October 22, 2016 (US release), 154 pages, Paperback/hardback/ebook
About the book from the press release
Misfortune Annie and the Locomotive
Reaper brings wild west adventure and a new hero for young readers
LONGMONT,
CO -- December 2016 -- On Christmas vacation one year, nearly sleeping behind the
wheel through flat old Kansas, “Gusto” Dave Jackson crossed paths with a sign
for an Annie Oakley museum. Jolted awake, he had his new literary hero. When
wannabe cowgirl herself, Janet “The Kid” Fogg jumped at the chance to
collaborate, the two authors joined forces and Annie Fortune was brought to
life in the series debut, Misfortune
Annie and the Locomotive Reaper.
“Annie appealed to me for many reasons,” said Fogg.
“First, because she was a young cowgirl struggling to excel in the man’s world
of the wild west. Second, because I thought we could weave ‘lessons-learned’
into the books so that young readers, especially teen girls, would have a role
model with strength, courage, determination, and strong morals.”
And that message is strong, as Annie Fortune’s quick
wit and tenacity shine brightly in the face of danger. When Annie, the fastest
gunslinger in the 1880s wild west, inadvertently stops a stranger from
attacking a train, the government believes she’s the only one to have seen the
Locomotive Reaper and survived to tell the tale. Promising to find out what she can about her
missing father, the Director of the Secret Service persuades Annie to swear in,
but too soon, her detested nickname re-stakes its claim.
“The characters
are peculiar, funny and cool,” said Jackson. 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
Cheyenne friend, Wontoa, by her side. When the unlikely trio meets the Reaper
once again, his gadgetry proves even more advanced - and deadly than anyone
predicted.
Not only a journey back to the 1800s, Misfortune Annie includes “Fun Facts” as
an addendum to learn even more about famed
Annie Oakley, Wyatt Earp and historic facts and figures sprinkled
throughout the story.
For readers hungry for more, they won’t have to wait
long. “Gusto” and “The Kid” are already underway on volume two - Misfortune Annie and the Voodoo Curse,
to release in 2017. For updates on the release, as well as announcements on
future books in the series, visit MisfortuneAnnie.com.
Nayu's thoughts
Due to cutting down on review books I was unable to read this fun sounding adventure, but I was more than happy to take part in the tour so you can learn all about it. Keep reading for an exclusive guest post from both Janet and Dave!
Find out more
Guest post about the book by Janet Fogg and Dave Jackson
Locomotive Reaper
strikes again!
All aboard found dead!
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.
Today we thought we'd
share a scene from the Locomotive Reaper's point of view. To set the
stage, the 3:10 to Denver is in peril, from both the Reaper and
a gang of outlaws. Misfortune Annie is atop the train, battling the
outlaws, as the train chugs onward.
***
The Reaper flew low to
inspect the damage he'd just inflicted. Thick black smoke billowed
high, blocking his view of the bridge. A chunk blown out of the track
wouldn’t suffice, even though it promised a derailment. No. The
bridge had to be destroyed.
A shrieking locomotive
dragging passengers to their doom as it plummeted off of a
cliff—that’s what the Reaper craved. What he demanded! The
newspapers would delight in that carnage.
Visibility out of his
helmet proved limited. He’d have to adjust it, possibly even
abandon the silly thing. If for some reason the propulsion system or
hydrogen converter in the flying suit malfunctioned and he fell
fifteen stories, head injuries would be the least of his problems. On
the other hand, he believed in safety and backup plans. His
engineering background ensured that.
The black cloud
dissipated, revealing the stilts and struts that supported the
bridge. The Reaper grumbled. Only one more stick of dynamite remained
in his leg pocket, and with the first he'd blown a crater into the
riverbank and twisted the rails into a knot, but hadn't touched the
bridge. As he was still experimenting with the hydrogen mix in the
tank strapped to his back, he knew he couldn’t risk carrying too
much weight. The helmet alone weighed 20 ounces. The smaller tank,
filled with a poisonous aerosol, weighed eight pounds, full. The
invaluable electro magnet strapped to his forearm felt as heavy as a
gold brick. Add those to his frame of about 150 pounds and the
propulsion system bordered on its limitations. Otherwise, he would
have toted a dozen sticks of dynamite.
He swooped down to
hover close to the underside of the bridge to wedge the last stick in
a crosstie on a supporting column. Time was running out. He wondered
again if he should have abandoned today's mission when he heard those
gunshots. But no. He was safe enough. Sort of. Sure, the flammable
hydrogen posed a great risk each time he ignited his wrist torch, but
his fear of using the torch shamed him. It wouldn’t ignite the
hydrogen. It couldn't, not with his attention to design details. But
it gave him pause. Every time.
He snorted at himself.
Here he was, hovering mid-air, free as any bird, yet that no longer
elevated his heart rate, while a simple flame consumed his emotions.
Enough. The wind blew to the east. Before striking the torch lead
that stuck out of his cuff, he pivoted to ensure the flame would
flicker away from him.
The gunshots on the
train still puzzled him. He expected the government to panic at some
point and plant undercover agents on the railways and in the
stations, but it was too soon. He’d just started wreaking
havoc—poisoning two trains in as many days. The ink on the
newspapers about him was barely dry. Could the law already be onto
him? Did they spot him swooping over the mountain? If they saw him
board the engine earlier, why didn't they show themselves, attempt an
arrest? Then again, perhaps the shots ringing the foothills had
nothing to do with him.
At any rate, he'd
chosen not to risk gassing the passengers, instead falling back on
his backup plan to destroy the bridge. Though it didn't match his
previous efforts, as long as travelers feared train travel, he would
count the day a success.
The Reaper caught his
breath, sparked his blow torch, and burned the tip of the fuse. It
caught and flared. Sparks sizzled and writhed, consuming the fuse. He
dropped the fuse, thumbed the controls to soar upward to a high
altitude, then started north.
This time, the bridge
blew apart.
1 comment:
Thank you, Nayu! We're having a blast sharing Annie's adventures and are hard at work on Book Two, Misfortune Annie and the Voodoo Curse. Happy trails!
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