If anyone following this blog doesn’t know Teagan, she’s a cheerful person with magical touch at writing. She just launched a new book and is stopping by the Mirror on her tour! Congrats Teagan.
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Announcing the Launch of
Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I
Introducing the second “three things” serial, in novel form — Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I.
Yes, that’s the cover. (I love making covers!) I kept it similar to the one for the first serial, The Three Things Serial Story, but with different 1920s photos.
For those of you who are not familiar with my blog serials…
Ages ago I developed a writing exercise. I asked friends to give me three completely random things. Then I would write until I had mentioned all the things. I brought that exercise to my blog (Teagan’s Books), but I had the readers send me their things. I let the random things drive every detail of a serial story, setting, plot, and characters. That resulted in The Three Things Serial Story, which gave birth to this culinary mystery. However, this time the “things” are food related — or ingredients.
About the Book
As with the first serial, Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I is a spontaneously written, pantser story. I wrote by the seat of my pants and let the “ingredients” readers sent each week drive a new serial story. This is the “bookized” version of that serial.
This time the Jazz Age setting is Savannah, Georgia where our flapper, Pip, is “sentenced” to live with her grandmother and learn to cook. Pip gets caught up in a layered mystery that includes bootleggers, G-men, and the varied challenges of being a young woman in changing times. She meets new friends, including some animal characters.
If you have not read The Three Things Serial Story, be warned. This adventure contains a bit of a spoiler, but does not go into detail about it.
Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I is available through and Amazon and Create Space. If you don’t have a Kindle, Amazon also offers a free app that will let you read Kindle books on your computer or other device. The purchase links are below. But first, here’s a snippet.
In my imagination, a young Lucille Ball would play Pip.
Excerpt
Rutabaga Limbo
Either I woke up feeling horribly nauseated, or the queasiness woke me. I’m not sure which. I opened my eyes to complete darkness. There was no light, no sound. The way my stomach tossed reminded me of a small boat on the ocean. It was as if I sailed in a lightless limbo.
Oh… that was a bad train of thought to have with an unsettled belly.
Think of something else! Anything else, I told myself.
I stood unsteadily. The sound of a cricket came to me. Good. The utter silence had been very disturbing. I became aware of the cool moist earth beneath my palms.
Where the Sam Hill was I?
I sat back on my heels, focusing all my senses. My eyes might as well have been closed — it was that dark. Bare ground was beneath me. The air had a musty odor. A sickly sweet scent clung to my bobbed hair.
The cricket’s chirping was the only sound. Still sitting, I turned. My eyes widened and strained, trying to see in that heavy darkness. When I looked up I was rewarded with the sight of a thin line of pink light.
The faint glow allowed me to see vague outlines a few feet away. I stumbled over something and stooped down to let my hands figure out what it was. I felt a burlap bag and round lumps. Rutabagas? I felt around and found another bag. That one felt like potatoes. I moved closer to the wall and a tall shape. Yes, a ladder, my questing hands confirmed for my still foggy brain.
Gazing up at the line of pinkish light I realized I was in a root cellar.
But how did I get there?
***
Purchase Links
Amazon Canada:
Kindle
Amazon Australia:
Kindle
Amazon Japan:
Kindle
Author Bio
Image by Chris Graham
Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, a southerner by birth, was “enchanted” by the desert southwest of the USA when she moved there. Now a resident of a major east coast city, she longs to return to those enchanting lands.
Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.
Her work is colored by her experiences in both the southern states and the southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes 1920s stories and Steampunk. Her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers.
You can also visit me at:
Amazon Author Page
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
LinkedIn
This was one of the posts this week I usually have tried to catch up on, Diana.
Hello again to Teagan! Congratulations on this fascinating choice of taking three random items or elements to tell a story, with mysterious happenings.
I do wonder how the character Pip ended up in the root cellar!? 😊
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Thanks very much! Pip has adventure before and after the root cellar. It’s a fun ride.
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Thanks for the visit, Robin. Teagan has a very creative way to come up with inspiration! Have a great week, my friend. ❤
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Sounds like a great read (well, anything about rutabaga has to be good 😀 ) Good luck, Teagan!
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Thanks for stopping by to cheer Teagan on, Julie. Happy Writing 🙂
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Rutabagas rock, Julie, and that was just one of many “ingredients” that guided the story. 😀 Thanks for your good wishes. You’re the bee’s knees.
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Best of luck with the new release Teagan… Beautiful feature, Diana… Sending love to both of you! ⭐
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Thanks for the visit, Aquileana. And yes, great luck to Teagan with the new book. 😀
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Thank you so very much, Aquileana. I appreciate your encouragement. Hugs!
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So lovely to see such amazing support for Teagan’s newest release. Thanks for sharing, Diana. And best wishes for continues success, Teagan!
Cheers to you both! 🙂
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Teagan knows how to launch a book, Natalie! I’ve learned just from watching her. Thanks for the visit!
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Diana, I’m sputtering… Thank you, but you are the role model! Thank you again for hosting me. Hugs.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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Hi Natalie. I’ve been happily overwhelmed by the response to the launch. (I thought 5 people might volunteer — if I was lucky.) 😀 Thanks for your encouraging words. You’re the berries!
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It’s wonderful, Teagan! Cheers! 🙂
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Looking forward to reading this, Teagan. You know I love a mystery with food!
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Ha ha. The food is a nice touch. Thanks for visiting, Noelle. 😀
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Hi Noelle. It might inspire your culinary creativity. I couldn’t use the recipes I had in the blog posts, but I listed ingredients for dishes (every other chapter or so). You’re the berries! Hugs.
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Wonderful snippet! I love southern literature and the jazz age. Great cover also, congrats to Teagan.
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Thank you Lana. I appreciate this feedback too. You’re the berries!
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Very welcome, Teagan!
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Teagan and you both write charming small town characters, Lana. I never get tired of reading them. Thanks for the visit!
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Diana, nice to see Teagan’s book launch here. I’m reading the book & it’s a culinary treat. Happy week! 🌷Christine
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Christine you gave me a huge smile. I’m delighted you’re enjoying the book. I appreciate all your support. You’re the bee’s knees!
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Thanks Christine. I’m glad you’re enjoying the story. Teagan has a great imagination and her books are loads of fun. 🙂
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Just added this one to my kindle, Teagan! Shared Diana’s post on Twitter & FB and from Amazon book page as well. Looking forward to another fun read from you! 🙂 xo
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Yay! You are so kind, Bette. Huge thanks for sharing! It’s a wild and crazy ride for Pip and friends. You’re the cat’s meow!
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Can’t wait! ❤ xo
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Wonderful, Bette. Thanks so much for sharing. I hope you enjoy Teagan’s entertaining work. 🙂
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Hello Teagan, so lovely to see you over here at Diana’s wonderful blog. Hope the book tour is going really well.
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Thanks for stopping by, Robbie. 🙂 It’s a pleasure to host Teagan today.
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It is indeed, Robbie. With pos-i-lutely wonderful hosts like Diana, and marvelous supporters like you! I appreciate all your visits. You really are the cat’s pajamas!
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What an incredible idea for a writing prompt! I’m so impressed that Teagan can cobble together something so compelling out of other people’s random things! Thanks for sharing, Diana!
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You are so very kind. I have a blast rolling along with the “things” (or ingredients). Then I suddenly realize that I have to connect all the things… that’s the hard part. 😉
Okay Amy… since you said “challenge” here ya go. Write (anything) until you’ve mentioned these 3 things: Henpecked, carpet, pothole. 😉
Huge congratulations on the release of Highland Peril! Hugs.
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Thank you!
And here you go: My cat felt henpecked to the point where he licked a hole the size of a pothole in my carpet.
True story.
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LOL. Oh no! Poor kitty. 🐱 I doubt many people could string all those “things” into one sentence. Well done. Hugs.
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😀
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Thanks for stopping by, Amy. It is amazing and Teagan’s created some wonderful stories this way. Happy Writing!
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Nice to meet you Teagan. Fascinating book covers and clever way to write. I may steal it for my students.
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Lovely to meet you too, Jacqui. It’s a fun exercise, though admittedly difficult to make a book of it. So let me challenge you. Write (anything) until you’ve mentioned these 3 things: a chipped plate, a stripe (or stripes), lava. 😉 Hugs!
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😀
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What a lovely comment, Jacqui. Thanks so much for the visit. I hope you enjoy the book. 🙂
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It’s always great to hear about a good book. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks for taking time to comment. Hugs.
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Thanks for visiting, Bridget. I like Teagan’s whimsical writing and it’s a pleasure to host her launch. 🙂
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A wonderful interview Diana. Teagan inspires and amazes me with her creativity. Maybe she’ll do a muse post! 🙂
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Thank you kindly, Brad. With Diana’s wonderful muse post (and now yours) and the others that resulted, I begin to wonder what’s wrong with me… I’ve never had an image of my muse — if I even have one. (That could explain my slowness in writing, and how work leaves me drained of the will to do anything including write…) Maybe my muse is the invisible man…
Hugs.
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Google fantasy images, Teagan, and perhaps a muse will pick YOU! But beware, once they show up, they’re hard to get rid of. 🙂
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LOL. Warning taken. Looking at fantasy images is always a delight. Especially Michael Whelan’s work… ❤
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I hope you find your muse Teagan. I bet she’s lurking about waiting for a proper invitation or fun faerie party!
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Oh horsefeathers… Brad, you may have just put a motorcycle riding faery muse in my head. (I was writing a grand entrance for some “scary faeries” when I read this!) Heaven help me. A biker muse…
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😀
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Fun! Your creativity is inspiring. Ride like the wind! 🙂
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Wouldn’t that be fun? I would love to meet her muse! Thanks for stopping by, Brad. I hope you find that missing muse somewhere. 😀
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Thanks Diana. Yes, I’d love to meet Teagan’s muse too and am grateful that mine seems to be poking about. 🙂
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Dear Diana, Thank you so very much for hosting my launch. I was delighted that you wanted to space out the posts. Your timing was perfect. I appreciate the wonderful introduction too. I’ve been sharing this everywhere. You are pos-i-lutely the cat’s pajamas!
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You are so welcome. Please stop by over the next couple days to visit with some wonderful friends. It’s a lot of fun. Have a great week!
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Reblogged this on Creative Writing Reblogged.
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Thanks for sharing, Devereaux. Teagan’s writing is whimsical and magical and great fun. 🙂 Have a great week, my friend.
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Pleased to meet you Devereaux. Many thanks!
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It’s great to learn more about Teagan. Congratulations on her release!
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Many thanks for taking time to visit, Jill. You’re the bee’s knees!
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🙂
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Thanks for the visit, Jill. She’s a fun writer and it’s a pleasure to help with her launch. 🙂
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Thank you Diane, I am way behind in my reading but this looks like a must. Congrats to you Teagan! 🙂
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I’m buried in books, Holly. I pick up two for every one I read, but in the scope of things it’s not such a terrible problem. 🙂 Thanks for visiting, my friend. ❤
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All our problems should be of this nature! ❤
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You’re so kind, Holly. Thank you for commenting. I like to think the book is a fun quirky ride. Hugs.
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It sounds like fun, I must go and get it Teagan. I’m very happy for you, you should be very proud! Hugs back.
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It’s really great to see Teagan making the rounds, Diana. Best of luck with it all, Teagan!
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I know. She’s been everywhere and I feel late to the party. Ha ha. I’m thrilled to have her here. Thanks so much for swinging by, Kev. 🙂
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My pleasure, Diana… I feel the same way. Lol
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Thanks so much Kev. Diana — I’m delighted for this launch to make spaced stops! You’re both wonderful.
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Very interesting and inspiring post. Great ideas, so creative. An excellent share.
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Thanks for the visit. Teagan is wonderfully creative, and I’m happy to be part of her launch. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Yes, thank you!
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That’s so kind of you. It’s a unique way of writing, but I tried to make it fun for everyone. Hugs.
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Have my copy and hoping to get to it soon!
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Oh good, Teri. She’s a fun writer and I love her whimsical style. Thanks for stopping by!
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Yay! I hope you enjoy it Teri. I think you’ll like where the “ingredients” took me at the ending. 😉 You’re the cat’s pajamas!
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It’s wonderful to find out more about Teagan! Thanks for sharing, D 🙂
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You’re welcome, Nicholas. She’s pretty magical. Happy Writing!
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Thank you kindly, Nicholas. You’re the berries!
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Thanks for sharing anothet brillieant writer…😊
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I can attest personally to her talent. 🙂 Thanks for the visit, my friend. Have a great day.
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You are so kind. Thank you for commenting. Hugs.
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
D. Wallace Peach’s great review of “Murder at the Bijou” by Teagan Geneviene
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Thanks for the visit, Suzanne. It’s a pleasure having Teagan over to share her latest book 🙂
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Suzanne, you’re the bee’s knees! Thanks for reblogging.
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That was amazing, I’m definitely intrigued. Great excerpt!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kristen. Teagan is a wonderful writer brimming with imagination. Have a lovely day. 🙂
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I’m pos-i-lutely delighted that you are intrigued, Kristen. Thanks for visiting. Hugs.
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Congrats Teagan. It was a very fun read 🙂
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Thanks for the cheers, Joanne. Have a lovely day, my friend. ❤
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Oh you already finished! (I’m such a slow reader…
) Heartfelt thanks, Joanne. You’re the cat’s pajamas.
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Are you kidding me?! I was reading every spare minute I had .. and I actually forgot about the excerpt you provided in your post until I came across it in the book thinking it “sounded familiar”. Duh! 🙂
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Joanne — you’ve just made me clear the Wednesday “hump!” What a huge smile your comment gave me! “Rutabaga Limbo” actually came from a week where nobody sent me “things.” I was feeling in limbo because of it, and rutabaga was just random. Great big hug!
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Good morning, Diana and Congrats to Teagan. 🎉
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Thanks, Mary. Good Morning to you too. ❤
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Many thanks Mary. I hope you’re doing well. You’re the berries!
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Great book! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for stopping by, Dan. 🙂
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You’re so kind to visit, Dan. Huge thanks!
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