October 20, 2018
Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit — Atonement in Bloom is finally published! It was a wild ride, even after I finished all the work on the novel. Meaning I’m not best pleased with all the bumps in the road from the Amazon take-over of Create Space… Now, let’s get this party bus on the highway!
The bus is headed to Atonement, TN, the fictional town of my urban fantasy series. The stories in my “Atonement universe” are not romances, not science fiction, not family drama, or religious — and they certainly are not high-brow literature. They’re whimsical, suspenseful, magical, fantasies set in our current real world.
All aboard! Beep-beep, yeah! The party bus is here. (Click here for theme music Magic Bus!) Our first stop is in Connecticut to pick up Dan Antion, who has a handy guided tour of Atonement, TN. Dan agreed to be a relief bus driver too, since bus-driver-Lilith the calico, sometimes has to take a break to give Deme or Honeybell (the otherworldly pigs) a head bath.
Where “atonement” begins
It’s best if you read the first book first. So, for the launch of “Bloom,” Atonement, Tennessee is on sale for 99¢ (e-book). Click Atonement book covers for purchase links.
Atonement, Tennessee in Spanish
Residents of my fictional town might be of any race and from any ancestry. So, author and translator Olga Núñez Miret translated the debut novel to Spanish! For that language I changed the title to Expiación y Magia!
Speaking of the otherworldly pigs, I should mention the order of the Atonement stories. Your first visit to the town is Atonement, Tennessee. Aside from the heroine and her neighbor-friends (or as Diana Peach likes to call them, the gall palls (Diana’s review of “Atonement, Tennessee” here), you’ll meet the grumpy sheriff, Robin Warden.
Includes the prequel
The first “snort” in The Glowing Pigs, Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee is about a very young Deputy Robin. I’m thrilled to share a review of The Glowing Pigs by Donna Parker here!) That particular story is tied to the novel I’m launching today, Atonement in Bloom.
We’ve stopped to pick-up passengers. It’s Chris the Story Reading Ape, and Sally Cronin. Welcome to the party bus!
Long awaited sequel to Atonement, Tennessee
Here’s the blurb for Atonement in Bloom!
The quaint town was stranger than Ralda Lawton could have imagined. The local population included supernatural beings. Yet only she and a few others knew about that.
Although she didn’t know the details, in a past life, Ralda ― Esmeralda had been involved in something with those supernaturals and the repercussions had carried into her present life. In Atonement, Tennessee, that almost got her killed. Now she has new problems, and new supes to complicate matters.
Atonement in Bloom continues the misadventures of Ralda, her friends, and neighbors in the small (but far from peaceful) town of Atonement, Tennessee. Her old house and cemetery are still there, along with Lilith the cat, quirky townsfolk, and assorted supernaturals.
Now Lilith the calico sniffs out a strange beast.
Fae foolery backfires. A friend is abducted.
On a cold December day, Atonement, Tennessee comes into bloom.
Here’s an advance review of “Atonement in Bloom” by Donna Parker.
The party bus is slowing. Lilith, what’s going on? There’s a big collision up ahead? I don’t see any cars… Ah! It’s not vehicles — it’s genres! There’s Traci Kenworth from Where Genres Collide. Dan could you please open the door for Traci?
Wait a sec, there’s something else. Oh! It’s a delivery of flowers in honor of the book launch. It’s from Kirt Tisdale of The Wall Gallery! Wow… beautiful blue roses. Thank you, Kirt. The blue rose of the impossible is an important element of Atonement in Bloom.
We’re back on the road, and Dyanna at Ravenhawk’s Magazine has plenty of music for our road-trip. Lilith, slow down. I see Melissa from Today You Will Write at that bus stop up ahead.
Hang on to your seat-belt! Lilith just took a sharp curve and we are magically in Kentucky. Deme wanted to check out Teri Polen’s October horror and suspense book fest, Bad Moon Rising. You’ll find 31 authors and their books there!
We’ve arrived. Welcome to Atonement, TN!
Everybody in town is taking part in the fun. Annie’s Antiques is hosting an exhibit of Art by Rob Goldstein. It looks like Rob has set up a temporary nightclub in a big tent next to the store. The sign says The Stardust.
My Blue Heaven, by Rob Goldstein
What’s that on the next table of antiques? It looks like an Aladin’s lamp. My goodness, and a puff of colorful smoke! Oh, it’s the Lamp Magician. Welcome, Magician. I’m glad you could join the party bus.
My stomach is growling. Thank goodness Carol Taylor and Gerlinde de Broekert have catered the book fair. There are delicious foods at every booth!
Deme and Honeybell love to read, so they ran straight to the Atonement, TN Book Fair. They’re in hog heaven with so many great books!
If anyone wants to share a link to a review of your book, or anything about yourself, please leave a comment with the link. I love to hear from you.
Heartfelt thanks to everyone for supporting this Bloomin’ Party Bus. Click the author names for more info on the books.
Chris Graham (for Agnes Mae Graham)
Olga Núñez Miret For info about this book click here.
Now available as an audio book too
I think Marge and Ralda would vote for Mary’s cowboys to visit Atonement, TN… Just sayin’…
Jacquie Biggar has a sheriff too…
Valentina Cirasola will help you tour Atonement, TN in style.
Barb Taub will keep you laughing the entire way.
Resa will help you find the right thing to wear. She’s a costume designer. She would have enjoyed helping Ralda, Bethany, and Lacey search through the antique clothes in Sunhold’s closets (scene in “Bloom”).
Whimsical poetry from Annette.
Donna Parker will keep your smile alight and whimsy in flight at Yadadarcyyada, Vague Meanderings of the Broke & Obscure. But there’s nothing obscure about delightful Donna.
Patty L. Fletcher of Campbell’s World
Cornelis Drebbel the Alchimest, purchased at Dreamstime
Gramps Plays Happy Birthday on the Theremin for Teagan 