Dan Antion

First Journey Doors – Thursday Doors

The first Journey in Teagan’s new series of novelettes.
Teagan Geneviene is myguest today for Thursday Doors.

Welcome to Thursday Doors! This is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). If you like, you can add our badge to your post.

As you might have guessed from the banner images, I have a special post to share today, and I have a very special guest joining me. These are the doors I imagined while reading Teagan Geneviene’s first ‘Journey’ in her new series of novelettes – “Dead of Winter.”

When Teagan asked people to let her know if they wanted to help with the launch of this series, I raised my hand. I would have raised my beer, but Teagan was at the bar not that long ago, and it would be hard to top that soiree, so I left the options open. Some of you will recall that I featured the doors inspired by Atonement, TN in a launch post about “Atonement in Bloom.” Teagan liked that, and I had fun incorporating doors from a fictional place into a post.

Let me tell you what I like most about Teagan’s writing – it’s her descriptions. Before I knew her very well, I was leaving comments on her blog like, “that thing you said about such and such made me think about this.” Well, you get the point. When authors get their descriptions just right, my head goes along for the ride. I start filling in the room, or the road, or the countryside with places I’ve been and things I’ve seen. I’ve asked Teagan to comment on the doors displayed below, and to add anything she would like you to know about the “real” places in her story. Off to the tour.

I like cemeteries, and there is a large one in Hartford – Cedar Hill Cemetery – near the city’s southern border. When I read, “Beneath the mausoleum in the most ancient part of the burial ground, the undercroft gave way to a sinkhole...” in the prologue, I knew where I was heading for a photo.

Approaching the tomb.
Tomb at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Dan, it’s a pleasure to be here.  I loved the Atonement Doors post you crafted, so I was really excited about one for “Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak.”  These photos are amazing.  I particularly like the ones of the tomb.  It looks exactly like I would have imagined the tomb in the prologue. Although the story moves away from the graveyard quickly, it’s still an important part.  Actually, a future “Journey” will circle back to it.

Later when I read about a “cottage built into the side of a mountain” and a secret exit, I was reminded of a historic landmark not too far from where I live. Old Newgate Prison, a copper mine that became the first prison in Connecticut has several sections of collapsing stone. What a better place to imagine a secret opening than a prison. Note: the cottage in the book isn’t collapsing, but I can’t control where my mind wanders.

Below and right of center is an opening of sorts in the crumbling prison wall.
Hidden exit? This is actually at Falling Water – Frank Lloyd Wright’s wonderful home in southwest Pennsylvania.

Haha, that’s true.  Osabide’s cottage is one of the brightest places in the fictional Llyn Coombe area.  However, I love it when readers start thinking about my stories – taking them beyond the confines of the page!  Do you think that secret escape exit is likely to show up again?  (Winks.)

By the time Teagan mentioned Emlyn having baked apple bread and how the aroma filled the small kitchen, I was in England with my friend David (the real David) and we were touring a water-powered grist mill.

Here’s the close up of the bread oven.
Taken at Old Sturbridge Village in 2018.
If you look close, there’s a door on the bread oven.

Dan, I’m starting to think you’re psychic.  It has nothing to do with Emlyn’s apple orchard home, or Osabide’s cottage, but a scene in a future “Journey” is at a gristmill.  Even though I wrote that ten years ago, I remember doing a lot of research about the millstone.  Plus, these kitchen photos really do put me in mind of the “bolt hole,” as some would call it.  There could easily be a kitchen like this one in Osabide’s hidden escape area.

I could go on, but I hope I’ve made my point. Teagan draws readers into her world by evoking images that fit the world she describes. Perhaps all authors do this, but Teagan does it very well.

I’ve chosen other doors for the gallery today that were inspired by the world Teagan invites us to visit. I’m being careful with my descriptions, so as not to give away too much of the Journey. If you want to join me in enjoying “Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak,” follow the universal links and discover for yourself what an excellent storyteller she is.

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

And now, back to Teagan.

Dan, thanks so much for letting me visit.  It’s always great to hang out at No Facilities, no matter what day of the week.  I can’t be exact about the monthly publication dates, but if you follow me at my Amazon Author Page, they should send an email whenever the next Journey publishes.  By the way, I follow many authors there, and have never gotten any spam email as a result.

Amazon Author Page:  relinks.me/TeaganRiordainGeneviene

The back entrance to the prison yard.
I am assuming we will encounter animals in Teagan’s journeys.
It’s not built into a mountain, but this is my idea of a cottage.
Asa Knight’s store at Old Sturbridge Village. There’s mention of a store in Teagan’s first journey. I’m sure it wasn’t this large, but this is closer than a Piggly Wiggly.
Teagan’s story is set in a fictional place and uncertain time, but it made me think of this simple kitchen setting.
Winter is Coming.
On top of the hill above Newgate Prison.
A more secure looking entrance to Newgate Prison.
It may be my imagination, but there appears to be an exit in that opening.
I think you can see why my mind was drawn here when Teagan described a crumbling stone structure.

I’m going to sneak in a reference to my neighbor to the north (see what I did there, Linda?) to sneak this into JusJoJan.

If you are in a hurry and don’t wish to scroll through the comments, click to Jump to the comment form.

186 comments

  7. Loved the photo journey, Dan! Old Sturbridge Village has a special place in my heart, having been there many times with kids in tow. Seeing Teagan’s book, Dead of Winter, featured among these images, brought special delight. Congratulations, Teagan! ✨🎉✨

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. You have contributed to Teagan’s works and you are an outstanding blogger, Dan, have you thought about writing a book anytime in the future?
    You know I’m loving the doors today!

    Liked by 2 people

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  12. Hi Dan, while congratulations to Teagan … it sounds like you’ve a way with words and descriptions … so I wish you well with the book – take care – Hilary

    Liked by 2 people

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  21. I’m going to see if my rules will allow me to add more than one link. These are some doors where the pingbacks didn’t work or didn’t lead here. They are all worth a visit, and they should all open in a new window.

    https://priorhouse.blog/2021/01/14/consider-thursday-doors-squareup-day-14/

    https://myvintagecamerasblog.com/2021/01/14/thursday-doors-the-pecos-pueblo-office/

    https://marianallen.com/2021/01/corydoors-old-times-thursdaydoors/

    Like

    Reply

  22. Oh, I love these pictures! Stone and wood and age make the best buildings/photos, IMO. Teagan, you and Dan make a great team! I just finished rereading (3rd time!) Midsummer Bedlam. Dan’s right: you DO take the reader where you want them to go. As you delight me by saying, “Hugs on the wing!”

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Not what I was expecting, but totally fun to see, Janet.

      I have gotten a lot of support from the bloggers and authors I’ve met in this wonderful community. It’s a pleasure to help when I can. This dooresearch mission was fun.

      Liked by 1 person

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  24. About the gallery, Dan — I said you must be psychic. Your vision is spot-on with my imagination of the tomb (before it caves-in), the kitchen (perfect! I can just see Emlyn not able to quite reach that shelf), and the Falling Waters house looks the way I imagine coming out of Osabide’s hidden escape exit would be. All the others are beautiful and marvelously atmospheric too. Hugs!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I’m glad these fit well with your vision, Teagan. The picture from Falling Water was taken over ten years ago. I was very lucky to find it, as my archive still lacks a certain organization. This was fun. I wish you much success with these Journeys.

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  29. It is such testimony to the writer when the reader can picture exactly the description that was written. You and Teagan did great, Dan. Teagan, I don’t know if you’ve read James Lee Burke, but he writes description that makes you slow down and savor. I used to rush through the description to get to the story–and then I realized the description IS the story! Great post, you guys!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Thanks so much, Lois. I’m not familiar with Burke — I’ll have to look for his work. Dan’s feedback is always so valuable, because I always wonder how much imagery I’m getting across. I try to set a scene without getting too far into the detail. That was one thing where my “study” of my influencers helped. I’ve made the many nations and cultures in Dead of Winter reminiscent of countries the reader might recognize. That way the mind fills in a lot of information. Heartfelt thanks for the conversations here. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 2 people

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  33. Love when posts go the poetic road. This one is, no doubt! When Teagan asked which cover to choose, this one at the beginning was my choice:) Do not mind seeing old and worn out things, as long as they are still functional. You have already seen my post, but for others I’m leaving the link:) https://wp.me/p9EWyp-2BD

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Thanks Natalie. Newgate Prison was closed for well over a decade while they repaired and improved the structure and the access to the old mine. It opened for tourists again but then closed due to the virus. I haven’t been able to tour the facility. I hope it will open later this year. It had to be a pretty bad prison.

      Thanks for adding your magnificent doors to the list today. I enjoyed seeing that gallery.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  54. What a cool post with doors to bring a story to life. I don’t know Teagan but I’ve seen you reference her in your other posts so I’m going to have to look her up in my Kindle list of authors.

    While I’m pushing the deadline again to get in a Thursday Doors post here’s another door contribution (but sorry it lacks a storyline this week).

    https://undiscoverdimagesamongstus2.wordpress.com/2021/01/15/like-the-game-show/

    Liked by 2 people

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  55. Simply Wow! I have read several very different interviews with Teagan (including mine) and this is the most imaginative send off of the first Journey yet. Gorgeous pictures and all spot on for Teagan’s inspired descriptions. You to share a wavelength with the cosmic muffin, for sure.

    Liked by 2 people

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