I'm a bit on the late side for posting on a Sunday, but my daughter arrived this morning and made Fathers' Day brunch for us. Then we spent the better part of the day talking about life, wedding plans, writing, movies, and TV serials. It was a great way to celebrate being a father. I hope you have had a good day, too, whether you are a father or not.
Turns out that I've been watching a lot of quest-based serials on Netflix. Shadow and Bone, The Untamed, and most recently The Shannara Chronicles. Those are the top of my "Continue Watching" list, but there are probably a dozen others. There's a reason I've been watching so many quests.
Jackie the Beanstalk.
I'm ten chapters into writing this new story and half the time I'm laughing. The other half, I'm thinking "How do I get her out of this one?"
Jackie is a fresh high school graduate, still in her cap and gown when she is given the keys to her grandfather's 1968 Ford Fairlane 500 Fastback 390. Jackie, her Aunt Misty, and her dog Roadkill jump in the car and take off following an old fashioned TripTik map into an alternate dimension. In this new dimension, Jackie is a Warrior Wizard encountering robbers, mountain monsters, ogres, rival clans, obstreperous customs officials, a stowaway princess, an adopted bobcat kitten, werewolves, ghosts, giants, and dragons--all on her way to rescuing the Sovereign's kidnapped son. As she travels, she discovers her magic powers, and the powers of all the weapons she carries--her cap and gown, honor cords, stole, basketball, and things she picks up along the way--including a pocketful of magic beans.
Probably not a children's story, because there is some language and adult jokes, but a fun read for adults who like to read YA novels. I'll release it as a Wayzgoose story sometime in July. I expect to finish the first draft in the next couple of weeks!
That's life in this corner of the world. Hope you are all well!