Celebrating the release of my alter ego's new book, Jackie the Beanstalk. The Wayzgoose novel posted the first chapter here on SOL, so you can read happily. Don't miss the review by gmbusman here on SOL: https://storiesonline.net/library/get_review.php?id=25541
Here's the story blurb:
Tall skinny Jackie is a fresh 18-year-old high school graduate, still in her cap and gown, when she is given the keys to her grandfather's 1968 Ford Fairlane 500 Fastback. Jackie, her 25-year-old 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 parallel universe, 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.
This "fractured fairy tale" takes place in a folk tale reality where you'll almost recognize the world we live in and fairy tales you read as a child-monsters, ogres, giants, werewolves, and ghosts! Oh, my!
Hope you'll join us for a fun ride with Jackie, Aunt Misty, Roadkill, and Shasta. And Princess. And Freedom. And others.
Are you confused yet? Here's my disclaimer or whatever you want to call it.
I've had a couple of messages regarding confusion over my names. Me, too. Pixel the Cat got tired of addressing me by my aliases and just changed my email name to 'Whatever'. So, in full disclosure, I have three identities on SOL.
aroslav: my original identity under which I have released some 48 stories here.
Wayzgoose: the identity that I had in other online forums where "serious authors" are recognized. I've posted 15 stories on SOL under the name Wayzgoose.
J-Hop: the identity I adopted so I could publish a story under the name of the leading character in aroslav's Transmogrification of Jacob Hopkins series.
It is challenging to keep the voices in my head separated. But wait. There's more.
In the world of commercial publishing, people generally use names rather than avatars. The published name of aroslav is Devon Layne. The published name of Wayzgoose is Nathan Everett.
So, when you see my works on Bookapy, they won't be by aroslav or Wayzgoose. They will be by Devon Layne and Nathan Everett. I know it can be confusing, but the world is not a simple place.
Speaking of which, I managed to make the trip across Washington with only a bit of smoke around the gorge. Since getting here, I've spray painted lawn furniture, carted firewood, walked dogs, and commiserated with the other parent. And we practiced walking up the garden path together. (Only the Princess of Wales had a longer wedding march.) Then we had to go shopping for wedding clothes for Dad. And shoes today. Even my sister is getting into the game by sitting here hemming my ex-wife's dress.
And a week from today, my little baby girl will get married. While her father is a sniveling wreck. I need to finally finish my posts for today and go out to spray paint the iron fence.
Up, up, and away!