A #FlashbackFriday kind of #WyrdAndWonder : Celebrating and re-visiting my LOVE of the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy!

Posted Friday, 5 May, 2023 by jorielov , , 2 Comments

#FlashbackFriday Wyrd And Wonder graphic created by Jorie in Canva.

I am uncertain who first started the #FlastbackFriday hashtag on social media and/or on our blogs – but over the years I’ve been a book blogger, its morphed itself into a bit of a way of journalling the stories we’ve read in the past or the memories we want to revisit. In this respect, I’ve chosen to tackle this tag this particular May in a celebration of the stories I’ve adventured inside during past #WyrdAndWonder’s inasmuch as a continuing way to feature what I’ve been showcasing via #bookstagram.

Join the Convo via: #FlashbackFriday

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About: *Wyrd & Wonder*

Wyrd and Wonder is an annual celebration of the fantasy genre. Sign up to join the party as we explore worlds of myth and magic, re-imagine traditional tales, cheer on heroes (prefer villains? Sure, we won’t judge you) and discover the secret doors that lead from familiar streets to adjacent realms where a discourtesy or a misstep may land you in hot water.

This year we’re focusing on all things magical, whether that’s magic users, magical creatures, magic systems, or things that raise the hairs on the back of your neck (in a good way). As always, you’re free to read and post outside the theme – we love low fantasy too! – but magic will be the theme for our banners and prompts this year.

We’ll be reading books, watching movies, playing games and sharing our thoughts online through blog posts and social media with as many like-minded adventurers as care to join us – there’s always room by the fire for a newcomer with a tale to share.

(Paraphrasing official 2022/23 blurb) : visit Imyril’s Announcement for Y6

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This particular year, as we embarked into #WyrdAndWonder, I was apprehensive about how my month would get on this year, as I had recently relocated, and it was not the kind of relocation that you can plan to execute for months on end and have a seamless transition on the day of the move itself. No. Unfortunately for me, it was the kind of move which took all my energy and even my spirits took a bit of a nosedive as well. I didn’t feel fully recovered from all the upheavals either by the time May began because I was still at sixes and sevens trying to put my room & shelves back together again. As I mentioned on my announcement post, I was just grateful to have my Fantasy shelves back together as they felt like long-lost friends who had arrived just in the nick!

Although – mentally, I wasn’t quite in the right frame to re-settle into stories. Try as I might, my readings of our RAL “Howl’s Moving Castle” has been trudging along at a very slow clip. Even as I’m composing my thoughts for this post, I am still within the first four chapters (and it’s the 27th of May!) – and still, I am hopeful I’ll make more enroads as I truly am enjoying the narrator’s approach to telling the story. She makes you feel enveloped in Sophie’s world and that is what won me over the most.

I had it in mind to preface my #bookstagram posts with blog posts to help route those who follow me into the posts we’re all sharing on our @WyrdAndWonder Insta feeds, but you’ll have to forgive me. The joy of blogging was a bit of a rough road for me to re-attain and it is only now in the waning hours of the month, I’ve found my passion for blogging again. I’ve chosen to use the last days of the event itself to back-blog those adventures I had in creating the graphics and why I selected the stories to feature within the posts themselves. I also learnt that I’m a bit too chatty on Insta and that is a work-in-progress to rectify as I sort out how to write shorter blurbs to run alongside the graphics themselves.

And, now without further adieu, let us discuss my favourite series celebrating the FAE:

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Wyrd And Wonder Fae collage created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: jorielovesastory.com

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comVisit this post on Insta via @WyrdAndWonder

(NOTE) Over the years I reviewed her stories, we developed a friendship and remained in touch. However, I treat every story as a new experience and even if I have a connection to an author, it doesn’t alter my honest reactions or opinions of what I read by them.

About Ms Chris (E. Chris Garrison) of Silly Hat Books

E. Chris Garrison Photo Credit: Ellie Sophia Photography

Chris Garrison writes fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories.
Her urban fantasies feature ghosts, demonic possession, and sinister fairy folk delivered with a “lightly dark” side of humor.

Her latest series is Trans-Continental, a steampunk adventure with a transgender woman protagonist. The series is set in one of the worlds in Chris’s dimension-hopping science fiction adventure, Reality Check, also published by Silly Hat Books. Reality Check reached #1 in Science Fiction on Amazon.com in 2013. Silly Hat Books released Alien Beer and Other Stories, a collection of her short stories, in 2017. Her latest release is The Multiverse Blues in 2021. Most of her stories are now available across formats including audiobook.

Chrissy lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her wife, step- daughter and many cats. She also enjoys gaming, home brewing beer, and finding innovative uses for duct tape. Keep up on the latest news and releases from the author by visiting her online.

Photo Credit: Ellie Sophia Photography

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Read my reviews for the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy:

Blue Spirit : Book One (see also Review)

Restless Spirit : Book Two (see also Review)

Mean Spirit : Book Three (see also Review)

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I fell rapturously in love with the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy as soon as I read BLUE SPIRIT. Between the wonderful canopy of story and world-building within a very realistic Urban Fantasy world and the veils of how the fantastical entered into the lives of Ms Chris’s characters – you could say, it was a perfectly wicked read for me from the moment I opened the book!

I’ve been championing this series for quite a long while now throughout the years of #WyrdAndWonder – and that is partially because I am hopeful other readers will seek out the series and find the joys I had as a reader within their folds, too. I’ve long been a champion of Indie Speculative Fiction novelists and storycrafters and Ms Chris (ie. E. Chris Garrison) is an especially favourite and beloved author of mine in this particular niche of interest. She has the wicked style and balance of what I am seeking out of a Fantasy novel alongside the cheekiest dose of humour which I also seek out, as without laughter, what would any of us do? Her instincts for telling these stories sets a high bar for me as a reader because I simply love her style of writing. She writes with such a keen sense of observation and a crafty way of etching out the emotions you want her characters to experience and transcend through as much as the fact she anchours just enough drama, tragedy and affliction which grounds her series with a realism that I believe most Fantasy readers are seeking to find themselves.

The series is written with a lovely inclusive nature – celebrating LGBTQ+ themes, characters and lifestyles as much as it seeks to shine a light on themes which we can all recognise originating in our own living world. She does this with a special cadence of truth and insight, whilst giving us a wickedly delightful drama to read as Skye’s life isn’t all fun and games. She has a journey to undertake and its that particular journey through each installment that tugs at your own heart until the very end of it.

Also, as this is within a shared universe with another author I love to read (ie. R.J. Sullivan) – there are connective threads of storylines and characters with the Road Ghosts trilogy, too. Best to view the vlog interview to fuller insight into it all, truly! It is a bit more involved than this brief explanation but if you follow the links, you’ll find out more about how everything interconnects.

Mostly though – I wanted to take a moment to fully spotlight an author I’ve loved to read and a series which had such a strong connection with me as a reader. I feel those are the best books and series to showcase during one of these prompt challenges. Because of those interpersonal connections we all make to the stories and the characters as well as the style of the craft of writing from the authors themselves. It all helps to connect us into that vision of what is left for us to read and in doing so, gives us all a wicked good impression about how Fantasy continuously evolves and expands to reach further realms of exploration; similarly to how we love exploring new frontiers in Science Fiction. Which is most likely why I am an explorer of both genres and love them dearly.

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I would LOVE to hear what your favourite stories (short, novella or novel) of the FAE are and which authors are writing stories of the FAE which draw you into their folds every year! Do you read series or one-offs? Do you strictly read anthologies or dip your toes between all of it, like I do? If you think you’ve found an author or a story I might enjoy reading myself – kindly add a comment to this post and a link to your blog post (or Instagram or LibraryThing post) – as those are the routes in which I can visit you. I’m also on Litsy but I am not on #booktok or GR.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comand, now dear hearts,
I shall leave you with an invitation
to 
Kindly visit my co-hosts:

Wyrd And Wonder banner created by Imyril. IMAGE CREDITS: Magic portal artwork by Tithi Luadthong via www.123rf.com/profile_grandfailure. Banner is used with permission.

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You’ll have to let me know if you’re participating this year with us
during #WyrdAndWonder in the comments below this post!
Want to pre-schedule your blog & socials? – Add your content to the Master Schedule!
Join the fantastical convo via Discord channel: Other Worlds!
And, happily visit with us via @WyrdAndWonder on Insta, too.

NOTE: To join us on OtherWorlds, please sign up for Wyrd & Wonder
then comment on this post or DM me (Imyril) on Twitter requesting an invite.

The beauty of #WyrdAndWonder itself- is being able to escape into the realms of Fantasy and seek out the fantastical – however which way that might personally appeal to the reader and the seeker! Let us help you adventure with us whilst seeing what you’ve decided to read, listen or watch throughout May! I hope some of the authors I’ve read and reviewed over the years have sparked a curiosity in you to seek out yourself and likewise, I know I’ve been wicked inspired throughout the years to seek out new authors myself. (Visit Jorie’s #WyrdAndWonder archives)

Whether this is your fifth year or your first, we welcome you to #WyrdAndWonder! Join us as we dip our bookish hearts into this region of Speculative Fiction which gets us wickedly giddy with expectations and imaginative blissitudes!

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These link to their individual announcements!

Lisa + Imyril + Annemieke + Ariana

via Twitter: @deergeekplace + @Imyril + @Signourney + @queenzucchini

via Insta: @deargeekplace + @Imyril
+ @inlinewithannemieke + @booknookreview

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Be sure to keep a watchful eye on our @WyrdAndWonder feeds for the content we’ll be sharing as we move closer towards May; expect monthly engagements from the Power of Five – across social channels & our blogs. We are happily ready to start visiting blogs & start the Fantastical conversations which we know will be enjoyed by all who LOVE Fantasy! Join us for our 6th Year and let it be fantastically engaging for everyone who joins us on this adventure.

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{Sources: Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: #FlashbackFriday for WyrdAndWonder grahpic, Favourite series of the FAE WyrdAndWonder graphic (photo credit: jorielovesastory.com) and the Comment Box banner. Wyrd And Wonder banners created by Imyril. IMAGE CREDITS: Magic portal artwork by Tithi Luadthong via www.123rf.com/profile_grandfailure. Banners are used with permission.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2023.

I’m a social reader | I tweet my reading life:

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

read more >> | Visit my Story Vault of Book Reviews | Policies & Review Requests | Contact Jorie

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Posted Friday, 5 May, 2023 by jorielov in #FlashbackFriday, #WyrdAndWonder, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Bookish Memes, JLAS Update Post, Jorie Loves A Story




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2 responses to “A #FlashbackFriday kind of #WyrdAndWonder : Celebrating and re-visiting my LOVE of the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy!

    • Hallo, Hallo Sia,

      Ooh this is wicked news!! I was hoping someone might discover this wicked series this year! I didn’t get to do as much as usual for #WyrdAndWonder, but I was able to showcase a variety of books/series via bookstagram which I was proud about as it gave me a new way of showcasing the books I love to read in Fantasy. This was the first post recapping that journey I took on Insta and despite my intentions, May left before I could finish posting the others. I’m still going to release those drafts, but its a work-in-progress right now. Thank you for leaving such a wonderful note for me! Apologise it took me a few weeks to see it, as I’ve just started a new job and the training for it began four weeks EARLY! Oyy.. Come back round to visit me as you move into the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy – especially if you find the reviews on my blog after you read them? I’d love to chat with you about your own reactions and takeaways thereafter! Those comments on those reviews are still active for new comments.

      All best, Sia!

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