Poll Results — Winner of Mode of Transportation

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, July 10, 2021

I’m ba-ack!  I was finally able to leave those despicable jerks at TDS Telecom who insisted for nearly two years that nothing was wrong with any portion or aspect of my Internet service — no matter that it went dead multiple times a day — and I do not mean slow, interrupted, or dropped. I mean it went completely out.  Even when the box fried on Monday, they still didn’t want to admit anything. 

My new Internet setup. Ain't it cute?
My new Internet setup. Ain’t it cute?

It took some digging, because my options were limited here.  But this morning I finished a self-install of new equipment from a new provider.   Not only did it come right up, but the darned thing is downright darling.  My TV came right up, as did my Kindle — and my Echo Spot (Alexa).  It’s really shameful how much I missed Echo the past week.  A friend calls it “your little electronic friend.”  It turns out that he’s even more correct about that than I realized… (Shakes head)

Even though the next blog serial here will be full-on pantser, I wanted to make sure a form of transportation was part of the story.  So, I did a poll with a big list of options.  It was quite a race.  The Vintage Luxury Car and the Trolley out paced  the Ocean Liner, Spaceship, Teleportation Device, and all the rest.  In fact, they were neck and neck all week.  I couldn’t think about it, without remembering a recording that was already old when I was a kid.  I always got a huge kick out of the ill-fated race and a horse named Beetlebomb.  That comedy race had a clear winner.  Mine did not.

Poll Results — It’s a Tie

Vintage Luxury Car AND Trolley/Streetcar

My poll resulted in a tie.  So, I’ll use both!  That will probably make things easier for me anyway.  

Mode of Transportation Poll, July 2021
Screen shot, Mode of Transportation Poll, July 2021

Now, if you’ve been following me for a long time, then you know what comes next…

Call for Things!

That’s right.  The new serial will be driven from the very beginning by random reader things.  I ask you to leave sets of three unrelated (random) things.  I know “random thinking” is difficult for many people, but it’s a great exercise in mental flexibility.

The Rules.  Things must be…

  • Leave sets of 3 things (not 1, not 2, not 5)  although you may leave more than one set  🙂
  • Things must be random — not related to one another
  • Things must be suitable to the time-frame of World War II
  • Leave your sets of 3 random things in comments

Don’t use events or objects that would force the story into a different era.

Another Tie

I have another sort of tie.  So for the first couple of episodes, I will give myself the luxury of working with more than three reader things. 

As an author, what probably means the most to me is when a reader is still thinking of my story after they have stopped reading.  GP Cox gave me a huge compliment about a year ago during The Delta Pearl when he said the story got into his dreams. Because of that, and his love for that story, I asked GP to kickoff the new serial with the first set of three things.  That’s important because when I look at the first several items, they determine (inspire) a setting, and at least one character. 

The Story Reading Ape, Chris Graham will also be featured in the first episodes (I’m not sure which ones right now).  Chris has never failed to support my efforts over the past decade.  Plus, he’s terrific at random thinking, and a great storyteller in his own right.

Pink Fairy Armadillo Wikipedia
Pink Fairy Armadillo, Wikipedia

As an example of random, here are three things GP gave me.  I let these things frame my thinking for the story: 1) A pink fairy (species) armadillo, 2) Princess phone, and 3) a bottle of vodka.  That princess phone anchored my time-frame. That’s why I set the era in the rules above.  The three combined, put a zany character in my head. 

GP’s 3 things also inspired something that will be be a component of the story and at least one character.  His things caused me to think of the Calutron Girls of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The sets if 3 random things you leave will drive (by inspiring) where the story goes from there.

I will collect your 3 random things for a couple of weeks before I begin the new serial.  I hope everyone will jump in and be part of the creation of this next story from the beginning.  Remember to leave your things in a comment.

***

In Other News

Dead of Winter: Journey 7, Revenant Pass begins with the ancient watcher’s memory of the Library of the Society of Deae Matres — and its fall.  We also get a look into the thought process of treacherous Arawn.  The the story picks up where we left Emlyn and company, trapped in the Realm of the Dead.

Then some characters go missing.  You’ll have to read to learn more.

Dead of Winter Journey 7, Ruins Promo
Promotional image by Teagan

The July issue of my series of monthly novelettes, Dead of Winter: Journey 7, Revenant Pass published several days ago.  Come be a part of the Journeys.

Dead of Winter — All the Journeys

Universal Purchase Links

Journey 7, Revenant Pass

Kindle:  relinks.me/B098MS8P48

Paperback:  relinks.me/B098GV1G5V

Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

Kindle:  relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Paperback: relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09431TD6G

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0942KC471

Journey 4, The Old Road

Kindle:  relinks.me/B092G5LB7R

Paperback:  relinks.me/B092M51Y88

Journey 3, the Fever Field

Kindle: elinks.me/B08XTNZ9M8 

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08XXY3JXF

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 3, the Fever Field eBook by Teagan Riordain Geneviene – 1230004609599 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Journey 2, Penllyn

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08VMNSF97

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08VLMR2KD

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dead-of-winter-journey-2-penllyn

Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

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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 © 2010 and 2021 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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124 thoughts on “Poll Results — Winner of Mode of Transportation”

  6. What an interesting project you have set for us who have enjoyed your past stories! ! i have read many of the above suggestions and am sure you will find those that you find interesting and fascinating to develop. I have thought of several, but probably should take more time to think about my choices. car, cat, cantaloupe

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I hope so, Denise. Every time it starts to take shape in my mind, I hit a snag. Apparently I really do need the break before I start it, despite the temptation to dive in. 🙂 Thanks for joining in with these things. Hugs on the wing.

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      Reply

  13. Great news! I think trolley was my choice (perhaps?), but I liked them all, so having two is great news. Three random things… I’ve got here late, as I had a long walk planned, and I see you have a very long list already, so, I think I’ll give it some thought and share three random objects when I’m back in the land of internet and blogging. Oh, and good news on the internet provider! Hooray!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks, GP. Sometimes great minds think like. It’s okay when a “thing” is listed by more than one person. The only bushbaby I know is “Galagos (also known as the bushbabies) are small, nocturnal primates native to continental Africa.” If you mean something else let me know.
      PS: the armadillo is really taking shape as a character in my mind. Hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Thank you for the news, Teagan! Seems now most things are well. Congratulations! You have scheduled a lot of work. Please dont forget to rest. Only tell it Alexa, and you will have wonderful music. I am sure Crystal will also enjoy. 🙂 Have a nice rest of the weekend! Stay well and save! Big hugs, Michael

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  18. Yay for good internet! Glad the car won! My 3 things, a Kodak camera, a phonograph to play Chris’s Glen Millers record on, a cup of Nescafe instant freeze dried coffee. (Instant coffee became enormously popular during the Second World War as a convenient and long lasting product, which could be made anywhere without the need for a coffee machine. In one year, the U.S. military bought more than one million cases of Nescafé, which represented a whole year’s output for the company).

    Liked by 2 people

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  19. So I make it a piece of clothing, that’s not as popular today, HAT (women and men quite liked wearing hats then), something concerning meals or even restaurant visits) FOOD RATION STAMP (defo a thing during WW II in UK and Germany) and one piece of technology which has lost in popularity lately, the RADIO. People were glued to their radios and it was very, very important to their daily lives, not everyone could afford it, but people celebrated radio shows, listened with guests to it as part of the evening entertainment and since most radios were big, they also became part of the furniture, like a clock on the mantlepiece (no, not another piece, just a comparison).

    Liked by 3 people

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  22. Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
    If you haven’t already done so, please:
    Leave sets of 3 things (not 1, not 2, not 5) although you may leave more than one set 🙂
    Things must be random — not related to one another
    Things must be suitable to the time-frame of World War II
    Leave your sets of 3 random things in comments
    Don’t use events or objects that would force the story into a different era. 😃

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Adored Ape, thank so much for sharing from your tree-house. Looking at all these replies… it’s hard to believe that a decade ago, with my very first serial, I had trouble getting “things.” 🙂 Thanks again for always being part of this. More hugs winging your way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Haha, Pete, now why did brothel not even come into my mind. I shall add my three things here to go with your brothel: A silk rose, a chocolate cake and a wine glass. A great post, Teagan, and I’m glad my vintage car choice was right up there.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

          1. Indeed! That is so good to hear, Robbie. I finally have my new Internet working, after a solid week of none at all. Now I’m spending entire days getting the “3 things” organized for the next serial. But I’ll be making the blog rounds soon. Cheers.

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

    1. LOL, yes, you may leave more than one set. These are great, Geoff. If there is any particular significance to “Percival Troon” please let me know. Google gives me a genealogy page listing him, but no more. “Troon, Percival Kempthorne, Born 1883 in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, Died Jun 1963 in Southampton, Hampshire, England”

      Like

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      1. A spurtle is a porridge stirrer, and a portable font is for baptising babies on the move, which a peripatetic ie mobile vicar might find useful. If I’ve pushed your goodwill with these do let me know!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  32. Nice to hear you finally found a decent service provider. I like vintage luxury cars. My three things S&H Green Stamps, Adding Machine, Rotary Phone.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  33. Maybe I put the 3 things on Chris’s website. Here they are: cat eye sunglasses, red lipstick and a Gucci head scarf (designer look to ride in a vintage car or trolley). Has one of them won, yet?
    🌹🎶📚 Christine

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I thought about that after I sent the comment. I got stuck in my thoughts driving an awesome vintage car. Okay so new things: Cat eye glasses, a guitar and a lemon cottage cheese cake. Hope those are far enough away from one another. If not I’ll keep trying. 📚🎶🌹

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  34. I’m thrilled the trolley will be included. I’m looking forward to where you’re going to take us, either by trolley or by luxury car. My three things are Root beer, Transistor radio and Charcoal grill.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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