Sample Chapter -- PRINCESS PRIMROSE & the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP

Dear friends,

Thought I'd share the first chapter of my comedy fantasy detective spoof with you. It's available on Amazon in both e-book and paperback. Suitable for ages 8 through 108. :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Primrose-Curse-Big-Sleep/dp/0944577091

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Chapter One

In the Lair of Moribunda McEvil

Moribunda McEvil lived in an old dusty cobwebby sort of place---the sort of place that you might imagine a witch would live. Her home was so popular with visiting witches that it became the headquarters of SOWWWW, the Society of Wicked Witches Wizards and Warlocks.

An old table, covered with a messy variety of jars with scritch-scratched labels sat in a corner, and a couple of old wooden chairs sat at either end. A shelf over the table held a motley collection of ancient, dusty spell books.

Moribunda hunched over a boiling cauldron in the middle of the table. She stirred the contents with a long wooden spoon, all the while mumbling to herself. She spooned out a bit, blew on it gingerly, and then took a taste.

“Perhaps just a pinch more woundwort, Eargore? Woundwort is wonderful with elf stew,” she said.

Eargore was Moribunda’s minion and her faithful sidekick. He had huge ears and he was a wicked spell gone really, really, really bad. Bless his heart!

Eargore took a bite of the elf stew, wiggled his ears and then nodded. “Hmmm. I do believe you are right, Moribunda. A pinch more woundwort, coming up!” He took a jar off the shelf and spooned a tiny bit of grayish powder into the cauldron.

“Perfect, perfect!” Moribunda cackled, stirring the concoction once more and taking another taste.  She frowned, shrugged, then took the jar of woundwort from Eargore and dumped the entire thing into the stew.

“If a little is good, then a lot is better! Can’t have too much woundwort, can ya now, I always say.” She took another taste and smacked her lips. “Now it’s really perfect!  Time for lunch!” she said as she ladled the mixture out into two bowls.

They sat down to eat and had only taken a few bites when Eargore pricked up his enormous ears.

“I do believe someone approaches, m’lady,” he said.

A few moments later, there was a loud pounding at the door.

“Curses!” Moribunda cursed. “This happens every time we sit down to eat! Can’t they wait until after lunch? See who it is, and be hasty about it. I can’t stand that infernal noise!”

“We could ignore them. Perhaps they’ll go away,” Eargore suggested.

The knocking at the door became louder, and someone shouted. “Moribunda McEvil! Are you in there? I must see you immediately!”

Moribunda groaned.  “Go ahead, then.  See who it is.”

Eargore rushed to answer the door. “All righty! Keep your knickers on! I’m comin’!” he said.

When he opened the door, Eargore was dismayed to see that the visitor was none other than Snitch, the Tattle-Tale Fairy. Snitch was about as raggedy as a fairy could be. He wasn’t very tall, and he wore brown rugged boots that looked like he had trudged through a swamp. His wings were tattered and his tunic was threadbare. He was beside himself with excitement as he swooped his way into Moribunda’s home.

Eargore frowned. “What do YOU want? We just sat down to our lunch. Moribunda is much too busy now for visitors. Please call again when it’s more convenient for us.”

“Sorry, this can’t wait! It’s urgent,” Snitch said.

“Moribunda!” he sang out, ignoring Eargore. “I have news! I’m sure you’ll want to know my news. It’s the best yet! Am I wrong? Am I ever wrong?”

 “Oh, it’s you,” she said with a frightful scowl. “What could you have to say that would interest me, the most evil wicked witch in this kingdom? And at lunch time, to boot!”

“I’m pretty sure you’re gonna want to hear what I have to say!”

“What makes you sure of that, little tattle-tale?” Moribunda asked him.

“Because I have news!” he replied again.

“So you said, Snitch,” Moribunda answered, yawning. “But as you can see, we just sat down to lunch, and our brew is getting cold. Please write your news down on a scroll and roll it under the door and I might have time to read it next week. Maybe. If I’m not too busy being wicked and evil!”

With that, Moribunda turned away to leave. Eargore pushed Snitch towards the door.

But Snitch was persistent and pushed his way back in. “This cannot wait until next week! You’ll never guess! Come on, guess!”

Eargore wrinkled his nose. “What’s this I smell? Something rancid, I believe. Oh, look, it’s the little tattle-tale fairy, come to tell tales and stories! With yet more of his earthshaking news. Ho hum. What is it this time, Snitch? Have more toadstools gone missing from the woods? Or maybe there’s been an ogre sighting?”

Snitch looked indignant and pulled his tunic down. “Fine then!” he said. “I’ll take my tale down to the Tavern in the Woods and tell everyone else. Won’t YOU be sorry when you’re the last to know!”

Snitch turned to leave, but Moribunda grabbed him by the collar of his tunic. There wasn’t anything that annoyed her more than being the last to know the news. And Snitch knew that!

“Oh, all right!” she said. “Fine then! Out with it or I’ll curl your tongue so you’ll never tell another tale! But this news of yours had better be good!”

Snitch got a cunning look on his face. “Well, you see, this is really big news! But…I’d like to be paid for my work. After all, even a fairy has to eat!”

“Moribunda is not in the habit of paying for news, Snitch. You should know that by now,” Eargore reminded him.

“Oh, horseflies! Fine, then. I was just out minding my own business, near the castle, ya know? When I happened to be up on the wall of the tower, looking in the window, and…”

Moribunda interrupted him. “How did you just happen to be up on the tower wall?”

Snitch gulped. “Bird watching?”

“Ha! Continue with your droll little story,” Moribunda yawned. “Or should that be troll little story?”

Eargore laughed.

Snitch blushed with embarrassment. “I am not a troll! I’m a fairy!” he exclaimed. “As I was saying, I happened to overhear Queen Floribunda talking with King Rosario. It seems that she was very excited about something, and then she ordered Chester the Jester to have some invites printed!”

Eargore shrugged. “So what? It sounds like the Queen is planning a party. They frequently have balls and sad little affairs and such at the castle. Big whoopee. I do not see why this should concern us.”

“Yes, but it’s not just ANY party,” Snitch confided. “Not an everyday party, at least. She’s planning a…”

“…wedding?” Moribunda interrupted again. “I’ll bet she’s planning a wedding. I suppose one of her handmaidens is getting married. She does so dote on her servants.”

Snitch shook his head. “No! Not a wedding….it’s much more exciting than a wedding,” he said gleefully, bouncing up and down on his pointy toes.

“A jousting tournament, then? I do so love jousting tournaments! Or perhaps a duel?” Eargore lunged and pretended to shoot an imaginary pistol. “I haven’t seen a good duel in an ogre’s age!”

Snitch shook his head. “No, not those either.”

Suddenly, Moribunda reached out and grabbed Snitch’s nose and gave it a good tweak. “Out with it, you little tattle-tale! Enough of this dilly-dallying around! I don’t have time to waste listening to your tittle-tattle!”

Eargore laughed. “Tattle-tale tittle-tattle! I love it! Good one, Moribunda.”

Snitch yelled. “Ow, let go of me nose! All right! I’ll tell. The king and queen are planning a birthday party! For Princess Primrose!”

“Who?” asked Moribunda.

“Did I hear you correctly, Snitch?” asked Eargore, frowning.

“You heard me. A party for Princess Primrose,” said Snitch.

Moribunda frowned. “I don’t believe I know any Princess Primroses. I know a Princess Penelope, and a Princess Petunia, and a Princess Pertrubia and even a Princess Polyantha, but no Primroses. And how old is this new princess?” she asked, staring at Snitch.

Snitch had never seen Moribunda react like this to news before. It was a bit worrisome. He gulped. “She’s not exactly what you’d call a new princess. She’s been around for a while. I thought you….”

“HOW long, Snitch?” she shouted.

He thought a moment. “I guess she’d be, oh, about fourteen human years now? Surely you know of her. She’s your sister’s daughter, after all.”

“WHAT? Fourteen? Curses!” Moribunda shrieked. “How dare you not keep me informed! How dare my sister have a baby and not tell me! I didn’t even know she was expecting! Nobody tells me anything!”

Snitch spoke in a whisper. “I thought you knew about Princess Primrose. I was just going to mention the party. I thought you’d want to know about the party, but… Oh dear, what have I done?”

Moribunda paced the floor and wrung her hands together as she mumbled. “A new little princess, eh? Nobody ever tells me anything around here worthy of mention! This changes things!” She stopped pacing.

“Eargore!” she shouted.

“Yes, madame?” he squeaked.

“Did you know about this child?” she asked him. “The truth, now!”

“Well, um, yes, actually I did, madame,” Eargore said with a gulp. “I knew you’d be upset, so I didn’t tell you. I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

Moribunda frowned, then suddenly grinned wickedly. “Hmmm… I wonder if she takes after her Aunty Moribunda?”

Snitch thought a moment. “Well, no, actually, she’s quite beee-you-tee-ful! And the King is beside himself with joy and has planted ten acres of red rose bushes for the Queen in honor of Primrose’s birthday!”

Moribunda screamed. “Beautiful?  I’m ruined! I can’t allow a beautiful princess to grow up in my territory. What will the members of SOWWWW think of me? I’ll be voted out as president!”

“Who?” Snitch asked.

“SOWWWW! The Society of Wicked Witches, Wizards and Warlocks!” she answered, pacing across the floor. “They’ll never let me live this one down! I’ll never be able to show my face in the kingdom again. How could I allow this to happen? I’ll be ruined by my own niece!”

“Beg your pardon, madame, but we all thought it best not to tell you,” Eargore explained. “We’ve been able to keep it quiet so far. Until this little snitch snitched!”

“How many know about her?” she asked. “Well, tell me!”

Eargore cringed. “The whole kingdom, I expect. Well, everyone but you.”

By now Moribunda was pacing back and forth so fast, she was almost a blur. The dust on the floor was raised in a cyclone. Eargore knew that look, and ducked under the table for cover. She started grabbing and throwing things. Eargore didn’t look forward to cleaning up after this.

“And roses! I hate red roses!!! I hope they have big fat thorns on them and she sticks her royal finger! Serves her right! King Rosario never planted roses for me, when we… Oh, never mind! That’s all water under the moat--- but a new princess! THAT I can’t ignore. No matter what, no matter who she is!”

Eargore crept out from under the table and tried to calm her. He knew trouble when he saw it brewing. “With all due respects, madame, you are powerful, but how could you have prevented it? That family of yours is known for poppin’ out with beautiful children. There’s no way you could have known.”

She turned on him. “Oh, stop sucking up, Eargore! The fact is that I’m ruined. Ruined, I say! I’ll never hear the end of this. My sister gets to live in the castle with my darling King Rosario, and now THIS? I can’t bear it!”

Eargore thought for a moment. “Might I suggest a little…well, a little tweaking with history?”

“What do you mean?” asked Moribunda. “Speak up! My patience is wearing thin!”

“Actually, I’m not sure,” he shrugged. “After all, you are all powerful and the most wicked of witches. Surely there’s something we can do. Something deliciously evil, perhaps? Or delightfully dastardly?” He rubbed his hands together with glee.

Snitch stepped forward reluctantly. “But…like what? What would you do? You wouldn’t actually harm the child, would you? After all, she’s your…”

Moribunda interrupted him. “What do you think, Snitch? Why did you come to me, if not to do harm to the child? Why did you even tell me about her? I was fine before I found out. Not knowing was a good thing! But oh, no---you had to snitch.  I just can’t help myself now.  It’s not in my evil nature to let perfect opportunities go to waste.” 

She paced some more, then stopped abruptly. “Eargore! I need some ideas! The spell books! Bring them to me—quickly!”

“Yes, madame! The spell books! Spectacular idea!” He pulled a chair over to the shelf and clambered up. “Let’s see what we have here.”

Snitch was horrified. “No! NOT the spell books! Please! Anything but the spell books!”

“Ah, yes, here we are. Just the ticket!” Eargore took down a stack of the old books, blew dust off the top one and handed them to Moribunda.

She took the books from Eargore. “It’s been ages since I’ve had to resort to this kind of evil spell. I’m getting a bit rusty,” she admitted, leafing through several of the books and tossing them aside. “Hmm, these are worthless! Nothing in this one---nothing suitable. This has to be GOOD! …. Ah ha! Here’s a classic! How to Do Away Permanently with a Beautiful Princess, Even if She is Your Niece. Let’s see, rose blight, thorns, pricking fingers, noses falling off---ah, here we are! This one is the perfect spell for her!”

Moribunda squinted into her cauldron. “And while I’m at it, I might put a spell on the Queen so that she can’t smell those roses! I could do something to her nose….let’s see, what can I do?” She continued reading from the spell book, rapidly flipping the pages back and forth. “Ah ha! And here’s the perfect spell for them!”

“You aren’t going to...kill her, are you?” Snitch whispered.

Moribunda cackled. “Kill my sister and niece? Oh no! Here’s the good part! Maybe I’ll put them all to sleep for millions of years, then when they do wake up, Floribunda will be an old hag, all wrinkled and gray and very unattractive, and all the rosebushes will be shriveled up! That’ll show Floribunda who’s the most beautiful! Or, I could do something else. I haven’t decided yet! And as for the Princess---well, I don’t know exactly what I’ll do, but you can be sure I will have something especially evil planned for her.”

“I didn’t want you to actually hurt her!” Snitch cried. “You wouldn’t hurt Princess Primrose, would you?”

Moribunda laughed and it made Snitch’s blood run cold. “What would you suggest I do, Snitch? Send them a flowery little greeting scroll congratulating them on the birthday of their precious pretty Princess Primrose? I’m called wicked for a reason, Snitch!”

“Well, I never really thought about it,” he admitted.

Eargore nodded. “That’s your problem, Snitch. You don’t think!”

“Now when is this party? Speak up!” Moribunda demanded.

“Well, I believe it’s this weekend. What are you going to do?” Snitch asked.

“Don’t you worry yourself what I’m going to do,” replied Moribunda. “So, the party’s this weekend, eh? Then we have no time to waste!” She clapped her hands, “Eargore, help me gather some ingredients. Quickly now!” She pointed to a page in the spell book.  “Let’s try this one, shall we?”

He grinned and nodded. “Yes, madame. Delighted to, madame!” He read the spell all the way through and quickly gathered a number of jars together on the worktable. “I will admit I’ve missed whomping up evil spells and such. It’s been ever so long!” he said as he worked. “Just like the good ol’ days, eh?”

Moribunda rubbed her hands together. “I cannot wait! And a party! What a perfect time for my evil plan to go into effect! Not only will I eliminate that beautiful princess, I’ll also severely tick off my sister the Queen and pay King Rosario back for what he did to me! Everyone will know how wonderfully EVIL I really am!” She cackled and loud thunder boomed through the sky and a fierce wind came up and whistled through the walls of the lair. Lightning crackled and Moribunda cackled. She danced around as she chanted.

“Double trouble, we’ll stir up some trouble!

As the cauldron boils and the ingredients bubble!

I’ll turn my sister’s life into rubble!”

Snitch looked crestfallen. “Oh dear, what have I done now?” he whispered.

END of Chapter One
Purchase this book on Amazon. Available in both e-books and paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Primrose-Curse-Big-Sleep/dp/0944577091

New "Nameless, Texas" Novella coming soon!

Dear Reader-Friends,

Way back in 1999 or 2000, I started my very first cozy mystery about a fiber artist who lives in a small Texas town. This was several years before I wrote LONE STAR DEATH, my historical Texas mystery. Now, 14 years later, I've decided to revisit my first book, polish it and publish it as a novella.

Back then, I had an idea for a sleuth who was a weaver. I'd written a lot about the fiber arts, had a degree in textiles, and was an internationally known "expert" in the field. I had wanted to do some fiction writing for a while, and figured that I'd combine my two interests. This particular story involves natural dyeing with plants---specifically, indigo---in the story line. I had written several how-to books on the craft and grew an extensive dyer's garden of my own.

One of my how-to books written under my previous name, Bobbi A. McRae

Thing is, back then, the popularity of the "occupational" cozy sleuth hadn't come about just yet, and  although publishers were intrigued and somewhat interested, they weren't sure they could sell this idea. I have to laugh at that concept now, because we all know those types of books are very popular.

Lots has happened between there and here in my writing life, and when I finally sat down to revise the story, it seemed  like visiting with some old friends I haven't seen for a while.

Thing is, they aren't old friends. Once I started revising the text, I realized they are the same folks who inhabit my current "Nameless, Texas" short story series.  You'll find Aunt Jewel, Kendra, Jeremy and more. There are a few new ones and some of the relationships have changed, but in general, it's the same place. That tickles me. :-)

I kept the original idea of the story and changed it a bit to fit my Nameless story world. A few  things surprised and amused me--especially the pay phones and film cameras used in the story. They definitely added to the time the sleuth spent chasing around town and waiting for film to be developed, but was easy to fix. 

And since I've been writing a lot of short stories and prefer the shorter length, I decided to make the novel a novella, coming in around 30,000 words. I hope it will appeal to the many readers who like my short story series and the quirky folks who inhabit Nameless, Texas.

So keep an eye peeled for DYE, DYEING, DEAD---coming by the end of July!

(And yes, it's spelled that way on purpose.) :-D

Happy trails,

bobbi c.

Ghoulies and Ghosties and The Woman in Black

I've been reading lots of classic ghost stories lately and decided to finally read THE WOMAN IN BLACK novel.  I saw the movie (with Daniel Radcliffe when it first came out) and loved the story.  I kept hearing rumors that the stage-play version and the book version had different endings, so that intrigued me.

I finished the book last night and sure enough, the ending is different than the movie.  The horror was subtle, but effective, and it was written almost like a Victorian novel. No spoilers, sweetie!  I will say that the book left me with a more upbeat feeling. Now I'm looking forward to getting the stage play and reading it and perhaps seeing it performed someday.

Who's that, sneaking up behind you?

Why all this interest?  I've always loved what I call "light horror" and decided that one of my newest projects will be a ghost story, maybe a novella or in the least, a long short story.  I have written a few short comedy ghost story/sketches, but  nothing as ambitious as a novella.  Let's just say that moving into an old house with strange noises has inspired me. :-)

bobbi c.

May is Short Story Month!

Dear friends,

Those of us who write short stories are glad to see a whole month devoted to them.  We like to think that the short story is undergoing a bit of a renaissance.  In the past, as Anne R. Allen mentions in her blog post from yesterday, The New Golden Age of Short Fiction: 12 Reasons to Write a Short Story This Month, authors have used short stories as practice runs for longer works, such as novels.

But some of us write short stories predominantly, and there are even online groups for authors who do so.  Like the Short Mystery Fiction Society, for example. I'm a proud member of the group.

 One of our members, author Susan Oleksiw, is writing on the SMFS blog today about her experiences in writing short fiction, and the differences in writing short crime fiction vs. the crime novel.

You can read one of Susan's short stories, The Secret of the Pulluvan Drum, free online.

Other members of the SMFS have stories free to read online:

Ben Solomon, The Hard-Boiled Detective, has a story,  No. 3: Simeon Von Runk, here.

Georgia Ruth, has a story titled The Blue Ridge Wreath over on Stupefying Stories.

Other online stories to read or listen to were written by SMFS member Rob Lopresti.

Shanks on the prowl (podcast)
Shanks holds the line
Snake in the Sweetgrass (podcast)
Crow's feat

And here are two dramatizations of his stories by the Midnight Mystery Players:
Crow's avenue
Crow's feat

And a story by Jan Christensen, Why I Quit Jogging. You can find more of Jan's mystery stories on her website.

With the ease of publishing digital e-books now on Amazon for the Kindle and for other devices, many authors are taking matters into their own hands and publishing their own collections of stories.  Many small presses are popping up and publishing anthologies of stories, too.  From science-fiction/fantasy, to mystery/suspense, action-adventure or horror---no matter what you love to read, you can find numerous short story collections out there now.  And many of the classic pulp authors are being re-published, too.

There are lots of new online 'zines that publish short stories, way too many to mention here.  Over the past few years, some of my stories have been published online, free for readers. And many public libraries have special sections for short story collections. Check 'em out!

If the last short story you read was something back in high school, give it a chance again.  They are great for filling in all those "waiting times"---take out your smart phone or Kindle and read a short story.

A few of my short stories that have been published over the past few years are listed through the "Free Macabre & Mystery Short Stories" link above.  I hope you enjoy them!

I  have also published a series of "Nameless, Texas" short mystery stories for sale over on Amazon.

Happy reading!

bobbi c.

Longest short story ever!

Dear friends/fans of mysterious fiction,

Back in 2008, I had a published mystery novel, LONE STAR DEATH, that weighed in around 85,000 words. I wanted to write short stories since I really enjoyed them when I was much younger. I started out with flash fiction and came up with a story of 500 words.  Writing a short story is sometimes harder than writing a novel (yeah it is) because you have to encompass the entire story line in such a small space.

At that time, I thought I'd never be able to write a longer short story.  I wrote a lot of poetry, and of course, it's much shorter.  Over the years, though, I started reading voraciously---collections of mystery and macabre short stories.  I read them online, in older library books, new e-book collections/anthologies I purchased through Amazon for my Kindle and haunted used bookstores for sometimes rare volumes.  Reading those was a huge education for me, and eventually my brain started seeing how I could write longer stories, too.

Eventually, I wrote several stories in the "Nameless, Texas" short story series. These were longer, but not nearly as long as this new one.

So I did.  Yesterday, I finished  a new story that is around 8,550 words.  I did it in four drafts, adding a bit more each time.  And it only took me a month, in addition to all the other writing I'm doing (volunteer work for the local Art Guild, editing friend's work, blogging, e-mails, bits and pieces of my novel in progress, etc.) 

I'm really proud of the story.  I think (and friends agree) that it's the best thing I've written--so far.  "The Passing of Big Mama Mayhall" is a macabre, strange story that could mostly be categorized as Southern Gothic. And maybe a bit "Hitchcockian."   I love it when people tell me my stories are Hitchcockian! :-D

So, writing the story was the FIRST step.  Now I have to decide what to do with it.  I tried not to worry about this while writing the story---that's something I frequently get all jacked up about. Sometimes I write to themes or specific Calls for Submissions, sometimes a line will come to me.  This time, the first line came to me as a bit of dialogue.

"Elsie, honey. I'm so sorry . . . Big Mama has done gone and passed."  From there, the characters started speaking, and the story emerged.

Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

LITTLE RED RIDING BOOTS is coming!

Dear friends,

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of new scripts of my LITTLE RED RIDING BOOTS & COOTER COYOTE, MASTER OF DISGUISE play from Brooklyn Publishers.  This one-act play (great for competitions) was a long time coming, and was based on a children's book I wrote back over ten years ago.  And they say I have no patience.  LOL

(By the way, this play is in NO way associated with the children's picture book that came out last year with the SAME title.  I hate that this happened, but apparently the editor didn't search to make sure the title wasn't already taken.  GRRRR.)

In other news, I ran across a school performance of ANNIERELLA that jazzed me big time.  In Nebraska, this time.  Take a look at the awesome cast photos!

http://southplatteschools.com/one-act.html

Looks like the kids won some One-Act-Play awards for it, too.  Love that!

Yeehaw!

Happy trails from Texas!

bobbi c.

Setting writing goals and a progress report

Dear friends,

I don't usually do a whole "what did I accomplish last year?" thing, but I was prompted by that insanity over on Facebook, where they do a Timeline thing for you. And one of my playwriting groups posts numbers of items subbed and accepted. This is not meant as a brag; I hope it's encouraging for some of you who don't think you have time to write. :-)

Make your own list; you might be surprised. And it might spur you on to doing more in 2014.

I've been a bit down because it feels like I did nothing last year.  Well, other than remodeling the Old House from Hell, participating in the local Art Guild, and tending the garden, that is. I mean, WRITING stuff.  I'm VERY scattered and indecisive. I think I would have done better if I'd been focused. And maybe if I'd set some real goals--that's one thing I didn't really do.

Progress report: last year, I submitted 10 stories/plays/poems and had 3 accepted, including one new play that will be published (ongoing income).  One story is still out. I also had my first mystery story accepted to a "mystery" publication.

I published two novellas (illustrating one of them) and four short stories, launching my "Nameless, Texas" mystery story series. Both of the novellas started out as plays that were written a few years ago.

I finished another new play, it premiered and an older one had four productions.

I wrote over 65 blog posts/articles (most with original photos), thousands of e-mails and several blog interviews for other authors.

It just shows what you can accomplish when you just basically KEEP AT IT. Unfortunately, it also shows how much stuff you actually have to submit to get anywhere.  This doesn't include the bits and pieces of stories, plays and ongoing novels that aren't finished yet. And it doesn't include all the PR stuff.

This year, I'm setting goals, and we'll see if it gets me farther.

Onward, and Happy Trails!

bobbi c.

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.