Back at my old publisher, we worked a lot with themes where five stories , each author’s unique interpretation of an idea, were released together at a special price. We’d begun working on a group of tales based on the titles of Rolling Stones songs from the 1960s and 70’s. My choice was Jumping Jack Flash. Sadly, that house closed before the group could be released and my story sat unfinished for several weeks.
After I joined Changeling, I decided to complete the story and send it in. Like my work so often does, I started out with a vague idea and the scene which became the prologue. Before I quite new it, the darn story just took the bit in its teeth and stampeded off in ways I had no idea would become part of it! In the end, it became semi-rural fantasy too–it starts in Arkansas and moves to Arizona. There are elves involved again, or in this case Sidhe, the Irish traditional faire folk who are of the same basic race. You will get to meet a fascinating guy with an amazing knife act for carnivals, a very ordinary guy who is not so ordinary after all and some nasty little critters that are kind of like smurfs gone bad!
Shortly after I mentioned my tale and its inspiration on some of Changelings yahoo groups, they decided an ongoing series of Stones’ inspired stories would be great. The series is called Set in Stone and after Jumping Jack Flash you will be able to read some more tales by favorite Changeling authors, all with familiar songs as their titles.
Here is the link; the story won’t be available until July 29th, but that is where it will be. http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2484
The blurb follows and the cover which just hit my inbox!!
Yes, that s Jack!
Blurb:
Born to a carnival mother, Jack never knew his father. His mother died when he was in his teens leaving him to fend for himself. However Jack is not without skills and smarts. He perfects a knife and sword act where he keeps himself safe by making the steel blades go exactly where he wants them. Getting his GED and working to educate himself while keeping up his carnival act leaves him no time for a social life but he’s been too busy to miss it.
Doug comes from a very ordinary middle class background but his parents sent him to college and he now has a good but boring job in the new information technology. Although razzed about being gay while in high school, he has come to terms with his sexuality but has not found Mr. Right. When a druggie loser boyfriend moves out, he’s lonely and hurt. Looking for distraction, he goes to a carnival. There he sees and is enthralled by red headed, mercurial Jack, the opposite of everything Doug is and knows. But how can two men with such widely different lives find common ground on which to build a bond?
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