have to endure a couple more months. That means Crystal and I will be driving across the country in winter weather, but so be it. Work and the harassment there is already more than I can take even without the endless barking. Worse, it’s made Crystal’s inflammatory bowel disease worse from the stress. It’s my fault for waiting too long. Thanks for listening.

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        1. Oh you are so kind, Fraggle! Thank you. There was always going to be a third book. Ever since I released “Bloom” I’ve been actively pondering how to tell the story. It will be tricky (in a “technical” sense) to tell, but I am working on a few ideas for how I can accomplish it. Happy weekend to you.

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  25. A great post. Having read the novel and a few of the stories with the pigglets, I am in love with them, as you know. I saw your Facebook post about the gift. Perfect! I could also do with a bit of assitance from the glowing pigs. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Deme and Honeybell will be right over, Olga! 😉 Maybe they can lend a hoof. Although they haven’t been any help with the louder than ever, constantly barking dog next door… My neighbors are such little sh!#s…
      Grunt-snuffle-snort hugs!

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  26. I need a magic glow pig right now. I’m wide awake and it’s cold so I’d like to stay on bed. But my better half is shuffling happily on her side of the mattress and hates to be woken before time. So a glow – or should that be gloe? Pig please to light my snuffles

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    1. I hear you, Geoff. It would have been a good morning for sleeping late here too. And no naps because the dog next door has started his serenade — which goes on at full volume for hours and hours, amplified and carried into surround sound by these brick walls. I don’t understand the “gloe” reference, but I’ll ask Deme and Honeybell if they’re interested in a road trip. 😉
      Maybe I should go with them before I accost my neighbors by barking in their faces. Loudly. I can get loud. And they’ve driven me barking mad.
      Grunt-snuffle-snort hugs!

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  27. Wonderful!

    But.

    Either I’ve missed it or there’s no Amazon US. Link.

    When I go to the UK link it tells me I cannot buy it from there and does not direct me to a US site.

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    2. Hi Patty. I apologize that you had this issue. It’s an important aspect of blogging for me to keep in mind. Let me make it up to you with a gift e-book. I’ve emailed your G-mail address. You can let me know which book and which email address to use by replying to that email.

      Great big hug.

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      1. Thank you for your kindness. While, it is not necessary, I will except your gift. Yes, this is an important issue to keep in mind. Many blind & visually impaired personals purchase ebooks S, they, our very accessible to us. So, if purchasing them is not easily accessible, they, our most likely to move on to more accessible material.

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