Wednesday Writing — Hullaba Video

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Promotional image by Teagan R Geneivene
Promotional image by Teagan R Geneivene

I hope everyone in the USA enjoyed a nice Labor Day. 

It’s sad, but I’ve barely touched my novel in progress… That’s pretty much been how it is since January.  However, lately I’ve been getting a lot done toward “bookizing” my dieselpunk novella, Hullaba Lulu.  I’m on schedule to publish it by the end of this month. 

Coming Soon!

Lulu’s Gramps runs a speakeasy that’s hidden beneath a subway entrance that looks a lot like this one.  It has an “emergency exit” (in case the revenuers raid the place) that goes to an abandoned section of the subway.

Promotional image by Teagan R. Geneviene
Promotional image by Teagan R. Geneviene

Here’s a book trailer I made this weekend.  I made all the images for it — most of them from “scratch” (I mean, extreme alterations to vintage photos, and image collages).  It was a ton of work, but I had a great time doing it.

Here’s a tidbit of “real world tech” from this 1920s fantasy.

The Cotton Club was the place to be for music in the 1920s.  The club’s beginning is rather sketchy with gangsters and other unsavory folks.  In 1920, Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion, opened the Club Deluxe on 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue in the center of Harlem in New York.  Owney Madden, a white gangster, took over operations in 1923, and renamed it the Cotton Club.  However, it was legendary for featuring black entertainers.

Yes, Lulu and friends visit the Jazz Age hotspot, the Cotton Club.  But look out — it’s sideways! 

Wishing you an easy coast down the other side of this midweek hump.  You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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 ©2020 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.

67 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Hullaba Video”

    1. Hi Denise, I hope all is well there. That song is such an ear worm! But I really don’t mind having it bopping around in my head all day. That’s my favorite of many versions too. Thanks so much. You’re the cat’s pajamas.

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  4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the video Teagan. I know how much time it was to create this amazing work of art – for that is exactly what it is. Thank you for including the backstory on the Cotton Club and bringing this time alive for us via Hullaba Lulu. BTW, our techie knew the story – it was a great time for music and a Renaissance of literature and creative spirit. I enjoy being the cat’s pajamas.

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    1. You are so kind, Rebecca — thank you. I have to give Animoto due credit, but all the artwork was mine. And I added and edited the music.
      The novella has a section at the end, with paragraphs on the various tech and cultural elements that get mentioned in the story. It truly was a Renaissance era. Yes indeed, you are the cat’s pajamas — and you’re the oyster’s earrings! 😀

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  5. Very wonderful, Teagan!
    I enjoyed your video, a lot!

    Also, I’ve read Fiona Finch & the Pink Valentine.
    I’ve begun a post, but am a bit busy, so the review won’t be tomorrow.
    I selected a lot of proper pink images, from my files, to work around the review.
    Of course, the review will stand on its own, so I can put it on Goodreads, or at least attempt to.

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    1. Oh, Resa that is music to my ears! And a post — that’s pure delight. I look forward to it, whenever you have time to create it. I know it will be a work of art, just like your glorious gowns! My bad Internet is still making life difficult, so I hope you can spare a moment to send a link when it is done. (Or post a link here.)
      You are the caterpillar’s kimono — pure silk! ❤

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  6. I enjoyed the trailer, Teagan! It is a well-made video. As for all of us back here, we are under fire evacuation order Level 1 at this time. Level 1 here in Oregon is “Get ready”, Level 2 is “Get set”, Level 3 is “Leave immediately”. The sky was a dark as Mordor yesterday. Took a good 1/2 hour to get through the gasoline line downtown. High winds have died down, mostly, and smoke at ground level is thick. Cars and cat carriers are ready to go. The town just south of us is at Level 2 now.

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    1. Oh no. Lavinia, that is terrifying. That’s probably my greatest fear, and why I (eventually) gave up on living in the Bay Area. I just don’t think of Oregon as being that way. I’m so glad you are prepared. Praying for health and safety for all of you. <3<3<3

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    1. Thank you kindly, Robbie. You already have so much on your plate that I hesitate to encourage you to take on anything else… But I really do enjoy making the videos! So as long as you like it, then jump right in! 😀 I got picky with the pace of the slides combined with where to start and stop with the song… so that was more work than usual. Trying new things can be good. Hugs on the wing!

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    1. Thanks, Diana. Ha! You are so right. And the procrastinator in my has a field day. I just did another one for the “Meta Prayer” my therapist sent me. I need to get to editing now… so I can get back to the novel in progress…. Thanks for all your support. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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  12. I love the trailer, Teagan! It brought back memories from the story and I look forward to reading it again. I seem to recall some stunning artwork from Rob that went with this story. Will you be using any of that artwork in the book?

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    1. Thanks, Jan. I dedicated the book to Rob. Why yes, you do recall. Aren’t you sweet. I’m glad you’ve got Rob’s back. His illustrations were gorgeous, but they were parallel to the story’s universe, not really illustrative of the plot — I couldn’t interrupt the book to explain what was happening in the images as being different from the story the way I did on the blog. Mostly, he mentioned potential copyright issues with his art. Maybe it is a small risk, but I can’t risk using them. You’re the cat’s pajamas.

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    1. Hi Tim, and thanks! Fortunately, the winds aren’t too bad this time. (We had some doozies the last few times.) Lots of nice soaking rain. I just now pulled the car out from under its cover and let Mother Nature give it a good rinse. Batten down the hatches and stay safe. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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    1. Thanks so much, Dan. LOL, I can’t think of that part without getting hungry for a cheese burger. I need to get a wiggle on if I’m going to get it published in time. But oh the guilt of neglecting my novel in progress! o_O I appreciate your support. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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    1. Thank you kindly, Teri. I love making the videos. This one was more work, since I made all the images. It was a lot of work to get the combination of pacing + the “trim” of the song (instrumental/vocal) — to have both of them in an acceptable spot.
      I still hope to get the story bookized in time for your deadline for Bad Moon Rising. If I don’t, I’ll use a link to my Amazon Author page. You’re the kitten’s ankles!

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    1. Thanks so much, Lauren. Oh-oh… fair warning — there’s a Lauren in the story. The name was one of the random things I was given. Not a very nice character, I’m afraid. But at the time, I didn’t know any real Laurens. Hugs on the wing.

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