Today is a special day at the bar. The part of Cheryl has been written by Cheryl Pennington, the woman who moonlights as our virtual bartender. Once again, we are abusing the Stream of Consciousness Saturday rules, but this took some coordination. Speaking of those rules, Linda G. Hill has given us the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘tip.’ Use it as a noun or a verb. Have fun!”
If we were having a beer, you would be startled, a little miffed but very happy for me.
“Hi David. You’re early today.”
“Yes, that’s by design, Cheryl. When I was leaving last week, I thought I heard you say something to Dan about a book. Is he writing a book?”
“You did! He is. In fact, he’s writing three.”
“Really? When was he going to tell us? I’m surprised he hasn’t asked us to read early versions.”
“Actually, I’m nearly finished with the second book and eager to read the last in the series. This story really pulls you in. Following these characters through the early experiences that shape the course of their lives, in the first book, makes you feel part of their history as the story continues. But Dan can tell you more when he gets here.”
“So, I’m the only one who doesn’t know anything about this?”
“Doesn’t know anything about what, David?”
“Your books, Dan. I’ve come to understand you’ve written three books – why wasn’t I told?”
“Actually, you were, but it was about two years ago.”
“I don’t remember.”
“Not surprising. How about if I buy us a round of drinks and fill you in on the details.”
“John Howell’s Bourbon, David?”
“Yes please, Cheryl. But if we’re celebrating Dan’s accomplishment, perhaps I should be buying.”
“I’d like that, David, but I’d hold off on calling this an accomplishment. I’m only recently shared the first two books with beta readers.”
“Like me! And I’m honored to be one of those readers, Dan.”
“Thank you, Cheryl. It makes me happy to hear that.”
“So, what are these books about, Dan? Are they fiction, or are they the history of cranes and bridges?”
“They’re fiction, but bridges are mentioned more than once.”
“I don’t understand.”
“They’re set in Pittsburgh.”
“That explains the bridges, but I still don’t understand.”
“That’s my fault, and it’s not going to be easy to explain.”
“Well maybe your beer and his bourbon, seltzer, ice and cherries will make it a little easier. I’d like to hear this too.”
“After I retired, I began a writing project. I had been thinking about for years, it’s a story of a man who has lucid dreams and who can interact with those dreams.”
“Dan, you retired in two-thousand nineteen. Has it taken this long to write that book?”
“Yes, and no?”
“Dan don’t answer me in riddles. Cheryl, do you understand what he’s talking about?”
“Yes, and no.”
“Auuuugh, what is it with you two?”
“I only found out about Dan’s books a year ago, once he retired and actually started writing them.”
“So why does Cheryl know this, and I don’t? No offense, Cheryl.”
“Five or six years ago, Damyanti invited me to join a writing group…”
“Damyanti Biswas? I met her when she was here a couple years ago. I just preordered her new book.”
“Yes, the same woman. Anyway, that’s when I met Cheryl. She was a member of the group, and she was so quick to welcome me. She has always been very supportive, so naturally I reached out to her when I had something I wanted someone to read.”
“I was excited to be able to read the first book. When I found out there would be three, I was impressed! It takes time to culminate a book idea and that’s just the beginning. Dan is one of few people who knows about my book project, and I’ve been at it for about ten years.”
“Wait, Cheryl, you’re writing a book, too?”
“I am, but we’ll discuss that at a later time.”
“OK, Dan, so how did one book become three and why haven’t I seen any of them?”
“One book became two. To be more precise, one book ended at a point where a sequel seemed like a logical idea.”
“OK, that explains two books. How did you get to three?”
“I was asking Teagan Geneviene a question about how much of the back story I should introduce in the first book.”
“Wait, Teagan knows about this?”
“Yes. When I explained to her how much information I had about my main characters during their childhood – when their abilities developed – she suggested writing a novella about that part of their lives.”
“Their lives? Their abilities? Who are they?”
“They are Zach and Billy, David. They grew up together. Billy’s special talent – he sees into the future in a limited way – gets him into more trouble than Zach with his dreams. They watch out for each other.”
“How does his ability get him into trouble, Cheryl? It sounds like a cool thing.”
“Billy is a tender-hearted boy who uses his ability to try and help others which backfires. As a kid he doesn’t quite understand what to do with his visions of future events. He tried to stop some things from happening.”
“So, the first book charts the course of their lives as they learn how to use these abilities?”
“Yes, and I love the camaraderie, suspense and humor Dan has woven into the story.”
“So, you have two books and a novella.”
“Well, it turns out I had more than a novella’s worth of back story, it’s more like a short novel. So, three books.”
“That doesn’t surprise me, Dan, I mean the part about you having more to say when telling a story.”
“This might be why I shared the books with Cheryl.”
“Does the original book, I should say the second book, begin after these abilities developed? I mean does it start when the main character is in his teens or twenties?”
“No, it starts much later in his life. After Zach retires, his ability is discovered by a corrupt FBI agent who then forces Zach to work with him. There is also a fear that the agent will discover Billy.”
“So how does the first book tie in with the second, and I guess the third?”
“It’s complicated, David. If you read the first book…”
“Something that hasn’t been offered.”
“If you read the first book, you might understand the second and third book, better, but you could read just the second and third book.”
“Cheryl, you’re sure this makes sense to you?”
“Have a sip of bourbon, David. There is enough backstory in the second book that it can stand alone. It is suspenseful, imaginative and you still get to know Billy and Zach. If you read the first book first, you already know them, and it is more of a reacquaintance. For me, I like knowing their history and background from the beginning.”
“OK. I think I get it, but why didn’t you release the first book earlier? I mean, since it was done.”
“That’s also complicated. As I was writing the second and third book, things changed. That is to say, I realized it would be better if things had developed differently.”
“Wow. I almost understand that. So, you tweaked the first two books to better align with the third.”
“Exactly.”
“When will I have the opportunity to buy these books, Dan? You are going to sell them, right?”
“I am planning to release the first and second book sometime this spring. The third book will follow in late summer.”
“If I understand – and that’s a big if – you said the first and second book aren’t really book and sequel or book and prequel. Why release them together?”
“Precisely.”
“Cheryl, I’m going to need more bourbon. Precisely what, Dan?”
“I’ll take care of that for you. Bourbon always helps you understand complex issues, or forget why you thought they were complex.”
“Since it doesn’t matter which book someone starts with, I’m going to leave it up to the potential readers. Some beta readers prefer the ‘adult story’ some prefer to proceed chronologically.”
“OK, Dan, let’s say I buy one, might you give me the other one for free?”
“No, but once I figure out how pricing works, I might make you a sweetheart deal on both.”
“Cheryl, you’ve read both, what would you suggest?”
“If I didn’t know there was a first book, I would read and enjoy the second. But, as I said, for me, having read the first book made moving on to the next book more exciting. I was ready to find out what happened to those special kids when they grew up. Whatever you do, David, make sure you read them all. We both know Dan is great at spinning a tale and he did a wonderful job with this one…I mean, these two.”
“Thanks for the tip, Cheryl. If you give me the check, I’ll see if I can’t return the favor. Cheers, Dan.”
“Cheers, David and thanks for the beers.”
No Facilities 
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