Alien Beer

Ep. 1 - Alien Beer

Hello and welcome to Alien Beer! This is a podcast where I will read my science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk stories to you. This first installment is the title story, "Alien Beer" which is also the first story in my short story collection, Alien Beer and Other Stories, from which I will be reading stories weekly.

Bonus 1 - Road Ghosts Audiobook Chapter One

This bonus episode is the first chapter of Four 'til Late, the first book in my Road Ghosts series. Except it's not me reading this time, it's Sean Duregger, the talented narrator of my Road Ghosts Omnibus audiobook (available on Amazon/Audible). Even this one chapter is a story in itself. I hope you enjoy it.

Free audiobook codes of Road Ghosts for review, available until they're gone:

https://audiobooksunleashed.com/product/road-ghosts-omnibus-edition/

Ep. 2 - A Bone To Pick

This story is based vaguely on my "past life" as a ghost hunter, except from an alternate point of view.

 

Content Warning: Reference to anxiety, loss of agency, bones.

Ch 1. The Multiverse Blues - Crossroads

 

In this, the premiere episode of The Multiverse Blues, we meet Jules, who's chasing a cat down a rabbit-hole to myriad 'verses!

Welcome to my new science fiction serial, The Multiverse Blues! I have had this idea rolling around in my head for a few years, or rather just a concept: Space Roadie. I put it dutifully in my Story Ideas file and have revisited a few times here and there to add some thoughts. But upon starting this podcast, I had a flash: what if the "Space Roadie" doesn't join an alien pop star's entourage. What if instead they travel through networked inter-dimensional gates to alternate realities? It could be an extension of the concept from my Reality Check novel, and I could visit strange, new worlds without the need for a spaceship.

 

The idea of a serial has appealed to me for awhile, since I am somewhat of a pantser, that is, I write by the seat of my pants. Okay, guilty admission, I DO outline for longer works, but it's sketchy at best, because I like my stories to grow organically. The podcast format, like old radio shows, seems to me to be an ideal medium for such an endeavor, so I am taking the challenge of writing another episode every two weeks, with my flash and short stories in between.

To be continued in Episode Two in two weeks. I welcome comments on The Multiverse Blues on Podbean, on my sillyhatbooks.com website, and on social media. My contact info is on sillyhatbooks.com/about.

Bonus 2 - Blue Spirit Chapter One

This bonus episode is the first chapter of my Tipsy Fairy Tales novel, Blue Spirit. Stephanie Estes is the narrator, and she does a wonderful job channeling Skye, the main character. The Blue Spirit audiobook may be found on Amazon/Audible. 

Ep. 3 - Moby Me

This week, I present a flash story I wrote in 2013 for the late, great Iron Writer Challenge. This story of mad science is one of my favorites from that competition.

About half of the stories in this book were originally written for The (late, great) Iron Writer Challenge, a website and a community of folks who became good friends and adversaries in competing to craft 500 word stories using 4 elements -- written in just 4 days. I wrote the following story for The Iron Writer Challenge in July 2013 for the Summer Solstice Challenge. The challenge demanded that we use these four elements: An Electric Flying Bicycle, a Doppelgänger, Atlantis, and an obscure Black & White Television Drama/Comedy. My story finished dead last against 3 other past Iron Writer winners, who were worthy opponents. But one author friend told me that this story is what made her a fan of my writing, so winning isn't everything.

Ch 2. The Multiverse Blues - Ramblin' on My Mind

The Multiverse Blues is a science fiction serial spanning many alternate realities.

In this episode, Jules meets the crew of Hope's Tour as they load up to head to Gamma Earth through the Archnet gate. 

Bonus 3 - Trans-Continental - Girl in the Gears Chapter One

The concept for Trans-Continental came to me in a dream. In that dream, a trans woman protagonist and her Artful Dodger-like companion flew their airship from place to place, having adventures together in the steampunk world I wrote about in Reality Check. I was so excited about this idea, I got up from bed at 2:30 in the morning and scribbled what I could remember down on my grocery list. When I found the notes in the morning, I dropped the writing project I had going already and started what would become Trans-Continental: Girl in the Gears. Eventually, I commissioned internet talk show host Angel Clark to do the narration of the audiobook. And now I'd like to share with you the first chapter from that book, and the beginning of the famous friendship of Ida and Duffy.

Ep. 4 - A Tale of Two Laundries

This sequel to "Moby Me" was written nearly four years afterwards, in 2017. What can I say, I have fun with the "mad scientist" trope.

Ch 3. The Multiverse Blues - Stones in My Passway

Previously on The Multiverse Blues: Jules starts their job as part of the crew of Hope's Tour. They meet the other members of the interdimensional rock star's crew; stage manager Harlan, general manager Marcy Davenport, drummer Dribbler, bass and backup singer Babs, and enchanting alien singing sensation Hope herself. Just about to pass through the Arch to Gamma Earth, Jules and the crew are stopped for inspection by Beta Earth's dreaded TSA. Jules does not have an interdimensional passport.

Ep. 7 - Personal Space

When I wrote this story in 2014, I couldn't have pictured our current pandemic lockdown. I decided to post this episode earlier than it appears in my Alien Beer and Other Stories anthology because of its timely topic -- social isolation. In Trog's case, the cause is supernatural, rather than viral.

--

Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to you anywhere, anytime. The idea for "A Bone to Pick" came as I drove into work, and I was forced to call my own phone to leave a voicemail so I'd remember it later. This one came as I was walking in a cemetery, enjoying the view from the highest point, and was approached by a sweet girl with none of the usual caution you'd expect her to have around strangers. The main character of this story isn't me, but I have social awkwardness that approaches superpower levels at times; which is why the smile and high-five from a stranger was especially touching. I wish making connections, however brief, was always that easy and heartwarming.

Ch 4. The Multiverse Blues - Last Fair Deal Gone Down

The Multiverse Blues is a science fiction serial spanning many alternate realities.

In this episode, the crew of Hope's Tour introduces Jules to the retro 'verse of Gamma Earth and its hazards.

Ep. 5 - The Spark

This was a story that originated in late 2014 as a self-challenge: to write a short story set in one of the universes featured in my novel Reality Check. It kicked off the beginnings of a sequel to that book, which sadly became too tangled to finish. Never fear, I have a better idea for how the sequel should go, and you get to enjoy this as the original stand-alone project it was intended to be.

This is also the universe in which The Multiverse Blues takes place. 

Ch 5. The Multiverse Blues - I Believe I'll Dust My Broom.mp3

This episode finds Jules and the others in Hope's crew scrambling after an unexpected turn of events with Smiley and his men, and then on to New Louie for their concert in the Gamma 'verse.

 

When I started The Multiverse Blues serial, I made sure I had at least a couple of episodes written and recorded before they aired, giving me a cushion of time to work on the next episodes so I wouldn't fall behind. Given the current situation of pandemic lockdown, you'd think I'd have even more time to get ahead of things, right? Wrong. I've been working my day job from home, so the only extra time I've gotten has been from not commuting, and not socializing, other than the occasional Zoom meetup. When I've had downtime, I've found myself sapped of energy, not feeling as creative as I needed to be.

So, this episode is a bit fresher than usual, having been written and recorded within a week of broadcast. I have the next one started, at least, along with plans for where it's going after that.

Bonus 4 - Speakeasy

For this bonus episode, I have a special guest reading. My wife Amy Garrison wrote a fun bit of microfiction that I thought might make a topical bonus for the podcast. I envy her reading voice.

Ep. 6 - Moonlight Blossom

For the Iron Writer Challenge in January 2015, I took on the following elements: Botticelli, a tiger lily, long hair, and steampunk goggles. The latter two elements demanded that I write a story involving my heroine Ida Stillwell, from my Trans-Continental steampunk books. It turned out to be an origin story that I decided was canon.

Ch 6. The Multiverse Blues - 32-20 Blues

Jules and the crew of Hope's Tour find themselves beset by xenophobic protesters as they set up for a show at the New Louie Coliseum in the Gamma Earth 'verse.

Before I begin, I'd like to talk about the masks the Gamma Earth people wear. I didn't write them into the story because of the masks we're wearing because of the pandemic; Not many people were wearing them at the time I started that part. Funny enough, I saw an article today that some men are refusing to wear floral patterned homemade masks if that's all that are available. A friend who makes masks for others commented on the article. She said she'd initially made only plain white masks and was told by some women that they'd buy from her when she had something prettier to offer. I guess I called it.

Ep. 8 - Killer Cure

"Killer Cure" was my very first Iron Writer story. I wrote it for the third-ever Challenge, in March 2013, using these four elements: A failed superhero, a piano, a boat propeller and a Chechem/Chaka tree. My story won against two other Iron Writer participants, though their stories were quite good. It was such fun to write, it makes me wonder why I don't do more superhero stories.

Ch 7. The Multiverse Blues - Phonograph Blues

When alien rock star Hope fails to show up for her own concert, Jules must spring into action to find out what's behind her disappearance; they make a startling discovery.

Ep. 9 - Spectral Delivery

"Spectral Delivery" started life in early 2013 as a sample story to serve as introduction to my Road Ghosts Trilogy. Its chronological place in the series is somewhere between the second book, Sinking Down, and the third one, Me and the Devil, but it's meant to stand alone, and contains no real spoilers. The story is included as a part of The Road Ghosts Omnibus and is read wonderfully in the audiobook by Sean Duregger. I'm not including his reading here on the podcast. If you'd prefer his professional reading over this free "read by the author", then you'll have to buy the audiobook. You should anyway, it's worth it for Sean's amazing reading of three books and this short story.

It's told from the point of view of Enid, who's an outsider to the supernatural adventures of Brett, Gonzo, and their friends, but she ended up charming me enough that I revisited her in "Christmas Special", which is later in the Alien Beer stories series.

P.S. I used to deliver pizzas for a living; the Hey Dudes are real.

Ch 8. The Multiverse Blues - From Four Till Late

The show must go on! After the attack, the crew of Hope's Tour gives the people of New Louie on Gamma Earth what they came for -- a most unusual rock and blues concert!

Ep. 10 - Nightmare In Frills

For Halloween 2014, I joined a bunch of writer friends in a sort of blog-based celebration of the holiday in an event called the Coffin Hop. I asked for story elements from those friends, and this is what they came up with: Axel Howerton: peanut butter; Lori Michelle: a dead bush; Katie John: Doll’s pram; Julianne Snow: styrofoam plates. My absolute idol in the flash fiction format is the late Fredric Brown, and his collection of tiny stories, Nightmares and Geezenstacks, served as inspiration for the title and creepy style of this particular story.

 

Content Warning: Loss of agency.

Ch 9 - The Multiverse Blues - Hellhound On My Trail

Following the attacks in Delta Earth, Hope's Tour beat a hasty retreat through the New Louie Arch, moving on towards Delta Earth. In this episode, the crew looks to Hope for leadership in the face of deadly danger.

Before I begin this particular episode, I want to thank my listeners for following my stories. I would love to hear from you on Twitter or Facebook, especially if you have comments or questions about the road so far. I'd love to know who your favorite characters are, who you might be shipping with each other, and what you'd like to see happen in future episodes.

Our own 'verse (Beta Earth Prime) has been an extra hard place for everyone since I began this podcast journey in February 2020; I hope my escape to other worlds has helped some of you cope. For me, it's been a big help to me to have this project as a focus.

Ep. 11 - Shelby

The energy for writing can come from many places. Sometimes it's for the sheer joy of it. Sometimes it's the adrenaline rush of an external, or self-imposed deadline approaching, other times it's the siren call of the Muse, demanding that a particular story be written. This one was none of those. I was angry at the world, and I used my writing as outlet for it. I fueled my creativity with fury, and it turned out to also be good therapy at the same time. I wrote it in early 2014, but it didn't find this final form, and title, until almost a year and a half later.

Content Warning: Loss of agency, bullying, confinement.

Special Episode - The Gate

For those of you expecting this week to be an episode of The Multiverse Blues, well, thank you for noticing. I have gotten behind on writing the serial, so this week, I'm giving you a special behind the scenes look at something that's never before been published, and only read by one or two others before. It is a bit of the attempt I made at writing a sequel to Reality Check, my science fiction novel that my Trans-Continental books and The Multiverse Blues spun off of. If you haven't read Reality Check, but plan to, I will warn you that this may contain spoilers.

It isn't the first time I've taken something from the stalled Reality Check sequel. Episode 5 of this podcast, The Spark, was also from that false start, and like this episode, was too good to just put in a trunk. It answers a question left hanging at the end of Reality Check, and it shows part of the history of "The Dionnes" and the eventual Arch Network in the Multiverse Blues.

And now, allow me to present for the first time, "The Gate"!

Ch 10 - The Multiverse Blues - Love in Vain

Last time on The Multiverse Blues: Hope's Tour travelled through the Arch linking Gamma Earth to Delta Earth. The crew debated what to do about the recent targeted attacks, and discussed Jules' mysterious female double from Achse.

Now, as they pass into glitzy Delta Earth, the crew looks forward to staying in a luxury hotel, and a risky scheduled show before making their move to shake pursuit.

--

I am excited to announce that by the time you hear this, the Alien Beer Podcast will have been downloaded a THOUSAND times! Since this is my 26^th episode, that's nearly FORTY downloads per episode on average! Thank you all so much for listening to me tell my science fiction stories!

As a way to thank you, I have set the Kindle edition of my science fiction novel Reality Check to FREE for the next five days, from July 2^nd, 2020 through July 6^th, 2020! In addition, I am giving away a signed paperback copy of the book. To enter the drawing, post about the Alien Beer Podcast to social media and take a screenshot and send it to me at ecg at sillyhatbooks.com. I will roll dice to determine the winner, which I'll announce on my July 9^th episode!

The Multiverse Blues and my Trans-Continental books were spun off of Reality Check, so I think it should be of interest to regular listeners. Even if you miss this promotion, I encourage you to get a copy for yourself.

For a link to the book, and details, go to sillyhatbooks.com/rcfree

Ep. 12 - Stranger Danger

The Iron Writer Challenge, 2015 Summer Solstice Preliminary Round had some really weird elements. A time clock; ice cream; a parachute; told from POV of an alien on the planet Nibiru, as the Nibiru enters our solar system. Nibiru technology is not greater or worse than Earth's. I'll say, it was difficult to think of ways to connect the elements, and still make a story that didn't sound completely random. I hope you enjoy what I came up with.

Ch 11. - The Multiverse Blues - Honeymoon Blues

Sometimes, you just need time to yourself, even when you're in the best of company. In this episode of The Multiverse Blues, Jules takes a break from the crew of Hope's Tour, venturing out to explore Delta Earth alone. Unexpected company has a way of turning up at the strangest of times. Which is why Jules finds themself visiting with someone from their past, and someone very familiar indeed. Will the call of even more adventure be too much for Jules? Listen to this episode to find out!

 

 

Ep. 13 - Seelie Goose

I wrote this story in the summer of 2014 as a submission for, and was published in, the Seventh Star Press anthology, A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court. It is a tie-in to my Tipsy Fairy Tales series, between Blue Spirit and Restless Spirit. It takes place during the time when Skye was borrowed by R.J. Sullivan for his novel, Virtual Blue. I figured since Minnie didn't make an appearance in that book, I wanted to write about her solo adventures in Bloomington, Indiana. On her own, Minnie gets into as much trouble as Skye, but without anyone to bail her out. 

 

Have you ever wondered what Hope, the alien singer in The Multiverse Blues looks like? I have commissioned artwork depicting her, and will be sharing it with you very soon!

Interview With Mariah Powell of Hobbies Include:Writing

This week, we'll be doing something a little different. I was invited to do a mutual interview with my fellow fiction podcaster, Mariah Powell, who is the host of Hobbies Include: Writing. It turned out our projects have a lot in common, so we decided to sit down and have a chat about what we've been up to, and why.

 

Rest assured, dear listeners, The Multiverse Blues will return next week, with a new episode, but for now, I hope you enjoy this peek behind the scenes of the Alien Beer Podcast and hopefully check out Hobbies Include: Writing.

Ch 12. - The Multiverse Blues - Dead Shrimp Blues

Exploring a new place on your own can give you a feeling of independence and excitement. However, when that new place is an alternate dimension, and you run into people who are almost—but not quite—the same people you know back home, things can get a little dicey. In this episode of The Multiverse Blues, Jules gets to find out what impersonating themself in another life feels like. They also make a startling discovery.

 

 

Have you ever wondered what Hope, the alien singer in The Multiverse Blues looks like? I have commissioned artwork depicting her, and will be sharing it with you very soon!

Ep 14 - Sweets and Strangers

First, some announcements.

I've been teasing for a few weeks about giving you a look at what the alien diva Hope looks like. Well, wait no longer, I have posted my artist friend Kirsten Jacobus's beautiful rendition of her on The Multiverse Blues page on my website! Just visit https://sillyhatbooks.com/tmb and click on the picture to expand it. You can see Kirsten's other work on Deviantart at http://lunaseas.deviantart.com/

Ten years in the making, Mean Spirit, the last book in my Tipsy Fairy Tales Trilogy, is now available on amazon.com! The trilogy tells the story of gamer girl Skye, who has one foot in the fairy realm. Except, they don't like being called fairies. See more about Skye and the Tipsy Fairy tales on my website, https://sillyhatbooks.com, under the "fiction" tab.

---

Here's a second story I did for the 2014 Coffin Hop, based on elements given me by other participants in that Halloween event.

Here’s what they came up with: Nina D’Arcangela supplied an image of a wrought iron lantern cage; D.D. Syrdal: Staircase; Armand Rosamilla: M&Ms; Clarissa Johal: Bed sheets.

Ch 13. - The Multiverse Blues - Sweet Home Chicago

On the run! When Jules is asked for help by a prisoner of the Delta Arch Authority, they can't say no, and the two set out against the odds to make an escape. Can Jules help the prisoner escape, without becoming a prisoner themself?

 

Last time on The Multiverse Blues: Jules set out to follow their doppelganger's directions, using preprogrammed Specs. Along the way, they run into Delta Earth's version of their fiancée, Samantha, and get a glimpse into their double's life in this 'verse. After some delays and tricky situations, Jules finds the secret their twin wanted them to find: a captive Tristellian like Hope, named Coral.

 

I've been teasing for a few weeks about giving you a look at what the alien diva Hope looks like. Well, wait no longer, I have posted my artist friend Kirsten Jacobus's beautiful rendition of her on The Multiverse Blues page on my website! Just visit https://sillyhatbooks.com/tmb and click on the picture to expand it. You can see Kirsten's other work on Deviantart at http://lunaseas.deviantart.com/

Ten years in the making, Mean Spirit, the last book in my Tipsy Fairy Tales Trilogy, is now available on amazon.com! The trilogy tells the story of gamer girl Skye, who has one foot in the fairy realm. Except, they don't like being called fairies. See more about Skye and the Tipsy Fairy tales on my website, https://sillyhatbooks.com, under the "fiction" tab.

Ep. 15 - Drag Show

This was my first story sale, back in the fall of 2011. I was, and am, grateful to D.L. Russell for taking a chance on me and my story for his ezine, "Strange, Weird, and Wonderful" and for including it in the anthology he later published from those stories.

Reading it now, I feel differently about it than when I wrote it under a different name; I still like it, but with more complicated feelings.

CW: Loss of agency, jealousy

Ch 14. - The Multiverse Blues - Little Queen of Spades

Last time on The Multiverse Blues. Jules helped Coral escape the Arch Authority facility, only to have the strange Tristellian slip away into the Arch gate without them.

Now, Jules has caught up with Hope's Tour, mid-concert, to be reunited with their newfound family of friends. Or will they? The other Jules is still out there, so how will Jules convince Hope and her crew that they're really who they say they are?

Ep. 16 - Fell Down

I wrote "Fell Down" for The Iron Writer Challenge in September 2013. The terms of the challenge were to write a 500 word flash story using these four elements: A murderous unicorn; The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; A fantasy football draft must be a part of the main scene of the story; The story must be written from the POV of someone with a mental illness or developmental delay.

This was a special Iron Writer Challenge. It was the very first Iron Writer Grudge Match. I was challenged by Tony Jaeger, whose second was K.A. Davur, and M.D. Pitman stepped up to be my second. The result was that my story won the popular vote by one, but K.A. Davur’s won the judges’ votes, giving her an overall one point win over me. The other stories were all quite good, especially Ms. Davur’s "Kenny", so I don’t feel bad coming in second.

Ch 15. - The Multiverse Blues - Me and the Devil Blues

Jules and the crew of Hope's Tour confront the Deltan spy. Can they find an escape from Delta Earth before the Arch Authority can capture them?

Ep. 17 - Hunted

"Hunted" came to me in September 2010, and though I've never managed to publish it before now, it became the seed for the first of my Tipsy Fairy Tales, Blue Spirit. Having written the Road Ghosts Trilogy, I decided I needed a new direction, since I felt Brett's story had been told well enough. I wasn't quite ready to leave that universe, however, so I thought about minor characters I wanted to explore more, Skye came to mind immediately. She was funny, she had deep issues, and she'd been touched by the supernatural. But rather than stick to ghosts and ghouls and demons, I wanted something different. The following dark fairy tale still fresh in my mind, I decided that Skye would see into that fairy world. See the end of chapter 1 of Blue Spirit to fit this story in, and guess what its characters' names might be.

Ch 16. - The Multiverse Blues - Traveling Riverside Blues

After an attack on Hope interrupted the show on Delta Earth, the crew of Hope's Tour were forced to flee the Harmony Theater in their tour bus.

Will Jules and the crew be able to outrun the agents of the Arch Authority and get off-world somewhere out of their reach?

Ep. 18 - Fragile Allie

For the the Iron Writer Challenge 77, I threw down in another Grudge Match. I wrote along with Jordan Bell, against Mathew W. Weaver and Maureen Larter. Once again, my team was defeated, but we all made some great stories in the heat of battle.

Our elements were: A Suit of Armor; A Pitcher’s Mound; Gluten Free; Locke’s Socks.

Ep 19 - Never Be

This one has an odd history. I wrote it in 2011, and it was picked up, with contract, for an issue of a well-respected horror magazine. The issue it was due to come out in never happened, and eventually the rights reverted to me. I'll admit, I sat on this one for years on the hope that the issue might someday come out, but it's been almost 6 years now, so I'd rather the story saw the light of day than to continue to wait expectantly in the dark.

Ep 21 - The Man at the Top of the Stair

This one was hard to write. Not technically hard, but emotionally. It was for the Iron Writer Challenge, March 2017, and here are the elements: "Antigonish" (poem) restricted to the first verse only; Another person’s dream that you are envious of; A hangman’s noose; Will you never leave me? I couldn't help but write this story, even though hurt to do so; it demanded to be written, given those elements.

Ep 20 - Dark Reflection

Here's another rather personal story involving a mirror. Okay, I'll admit it, I've got an irrational fear of seeing myself in mirrors in the dark. To try to exorcise that a bit, I decided to make the fear more tangible in a story. The result was bought by James Ward Kirk, and published in his Indiana Horror Anthology 2011.

Ep 22 - Dr. Princess and the Soldier

Before I introduce this episode, I have some news for you.

 

First of all, you may have noticed the absence of The Multiverse Blues after Chapter Sixteen. I decided to take a hiatus on that, as life had gotten to be extremely stressful. Since this is being recorded towards the end of 2020, I think you know what I mean. On top of the pandemic and the terrifying uncertainty of the election, I had some personal issues going on, over and above the anxiety and depression I struggle with every day. Of note, the toilet in my half bathroom vomited enough sewage to cover the bathroom, the entry room, and half of my kitchen. My wife and I were overwhelmed and have been forced to effectively camp out for the past month and a half while demolition occurred, and while we wait for reconstruction. Oh, and my wife broke her wrist.

 

So, naturally, since I was already pushed past my limits, I thought to myself, "Hey, why don't I do National Novel Writing Month this year!" Let me tell you, NaNoWriMo is stressful in the best of years, and I'd already been worrying about burning out on The Multiverse Blues.

 

Why did I do it? I found myself called by a new project. It's a book called Trans Witch. As I write this to you on November 30^th, I have just now finished, not just the required fifty-thousand words in thirty days, but I've also completed all the chapters I wanted to write in it. I have a rough draft of my magical mystery tour of a middle-aged transgender witch who finds herself searching for her lost partner within the college for wizards she's found. If that sounds to you like it's a big F-U to a certain transphobic YA author, you're probably right.

 

Anyway, I plan to resume writing and recording the Multiverse Blues in the next few weeks. Trans Witch should be published by this coming Spring.

 

I hope you're enjoying The Alien Beer podcast. I'm going to continue the every-other-week format as default for the foreseeable future. In two weeks, you can look forward to a holiday special.

 

As a palate cleanser for the previous two stories, I give you a final Iron Writer story I wrote in early 2017. The elements were: One hot summer day; A deserted island; Buried treasure; Chicken with its head cut off. I felt the elements went a little too well together, so rather than rehash Treasure Island, I thought I'd do another story with a twist. This story came in first with the popular vote, and close second with an internal Iron Writer vote, allowing me to advance to the tournament. But more importantly, it was fun to write.

Ep 23 - Christmas Special

Well, here it is, my wonderful listeners:

The End

This is the last story in my Alien Beer and Other Stories collection.

I'm going to be totally transparent with you: I'm not sure where I'll go from here.

One thing is certain: I will continue The Multiverse Blues, reading each chapter to you here on the Alien Beer Podcast.

Once that's done? I'm not sure. I have some other stories I could read. I could start a new serial. I could write a new series of short stories just for the podcast.

As I said last time, I do plan to continue the every-other-week format for new episodes.

I might have special interstitial episodes as well, but those will be bonuses.

This episode is also the last installment of the Alien Beer Podcast for 2020. It's been a wild year. It's been rough. Very rough. Working on this podcast, which I started BEFORE the pandemic began in the US, has helped me hang on during dark times of isolation and fear. I didn't know if anyone would listen. I've been pleasantly surprised: as of this recording, episodes of this podcast have been downloaded two thousand, two hundred, and forty-eight times.

Wow.

Thank you for listening. We'll see what happens in 2021.

Please: take care of yourself and be kind to others.

----

I'm a founding member of an author co-op called the Speculative Fiction Guild. In 2014, we put together an anthology of speculative short stories related to any of the winter holidays. The profits for that anthology went to benefit Indy Reads, an Indianapolis literacy charity. For this tie-in to my Road Ghosts and Tipsy Fairy Tales books, I channeled my childhood years watching Rankin & Bass holiday specials. I tried having various main characters, but eventually brought back Enid from "Spectral Delivery" as its star. It takes place after Mean Spirit, for those who want to know.

Ch 17 - The Multiverse Blues - Stop Breakin' Down Blues

Well, we made it. Yup, the terrible year that was 2020 is over now. I started this podcast before Covid-19 was even a worry, back in February. The rest of the year, reading my stories to you was a lifeline that made me feel just a little more connected to the world outside my house.

And then, in October, I needed a break from The Multiverse Blues. I had a few personal disasters, some of which continue to cause me daily difficulty even now. But in November, I wrote a whole novel, one that tells the story of a transgender woman discovering a magical college, as well as her own magic, as she searches for her missing partner.

And yes, I wrote that because a certain author of a certain franchise broke my heart, making me feel like I'd never be welcome in a certain magical school I used to love. I wrote a story where everyone who was disenfranchised by that other author can feel welcome.

Anyway, the Alien Beer Podcast is back for 2021, and I'm kicking off the year with a brand-new chapter of The Multiverse Blues. Going forward, I hope to have a new chapter for you every other week until the story is done. After that? Who knows. If you have any questions or comments about this podcast, or The Multiverse Blues, please leave me comments on social media, or send me email at ecg@sillyhatbooks.com.

----

Previously on the Multiverse Blues. Jules and company fled the Harmony theatre in Delta Earth's Chicago, through a disused Arch Gate, with Arch Authority guards hot on their heels – in an armored vehicle. Jules discovered Delta Jules stowed away and causing mayhem, and both of them fell off La Esperanza, under fire. Jules made a hasty escape through a random rip in reality, to an unknown world…

Ch 18 - The Multiverse Blues - Milkcow's Calf Blues

Before I begin this episode, I'd like to let you know that the world of Erde, as mentioned in The Multiverse Blues, was first featured in my stand-alone science fiction novel, Reality Check. It's the steampunky "silly hat" world that Lee visits. Reality Check is possibly my single most popular book. I want you to also know that the world of Erde is the world of my Trans-Continental series, where Ida and Duffy have their steampunk adventures.

Please do check out these books and more on my website, at sillyhatbooks.com/fiction

Last time on The Multiverse Blues. Jules finds themself in a boat with a new friend, in yet another Earth. Only this Earth seems to not be linked into the Arch Network, so there's no obvious way for them to return.

As a side note, if you've ever wondered why I name the chapters of the Multiverse Blues the way I do, it's because I'm using only the titles of Robert Johnson songs. It just seemed to go with the concept somehow.

Ch 19 - The Multiverse Blues - Walkin' Blues

Raise your glasses, fans of this podcast! I'd like to propose a toast in honor of the Alien Beer Podcast's first anniversary. That's right, my first episode aired on February 6^th, 2020, so Saturday will mark a full year of me reading my science fiction and fantasy stories to you.

I hope you've been enjoying the show. If download statistics are any indication, you're out there, I can hear you breathing. We passed three THOUSAND downloads of episodes of Alien Beer last week. The first thousand took nearly six months, so it seems we're picking up speed.

I'm glad to hear it. I'd love to hear from all of you listening. What Alien Beer stories did you especially like? What could you have done without? Who's your favorite character in The Multiverse Blues? Are you sad that it's coming to an end?

Yes, I said it. The Multiverse Blues has maybe five or six more episodes to go after this one.

What happens after that?

I have some ideas. I'd like to do another serial like The Multiverse Blues. I have some short stories that have never been published that I could put out there. In fact, for those, I'm thinking of linking them together with some common thread, though I'm still hashing out what that will look like.

Alien Beer will go on, in one form or another. I'm having too much fun reading my stories to you to quit after only a year. But please do write to me at ecg@sillyhatbooks.com. I want to hear your thoughts to help encourage me to keep doing this, okay?

Last time on The Multiverse Blues:

Jules got cleaned up and Jimmy gave them new clothes to wear, and Jules got to see a bit more of the mysterious disconnected Earth where her new friend lives. A surprise inter-dimensional visitor overnight causes Jules to flee through yet another portal, to yet another unknown destination, which will be revealed in today's episode.

Ch 20 - The Multiverse Blues - If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day

Last time on the Multiverse Blues. Jules escaped capture, leaping through a portal that landed them in their home universe of Beta Earth. Seeking safety for baby Lucy, they find themselves in a heated confrontation.

Before I begin, I'd like to give you a bit of trivia. "The Dionnes" that Jules and friends talk about in The Multiverse Blues are none other than the characters of the same name from my science fiction novel, Reality Check. Also in Reality Check, a medic named "Bask" tends to Lee in a lunar transport vehicle; that's a sneaky cameo of the Transit King from my Tipsy Fairy Tales books. I have so far resisted the strong temptation to include Bask, the Transit King, in The Multiverse Blues. I make no promises about chapters after this one; I may yet give in.

 

Ch 21. - The Multiverse Blues - Kind-Hearted Woman

I enjoy writing episodes of The Multiverse Blues much more when Jules is with the rest of the crew. Which is why I'm pleased to tell you that they rejoin Hope's Tour in this episode, swapping stories and making plans.

A common theme in many of my stories is the concept of "found family". I only found out recently that it's often a feature of The Heroine's Journey. It turns out, many of my novels follow The Heroine's Journey. Jules wouldn't care whether you called them a Hero or Heroine, their only disagreement might be with whether they're actually heroic. Impostor syndrome is a thing, and anyone who knows me will understand that the heroes of my stories often feel less than heroic; and that comes from an honest source.

Speaking of the Heroine's Journey and found family, I have just released the Kindle ebook of my new novel, Trans Witch: College of Secrets. The paperback edition is due out any day now. It's a story about a wizard school for the rest of us. You can guess for yourself what that means.