Vintage Vignettes, #TDWC, & a Hullaba #BookReview

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Photo by Kerfe

Welcome, all.  There’s a lot colliding inside my head with this post, so please bear with me.  However, all of it has to do with my Vintage Vignette for today, even though it might seem like I’m jumping around.

Let’s begin with the beautiful door photo above.  You see, this is the last day of Dan Antion‘s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC).  Kerfe of the blog MeMadTwo offered her photograph for inspiration.   Even though I just announced publication of my steampunk duology, The Delta Pearl, Kerfe’s doors made me think of the 1920s.

There’s actually a good reason for that.  On the same day, fellow author, Dave Williams posted a book review that’s pos-i-lutely the cat’s meow — for Hullaba Lulu: A Diesel-Punk Adventure!  Please visit Dave’s blog for his mindful take on the book (Click here.

Hullaba Lulu: A Diesel-Punk Adventure trailer video

Lulu’s story begins in New York City.  Kerfe’s door made me think of the place where Lulu’s friend Pearl lived.  Here’s a snippet from the book that will take us to Pearl’s door.  Lulu and the enigmatic Valentino have left the underground speakeasy via an emergency exit.

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Promotional image by Teagan R. Geneviene
Image collage by Teagan

Valentino and I hurried after the others.  It was so dark I had already lost sight of them.  When we reached what I call the raid exit, Valentino went up the ladder first to push aside the heavy manhole cover.  However, it was already open.  We climbed up to the street.

A firm hand went to my waist.  Valentino pulled me away from the road and into the shadows.

“Hey, watch it.  I’m not some easy biscuit!” I exclaimed.

He used his other hand to place a finger against my lips.  Then I heard the sound of an automobile.  A dark Ford cruised by slowly.  It was full of government-looking types.

A pang of worry gnawed my stomach about Gramps and the speakeasy.  However, I had a feeling the men in that vehicle were not revenuers.

I didn’t know why Valentino would hide from government agents, regardless of what kind.  However, I would have cheesed it too, even if he hadn’t pulled me out of sight.

Maybe he doesn’t trust authority any more than I do, I thought.

After the Ford went down the street, I looked around for my friends.  In the distance I saw the two gals climbing the stairs to Pearl’s front door.

A sulfuric smell accompanied the strike of a match.  I turned to see Tom Driberg leaning nonchalantly against a Rolls-Royce.  Cigarette smoke curled above his head as he jotted something on a small notepad.

The journalist wasn’t there a moment before.  I figured he hid from the government men too.

Driberg looked at Valentino the same way he had looked at Rose and Pearl ― hungrily.

Without a word, Tom walked into the night.

*End vignette*

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Video: Meet the characters in Hullaba Lulu

You can learn more about the characters in the video above.  Many thanks to Dave Williams for reading Hullaba Lulu, and posting his review.  I very much enjoyed his unique take on the story.

Friendly comments are welcome.  Wishing you a laughter-filled weekend.  Hugs!

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This post is part of Dan Antion 4th Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC). Click the blue link for more information about the challenge and how to showcase your stories.)  Fortunately for me, Dan’s rules for the writing challenge are wonderfully flexible and include any sort of creativity. 

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Naturally, the obligatory shameless self-promotion must be included.

Hullaba Lulu: A Diesel-Punk Adventure

Hullaba Lulu cover by Teagan R. Geneviene

It’s a wild and wooly 1920s fantasy story. Lulu loves to dance, and freely indulges in giggle water. She snores and burps and says whatever she wants. Lulu is a snarky but good-hearted flapper.  Travel with Lulu and her friends on a magical, diesel-punk train that belongs to the enigmatic man known only as Valentino.

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08JKP1RS4

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08JDYXPZM

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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 used with permission, or from free sources.

Copyright © 2020 and 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

67 thoughts on “Vintage Vignettes, #TDWC, & a Hullaba #BookReview”

    1. Hi, Sharukh. The characters in Hullaba Lulu all have a side that’s a little… sketchy (semi-disreputable, questionable). I wrote it after having written three volumes of a very wholesome 1920s story. So, I wanted to make the characters stand out as being quite different from the previous stories.
      Lulu tends to appeal to people who like that she is not held back by social norms. She’s outrageously herself. These characters (particularly being from a different era), might now “translate” well across cultures. I only chose this scene because it let me work with the writing challenge photo (even though it was already written).
      Have a great rest of the week.

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    1. That’s music to my ears, Darlene. Thank you. ❤ Since 2022, I've had several stops and starts on a Christmas novelette for Lulu. Two years, and I couldn't finish it for the holiday… Now I'm thinking about trying to finish it for a "Christmas in July" thing. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks very much, Robbie. Since 2022, I’ve had several stops and starts on a Christmas novelette for Lulu. Two years, and I couldn’t finish it for the holiday… Now I’m thinking about trying to finish it for a “Christmas in July” thing. I believe that’s a big deal in your part of the world. Maybe several of us could get together and post/publish (individually, not a group book) a sort of Christmas in July Festival… blog hop type thing… The idea has passed through my head a few times, but I haven’t taken time to explore it. I’d be interested in your thoughts. Hugs.

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      1. Hi Teagan, Christmas in July is a popular celebration in the Southern Hemisphere. That does sound like a fun idea, to do a blog hop to promote some Christmas books in July. I have two so would be happy to participate. Carol Taylor has a Christmas cookbook so she might like to join. Harmony Kent and Denise Finn also have Christmas books.

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        1. Excellent! Thanks for the info, Robbie. This might give me the shove I need to finish the novelette. I’ll post an invitation for people to join in, provided I believe I’m up to challenging myself with it. I’m dealing with a ton of C-PTSD overwhelm, but the idea has come to me several times this spring. Have a great new week.

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            1. That would be fabulous. If I have the blog hop begin on July 17 (and run through the 27th)… that *should* give me time to finish the novelette. But I’m not good with shoulds, and I have something to finish before June 14th…(a personal task that I can’t begin to describe how hard it is for me — it’s with my CPTSD). I need to wait until after that before I will know if I *can* do this… Sorry that I’m thinking out loud.
              If I announce/ask for participation on Wednesday, June 19, do you think that gives participants enough time to get ready?

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  11. Fun post Teagan!

    Kerfe’s door pic is definitely a nostalgic nudge.

    I watched both videos. Excellent. The music is really fun.

    Okay, I’m off to read Dave’s review, and I haven’t visited the doors challenge for a bit, so a pp over to Dan’s is in order.

    The snippet is most entertaining. Thank you for this lively vintage visit, Teagan!

    Fire ball hugs!

    Liked by 1 person

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        1. It’s east of me (and the wind nearly always blows east-to-west) so shouldn’t be a worry. Ha. At least not a worry for a normal person. I just freak out about the fires because of all my anxiety “stuff.” Often they double in size overnight, and it’s so terribly dry, and they haven’t gotten anywhere with putting it out, and all the animals, and… You get the idea of how it goes around in my head. I know I need to get over it. Hugs back.

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    1. Liz, Kerfe did such a splendid job with that photo. Taken from a different angle, it wouldn’t have been nearly as good. I loved the way Dave brought out various things about the story. I’m thrilled with his review. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hugs.

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  15. What fun! As are all your posts. Writing about the Minot lighthouse door has had me searching around for more doors – not much pickings here in Durham, unfortunately. Maybe Maine this summer. Congrats on Dave’s book review!

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    1. Thanks so much, Noelle. I’m happy to hear that you’ll be doing more doors. Since I’m not able to get out, I have to get really creative with “doors.” I appreciate that Dan is flexible with that part. Dave’s review took my breath away. Thanks for spending time here. Hugs.

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        1. Sorry… My ongoing C-PTSD/agoraphobia/general anxiety disorder disabilities. If you’ve ever seen me mention “my stuff” that’s what I mean. I’m open about it, but I rarely address it directly, else it sounds like “poor me” whining. There’s a bit in the “About” page, which I revised earlier this year.

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    1. I remember you mentioning your grandmother when I launched the book, Jennie — but I had forgotten her name was Lulu. It’s such a great name. I wonder what she thought about that old song, Don’t Bring Lulu (that inspired the story). Thanks for commenting. Big hugs.

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  20. It’s good to see Lulu again, Teagan. A Steampunk riverboat and a diesel-punk train colliding in Teagan’s imagination in one week has to be a good thing (for us readers). Your the monkey’s eyebrows.

    Thanks so much for supporting TDWC – it’s been a great year, and the muses have been busy. I meant to check out Dave’s review, but this week got away from me. I’m on my way over now.

    I hope your weekend is the berries!

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  21. The last day of Dan’t Thursday Doors Writing Challenge already! I’ve really enjoyed the entries I’ve read, even though I didn’t manage to contribute to it (perhaps next year). I read the wonderful review of Hullaba Lulu and I see why the image would make you think of the story. Fabulous! Thanks for the snippet and congratulations for the review! ♥

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    1. It was a terrific year for the challenge — so many good stories (and poems and other things too). Kerfe’s photo is so beautiful, I had tried a few times to come up with something for it. Then when Dave reviewed Lulu — Eurika! Big hugs my friend.

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