Saturday, July 31, 2021

Hello, all and happy weekend. I hoped to begin the new serial today, but I haven’t made any progress with the many things I needed to accomplish before that next rocket launches.
However, I settled on the title, and tweaked the cover image to my satisfaction. With that done, regardless of everything else I should be doing, I couldn’t resist writing a little teaser for the new serial. I do not consider this the first episode, and I did not use the random reader things in the “full set” way I plan to start doing once the setup of the story is in place. Anyhow, I hope this gives you an appetite for more next weekend.
Even though it’s only a tidbit, I used two reader things, princess phone from GP Cox and transistor radio from Dan Antion. Both of those things are likely to have a recurring role in the serial.
A Teaser for “The Armadillo Files”

My last thought before oblivion overtook me was that those jerks in the lab had slipped a Mickey Finn into my coffee. I should have been unconscious for the few hours that remained in the night and all the next day. However, I had an oddly high tolerance to drugs, especially for someone of my height. I didn’t know why. Maybe if you grew up in Alligator Alley you were automatically tough.
A horrible ringing in my ears brought me around. I woke up remembering that I left the lab thinking I had gotten a particularly nasty bug. The timing couldn’t have been worse. As I staggered to my quarters all I could think was that I was going to miss the biggest moment in my career — such as it was. Even with a name like Faraday, in 1959 a woman without connections didn’t tend to get very far, especially in a scientific field.
As the bell blared into my skull, I realized that I had passed out with my head on my princess phone. When I answered it, nobody was there.
Suddenly a terrible thought occurred to me. Those bullies were always threatening to mess with the one thing I cared about besides work. My eyes darted around the room. Where was he?
Trying to put the phone’s receiver back, I knocked over everything on my nightstand. My transistor radio fell over. La Bamba blasted from the speakers. I tumbled to the floor and looked under the bed. Then I looked everywhere else.
Fang was gone!
Rules for Random Reader Things
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. Even though it begins in a later era, the story-line won’t stay there very long. So, at least for now, things should have been invented no later than 1945.
The Rules. Things must be…
- Leave sets of 3 things, and yes, you may leave more than one set 🙂
- Things must be random — not related to one another
- Things must be suitable to the year 1945
- Leave your sets of 3 random things in comments at this blog post (not Facebook)
- Don’t use events or objects that would force the story into a different era
Of course, you can continue to leave things after the story begins. 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.
I’m still playing catchup with other projects, so I might be slow to answer comments. However, I hope you’ll stop to leave one. Whether your comment is to me or another commenter, keep it friendly.
***
Dead of Winter — All the Journeys
One thing I’m trying to catch up on is Dead of Winter: Journey 8, The Lost Library. However the first seven novelettes are available at Amazon. I welcome you to be a part of these 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
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
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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 © 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.
…
Looking forward to this new series and also discovering who – or what – Fang is. Hugs, Teagan!
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Hi Teri. I already like Fang, and I haven’t even started writing him yet. The narrator is still waiting to make herself really known to me. I anticipate fun. 😉 Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs on the wing!
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Oooo… this is gonna be great!!!
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Tee-hee! I hope so, Jennie. I don’t have a solid “feel” for the characters yet — especially the narrator, but that’s often the case when I start a story in this completely spontaneous way. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs on the wing!
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You will get the feel when you start, I have no doubt.
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“Fang” was gone. Oh no! I’m betting that Fang is an armadillo. Maybe? Great start, Teagan. Looking forward to the official kick off!
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(Coughs awkwardly) Umm I’m not answering that yet, Diana. 😉
Yes, I need to get my ducks– or rather my “things” in a row and get started. Time to get ready for the takeoff. (An obscure video theme song is in my head when I say that. I don’t know why I like it so much.) Enjoy your week. Hugs on the wing!
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Ha ha. 🙂 I’m looking forward to the read. 🙂
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Love the teaser, Teagan…and the cover and the title. Fang is the armadillo?
I’m sure to be leaving more random things once the story gets going. Have a wonderful week!
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Thanks, Resa. It was really hard to think of a title, since the story is totally unplanned. “The Armadillo Files” made me think of The X Files, and The Dresden Files. This story won’t have an X Files vibe, and I’m not sure about a Dresden Files vibe… But I thought the title might still work.
“Fang” is part of the teasing, so I won’t say. 😉 Hugs on the wing!
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Sounds fun, Teagan!
Okay, but I adore the name Fang!!!
{{{hugs}}}
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I’m happy that Fang already has a friend in you, Resa. ❤
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Looking forward to this!! As you always do, you pulled me right in…..love it!!
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Hi Kirt. Thanks so much! I packed several little seeds into that preview. Hopefully not too many. I’m delighted that you’ll be onboard for this new one. Hugs on the wing!
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A very interesting group of comments. It it very easy to see there is a huge amount of interest in your next story. I am also awaiting! !
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It’s such a treat to see you, Ms. Frances. Yes, haha. Most of them know me well enough to believe that if something looks obvious, then I will probably manage to go a different way. Have a beautiful weekend. It’s monsoon season in southern New Mexico, and I’ve been getting glorious rain. Unfortunately weeds come with it.
The rain is still welcome. Hugs on the wing!
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Teagan, you are a master at leaving us on the edge with your serials. So, who and where is Fang? Also, I was a older teenager in the late 50s. But, I had a phone hooked onto a wall with a six foot cord! Looking forward to this story. I remember 1945 as a kid. Really, you have chosen fascinating years as settings. Hugs & happy weekend. 📚🎶🌺
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Thanks so much, Christine. That is where the “things” took me. Although sometimes the paths I use to get to a point wouldn’t happen in a normal brain. LOL.
I came along after that, but up through my first few years of school, we didn’t have a telephone at all, and used my grandmother’s next door. We eventually got one of those wall phones with a long, long cord. It was harvest gold. That might have been as late as the early 70s… I remember how it would get twisted up. I always thought the princess phones were beautiful, especially with the colors, although I never had one.
Anyhow thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs winging back to you! 🙂
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Teagan, yours is a normal, creative brain! My wall phone was Harvey gold, and the cord twisted up all the time. A lot of similarities growing up even though in different times. As a kid, a Rotary phones was in our house. I never had a Princess phone either. Hugs my friend. 📚🎶
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Wow, what a lovely way to start. The video was awesome and am looking forward to your first episode, Teagan.
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That was such a fun video, Kamal. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hoped to find one of Ritchie Valens performing it, but such things from 1959 are scarce. And sadly, he didn’t live very long. Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s always good to see you. Hugs on the wing!
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You are always welcome dear Teagan. Happy Sunday and love and hugs to you too 😊🤗🤗
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Well, I’m in!! I need to know who Fang is, and why would anyone take him?
Oh, and the cover is great!!
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Woot! Thanks for your enthusiasm, Deborah. More on Fang soon. His name is a carry-over from how I first imagined the narrator. Now, and I’m not sure why, her personality has slipped into my mental limbo. She really needs to hurry up and step up and make herself known to me. Or maybe I need to let the original idea for her loose…. This conversation may have just given me an epiphany. LOL. Hugs on the wing!
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LOL! I’m looking forward to which ever way we go! Hugs! 😀💕
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You have me hooked already, Teagan 🙂 I’m worried about Fang and I don’t even know what he is… lol.
Can’t wait for Journey 8! Hugs xo
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LOL. You just gave me a big smile, Denise.
I’ve been behind on everything. July was just a tough month for me. However, I did make good progress on Journey 8 yesterday. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Hugs on the wing!
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Hm, I wonder what or who Fang is.:-) I like Ms. or Dr. Faraday already. She sounds energetic but practical. The kind of woman who would wear block-heeled Oxfords, not those silly sling back heels.
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Many thanks, Priscilla. I’m delighted to see everyone curious about Fang. It was fun planting these seeds about him and the narrator. Looking at how many I planted, now I’m glad that I did this teaser in stead of a full episode. It gives all that time to sink in. Have a lovely weekend. Hugs on the wing!
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This will be a good one, Teagan. Thanks for the teaser. Have a great week. Hugs.
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It’s great to see you, John. I hope it’s as much fun as what I’m trying to pull out of my head. But things are so twisty in there… LOL. Hugs on the wing!
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As long as you pull it out of your head you will be fine. 🤣 Other sources of pull might not be the best. 😳
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Haha. I’ll avoid Egyptian embalming tools and lobotomies.
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Good idea. 😁
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Yep, this is gonna be a good one! Great cover! Looking forward to first episode!! Is ‘Fang’ the armadillo!
Loved the video. Even my husband came over to watch it!!
Ginger
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Now that’s what I love to hear, Ginger — when spouses or kids get in on the fun. “Fang” is part of the teasing, so I won’t say. Hugs on the wing!
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I hope I’m not confusing you by logging on here again. I thought of more “things” and if I don’t pass them on now, that’s the end of them!
1. SLINKY – I played with mine for hours. A bunch of us would get together and “race” them down the stairs!
2. HAIR SNOODS – When women wore their hair pulled back, these were put on to keep hair out of their work. Kinda like slipping your long hair into a bag. Some were made of silk and hand painted. They were really very stylish.
3. METAL ROLLER SKATES W/KEY. Skates were worn over your shoes or sneakers. The key was needed to tighten them on your shoe so they didn’t fall off. Sometimes they did! I had more than my share of scrapes and bruises!!!
Ginger
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Hi Ginger. I’m delighted you were thinking about the story. I was looking at an image just yesterday with a hair snood. Terrific things. Hugs on the wing.
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I want to know who or what is Fang. Certainly an attention-grabbing intro. My three unrelated things are pigtails, Merry Widow corselet, saddle shoes.
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“Fang” is part of the teasing, so I won’t say. However, you will know soon, Pat. 😀 Thanks for the “things.” Hugs on the wing!
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You really are a tease, Teagan. 😉. Can’t wait to explore this new world. I’ve read about the pink armadillos. Fascinating creatures that remind me of shrimp.
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Suddenly I have a yin for coconut shrimp…. haven’t had that in many years. 🙂
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Hope you get some. 🥳
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What an inventive mind. I was totally off-kilter in where I thought you were going. How do these fit?
Mousetrap, Grenade, Teddy Bear
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GP, your free association is fascinating. Blowing up Teddy with a grenade while he is trapped in a mousetrap?
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Ah, but it’s the lack of association that is important here. 😀
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Duh. 🤔
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Sounds like a plan! 🐻
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Hi GP. Actually, you’re probably on track. Your princess phone made me start in 1959. I might be the only person on the planet who would get to 1945 from “cave” (in your first groups of things). But since I went to both those places with the “things” my weird brain started cooking with them, and this is what bubbled up. This initial setting will soon change — and will probably be more like what you expected. Thanks for the new things. Well done again. You’re good at random. 😀 Hugs on the wing.
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Thanks and I’m looking forward to what you’ll come up with!
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Heartfelt thanks for the mention at the bar, Dan. Cheers!
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A very intriguing teaser, Teagan! I will look forward to this, and the influence of your new living area cant be deniend. (Los Lobos ;-)) I hope you will also buy a small Sombrero for Crystal. Lol Big Hugs Michael
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Ah! I didn’t think of that (La Bamba or Los Lobos). More of the story is influenced by my old roots in Tennessee. But that will come in a later episode.
Haha! I laughed out loud at Crystal in a sombrero! Like Queen Victoria, she would not be amused. But I would love to see it. 😀 Her birthday is within a week. Maybe I’ll Photoshop a picture of her wearing one, for the occasion. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs winging back to you.
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Heartfelt thanks for reblogging, Michael. You’re a treasure, my friend.
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Looking forward to this! An intriguing starter!
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Many thanks, Fraggle. The narrator is still taking shape in my mind. At first she arrived fully formed, but then it started shifting. So… we’ll see. Hugs on the wing!
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Adored Ape, you are so kind to reblog. Thank you. There will be some “monkeying around” soon. Hugs on the wing!
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🙉🙈🙊🐵🐒
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Looking interesting Teagan. I am teased
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Hi Mas, it’s great to see you. Ha! I love “I am teased.” Objective accomplished. 😀 Hugs on the wing!
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A fabulous start, Teagan. Where is Fang? I need to know…
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Thanks so much, Robbie. “Fang” is part of the teasing, so I won’t say. However, you will know soon. 😀 Have a relaxing weekend. Hugs on the wing!
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An interestingly different teaser, Teagan. I have so many questions already!
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Oooh, that is excellent feedback — thank you! The narrator’s character at first arrived fully formed. Then something misfired in my twisty mental engine, and now I don’t know her. Hopefully she makes herself known to me soon! Hugs on the wing!
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Very mysterious…
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Intriguing. Lance and I were talking about Armadillos this morning. He mentioned Armadillo chili and I mentioned you can get leprosy from eating Armadillos. La Bamba? In the late 70s when I played in a few bands, the three songs all bands had to know to play in clubs were La Bamba, Proud Mary, and Brown Eyed Girl. Here we are over 40 years later. I was talking to my brother-in-law who plays bass in bands. He said they still have to play La Bamba, Proud Mary, and Brown Eyed Girl. He said they will be playing current pop tunes, and the dance floor will be empty, and it seems like the club is empty. Then someone requests La Bamba, Proud Mary, or Brown Eyed Girl, and once they start playing whichever one of those songs was requested, the dance floor fills up. He said he doesn’t know where all the people come from all of a sudden. Once the song is over, everyone disappears as fast they appeared. I’ll I could do was shake my head.
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Now that is really interesting about the music, Tim. I’ve always liked the La Bamba song, it’s so bright and energetic, but paced and not overwhelming. Tragic that Valens died so young. I love Proud Mary, but I can’t imagine people wanting to dance to it… Maybe that’s just because I was such a terrible dancer.
Yes, I’ve heard of the association between armadillos and leprosy, although I’ve never researched to confirm it. This one won’t be an ordinary armadillo — in more ways than one. It is from a real world “thing” the pink fairy armadillo. Tiny critters in Argentina.
We got great rain showers all afternoon yesterday. Naturally I had just put out weed killer that morning…
Have a great weekend. Hugs on the wing!
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It’s unusual for me to be up late/early enough to read this when first posted. I liked the teaser. It’s cool to be a part of the first bit. You already have my attention (nicely done), and I am in full on “I can’t wait” mode. I’ll be here when you drop the next journey, too. Good luck sorting all your projects, Teagan.
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You have a long day ahead, Dan. I’m sorry you didn’t get more sleep.
As short as this teaser was, it was difficult to get the logistics or timing of it in my head, with all that needed to be setup, and the seeds that needed to be planted.
Thanks, I need the luck! I also just got a short real world gig, but I couldn’t turn that down. Besides, it helps a friend. Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!
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Those real world gigs take precedence. We understand b
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