A few months ago I reviewed the Little Blue Truck series – a very popular collection in our house! We’re still reading the series with my baby pretty much daily, and have expanded our collection. This video reviews four more books in the series, including Little Blue Truck’s Christmas – currently timely, fun all year round, and one of the best in the series.
I had a really good NaNoWriMo, writing 35,000 words of my next project, a World War II companion novel to my Phantom series. But 35,000 words is definitely not a full novel, so I’ve continued writing my draft through December. My goal is to write an additional 20,000 words this month, and so far I’m on track! I’ve written just over 10,000 words, putting me at about 45,000 total.
The storyline is moving along well too. We’re up to June 11, 1940. The French government announced they were leaving Paris on June 10, precipitating an intense exodus of people trying to flee the city. So, as I sometimes think of it, this is the day when Rick left Paris, broken-hearted because Ilsa didn’t meet him at the train station – for you Casablanca fans out there! According to the research I’ve done, Casablanca probably underestimated the chaos at the train stations. 120,000 people left Paris in a single day!
My heroine tries to get to a train, but can’t get through the crowds and ultimately decides to stay in Paris. Which then brings us, of course, to the Nazi occupation.
For now, though, here’s an excerpt I wrote a few days ago. It was for a Christmas scene – Paul gives Maggie a copy of The Phantom of the Opera, and she decides to tell him a secret…
I took a deep breath. “My grandfather was the Phantom of the Opera.”
There was a pause. He was still looking at me expectantly, as though he thought there was going to be more. Then he seemed to realize that was the secret, and he blinked, brow furrowing again. “Wait – you’re related to Lon Chaney? You have one grandfather who was a famous composer and the other one—”
“No,” I said, shaking my head and smiling slightly. “Not the actor who played the Phantom. My grandfather the composer was the Phantom. The real one.”
“But it’s a fictional story,” he said slowly. “A novel.”
“Sort of. I mean, a lot is fictionalized, but it’s based on real events. I told you my grandfather’s name was Erik Rouen.” I tapped the book. “The Phantom’s name was Erik, he was involved in building the Opera Garnier, and he composed music.”
They’re here! If you want to complete your bookshelf of Guardian of the Opera stories, today’s the day. We’ve been counting down, and now it’s launch day. You can buy your own Kindle copy of Entr’acte, or get a paperback or Kindle collection of Entr’acte, Overture and The Confessions of Christine Daae in one volume.
If you haven’t yet started the series, I have good news for you too: Book 1, Nocturne, is free on Kindle right now! The deal only lasts through the weekend, so don’t miss it.
I’ve always loved spending time in this world, and I hope you’ll enjoy these extra chances to visit with these characters. I know they’re not the Book 4 people have asked for…but I think they make a fun addition to the trilogy!
In case you missed it earlier, here are descriptions for each of the new releases:
Entr’acte
Fans of the Guardian of the Opera trilogy will enjoy this assortment of bonus material. Featuring deleted scenes, essays and an extended author interview, it adds new layers to the trilogy, as well as providing the chance to spend a little more time with favorite characters. Spend Christmas at the Opera Garnier with Erik and Meg, gain new insight into Jammes with a bonus chapter from her point of view, and learn the stories behind the objects in the Phantom’s parlor. Enjoy these and more in this special companion to the series.
Collection
Bundled together for the first time, this collection offers in one place the companion stories and bonus materials related to The Guardian of the Opera trilogy. Overture gives glimpses into the earlier lives of the principal characters years before their most famous story began, with three short stories focused on Erik, building the Opera Garnier; Meg Giry, dreaming of dancing; and Christine Daae, a young girl on the beach with her scarf. The Confessions of Christine Daae retells the primary trilogy from her point of view, unmasking her true feelings throughout. Entr’acte offers bonus materials in deleted scenes, essays and an extended author interview. Fans of the trilogy will enjoy these extra opportunities to enter the world of the Phantom of the Opera.
Tales of the Marvelous 