Wednesday Writing — Hullaba Launch!

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 

Promotional Image by Teagan Geneviene
Hullaba Lulu at Grand Central Station, by Teagan Geneviene

Sheiks and Shebas, come on in.  Welcome to the official launch for Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure!

Thanks for coming out in your glad rags.  Just give your coat, hat, and gloves to one of the angel-bots.  Those automatons are excited to take care of anything you need. They’re bouncing on their toes in anticipation.

Whether you’re a hiphound or a teetotaler, we’ve got you covered at this hootenanny.  Lemon everything was popular during the Roaring Twenties, so we have plenty of lemonade for those who don’t imbibe.  However, today I’m indulging in some of Lulu’s favorite things, and you’re welcome to join me.

Valentino and Lulu dance with angel-bots, by Teagan R. Geneviene
Valentino and Lulu dance with angel-bots, by Teagan R. Geneviene

That flapper might be just a little crass, but she has a good heart.  The first thing Lulu would do is offer you some hooch.  Any kind of giggle water is fine with Lulu, and the stronger the better.  But ask her to choose her poison and she’ll usually pick a bloody mary.

Bloody Mary Recipe

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 3 oz tomato juice (fresh is always best)
  • .5 oz sherry, madeira or marsala
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .25 oz simple syrup
  • Sauces and seasonings to taste

“Sauces and seasonings to taste” takes on a new meaning when Lulu is around.  She’ll have hers with celery sticks and horseradish — and an extra bowl of horseradish on the side.

Hullaba Lulu promotional image by Teagan R. Geneviene
Hullaba Lulu promotional image by Teagan R. Geneviene

Lulu has recently had her first slice of pineapple.  That fruit was pretty exotic in the 1920s.  Her pal Tony runs a brick oven pizza place back in New York.  Everybody tells her it would never happen, but she’s hoping she can get him to use pineapple as a pizza topping.  I think she might be onto something if she also adds some Canadian bacon.

A jorum of skee (or three) and a pizza later, and Lulu’s ready to cut a rug.  That flapper is a regular floorflusher.  She’s just looking for the right Oliver Twist to be her partner.  Then they’ll do the Lindy Hop, the Camel Walk, and the Charleston.  So, don’t wear any pointy-toed dog kennels — you need your dancing shoes!

Pearl, Lulu, and Rose with angel-bots, by Teagan R. Geneviene
Pearl, Lulu, and Rose with angel-bots, by Teagan R. Geneviene

Lulu’s pals, Pearl and Rose both have the heebie-jeebies, because they can’t get used to the idea that Prohibition is over and they don’t have to worry about revenuers raiding this shindig.  Although they might also be watching the door because they are hoping that mysterious cat who calls himself Valentino will show up.

Speak of that sultry devil… I hear Valentino’s trumpet, calling that dieselpunk train.

All aboard!

Hullaba Lulu promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene
Hullaba Lulu promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene

***

Video Book Trailer

I know this song is an ear-worm… but it’s such a happy little worm!  It definitely sets a party mood. 

Even though this story was a blog serial in 2018, it will have a different “feel” to sit down and read it as a book.  Plus there are plenty of people who weren’t on the dieselpunk train back then.

What is “dieselpunk” anyway?  Hullaba Lulu has a 1920s aesthetic with retro-futuristic technology, a dash of magic, and some creepy settings, along with a crew of misfit characters — and that’s a pretty good definition of dieselpunk too.  

Cover and Blurb

Hullaba Lulu cover by Teagan R. Geneviene
Hullaba Lulu cover by Teagan R. Geneviene

Travel with Lulu and her friends on a magical, dieselpunk train that belongs to the smolderingly handsome and enigmatic man known only as Valentino.  They get into all sorts of trouble, usually due to Lulu’s clumsiness.  It’s an intense ride through a number of pos-i-lutely creepy settings, including “sideways” versions of Atlantic City and the Cotton Club.  At every stop and in between, Lulu ends up creating chaos.  There’s no telling where they’ll end up.  No, Lulu! Don’t touch that! Not the Tesla coil!

Lulu’s the kind of smarty, breaks up every party,

Hullabaloo loo, don’t bring Lulu,

I’ll bring her myself!

Purchase Links

Throughout October, Hullaba Lulu is at an introductory price.  The eBooks are only 99¢.  For those who boycott Amazon I made a Kobo eBook too.

Kindle:  Click this universal link

Paperback:  Click this universal link

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hullaba-lulu 

Also…

I use slang carefully, so that a reader can get the gist of the word without stopping to look up the definition.  However, Speak Flapper is a fun companion volume to any of my Roaring Twenties stories. It is a 1920s slang dictionary.  Early this year, it debuted at #1 in its category at Amazon.  Here’s a review from Annika Perry at Goodreads.

Speak Flapper, Slang of the 1920s by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
Speak Flapper, Slang of the 1920s by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

***

Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure will be making the rounds at some pos-i-lutely swell blogs.  Several people were kind enough to offer to have me visit their blogs.  Thanks in advance to them.

Friday, October 2, I’ll be in South Africa with Robbie Cheadle chatting about Ouija boards.  

Saturday, October 3, I’m in Connecticut where Dan Antion is hosting a launch party at the No Facilities Bar. 

Monday, October 5, I’ll be on the other side of the country to visit Miriam Hurdle in California.  Watch out for the bubbles.

Tuesday, October 6, I’m off to Spain for a visit with Olga Núñez Miret for chat about Carl Jung.  

Wednesday, October 7, I’m in Oregon where D. Wallace Peach is hosting me. Be careful with that Tesla coil!  

Sunday October 11, I’ll be in California chatting about 1920s styles with Valentina Cirasola.  

Monday, October 19, I’m in Kentucky for Teri Polen’s festival, Bad Moon Rising.  I didn’t bring Lulu, but she came by herself. 

Thanks for coming to this shindig.  Be well, be happy.  You’re pos-i-lutely the cat’s pajamas!  

This serial is made possible in spite of (not because of) the deplorable lack of Internet service from TDS Telecom.  They are even worse than the government about claiming no problem exists in the face of  failure.  TDS Telecom meets every complaint and service call by saying they find no problem. Their technicians come to my home and refuse to do any work or replace equipment, even when their offsite managers have instructed them to do so. They brought equipment that they openly state does not work properly. They refuse to let me talk to a manager. They refuse to promise to send someone other than the previous do-nothing tech.  They refuse to make sure the technicians have working hardware with them. My letters, emails, and tweets go unanswered.  Dear readers, please do not comment here in response to this paragraph. Just be aware of my awful experience with this so called provider.

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 © 2016 and 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.

 

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75 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Hullaba Launch!”

    1. Hi Valentina. Yes, Lulu is not afraid to be herself. Whether she is dancing, belting out a song, or belting out a well… a belch! LOL (She always says “Excuse me.”) and that makes her fun. I’m looking forward to visiting your place soon. You’re the oyster’s earrings!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. You’re so kind, Resa. Thank you. Yes a launch is a lot of work. I didn’t go all out this time. I just don’t have the energy. I’m proud and happy for everyone who volunteered the minute I announced that I would be publishing Lulu. I couldn’t turn down their help. WordPress has a generous and wonderful community. Thank you for being part of it. You’re the kitten’s ankles!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Rebecca, it’s huge to me to know that you liked the opening line. That can be such a struggle. Regardless, I wanted to bring out Lulu’s non-typical tendencies immediately. I’m delighted that you are enjoying the adventure. You’re the oyster’s earrings!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Teagan, congratulations on the book launch! I received the book a few days ago. First thing, I love the set up, how you spaced the writing and the Real World Things described at the end. I’m reading it on breaks in-between editing my book, again. And it was already professionally edited with suggestions, of course. Good luck with you book. The story promises to bring a smile, a laugh, and maybe memories to the reader. The 20s were a rip-roaring time in history. Hugs for Success, my friend. 📚Christine

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Heartfelt thanks for your encouragement, Christine. I feel the warm vibe radiating across the miles. I’m delighted you are enjoying Lulu. She is such fun to write.
      Good luck with the editing. It can be a painful process, and hard to know when to stop. I know you’ll have a masterpiece when you’re finished. Be well, be happy. You’re the bee’s knees!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. Super fantastic, Teagan!! I do love a good Bloody Mary and this recipe looks like a no-fail! Great cover, great book trailer, and fantastic story! Even though I read it as a blog serial, I look forward to reading it in one piece! I grabbed my copy!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You’re so kind, Jan — and thank you for this great feedback. I enhanced some of the scenes for the novella, but all the events are the same. The bloody mary recipe is supposed to be a real vintage formula. I haven’t been able to get liquor online (just wine) so I haven’t been able to try it. Although I agree that it sounds delicious. Thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  21. Looks like a lot of fun. Speaking of Diesel Punk, the rail yards in Albuquerque were the largest steam locomotive maintenance center in the USA. My neighbor started working in the rail yards as an apprentice machinist in 1958 when he was 19 years old. He learned his trade on steam locomotives still in use in 1958. But a couple of years later all steam locomotives where retired. I was surprised when he told me he worked on steam locomotives in 1958. I would have thought they would have been retired long before then. It’s amazing how long some things persist. He retired from the railroad about 10 years ago.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That’s interesting about your friend, Tim. He must have lots of stories to tell. I guess the “economics of technology” (for lack of a better way of describing it) took longer to balance out where steam engines were concerned. Combine that with the thought that they were probably also “easier” or less expensive to repair and keep running. It is interesting food for thought. LOL, and there goes the train, blowing its whistle as I type. LOL. Thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  23. WooHoo !!! Let’s get a wiggle on, train on (or off) the track. Put some cheeseburgers in the slot and start rolling. I got my copy and it’s so much fun to read it all at once.

    Best of luck with the book, Teagan!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  24. Wow… I think that I’m already there!! Just love it and I am sure in my past life I’ve lived once in that time 😉🤣 Anyway, I’ve ordered the book (in the paper) because it looks so pretty 💖🙏
    Yesterday, I have listened to your broadcasting product and I was much amused, especially, when I heard your voice, I felt I’m in the middle of you two 🤗💖

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Dear Magician — thank you so much for this lovely comment. I’m delighted that you listened to Rebecca’s podcast! I’m always (at first) hating the sound of my voice (but I get used to it), because most people sound different “in our heads” than we sound when we hear a recording. Rebecca and her husband Don (who did the technical work) deserve the credit. It was huge fun to work with them.
      You are so kind to buy the paper book. I work hard on the formatting, to make it appealing to the eye. As ever, you’re the cat’s pajamas!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    2. I am so glad that you listened in, Magician! Teagan has a fabulous voice. Don and I had so much fun meeting up with Teagan – always, always an adventure. Looking forward to meeting up with Lulu! I have Teagan’s Flapper Speak, another great book, in case I need to look up the jargon!!!!

      Liked by 2 people

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