Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Welcome, all and happy hump day. It’s been a while since I did a “writing” post. I hope you’re in the mood for a ramble. Did you ever have to find your way to a rural or remote place? I mean the kind of destination where you have about 30 turns … More Wednesday Writing — the Unlikely Path to a Character: Enoch Metatron
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Welcome, all and happy hump day. As I persisted in futile attempts to get my head back into the universe of Atonement, TN, I decided to do another “Artifacts” post. Update: this actually did help. Last evening I sketched out the opening scenes for part-2 of the new serial. I hope to … More Wednesday Writing — Atonement TN: Artifact Notes, the Barber Pole
Wednesday, August 10, 2023 Welcome, all. Thanks for opening this door to “Atonement, TN” in the middle of the week. If you opened the door to Annie’s Antiques and Consignment Shop, you’d hear the old-fashioned tinkle of a little bell attached to the door. It wouldn’t be unusual for you to smell home-baked cookies. Often … More Wednesday Writing — Atonement TN: Artifact Notes, the Mirror of Truth
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Writing for the Senses: Hearing As many of you know, for the past ten years, my shtick in the blog-verse has been writing serial stories that are spontaneously driven by random “things” from readers. While I didn’t do it intentionally, when I finished Episode 15 of my weekend serial Atonement in … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors — Sometimes you need to open the door
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 What lurks behind ordinary looking doors? Perhaps there are grand things beyond? Perhaps things that are not as harmless as they seem? Are you afraid to find out? Or does curiosity overcome caution? Imagine if you will, the Teagan Zone. Or more precisely in the Teagan Zone, Atonement, Tennessee. My weekend … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors — Name the Kitten!
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 Welcome, everyone. Since today’s topic is layers, I’ve stacked this writing process post with Thursday Doors. In my twisting mind, they are connected. That’s how I think of layers — they are different from one another, but they still need to be similar or have something that connects them. The layers of … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors — Layers (Atonement in Zugzwang Catch-up)
Thursday, March 16, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary. I call it the Teagan Zone. Take care as you enter — it can be a strange and mysterious place. My fictional town, Atonement, Tennessee is filled with strange and mysterious things. An item that is about to come into play (pardon the pun) in my blog … More #ThursdayDoors in Atonement TN — The Chessboard in Play
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 What lurks behind locked, bolted, and chained doors? Do you fear to enter? Or does curiosity overcome caution? Imagine if you will, being both locked in and locked out simultaneously. Imagine if you will, the Teagan Zone. When I started posting stories to Amazon’s Kindle Vella (the first time was over … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors — Author Experience Kindle Vella
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Happy hump day, everyone! In keeping with the current, surreal version of “normal,” I wondered what my characters might think about social isolation. I’ve had a lot of characters. The one who “spoke” loudest about the topic is Birdie Devovo, heroine of Brother Love — a Crossroad. You see, Birdie experienced more … More Wednesday Writing — Characters & Social Isolation
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 It’s the middle of the week, but it’s not Hidebound Hump Day or Jazz Age Wednesday. With National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo) in full swing, I’m making it easy for myself. However, I’m also doing something for those of you who were not following my weekend serial this summer. That’s right! … More Hump Day: Brother Love — a Crossroad
Saturday, November 9, 2019 Hello, my chuckaboos! Welcome back to the magical #steampunk riverboat, the The Delta Pearl. I have a chatty intro this weekend. Most of it is rooted in National Novel Writing Month, so that’s were I’ll begin. This is my eighth year to participate in “NaNoWriMo.” Horror of horrors I’m behind on my average daily … More The Delta Pearl, 14 — Drink, & an Announcement
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Hello, my chuckaboos! Happy November. I’m so glad you came back to the The Delta Pearl. This week’s random reader things I didn’t make it a “thing,” but Diana Peach recommended an explanation of how the tempest prognosticator works be added to the story. I try to keep a faster pace in serials, … More The Delta Pearl, 13 — Agitate
Saturday, October 26, 2019 The steampunk riverboat is here. Hello, my chuckaboos! Thanks for coming back to the The Delta Pearl. Based on my own experiences the past two weeks (and more), I know it might have been difficult for you to get here. I hope everyone is still onboard, despite the wide-spread difficulties WordPress is causing many … More The Delta Pearl, 12 — Prognosticate
Saturday, October 19, 2019 The steampunk riverboat is here. Hello, my chuckaboos! Thanks for coming back to the The Delta Pearl. Based on my own experiences all week, I know it might have been difficult for you to get here. I hope everyone is still onboard, despite the wide-spread difficulties WordPress is causing many of us. Their denial … More The Delta Pearl, 11 — Pretend
Saturday, October 12, 2019 The steampunk riverboat is here. Hello, my chuckaboos! Thanks for coming back to the The Delta Pearl. It’s been a busy week. Are you ready to sink into the soft cushions of imagination and let the river gently take you to extraordinary places? This week’s random reader things This steampunk riverboat runs on random … More The Delta Pearl, 10 — Cover
Saturday, October 5, 2019 Hello, my chuckaboos! Thanks for coming back to the The Delta Pearl. Let’s get right to it. This week’s random reader things This steampunk riverboat runs on random “things” from readers. Diana Wallace Peach provided tap shoes. John W. Howell mentioned pandemonium. Thanks to Dan Antion for letting me use some of his photos. He staged a photoshoot … More The Delta Pearl, 9 — Secure
Saturday, September 28, 2019 WordPress got snitty with me Friday when I tried to schedule this post, and it went out early. In case you missed it, I’m linking to here. Please Click Here for Chapter 8. Now for the obligatory shameless self-promotion… Universal link to my Amazon Author Page USA: The Three Things Serial … More The Delta Pearl, 8 — An oops
Saturday, September 28, 2019 Note: This post was meant to publish on the above date. However, between WordPress finikyness and the absurdly shoddy Internet service I get from TDS Telecom… well, it was doomed. Hello, my chuckaboos! Thanks for coming back to the #steampunk riverboat, after the detour for my book launch of A Ghost in … More The Delta Pearl, 8 — Think
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Sheiks and Shebas, welcome to Jazz Age Wednesdays! I’m working away, finishing up all the million and one details for the book launch of A Ghost in the Kitchen. I hope everyone will join me this weekend. It’s no ordinary book launch! A magical trolley full of your friends will take a tour … More Coming soon — A Ghost in the Kitchen
Saturday, September 14, 2019 Hello, my chuckaboos! Welcome back to the #steampunk riverboat, The Delta Pearl. This week’s random reader things I could have used this as a “thing” last time, but it seemed more important this time. What? Paddlewheel! Two readers left it as a “random thing.” One was Ginger, of Murphy’s Law. Thanks … More The Delta Pearl, 7 — Catch
Thursday, September 12, 2019 Update! My book launch for A Ghost in the Kitchen, will be a magical trolley, touring haunted Savannah, Georgia! The trolley will visit various haunted sites and “pick up” participants along the way. At the end of the line, “Granny Phanny” will show everyone her library (your books and/or post links). … More Jazz Age Wednesdays — Prepare to Launch
Saturday, September 7, 2019 Hello, my chuckaboos! Welcome back to the #steampunk riverboat, The Delta Pearl. I was pressed for time this week, so let’s get right to it. This week’s random reader things G. P. Cox gave us a thing that was a name, Sir Reginald La Felin. That actually continues last week’s thing from D. … More The Delta Pearl, 6 — Listen
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 Welcome to Jazz Age Wednesdays and a double cover reveal! That’s right not just one, but two covers — both for Roaring Twenties books. I’ve brought along a couple of 1920s musicians to liven up this celebration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPRW1VQxmTs&pbjreload=10 I love making book covers and promo images. Today I’m double excited to reveal … More 1920s Covers Revealed!
Saturday, August 31, 2019 Hello, my chuckaboos! Welcome back to the #steampunk riverboat, The Delta Pearl. So far we’ve met passengers who include a young, but somewhat nurotic prodigy of an inventor, Dr. Victor Elam. He’s a little older than Émeraude, and she is quite intrigued, despite his imperfections. Or maybe because of them. Can … More The Delta Pearl, 5 — Read
Saturday, August 24, 2019 Welcome back to the #steampunk riverboat, my chuckaboos! As you know, I’m re-writing a nearly finished novel, The Delta Pearl, for this serial. That has resulted in a few changes, such as the heroine, Émeraude, becoming several years younger. Now both she and one of the passengers (Victor Elam — you met him last … More The Delta Pearl 4 — Greet
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 Welcome to Jazz Age Wednesdays! It’s been a constant “Lindy hop” choosing between priorities, shifting them, balancing, juggling, but I’ve finally done enough toward bookizing the third novel in my Roaring Twenties series, A Ghost in the Kitchen, that I’m ready to do a cover reveal. Sheiks and Shebas, could you lend a … More Jazz Age Wednesdays — Want to Reveal?
Saturday, August 17, 2019 Welcome, my chuckaboos! Even though we don’t see one another face-to-face, I do feel you are my dear friends. Regardless of physical appeal — and I acknowledge the endlessly different standards of beauty, faces are usually important to how we imagine stories. Whether we’re writing tales or reading them, seeing a … More The Delta Pearl 3 — Face
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Welcome to Hidebound Hump Day, my chuckaboos! If you are looking for the latest installment of the #Steampunk fantasy, “The Delta Pearl,” click here for Chapter 2 – Fret. Most of you weren’t too excited about the “cock-a-leekie soup” that turned up in the last episode. However, several were downright enthuzimuzzy! At least … More Hidebound Hump Day — Hungry?
Saturday, August 10, 2019 Welcome, my chuckaboos! I warn you in advance that I’m flying by the seat of my pantser pants even more than usual today. My week has been so full of insomnia and interruptions, it’s no wonder Émeraude is looking like a worry wart. This week’s random reader things: Great minds think … More The Delta Pearl 2 — Fret
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 Welcome to Hidebound Hump Day, my chuckaboos! Sheiks and Shebas — hi there, you’re at Jazz Age Wednesdays! Update: I apologize that I’ve been a poor excuse for a hostess at my own party. My Internet has been down more than it’s been up the past three days. I find myself repeatedly redoing … More Hidebound yet Jazzy – Blog Party!
Saturday, August 3, 2019 Welcome, my chuckaboos! (If you are new around here, “chuckaboo” is what the Victorians called a dear friend.) As most of you know, I’m reworking an unfinished novel The Delta Pearl for this serial. Since I have a good bit of material that I want to keep, my secret hope was that … More The Delta Pearl 1 — Dance
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 Welcome to Hidebound Hump Day, my chuckaboos! Those prim, straightlaced, hidebound Victorians would never talk about this… but I hope to give you midweek entertainment with my mishap. It could make a stuffed bird laugh. Here’s the spew. It was Monday morning, and I had slept very poorly (that happens a … More Hidebound Hump Day — Spewed!
Saturday, July 27, 2019 A New Serial Begins! Welcome, my chuckaboos! If you are new around here, “chuckaboo” is what the Victorians called a dear friend. Changes abound! Those of you who visited my midweek post already know I’ve changed things. If not, then you see that I’ve redecorated my sanctuary. After many years of … More The Delta Pearl — Prologue. A New Serial Begins!
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 It’s Hidebound Hump Day! Welcome, my chuckaboos! I promise you are at the right place. After many years of the same blog-look, I’ve changed things. It is Hidebound Hump Day. For those of you who are new around here, “chuckaboo” is Victorian slang for dear friend. Saturday I stopped wallowing in my … More Poll Results for the Next Serial
Saturday, July 20, 2019 Hello again, everyone. Two posts in one day is unlike me. However, it’s a reflection of how torn I’ve been, and still am, about which serial to do next. Using reader-provided random things in serials has been a great way for me to write and finish stories. However, The Guitar Mancer is … More What’s Next? Again…
Saturday, July 20, 2019 Hello everyone. Welcome to my sanctuary. Now that Brother Love has concluded, I didn’t want you to think I had given you the shaft. I’m here with some clues about what’s coming next here at Teagan’s Books. Go Back — Jack. That’s only the subtitle of the song, but it’s the biggest hint. Call … More What’s Next? Clues Follow
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 I was so impulsive in deciding to quickly “bookize” the serial that I didn’t plan ahead for a launch or promotions. So I begin by repeating my thanks to Sally G. Cronin for announcing Brother Love – a Crossroad at her blog earlier this week. My weekend post included a give away … More Brother Love — A Novella!
Saturday, July 13, 2019 Thanks for joining me for this walk to the crossroads. This chapter comes with a couple of warnings. Warning 1: It’s long. I can hear some of you groaning. Warning 2: It’s the conclusion, the last chapter. Now I hear the rest of you. I didn’t know until Monday that Chapter … More Brother Love 11 — A Walk
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 I haven’t been sure whether it was close or far — the end of this story. It seemed like it was both at once. However, that’s been part of “Brother Love” from the beginning, things not being as they appear, or seeming more than one thing at once. I didn’t know … More Brother Love — A Note
Saturday, July 6, 2019 Welcome to the crossroads. To my friends to the north, I hope you had a lovely Canada Day. To those in the USA, I hope you enjoyed the Fourth of July and celebrated our precious freedom. I appreciate you coming back after my little break last weekend. Thanks to Dan Antion of … More Brother Love 10 — A Cut
Saturday, June 29, 2019 Welcome to the crossroads. Happy Fourth of July! From Birdie, Jinx, and me Summertime is busy for many people. I know it’s hard to keep up with serials. So, I’m even more grateful that you read Brother Love. In the USA, lots of folks will be taking time off and/or vacationing before, during, … More Brother Love — A Pause
Saturday, June 22, 2019 Welcome back to the crossroads. I think this is an upbeat chapter. You could say it has a good gospel beat. (Winks.) However, the characters experience some uncertainty. Hence the melody in this introduction. In Chapter 7 — A Lament, Birdie Devovo was reluctant to go to the revival service, even … More Brother Love 9 — A Hallelujah
Saturday, June 15, 2019 Welcome back to the crossroads. This chapter has two things from Dan Antion, who shares his photographs to illustrate Brother Love. Read on to see how I used Bubblegum and Newspaper in this episode. The third “thing” that is used to drive Chapter 8 is from Fraggle, aka C. J. Hyslop, who … More Brother Love 8 — A Confession
Saturday, June 8, 2019 Welcome back to the crossroads. This chapter turned out to be for the birds — or rather for the magpie. If Brother Love was a television series, then this would be the quirky musical episode. I was already working with music because of the “thing,” Elvis Presley, from Mary J. … More Brother Love 7 — A Lament
Saturday, June 1, 2019 Welcome back to the crossroads. As you know, Dan Antion shares his photographs to illustrate Brother Love. I make the serial “interactive” by letting things left by readers drive everything about the story. I’ve completed at least six long-running serials here at Teagan’s Books — each of them written spontaneously … More Brother Love 6 — A Ring
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 First a note of apology. Half the time, WordPress is preventing me from using “likes” on comments or on posts — even here at my own blog. I’ve logged on repeatedly and it does no good. As for the “happiness engineers,” they give me no joy. If you’ve made a comment, … More Get to the Crossroads — Brother Love
Saturday, May 25, 2019 Welcome back to the crossroads. As you know, the popular blogger and photographer Dan Antion illustrates Brother Love. I try to bring Dan into some of the process of creating the story. The “things” for this chapter led me to a scene that required some knowledge I didn’t possess — dark-haired actresses of … More Brother Love 5 — A Face
Saturday, May 18, 2019 Note: Last week I mentioned Dan was working on his own post about his part of the inspiration for the Doug Armstrong character. That is Dan’s Saturday post this week at his blog, No Facilities. Welcome to my sanctuary at the crossroads. Relax and sit for awhile. It makes no difference … More Brother Love 4 — A Domino
Saturday, May 11, 2019 Welcome back to the crossroads everyone! I should probably begin with a disclaimer. This story is not about religion, nor is it a social commentary — that’s just part of the setting. I also want you to understand that I approach this aspect of the story carefully. While the story includes … More Brother Love 3 — A Hymn
Originally posted on No Facilities:
The details in this house are amazing. I’m not sure it fits in Mississippi, but I do like it. Two weeks ago, I included a sad little house in the gallery of doors. I’ve been looking for a house for Teagan’s story that fits her general concept for Birdie Devovo’s…
Saturday, May 4, 2019 There are many things on my mind that I want to share with you today. If I had known about the most recent one before yesterday, I would have done a midweek post. First let me welcome you… Welcome to my sanctuary. Pull up a chair. The sanctuary may be found … More Brother Love 2 — A Shadow
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Happy May Day, my chuckaboos! I hope your month is off to a pos-i-lutely fabulous start. I continue to settle into my high desert cottage, painting walls, pulling weeds, and generally getting adjusted. (The weed pulling led to a bad allergic reaction that I’m still trying to get over… I’m looking a lot … More Jazz Age Wednesday or Hidebound Hump Day — What’s going on?
Saturday, April 27, 2019 Happy weekend, everyone! It seems like such a long time since I did an “interactive” serial with reader participation. Well, I’m finally back with a new spontaneously written, pantser story done in my “Three Things” way of writing. I’m delighted to bring you the first installment today! Blogger Dan Antion collaborates with me … More All New Serial: Brother Love — 1 A House at the Crossroads
I am happily overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response to this post! You all are spectacular. So — for now — I have as many fairy characters as I can write. Because of that I’m closing comments. However, I reserve the right to reopen this call for characters! :o) This is your chance to become a … More Come out to play! — Thistledown
Some of you have already seen this post at Suzanne’s blog, A Pug in the Kitchen. However, I wanted to share it here too. I have done a few collaborative blog posts with her, and we have a ton of fun. Thanks for doing another joint post with me, Suzanne! When Suzanne said she could do … More Pip Sees a Pug – in the Kitchen
Book Launch? Sort of… The Three Things Serial Story A Little 1920s Story Should I call this a book launch? That just doesn’t feel right, because I already did this story (and others) here at Teagan’s Books. When I started this blog at the end of 2012 I did a few posts. By 2013 I … More Book Launch: The Three Things Serial Story
Hello friends — old, new, and as yet unmet! Welcome to this character recap of the Three Ingredients serial I feel huge gratitude for all of your comments and encouragement. The Three Ingredients is the second storyline we’ve done in this “interactive” format. For new reader-friends, I call it interactive because the story is moved forward by … More Three Ingredients: Character Recap
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