It’s a very special Saturday at the No Facilities bar. We are awaiting the arrival of our guest of honor, Teagan R. Geneviene who will be joining us shortly. David and I will enjoy talking with her and trying to wrestle Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt to the ground.
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘color/colour.’ Use it as a noun, a verb, or pick a color and write about it–use it any way you like. Have fun!”
As is always the case when I have visitors at the bar, a bit more planning went into this post than Linda might like. Let’s hope she’s a good sport.
If we were having a beer, you and your bartender buddy would be anxious, although not for the same reasons.
“Hi Dan, I was hoping you were Teagan.”
“That would be awkward, David.”
“Sigh. You know what I mean, I was hoping Teagan was here.”
“Teagan? Teagan Gwenevere, the author?”
“Teagan Geneviene, Skippy, Geneviene.”
“OK, sure. Is she bringing Lulu with her, Dan?”
“No. If you recall, she didn’t bring Lulu the last time, Lulu brought herself, as she is wont to do.”
“I liked her a lot.”
“That’s great Skippy. You know what I’d like a lot…a John Howell’s special.”
“No problem, David. Dan, do you want a Corona or are you waiting for Lulu?”
“Teagan, Skippy. I’m waiting for Teagan, but I’ll have my beer while I wait.”
“You don’t have to wait much longer, Dan. I think I see her now. Hokey smokes, she’s getting out of that Phantom Corsair.”
“Great, you can relax now, David. It’s too bad the trolley doesn’t still run here. Trolley and antique luxury car tied for the transportation mode of her new serial.”
“Here you go, David. A glass of bourbon, a snif…”
“…Snifter of seltzer, a glass of ice and, wait, where are the cherries? Skippy, you forgot David’s cherries.”
“I’ll get them right away, Lulu, I’m sorry, I mean Teagan. What can I get you to drink?”
“Thanks to a thoughtful birthday gift from a great friend, I’ve discovered pink gin – do you have Boodles Strawberry Rhubarb Gin.”
“I think I saw a bottle of that in the back. Yes, we have some. How would you like it?”
“Mmmm, it’s great with some seltzer.”
“You want that in a snifter?”
“Oh, what the heck, sure. But you’ll have to refill it more often.”
“No problem. I’ll make up a tall glass and keep the shaker sitting in the ice for you.”
“Thanks Skippy. I do like my gin cold. Hi Dan, hi David. Sorry to ignore you two, but that seemed important.”
“No pr…”
“Don’t say it Dan. Do NOT say it. Welcome, Teagan. It’s good to see you again.”
“Thank you, David, I’ve been looking forward to hanging out with you guys.”
“Here you go, Teagan, here’s your gin.”
“Awww, Skippy, you put a slice of strawberry and a stick of rhubarb in there. Aren’t you sweet?”
“It was no problem. They’re making pies today.”
“Ahem, Skippy, you forgot my cherries.”
“I’ll get them, David.”
“Ok. Now that we all have something to drink, I propose we toast to the completion of ‘The Delta Pearl,’ passing the halfway point with ‘Dead of Winter,’ launching a new blog serial, and making your contribution to Amazon Vella. Those are a lot of accomplishments. Hopefully, you feel good about this, Teagan.”
“You know, David, I’m unreasonably hard on myself. But it did feel good to bring ‘The Delta Pearl’ to a satisfying conclusion – especially after two years of blogging it.”
“How does it feel to be a time traveler? I know you prefer to set your writing in other time periods, but do you find that you have to remind yourself what era you’re in? Especially with so many projects running at the same time.”
“Ha! I never thought of myself as a time traveler, Dan – I like it. As for reminding myself about when I am, only when I’m working on a nineteen-twenties story. For some reason, that decade can snare me.”
“Speaking of the nineteen-twenties, one of my favorite books of yours is “Speak Flapper” – do you think you might publish other non-fiction resources in the future?”
“Oh, thanks, Dan! Fiction is where my heart is, but you know I enjoy my research. That’s what lead to the dictionary of nineteen-twenties slang. I’m flattered that it’s been steadily popular. Yes, I’d like to do several kinds of ‘author reference’ types of books. After I published ‘Speak Flapper’, I started gradually working on a dictionary of Victorian and steampunk slang. My working title is ‘Speak Chuckaboo’ – that’s the Victorian word for a dear friend.”
“I’d buy that in a heartbeat.”
“You’d buy that book, David?”
“Yes, Teagan. I know it seems out of character for me, but since Dan won’t lend me his Journeys from ‘Dead of Winter,’ I’ve been buying them for myself.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“In fact, I’ve been meaning to ask you about that series. You are seven journeys into ‘Dead of Winter.’ You seem to be on schedule, does that mean the process been going according to plan?”
“Surprisingly, yes, David. I’ve viewed ‘Dead of Winter’ as (for my efforts) primarily an editing project, since I wrote the epic in two-thousand ten. However, I have been writing more new material for it than I expected. Not a ton of writing, but I didn’t expect to be doing that. One thing that I didn’t take into account when I began turning the huge novel into a series of novelettes was the need for a new cover each month as well as the editing project. That and the need to give each one enough similarity that they look like they belong together.”
“Your book covers are amazing, Teagan. It’s one of the benefits of buying the paperback versions.”
“Aww, thanks Dan.”
“When you say you’ve been writing more new material, have you changed the story in ‘Dead of Winter’ from the original? If so, was it to fit into a serial form or did you make other changes?”
“No, David, the story is very much still what it was in two-thousand ten. I’m doing a lot of editing, because I didn’t realize how much my basic writing style has evolved. As far as the actual story, I haven’t changed that at all.”
“You guys need another round? Teagan, can I add a splash to your snifter?”
“Why thank you, Skippy. Yes, you can top this off. These guys look ready for another round.”
“Maybe this time I could get some cherries.”
“No problem, David.”
“Teagan, I’m enjoying reading ‘Pride and Flowers, Prejudice and Dirigibles’ – Do you think Amazon Vella will be a success?”
“For readers, Dan, I think it will be terrific. I’m sure there are more than a few authors who will be successful with it, especially main-stream big name authors. As for the rest of us, well, success depends on how we define it. The terms, rules, and particularly the pay structure keep it from being anything I would consider profitable for the average independent author. However, if I gain exposure and new friends from my Vella serial, then I will see it as a success.”
“I know I speak for many of your readers when I say that we are excited that you’re starting a new blog serial. Are you excited? Nervous? How would you describe your feelings at this point?”
“David, it’s so exciting to be here again. Yes, I absolutely am. I always have a bundle of excitement and enthusiasm when I begin a new story. Other than that, I’d describe my feeling as ‘curious.’ The ‘random reader things’ will determine everything about the new blog serial. So, I’m basically curious to see where it will go. I haven’t started writing it yet, because I’ve held back – wanting to be spontaneous.”
“You have called for readers to contribute three things twice. Do you have enough things to get started?”
“Dan, the response was fabulous! Yes, I have plenty of random reader things to get started. However, more sets of three things are always welcome – that makes it easier for me. The first couple of episodes will be handled differently, but after that I intend to write each episode based on one set of three things.”
“If I understand your three things process, you don’t know where this new serial story is going? Given that I have a written plan for my next four blog posts, I find that scary. Do you continue week-to-week, or do you gradually pull ahead of us?”
“Haha, and the prospect of trying to make a detailed plan is what scares me, Dan. In fact, I think I need another sip of that pink gin for courage. I’m a combination pantser and plotter but leaning heavily to the panster side of the spectrum. The serial will be inspired and guided by the ‘things’ but as I start writing, and tuning-in to the things the story will begin to take a loose shape in my mind. Even though it’s not much of a plan, I do like to be a few episodes ahead. Although… that rarely happens.”
“I heard your request, sorry I got detained. Here a fresh snifter, ice-cold gin, and new garnish. And David, here’s a new glass of bourbon for you and four cherries. Dan, since you’re bringing up the boring end of the drink line, here’s your Corona with my signature two-lime balance.”
“Thank you, Skippy.”
“No problem.”
“Cheers, again, Teagan. Do your stories ever surprise you with the direction they take?”
“Oh yes, David. All the time. Especially when I intentionally do not plan them.”
“The World War II time frame is a hectic mix of activity. Are you excited to step into that era?”
“Speaking of unexpected, Dan… that is not an era that I ever saw myself using as a setting. Oddly enough the ‘thing’ cave is what somehow, in my ever-twisting thought process, took me to that era.”
“How did that happen?”
“Cave took me to Sweetwater, Tennessee. Which made me think of Oak Ridge, TN… which took me to nineteen-forty-five and the ‘Calutron Girls.’ I heard about them about a year ago, and wanted to write a story, but had no time. Suddenly, the opportunity was in my face. Fate? Serendipity?”
“I might go with ‘circuitous’ but that’s what I love about your serials.”
“Regardless, that became a ‘random thing’ from myself – and I think most of the new serial will take place in nineteen-forty-five. However, being unplanned, and driven by those random reader things, it might go absolutely anywhere.”
“Would you guys like anything to eat today?”
“Teagan, would you care for some food? David and I are always ready to eat.”
“I keep seeing pictures of the pizzas from this place. I think I have to try one.”
“No problem. The conversation I’ve overheard makes me want to give you three toppings on the house. What three things would you like, Teagan?”
“My favorite pizza has beef, Canadian bacon, and black olives, and onion. That’s four things…sorry.”
“That’s OK, I ‘ll give you four.”
“Skippy.”
“Yes Dan?”
“Could you put the olives on the side?”
“No problem.”
“And Skippy?”
“Yes Teagan.”
“Could I get a glass of Dr. Pepper to have with the pizza? I really like that combination.”
“Of course. I don’t suppose Lulu is coming.”
“No, I’m afraid she’s pouting about not being in the new serial.”
“Well, please tell her I said hi.”
“I will. Dan, David, this has been fun. Thanks for inviting me today.”
“Teagan, you are always welcome at this bar.”
For those of you that want to get in on the fun of reading Teagan’s wonderful books and stories, check out her Amazon Author page – that’s: relinks.me/TeaganRiordainGeneviene
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