We are "Hardwired" for Stories

They say that when you're ready, a teacher will come.  I love how events come together sometimes in my research.

I've been trying to learn how to get more emotion into my writing. I've been watching lots of Hallmark Christmas movies and taking notes, through the tears. :-) I've been reading samples from hundreds of books all over the spectrum of genres--romances, science fiction, suspense, thrillers--you name it.

I've had the book Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron, on my shelf for months now.  I finally picked it up, started reading, and immediately learned why some of my stories feel flat and emotionless.  Not only is this a book for writers on how to hook readers, but it also explains the hard brain science and chemistry behind WHY people get hooked into a story, and what makes for one of those "un-put-downable" books.  It also explains why some of those "not very good" books are so wildly popular with readers.  Fascinating stuff!

http://www.amazon.com/Wired-Story-Writers-Science-Sentence/dp/1607742454


The author also has a website with links to other articles discussing this idea:

http://wiredforstory.com/

Then, this morning, out of the blue I got an e-mail from the Greater Good Science Center (at Berkeley) with a link to an article by Paul J. Zak, "How Stories Change the Brain."  It's all about how stories shape our brains physically and make us more empathic and generous. And it also explains WHY we love stories so much.

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_stories_change_brain

The good stories, the ones that engage the reader's emotions, are those that show us something about human nature. 

It's all fascinating stuff, and I'd urge any author to take a look at the book, and read the articles. I'm certainly going to try to use this knowledge in my writing.

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Author of LONE STAR DEATH
PRINCESS PRIMROSE & the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP (for MG kids)
The "Nameless, Texas" short story series
All available on Amazon.com for the Kindle

Free Halloween treat for my friends!

A free Halloween treat for my friends!

A nostalgic, heartwarming small town Texas short story, Best Halloween Ever, 1965.  Free on Amazon from today through the 24th. 3,900 words. Based on true events.

http://amzn.to/16oh2c6

Annabelle, Jupie and Little Sister LOVE Halloween!  Nine-year-old Annabelle is a fiend for Halloween and spins fantasies of parties, costumes and food. Back in 1965, it was all about the costumes, Trick-or-Treating, and being seen (but not recognized). When Annabelle gets sick and can't get out with her brother and sister, she's miserable.  This is a tale of what happened on that cold, dark, stormy night and how it turned into the Best Halloween Ever.

And remember, if you don't have a Kindle, no problem!  You can download a FREE reading app from Amazon for almost any device, including PDF (to read on any computer). 

Thanks for reading, and please, share this with a friend!

Happy haunting,

bobbi c.
Author of The Journal of Mina Harker
Now a 20,000 word novella e-book;
Lone Star Death & the "Nameless, Texas"
short story series
http://amazon.com/author/bobbichukran

Halloween Stories, Galore!

Dear friends,

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays for all sorts of reasons---the (hopefully) cooler weather, the pumpkins, the displays in the stores---and all the classic monster movies they show on TV channels such as TCM.  I grew up watching and loving the classic shows---from The Blob, to the original Night of the Living Dead, to The Day the Earth Stood Still. I was also a fan of shows like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Night Gallery, The Twilight Zone, etc., and still am.

It's probably no wonder that now and then all things creepy show up in my short stories.  This month, I've had three Halloween stories published so far.

Over on Amazon, I have a new short story e-book published,  "Best Halloween Ever, 1965".  It's more of a heart-warming fiction story based on real life, a sort of coming-of-age story, set back when Halloween was a little more innocent and was all about costumes, trick-or-treating and candy!

Then, my novella, THE JOURNAL OF MINA HARKER, has been published, also as an e-book on Amazon for the Kindle. This story started out as a stage play I wrote three years ago and published as a script.  It's been lengthened (to 20,000 words) and has a nice bright new cover (shiny!).

Follow the links to get your copies, and be sure to leave a review if you enjoyed them!

 And last but not least, one of my mystery short stories recently was published in the amazing Kings River Life Magazine.  The flash fiction story, "Mistaken Identity" is actually a true story.  Yep, seriously.  Spooky, huh? :-)

http://kingsriverlife.com/10/12/mistaken-identity-a-halloween-short-story/

All of these e-books and stories are inexpensive (and actually, the story on the Kings River Life magazine website is FREE to read!)  Why not pick one up (or all three?) for some good, spooky Halloween reading without TOO much gore.

Thanks for supporting an independent author!

bobbi c.

Congratulations, Alice Munro, Nobel Prize Winner!

Dear friends,

Many authors were overjoyed to hear that Alice Munro has just won the Nobel Prize in Literature for her short stories.

First, we are glad because Alice is a woman.  We get excited any time a woman wins a big award in literature. :-)

And second, those of us who write short stories are especially glad because we hope it will bring about a "renaissance" of sorts in readers, and the publishing world.  Yes, there are people who read short stories (thank goodness!), but the general feeling is that people don't really know how many there are out there.

There are numerous on-line literary magazines that publish short stories (many free to read), and many genre stories, too.  No matter what kind of stories you like to read---whether they're horror, humor, nostalgia, memoir, mystery, romance, westerns, etc.---there are lots of new short stories being published these days.  You can buy them in anthologies (a group of stories written by different authors on a common theme), or in collections (stories written by the same author, sometimes on a theme), and as short e-book  singles on places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

I love reading and writing short stories because they take me into a different world that I can visit for a short time.  They don't require a huge investment of time (well, writing does, but reading doesn't), and I can finish one while I'm waiting at the doctor's office, waiting for water to boil, during lunch, etc.

If it's been a long time since you've read a short story, why not try some new ones? Let's kindle a spark (heh heh) and get a whole short story renaissance started!

bobbi c.
Author of
mysterious tales--tall and short,
Lone Star Death, 1880s Texas murder mystery,
"Nameless, Texas" short story series
-->

http://amazon.com/author/bobbichukran

New Halloween Short Story E-Book

Dear friends,

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  So that's why I've written a story that's part memoir, part heart-warming fiction, set in a small Texas town.  Only the names have been changed; the spirit of the story stays intact. 

It's all about choosing and buying costumes, Halloween candy, trick-or-treating circa 1965, and the anticipation surrounding the holiday for a certain young girl and her brother and sister.  And it's about what happens when she gets too sick to participate.

"Best Halloween Ever, 1965" is available now for the Kindle (and other devices, using the free Kindle reading app available on the Amazon website) for only 99-cents (introductory price).

And yes, I did make that jack-o-lantern on the cover. :-)

Happy haunting!

bobbi c.
http://bobbichukran.com

First story published in Mysterical-E mystery magazine!

Dear friends,

I'm honored to announce that one of my new short stories, Good Neighbors, was published yesterday in Mysterical-E, an awesome online mystery magazine.  This is my first publication in a bona-fide mystery magazine.

Mysterical-E is always packed with short stories, book reviews, comments, essays, etc.  And it's FREE to read! Click here to read:

Good Neighbors short story by Bobbi A. Chukran

Take a look, and feel free to Tweet about it, Facebook it and generally spread the word around.  Thank you!

By the way, Good Neighbors was inspired by true-to-life events, but *of course* the ending was changed---a bit. ;-)

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

http://amazon.com/author/bobbichukran

New Short Story -- Aunt Jewel & the Poisoned Potlikker

Available now, on Amazon.com!

Aunt Jewel and the Poisoned Potlikker

Number Three in my "Nameless, Texas" short story series!

A new 4,800 word cozy mystery short story from Bobbi A. Chukran. . .

When Kendra Louise Harper's Aunt Jewel decides to make a traditional "mess" of turnip greens to take to the annual Giving of Thanks community dinner and gathering in Nameless, Texas (population 2,354), little does she know that her special dish will become the source of widespread illness and even a death. The disaster comes a bit too close to home when Kendra's best friend, Jeffrey, becomes violently ill after he eats a "healthy" amount of the greens.

Question is, who would poison the potlikker, and why?  How did it happen?  Why was Aunt Jewel's dish targeted?

What exactly DID Bertha Smithton see early that morning at Aunt Jewel's house?

What would motivate someone in the little community to take such desperate measures?

Filled with quirky characters, this latest cozy mystery in the "Nameless, Texas" short story series will delight those who love tales of small town murder.

Includes free recipe for "Aunt Jewel's Slow Cooker Turnip Greens with Potlikker" and a free chapter from LONE STAR DEATH.

Also in the Series:

Aunt Jewel and the Purloined Pork Loin

Dewey Laudermilk and the Peckerwood Tree

I read short stories. Lots of short stories. And learn something new from every one of them.

Dear friends,

Since I've decided to focus on writing short stories, I've been reading a lot.  Yesterday I made a trip to the library and came home with 13 collections of stories---some old, some new. Every time I read a short story, whether it's fantasy, science fiction, supernatural, mystery, crime---I learn something new. 

Last night I raced through most of the stories in Joe R. Lansdale's BUMPER CROP collection.  His short story "Chompers" was hilarious, twisty (and chilling), and reminded me of those old science fiction shows I used to watch on TV when I was a kid. It taught me that *anything* can be the subject of a short story. Joe is one of my favorite writers because he really GETS that East Texas thing---the language, mannerisms and quirks of the people who live there---and the settings in his stories live and breathe like characters. Each of his stories teaches me something new about writing.

Later, I read from a completely different collection, BLOOD LITE II: OVERBITE (edited by Kevin J. Anderson), humorous horror short stories by HWA members. The "Dead Clown Seance" story, by Christopher Welch, taught me that there's a place for ALL kinds of stories, no matter how crazy. Since my stories tend toward the comedic, I love seeing how horror and comedy can be combined.

I'm also a big fan of Henry Slesar, the author who penned many of the short stories that eventually became Alfred Hitchcock TV episodes. In HAUNTED AMERICA: Star-Spangled Supernatural Stories (selected by Marvin Kaye), I read "The Return of the Moresbys" which was fun and twisty (Slesar was a king of the twisty story). From it, I learned that a crime story can be funny, ironic, and based on an interesting idea like transmigration (where the soul passes from one body or being to another at death).

Reading these stories confirmed to me that there's a place for humor in mysteries and horror and that any subject can be turned into a great short story. And not only that, but after reading these, so many new ideas for stories came to me. 

I hope that you'll take time to read some short stories.  The cool thing about short stories?  They're short.  LOL.  They don't take a lot of time to read, can be inhaled on a break, or during lunch, or right before bed just before dozing off. There are many authors these days writing lots of excellent short stories--seek them out, read them.  And have fun!

Mysteriously yours,

bobbi c.

When an author hits a snag...

What does an author do when we hit a snag in our projects?  Some of us might take a vacation, some might moan and pitch a fit about being blocked, and some might do other things to take their minds off their stories for a while. 

That's me.  I find something completely different to do.  Like decloaking a 1930s cottage.  Read all about that here, on my Earthly Gardener garden blog.  Enjoy!

http://earthly-gardener.blogspot.com/2013/08/decloaking-cottage-and-more-pergola-pics.html

Removing the 1950s aluminum siding from our 1930s cottage

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Oh my gosh! It IS a murder mystery. And a bit of a western romance! And suspense. And action-adventure!

On finding the right audience for our books. . .

Dear friends,

Authors around the ‘nethood are conversing daily about how we can get our books into the hands of those readers who’ll love them and hopefully recommend them to their friends (no matter how they do that-—by tweeting, Facebooking, Goodreading, Google+ing, blogging or whatever.)

Did you think we just sit down, open up the laptop, and go?  Afraid not. I WISH we had the luxury of doing that. Writing is a business, and increasingly, a lot of our time is taken up with the promotional aspects of being an author. One thing we talk about a lot is finding the perfect audience for our book. The problem with that is that many of us write books that can be categorized in more than one genre.

My novel, Lone Star Death, for example, is basically a historical murder mystery, set in central Texas in the 1880s.

There is a murdered man (victim), a murderer, lots of suspects, a sleuth (Samantha Slater, the editor of the local newspaper), a method of murder (no spoilers!) and a sidekick (Tom Hill, her printer’s assistant).  I include several real places and people that lived in Austin during that time period, and researched the book for a year before sitting down to begin writing it. 

So, it’s a murder mystery, right? Well, yes, BUT, there’s also a whole lotta action/adventure. Think bush-whackings, a runaway horse, an overturned buggy,shootings—-you get the picture. So, my book is a murder mystery/action-adventure novel.

 

Most readers assume that anything written about Texas in the 1880s is a western. I have a wonderful, high-spirited horse, I have cowboys, a train station, a beautiful ranch, a rural small town outside Austin, a “house of ill repute” and the women who live there, market days, a school teacher with a great Victorian wardrobe, a general store, a great pearl-handled pistol, etc. And I’m eligible to join Western Writers of America based on this book. So, my book is a murder mystery, action adventure AND western.

And last, but not least, I have a love interest for Samantha—-Tom--who is plumb smitten with her, an older lady (mentor) who tries to nudge them into a relationship--and a handsome rival! (Ah yes, the doctor!) Not to mention the cowboy who’s impressed with Samantha’s horse riding ability. And, finally, there’s one of those happily-ever-after-moments (after the murder mystery is solved, of course). And there's the promise of a stronger future relationship.

Not to mention the nail-biting suspense. :-)

So—if you’re mostly a western romance book reader, would you give this book a chance?  If you like historical mysteries, would the fact that there’s also a bit of light romance turn you off?

Why all this analysis, you might ask?  Because, if I write another book in this series, it will be very important for me to position it for the right market.  And yes, some of those decisions come during the writing.

For now, I’m calling the book a historical murder mystery/western romance. And I hope readers who like "all of the above" will enjoy it.

Happy trails, and happy reading!

bobbi c.
http://bobbichukran.com

Where DO those story ideas come from, anyway?

Dear friends,


I think every author has been asked this question at least once -- where DO those ideas come from? Of course, being the wild card that I am, I'll make some smart-ass reply.  "Oh, I dig them up in the yard," or "I get them from the cat, he's really good at spinning tales."  Something witty like that.

Truth be told, though, most of my fictional stories are based on true-to-life occurrences.  Some might call me nosy; I prefer to think of it as being aware, paying attention, and being a good listener.  Nothing wrong with that, is there?  There are thousands of story ideas out there.  The key is to take something and make something else out of it.  Give it a different spin.  Start with a snippet of conversation, then imagine what might come after it. (Otherwise, you're writing non-fiction.)

For example, my newest e-story, Dewey Laudermilk and the Peckerwood Tree, (second in my new "Nameless, Texas" short story series) was inspired by true events.  I was sitting in my backyard under the shade tree, after a horribly hot day of gardening.  I heard someone rev up a chainsaw, which isn’t that unusual, given that we live in a ‘hood that’s covered with ancient pecan trees.  I could see the house catty-corner from us, a rental full of rednecks.  (I can call them that since I’m kin to rednecks, and have actually been called one myself.  For some of us, it’s a thing of pride.  Just sayin’.)  

Photos can be inspirations for stories, too.

Anyway, I noticed that there were quite a few of them, all standing around an ancient pecan tree—a perfect healthy one, by the way. And they were hacking at it to beat the band.  One was at the top, waving the chainsaw around like it was a popsicle stick.  I kept waiting for him to cut his head or some other appendage off, but he didn’t.  Over the course of an hour or so, he and his buddies cut the entire tree down, but not without a few mishaps along the way.  And this was not a tiny tree; this tree was at least three-stories tall.

Since I’m madly in love with these trees, it made me heart-sick to see the tree being cut down. I won’t even cut the dead ones unless I'm forced to do so, because there are so many bird families that live in them. Woodpeckers, for instance.  Thus the “peckerwood” in the story.

In my mind, I saw the elderly lady next door come out onto her porch, shake her head, look sad, and go back inside--and in my imagination, she turned into Dewey's grandma.

Badda bing, badda boom!  Story time!  I loped inside and grabbed a pen and piece of paper.  (I should know by now to keep a pad/pencil in my pocket, because lots of my story ideas come when I’m outside, slaving away in the sun.) I scribbled a few notes – “pecan tree, lady next door, idiots, telephone pole.”

I came inside, thought about it for a while, put the notes on The Pile, and took a shower.

That night, I sat down and launched into it.  I visualized the guys cutting down the tree, and it wasn’t long before the characters took off on their own.  A few times, I gave them a nudge, thinking, what’s the WORST THING that could happen here?  What would a group like this be saying to each other, or doing?

Since the theme of REVENGE figures a lot in my stories (I don’t do it on purpose; it just happens--really), I used that for my motive. I won’t say anything more, because I hate spoilers, and it would ruin the story for you. :-)

Here’s the lesson from all this – pay attention to what other people are doing.  Because people ARE stories.  Eavesdrop if you get the chance, and don’t ever dismiss everyday happenings as inspiration for stories.  Some of the best stories might come from a comment you overhear at the Dairy Queen. "I knew he was trouble when I first laid eyes on him." 
 Hmmm--now that has story potential. By the way, until they moved out (finally!), this crazy group was the inspiration for at least two more stories. Stuff I couldn't make up if I tried!

If nothing else, you’ll be amused, and you might even get a story out of it.

Oh, and the photo on the cover of the story?  That's a log from the pecan tree next door to me.  It was also cut down because the homeowner "got tired of picking up twigs in the yard."  Perhaps there's another story in THAT one.

Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

Another New Nameless, Texas Short Story Published

The second in my Nameless, Texas series of short stories...

Dewey Laudermilk and the Peckerwood Tree

Now available on Amazon.com (introductory price of 99-cents!) 

for the Kindle & other devices using the free reading apps available there.

A short story inspired by true events (unfortunately)! :-)

The second short story featuring the quirky characters of Nameless, Texas, population 2,354.

When Dewey Laudermilk decides that his grandma’s old pecan tree has to come down, he won’t take no for an answer. Pretty soon, his hilarious redneck network is on hand to help with the process.

Dewey's Grandma is heartbroken because she remembers when she and her husband planted that old tree, home to a family of woodpeckers (called “peckerwoods” by Mr. Laudermilk).

After a series of unfortunate accidents, and a mysterious illness, Dewey is reminded that sometimes it’s best to leave well enough alone.

This short story comes with a Bonus Recipe for Grandma Laudermilk’s Brown Sugar Glazed Pecans.

Thank you for supporting an independent author!

Happy trails from small-town Texas,

bobbi c.

Interviewed by Ann Marie Meyers in The Allure of Fairy Tales

Dear friends,

This morning I was honored to be interviewed by Ann Marie Meyers, author of the upcoming children's book, Up in the Air.

 The interview is all about "The Allure of Fairy Tales" and I talk about how my new middle grade novel, Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep (and my other plays and stories based on classic tales) came to be.

 She asked some tough questions, but it was a joy to answer them.

Please read it when you get a chance.

http://www.annmarie-meyers.com/2013/06/the-allure-of-fairytales.html?spref=tw

Happily ever after,

bobbi c.

Now available for the Kindle! A new short story...

The first in my Nameless, Texas series of short stories...

Aunt Jewel and the Purloined Pork Loin

featuring Kendra Louise Harper

A Nameless, Texas Short story of 5,600 words.

With a Bonus Recipe for Aunt Jewel's Sweet 'n Tart Homemade Cranberry Sauce!

by Bobbi A. Chukran

Available NOW on Amazon.com for the Kindle, for only $1.49.

Free book chapters now available

...on my website!

Now you can read a free chapter from my 1880s Texas historical mystery novel, Lone Star Death, on my website.

AND you can also read a free chapter from my new fairy tale spoof for middle grade kids, Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep.

I hope you enjoy them both!

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Princess Primrose Featured on Kid's Book Blogs!

Dear friends,

I'm honored to be featured on the new website/blog for kid's books--EWords4Kids.

I'm also excited to announce that I'll be appearing later this month on two other author's blogs.

On the 22nd, I'll be interviewed on Ann Marie Meyer's blog.  Ann Marie is the author of a new book, Up in the Air, that will be released in July.

Then on the 24th, my new book will be featured in the spotlight on Marcy Blesy's Middle Grade Monday blog.  Marcy is the author of numerous books, including Confessions of a Corn Kid.

Please visit the blogs on those days and make comments. We love comments!

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

The characters speak....Moribunda McEvil

Dear friends,

The characters in my latest book, a new middle grade fantasy, Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep, are certainly chatty!  So I decided to feature them, one by one, here on the blog and let them have their say.

Today, meet Moribunda McEvil.  She's sooo evil that she was elected the president of SOWWWW, Society of Wicked Witches, Wizards and Warlocks.

When Moribunda learns that her sister, Queen Floribunda, has a beautiful daughter (who's about to turn fourteen-years-old), she's fit to be tied!  She immediately sets out to whomp up a spell that will make the queen's life miserable.  Enter Snitch, the Tattle-Tale Fairy, and things get out of hand---in a BIG way!  Let's just say that misunderstandings lead to some hilarious unfortunate incidents!

Read the first chapter of Princess Primrose FREE here.  Now available on Amazon.com as an e-book (only $2.99) or paperback on sale June 15th!

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

Now available on Amazon.com

ANNOUNCING...
PRINCESS PRIMROSE and the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP
A comedy fairy tale detective caper, suitable for all ages!

Dear friends,

I take the pleasure in announcing that PRINCESS PRIMROSE is now available for sale on Amazon.com for only $2.99 (introductory price).  The Kindle e-book can also be read on other devices by simply downloading the free apps software that Amazon provides.

Read a free excerpt or buy at Amazon.com

To read more about Princess Primrose, see previous blog posts.  A description of the story was posted yesterday, here:
http://bobbichukran.blogspot.com/2013/05/whats-princess-primrose-all-about-anyway.html

This was such an enjoyable journey from writing the original award-winning play (thank you, East Valley Children's Theatre!), to turning it into a book then deciding to illustrate it myself.  Now I'm on to the next book in the series---because you know, those characters are still frolicking around in my head!

By the way, if any of my readers are involved in school drama programs, church programs (yep, it's 100% family friendly) or library programs and want to produce the PRINCESS PRIMROSE play---just e-mail me here.

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

What's PRINCESS PRIMROSE all about, anyway?

I spent all day yesterday working on formatting "gremlins" and resizing the artwork in my upcoming PRINCESS PRIMROSE & the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP.  This is the stuff you wish you'd known before you spent a month making museum quality artwork.  Ha. Let's just say, if you can't see it on an i-Phone, it's too detailed for an e-book. For cryin' out loud!

Anyway, since I had to write a description of PRINCESS PRIMROSE before I upload it to Amazon.com, I decided to share it here.  Especially since everybody's been clamoring (OK, a few people asked) to know what it's all about. Here we go!  

Miss Slumberkins to the rescue. She has a unique talent; she can only reverse spells.  Sometimes.

PRINCESS PRIMROSE and the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP is a comedy fairy tale detective caper, suitable for all ages.


Moribunda McEvil (a wicked witch) is furious when she learns from Snitch, a tattle-tale fairy, that she has a beautiful niece (Princess Primrose) that she's never seen.  With the help of her sidekick Eargore (a spell gone really, really wrong), she quickly sets out to ruin Primrose's life by putting a sleeping curse on her.

In a fit of remorse, Snitch runs to the palace to warn Queen Floribunda and King Rosario about the curse (otherwise known as BLABBING), but in his hurry he misunderstands and gets everything wrong. 

The Queen hires S. White & R. Rapunzel, Inquiry Agents, to help.  But by the time they get to the palace, it's too late--Princess Primrose has had an accident and fallen into a Big Sleep. The case is dire!

With the assistance of their seven elven sidekicks (Nosy, Snoops, Sherlock, Stealthy, Creeper, Gumshoe and Marlowe), and a young witch who can only reverse spells (Miss Slumberkins), Snow White and Rapunzel Rapunzel search the kingdom for a Prince. What they end up with is a an enchanted frog who's afraid of germs (Prince Thaddeus A. Pole, AKA “Tad”), a motley assortment of enchanted creatures and Weasel the Wizard, who makes a bargain with the detectives for an essential potion that will save the day.

Filled with fun word play, misunderstandings and hilarious dialogue (and a happy, yet twisted ending), this story will delight anyone who still believes in magic.  No matter how old you are!

You'll never look at a frog the same way again.

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

Introducing...R. Rapunzel and S. White

Rapunzel Rapunzel and Snow White, Inquiry Agents---In Service to Her Majesty the Queen!

In PRINCESS PRIMROSE & the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP
by Bobbi A. Chukran
Author/Illustrator
 Based on the award-winning stage play for young adults

A crazy mixed up fantasy tale of one cursed sleepy princess, enchanted frogs, witches, wizards, jesters, a tattle-tale fairy, seven elven sidekicks and two intrepid girl detectives (one with really, really long hair).  What more could you ask for?

 Coming soon to a Kindle near you, in June (yes, really really soon!)

Artwork copyright Bobbi A. Chukran, 2013

I can't wait, can you?

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

It's Children's Book Week!

Celebrate by taking a child to a library, reading a book out loud to a child (doesn't have to be your own child!), or giving a gift of a book to a child.  It's all good!

And adults, how about reading a children's book---for yourself?  Many adults love to read children's picture books, middle grade or young adult novels.  

bobbi c.

Another sneak peek from my upcoming PRINCESS PRIMROSE

More art from my upcoming tween/middle grade novel, PRINCESS PRIMROSE & the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP.

Chester, from PRINCESS PRIMROSE.  Art by Bobbi A. Chukran

This is Chester the Jester, Queen Floribunda's right hand man.  He's a bit put out in this drawing.  :-)

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

Introducing Thaddeus A. Pole, AKA Tad

Here's the newest from Grackle Stew Studio--Thaddeus A. Pole (AKA Tad), the enchanted frog prince!  He's having a bit of a hop today.  He's a tricksey fellow who was quite reluctant to show his little face around here.

From my upcoming illustrated novel for middle grades/tweens/young adults and adults who like crazy mixed-up fairy tale funny stuff---PRINCESS PRIMROSE & the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP---based on my award-winning play by the same title.

Stay tuned for more art and big big news!

Thaddeus A. Pole, AKA "Tad"---an enchanted prince/frog

BROP!

bobbi c.

It's research, I tell ya!

It seems authors and illustrators will do almost anything to get in the mood, get inspired, or fight procrastination.  We'll even resort to such hijinks like donning silly masks.  Thusly:

Let's just say I'm a bit tired after drawing all day.  I blasted through the PRINCESS PRIMROSE artwork for Weasel the Wizard, the seven elves, and even the dreaded Rapunzel Rapunzel and Snow White portraits.  Those were no problem!

But, the last one, the one I've been putting off---is Thaddeus A. Pole.  Also known as Tad.  Also known as the enchanted frog prince.  Sigh.  I wonder, back in biology class, why they didn't teach us to draw frogs instead of how to---well, you know.  I have an art degree, for cryin' in a bucket!  And yet, I still fear drawing this enchanted frog.

So of course, what do I do?  RESEARCH!  I flip through photos online, flip through a few children's story books I bought with nice frog drawings in them.  I got nuthin.  Then I open up a copy of a book I bought called MY WILD LIFE---I AM A FROG, from the Animal Planet people and authored by Camilla de la Bedoyere.

What should I find inside but a MASK!  Woohoo!  And STICKERS!  And a POSTER!  Wow, who said research is booooring?  Not me!

So, that frog might not get done tonight. It WILL get done eventually because, like, it has to.  There is no story without Tad. But I sure am having fun thinking about drawing him.

Happy trails!

bobbi c.

New free dramatic monologue posted on website

I just posted a new monologue, I WONDER IF VINCENT... (about Vincent Van Gogh) on my website.  The monologue is free for use by students or actors doing auditions.  Any others, please contact me for production information.

Thanks!

bobbi c.

Blog updates

Dear Friends,

New e-book coming in May, 2013!

As I explain HERE, I'm consolidating my art and writing blog.  As I plunge into the final edits for my play-turned-novel PRINCESS PRIMROSE e-book, I would like to keep myself from going bonkers, if at all possible.

We shall see.  :-)

So, from now on, my posts will be here on this blog.  Please come back from time to time to visit.

'K?

Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

New short story published in the Dead Mule!

Dear friends,

I'm pleased as punch to announce that my literary short story, Sadie and the Museum Lady, has been published in the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature online journal.  Yippee!  The Dead Mule has long been on my "get published there or else -- dagnabbit" list.

You have to love a journal that forces you to come up with a "Southern Legitimacy Statement" before they'll look at your work. :-)

You can read the story here:

http://www.deadmule.com/fiction/2012/12/bobbi-a-chukran-sadie-and-the-museum-lady/

Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

P.S. Check out my latest handmade artists' book, Our Family of Dogs, over on da-art blog.