“Tonight! We talk to author E. Chris Garrison about her novel Trans Witch, a most excellent alternative to the book series that should not be named that has a magical college and a library with a labyrinth, secrets doors, and everything.
We also geek out about games, Kat and Chrissy’s ghost hunting adventures, and get a hometown haunt from someone currently working at Kings Island. So. many. ghosts.
Listen at midnight!”
The interview:
The podcast:
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 is available now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble! It’s a story about a wizard school for the rest of us. You can guess for yourself what that means.
A wizard school for the rest of us!
Get the paperback at Amazon or Barnes and Noble!
Get the ebook!
Trans Witch: College of Secrets
Professor Lily Shelley is frantic to find her wife Penny, who vanished two weeks ago. No one else seems to be looking very hard, not the police or even Penny’s family. As Lily refuses to give up hope, she continues searching for clues, even as she teaches English at Moraine University. In her search, she stumbles into a magical world; a college for wizards hidden in forgotten places at the University. Her favorite students come to her aid, helping her retrace Penny’s steps to learn the secrets of the School of Applied Metaphysics – as well as her newfound powers – in hopes of rescuing her wife.
College of Secrets
Professor Lily Shelley is frantic to find her wife Penny, who vanished two weeks ago. No one else seems to be looking very hard, not the police or even Penny’s family. As Lily refuses to give up hope, she continues searching for clues, even as she teaches English at Moraine University. In her search, she stumbles into a magical world; a college for wizards hidden in forgotten places at the University. Her favorite students come to her aid, helping her retrace Penny’s steps to learn the secrets of the School of Applied Metaphysics – as well as her newfound powers – in hopes of rescuing her wife.
I’ve submitted my latest novel, Trans Witch: College of Secrets, to be published initially in paperback by IngramSpark and as a Kindle ebook. I’ll post as soon as the book is available for purchase!
I’m going with Amazon/KDP for ebook at first, but will expand to a bunch of other platforms later!
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.
https://alienbeer.podbean.com/e/ch-20-the-multiverse-blues-if-i-had-possession-over-judgement-day/
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.
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 interdimensional visitor overnight causes Jules to flee through yet another portal, to yet another unknown destination, which will be revealed in today’s episode.
https://alienbeer.podbean.com/e/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 6th, 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 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.
https://alienbeer.podbean.com/e/ch-17-the-multiverse-blues-milkcows-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.
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.
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…
https://alienbeer.podbean.com/e/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.
The wait is nearly over, fans of The Multiverse Blues! After almost two months’ hiatus, my dimension-hopping science fiction serial returns to the Alien Beer Podcast this Thursday at the usual broadcast time, 8:01am EDT!
I took time off to write my upcoming novel, Trans Witch, and to recharge my creative batteries, but today I’ve written a new chapter for our non-binary hero, Jules, who’s off to yet another new parallel universe, for more adventure.
It was tough to get back into the groove, but I’m excited to resume the story! Look for new episodes every other week until the story is done.
Do you have a favorite character in The Multiverse Blues? Do you have any questions about the story? Please feel free to post comments or send me a message directly!
E. Chris Garrison 
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