The Roaring Twenties is featured heavily in my earlier works. Since some of my characters carry on through to modern times, the unique language indicative of this period follows along as well.
To help new readers situation themselves with the language of the period, I’ve compiled a list of slang from that era.
(more…)Evelyn hated riding in the boot of a car. Every bump or hard turn tossed her around the compartment like a rag doll. Still, this option was far better than making a run through the sewer system or waiting in that bar for someone to come sniffing around.
When the car stopped, probably for a red light, her phone chimed. The imp checked her notifications and smiled. Evelyn hated having to wait to repay her debts because that meant someone had leverage over her. That had been a common thread throughout her life, and the last thing she needed was for that habit to start up again after death.
“I’m ready to hit it on all sixes, and make this my declaration of independence,” Evelyn replied with a giggle.
* * * *
“Evelyn says that she is ready to give it her all to repay her debt,” Clara said.
Elizabeth quirked a brow. How in the world could Evelyn’s sentence equate to that? Nevertheless they clearly managed to establish a line of communication. Just in time, too, because the phone’s battery was draining fast.
“Now, I want you to ask her this,” Clara said.
Clara noticed that the waitress was hovering nearby, so she leaned over the table and whispered the rest into Elizabeth’s ear, all the while giving her friend an eyeful.
Disclaimer: This chapter is currently in development. There are likely typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. Please do not treat this as a polished and completed work!
Even things that go bump in the night need a place to unwind
The Grand is officially out and available on multiple platforms, formats and even in print! From Amazon to Smashwords the eBook is freely available for your delight. So time to celebrate? At least get to enjoy the doughnut!
Now for a little something about the Grand.
Nestled atop a cliff overlooking a cursed valley and surrounded by foreboding mountains you will find The Grand. At this ritzy French palatial-style hotel where things tend to go terribly wrong for some. This hotel is not only for the rich and famous but a favoured destination for things that go bump in the night.
The Grand is a collection of Gothic horror stories that revolve around a town prosecutor who accidentally discovers a series of grizzly case files. Individual stories incorporate supernatural themes based in the Roaring Twenties to create a rich historical, linguistic and cultural backdrop.
Centred on victims of the Grand, each story brings a different point of view related to the hotel, their staff and esteemed guests.
When Revision 5 was introduced, it brought about a new cover design, which featured a speakeasy. The speakeasy was iconic for the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties, at least in the United Stated and seemed to be a good fit.
A reader proposed that I use an actual hotel to create the cover. This idea has merit since the Grand features separate stories that have a common era, theme and location. The Grand is the focal points for all the stories, so it makes sense to pursue that idea.
Fortunately, I had the chance to visit la Ville de Québec which features one of the Railway Grand hotels found through Canada. I used Chateau Frontenac as a base, threw in a backdrop of the Rockies and added a skull rendition that I got from pixabay.com. The latter was listed is Public Domain, whereas the former where both my shots.
The font itself is YoungSerif. It seems to complement the overall feel of the cover and has an agreeable copyright.
Overall, I think I may have found my eventual release cover. What do you think?
A modern speakeasy at clip-joint prices in Halifax! While there are modern amenities in the room like computers and an air conditioner, the owners have gone through a lot of effort to make it seem like the Real McCoy. Patrons are required to casually embed a password into normal conversation and then are discretely whisked away through the bowels of the building to this hidden gem.
Of course, there are differences which are generational. You will not find an iconic sliding peephole window, a phonograph, a tube radio or even a dance floor. The latter is probably the biggest omission, but many people are going to dance to the Charleston?
When you enter the space, music from the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties can be heard in the background. It gives the space an authentic feel, however on occasion Moby or modern music is mixed in. Fortunately, the music is all environmental so the transition was not jarring.
Overall I would highly recommend the experience, even for non-drinkers. Their deserts and appetizers are to die for!
As an homage to the era, the images have been formatted to resemble shots taken from a box camera. I did opt to maintain the colour however, seems to create a better ambiance.
