MISFORTUNE ANNIE AND THE LOCOMOTIVE REAPER
by Gusto Dave Jackson and Janet "The Kid" Fogg
FA LLC
Middle Grade Steampunk Western
ages 8 and up
54 pages
When Annabelle Fortune, the fastest gunslinger in the wild west, inadvertently stops a stranger from attacking a train -- and he wears a suit that enables him to fly! -- the government believes she's the only one to have witnessed the Locomotive Reaper and survived to tell the tale.
Promising to find out what he can about her missing father, the Director of the Secret Service persuades Annie to swear in. Too soon, her detested nickname re-stakes its claim.
Partnered with Beau Slokam, whose penchant for gambling leads them straight to the Doom Gang, Misfortune Annie guides the smooth-talking Southerner in a chase through the Rockies, with her Cheyenne friend, Wontoa, rounding out their unlikely trio.
When Annie again meets the Locomotive Reaper, his gadgetry proves far more advanced -- and deadly -- than even top scientists could have imagined.
MY TIDBITS
With edge-of-the-seat adventure, this gunslinger heroine takes on all sorts of dangerous villains and shows the world just what one girl can do.
Annie was hired to lead the minister and his helpers across an Indian graveyard and help them bring desperately needed supplies to women and their children. Or so she thought. Just when she gets the group through the dangerous boobie-traps, the men show their true colors and try to get rid of Annie. But she's not an easy girl to kill. Before she knows it, she's followed them to a train and must stop them before they kill everyone aboard. Add a man who flies by with some odd gadgetry, and the adventure really gets underway.
At first, I was a little hesitant about reading this. I'm not a big fan of westerns and couldn't really see kids jumping into this genre too much either. However, this book swung my opinion around 180 degrees.
Annie is not your average gun-slinging, western girl, and this is not the normal, western world. The book starts out with an Indiana Jones feel, keeping the tension and action high right from the first page. Although familiar, the scenes come across with excitement pure and don't let go for the entire 150 pages. Annie is a fun character. She's bright, a capable fighter and knows right from wrong--a perfect heroine for girls to look up to. But she has her tender side too, and it's exactly this which makes her so easy to like.
The characters in this book come across believable, each with their very own personality. The western speech slides in smoothly, adding a nice touch to the horse and dust world. The gadgets and advanced weapons let a little steampunk drip in without every going over the top. It adds a great amount of fantastical fun, while keeping the story nicely based in the 1800's.
Summed up, this is a fun, adventurous read which will draw in both girls and boys. The action stays strong the entire way through, and at 150 pages, it's great for even more reluctant readers.
And here they are. . .
Janet Fogg
Janet Fogg’s focus on writing began
when she was CFO and Managing Principal of OZ Architecture, one of Colorado’s
largest architectural firms. Fifteen writing awards later, she resigned from
the firm to follow the yellow brick road. Ten months after that, she signed a
contract with The Wild Rose Press for her historical romance Soliloquy a HOLT Medallion Award of
Merit winner.
With husband Richard, Janet co-wrote
Fogg in the Cockpit (Casemate), one
of five books nominated in 2012 by the Air Force Historical Foundation for best
World War II book reviewed in Air Power History.
Keeping her historical knowledge
sharp, Janet manages the 359th Fighter Group’s Facebook page, sharing WWII stories
and photos about the Fighter Group. She
is also a proud member and 2015/16 Vice President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. She previously
served as Published Author Liaison in 2010.
Dave Jackson
Not your typical author, Dave
Jackson started writing in his constant pursuit to become a renaissance man,
but later fell in love with the art form. He performs stand-up and skits
regularly, as Comedy remains one of his many passions and he writes and
performs skits, as well as stand-up. Also a songwriter and guitarist, Dave has
composed over 300 musical titles.
A country boy, Dave was raised in
Oklahoma and taught 6th grade English for two years. He enjoys sharing the tale
about when he climbed high into a towering black jack tree and grabbed a dead
branch. Snap! He hurtled toward his death, but he held tight to the branch and
it slowed his fall, saving his life.
In 2013, Dave enjoyed the release of
Tattoo Rampage by Curiosity Quills
Press. The novel follows Evangelina Marquez-James, a strong female heroine, who
gets her first tattoo as a symbol of courage to carry on after her police
officer husband dies in the line of duty.
Author Links below:
Q&A
with Janet Fogg & Dave Jackson
Your protagonist was
inspired by spitfire Annie Oakley, but what’s the full story behind your
exciting middle grade adventure Misfortune
Annie and the Locomotive Reaper?
Dave: To properly
tell Misfortune Annie’s origin, we must first go back to the spark from a great
machine. I make no bones about my awe of George Lucas and the Indiana Jones
series. It’s widely known by most Lucas fans that the rugged archaeologist
first showed up in spirit in old matinee serials until George tweaked him a
little for a new generation of movie lovers. Indy’s trusty whip came from Zorro
cliffhangers. So, hoping to scare up just anything that could give Indy a run
for his money, I poked around in the same cinema of yesteryear and dug the
cowboy genre. Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Gene Autry—they were huge! So like
Indy, my new star had to have a catchy name and signature duds. He was going to
have a 10-gallon hat and Levi jacket.
I never got to name him though because fate threw in a wildcard
that made me so grateful and stoked, I could never go back to the dude. On
Christmas vacation one year, nearly sleeping behind the wheel through flat old
Kansas, I passed a sign that boasted, “Annie Oakley Museum.” Jolted awake, I
had my new hero. It would be a young lady known by a slick nickname.
Janet: We were
chatting about his concept for Annie and what he wanted to accomplish with the
book/series, and asked if I'd join him on that journey. Annie appealed to me for many reasons. First, because she was a young cowgirl
struggling to excel in the man's world of the wild, Wild West. I really liked that. Second, because I thought we could weave
subtle "lessons-learned" into the books, so that young readers,
especially teen girls, would have a role model with strength, courage,
determination, and strong morals.
What made you decide to
co-write as a team on this series - and how is it collaborating on a book?
Dave: We didn’t
collaborate. Like spoiled rich kids we fought, I tell ya. Nah, actually, the
writer’s journey is very lonely and I highly recommend brewing with another
author, especially someone as tenacious, gracious, and creative as Janet.
Janet: Or as funny,
talented, and kind as Dave. (Can you say mutual admiration society? It’s been a blast!)
Can you tell us more
about the “Fun Facts” readers will find at the very back of the book?
Janet: We decided to
incorporate some historic facts in each book, and the “Fun Facts” helps define
certain facts versus fiction. One
example is the waist overalls
made by Levi Strauss that Annie wears.
These were the original blue jeans, and in our Fun Facts a reader will
learn that when they were first created by German-born businessman Levi Strauss
and Latvian-born tailor Jacob Davis, blue jeans were actually called “waist
overalls.” The duo received a patent for them on May 20, 1873, with a product
that had one back pocket, a watch pocket, a cinch, and brace buttons. When a young reader reads this Fun Fact, we
hope it inspires them to pause and consider the origins of other everyday
items. Perhaps there are many young inventors out there, in need of inspiration
and a nudge!
What is your favorite
part of being an author / or the process of writing?
Dave: Hands down,
it’s when I daydream of people reading our stories. After which, my imagination
blossoms more to fans tossing me the keys to their Ferrari—and not to park it
for them—then they offer to buy me and Janet fried chicken dinners.
Janet: What Dave
said. Plus, bending my imagination 90 degrees to somewhere. Inspiring a reader.
Preserving history.
What does a typical work
day of writing look like for you?
Dave: There is no
typical. My days are maxed with tutoring my son in algebra, playing music gigs,
performing stand up, an auditing occupation, planning a convention, exercise,
my lovely girlfriend, and having a good time. I truly write due to my love for
it because there’s no time otherwise. Because of odd predicaments, I’ve
borrowed other folks’ computers and even typewriters to get something on the
page. I’ve scrawled on napkins.
Janet: I've never
been a good sleeper, so I sneak out of bed when the Great Horned Owls are still
conversing. First, I check email. (Who doesn't?) While I used to work on manuscript drafts
during those wee hours, now I work on my 359th FG posts or answer questions
about the Fighter Group. After breakfast
I write new words. Then I'll edit (I can
edit all day, but my brain begins to protest after writing three or four or
pages of new words). That's another
reason I love collaborating on stories!
Have you ever had a
mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?
Dave: Yoda, but
Janet wound up being better.
Janet: After I stop
blushing, I'm going to work on growing long pointy ears.
Really though - reading, reading and more reading.
Annie is such a
trailblazer and great role model for young readers. What do you hope fans of
the book will take away from the story?
Janet: That girls
rock!
Dave: Misfortune Annie and the Locomotive Reaper
is the really good book you’ve been looking for. Also - I do want everyone
to know that I learned to crack a whip just
because of the Indiana Jones movies (which influenced Misfortune Annie’s
creation).
What do you feel makes
your book unique from other middle grade fiction out there?
Dave: The characters
are peculiar, funny, and cool.
Janet: Especially
Annie.
Dave: Yes, you won’t
be able to wait for Book Two.
Ah! So speaking of book
two, what’s next for Misfortune Annie?
Throughout the series, we will see more problems that Annie
doesn’t get credit for because she’s a girl in a ‘tough guy’ world.
A long cast of colorful crooks (think James Bond’s bullies) is
waiting to take on the fastest draw in the west. Book Two leads Annie to New
Orleans and face-to-face with a wicked Voodoo priest. In another episode, the
Dragon Warrior shall render her six shooters useless. A sinister magician will
perform the ultimate trick on her and the Secret Service. Beware pirates! Look
out for creatures in the woods, Annie! Not to mention cameos by historical
figures like Wyatt Earp, Baby Doe Tabor, and Teddy Roosevelt—perfect walk-ons
to spark curiosity about US History.
1 comment:
Thank you so much! We're having a blast sharing Annie's adventures, and are hard at work on Book Two. Happy trails!
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