1/29/13 Virtual Blog Tour Stop for The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke

I'm proud to host of my friends today on the Virtual Blog Tour of her fantastic series,

The Gryphon Series

Please Welcome, Stacey Rourke

Where does inspiration lie? As fantasy authors our usual answers are music, dreams, or simply our imagination. But in the real world where can we hear a whisper from our muse that we may have missed out on otherwise? The answer is a mystical place where the lines of reality and fantasy are blurred and beings you never knew existed roam freely…the airport.

I know that probably seems like an odd proclamation, but bear with me here. Due to missed flights and excessively long layovers I have spent many an hour at airports and the people I’ve seen there…well I couldn’t make them up if I tried. Some of these people are so odd that they are begging for a colorful backstory. Don’t believe me? Well, let me give you some examples of actual people I have encountered at airports. Keep in mind I am making none of this up.

1) The Bathroom Serenader. At an airport in Georgia I walked into a restroom only to be immediately assaulted by the cheerful sing-song melody of, “Come on in! Welcome! Welcome!” A woman had set up a table with a tip jar and was singing to people as they … did their business. I’m not kidding. It was insanely off-putting and I suffered from performance anxiety because of it. But I had to wonder; what got her to this point? What happened in her life that made her think, “You know when people are really alone and need the uplifting of a song? When they’re on the toilet. Yes. This is my calling. I am—the Bathroom Serenader.” And look at that, we just created a superhero … and a very disturbing one at that.

2) The Traveling Old Couple. We’ve all seen them, and we love them so much we kind of want to hop on whatever plane they are taking just to bask in their adventures a little longer. You know that old couple that no longer has any modesty, personal boundaries, or adequate hearing to know that they are yelling absolutely everything they say. My favorite experience with this couple is when the Gramps walked out of a mens room and the Grandma screamed across the terminal, “Is your fly down? I can’t see from here!” And of course, right there in front of everyone Gramps checked. Awesome. Follow this same couple through the line at the airport Subway and you will get to listen to her informing him of what he does and doesn’t like on his sandwich and what an utter failure he is at ordering for himself. Want to be inspired by some comic fodder? Find this couple and just follow them around for a couple hours.

3. Airport Skanks. They are always there, and I never understand them. The girls that roam the airports in miniscule skirts, stiletto heels and tops they will pop right out of if they hit even the slightest turbulence. Me? I fly in comfort; hellloooo sweatpants and flip-flops! But these girls? I think they are hoping that Mr. Right will happen to be one of the business men scurrying from one gate to another in hopes of making his meeting in time. A whole story could be written about these airport vultures, just don’t forget to add the scene where they have to take off their shoes and accessories at airport security and for a brief moment we all see them for the hot mess they really are. For the strength of the airport skanks lies in their thigh high boots, without them they are—gasp—one of us!

Now I will not take full credit for finding inspiration at airports. I’m fairly certain other authors have cashed in on these treasure chest of material before as well. Take the current literary sensation Warm Bodies for example. Zombies in an airport? I have a sneaking suspicion that was based on the people that get on the moving sidewalk and stop walking. They spend their days riding these fun impromptu rides from place to place, paying no mind but giving the occasional grunt to the annoyed people behind them that are whacking them with their luggage in hopes of spurring them on to move!!!  I have been behind these people and zombieism is the only excuse for their complete lack of brain activity.

So there you have it my friends, need ideas and inspiration for your next literary masterpiece? Forget music, or mood setting. The freaks may come out at night, but you can find them any time at the airport and they are always good for a story. 

Stacey Rourke

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

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Blurb

All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for.  And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met.  Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.

While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon.  She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop.  Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone.  With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves.  Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

"Okay, little side note here. If a psychopathic killer asks if you want to see a trick, say no. That’s the smart thing to do. I, on the other hand, responded, 'Bring it'."

-excerpt from THE CONDUIT

Blurb

Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms  with being  the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky,  between intense training  sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know  at what cost it would come. That is,  until a dear friend is harmed by the  malicious forces hunting her. 

Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

Blurb

Celeste isn't the only member of the Garrett family whose life changed when destiny called. Every sidekick has their tale and in this Gryphon Series short the spotlight is turned on Kendall, Grams and even Gabe. Get an inside look at the hilarious stress that goes along with being a...sidekick.

Sidekicks...ya can't live with 'em and you'd probably die horribly without 'em.

Coming Soon

Blurb

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.  

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?   

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.

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