There’s some truth in every fiction.
Take Rat Bastard, for example. You might think that since its a humorous tale involving very odd characters that it sprung entirely from the author’s fevered imagination. And mostly, you’d be right. However, Weasel’s world and the real one do occasionally collide.
The ghostly legend detailed in Rat Bastard is a real one. The Phantom Lady of Kennedy Hill Road was a real phenomenon. In the winter of 1981, a ghostly female figure was often spotted streaking down Kennedy Hill Road near Byron, Illinois, traipsing through the snow often nude or clad only in her underwear. Ghosts have no sense of decorum! The tale of the Phantom Lady is further explored in my book Ghosts of Northern Illinois.
Other truths have also creeped into the pages of Rat Bastard. In one scene, Weasel sets fire to a wooden cutting board by turning on the wrong burners on a stove. Silly, huh? Couldn’t happen in real life. I’ve done it, not once, not twice, but…well, who’s keeping count. Fire extinquishers have been employed and flaming cutting boards have been flung out into the snow.
True stuff.
To celebrate the release of Rat Bastard, we’ll be giving away an autographed copy of the paperback. Just comment on this post (along with a way to notify you if you win) and we’ll pick a name at random! We’ll choose our winner on March 20th,2014!
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4788
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephen Osborne lives in rural Illinois with Jadzia the Wonder Dog. In addition to writing, seeing musicals in Chicago, and losing at Monopoly, Stephen sometimes spends cold, shivery nights in haunted locations, just because he likes to.
Visit him at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.osborne2 and Twitter: https://twitter.com/southbendghosts. You can contact him at leftyIN@yahoo.com.
RAT BASTARD
Blurb:
Patrick “Weasel” Weasley is worried he’s not spending enough time with his new boyfriend Tony, now that they are living and working in different towns. He decides the best way to cement the relationship is to buy Tony a ring for Christmas. Unfortunately, Weasel’s evil stepfather–a rat bastard if ever there was one–has cut him off without a cent, and he is left with no other choice. He must (gasp!) get a job!
Weasel wouldn’t mind working at the Phantom Lady Inn if it wasn’t for Tony’s ex-boyfriend Gates Stumpenhorst, who wants to beat the stuffing out of him, or Cicely Talbot, a writer who believes she can prove to Weasel that he’s not really gay. As if that wasn’t enough, the deputy sheriff thinks Weasel is the local arsonist. Adding to their troubles is a rumored Phantom Lady haunting the inn and pilfering trinkets. With all this going on, Weasel might not live to survive Christmas, much less find time to go on a date with Tony!
Buy Link: Dreamspinner Press
Believe me, I know ALL about “wrong burner” fires. I need a keeper.
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
aelnova@aol.com
Now I want to read this story and find out more about the Phantom Lady!
goaliemom0049(at)gmail(dot)com
This book sounds really good. Count me in.
Kimandpete(at)me(dot)com
This sounds very entertaining!
vitajex(at)Aol(dot)com
Does this include UK residents?
dlb_365@yahoo.co.uk
It surely does, Deeze! I love my UK readers!
Will you find it weird that I know where Byron is and have driven through it numerous times? Although I didn’t know about the ghost!
aahickmanathotmaildotcom
Story sounds funny and off-beat. Please count me in.
count me in please
leetee2007@hotmail.com
It sounds like it might be a comical read. I would love chance to win this book.
oppsie forgot my email: humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Only recently I read Pale as a Ghost and I loved it, so yeah, it would be awesome to get my hands on a copy of Rat Bastard :-).
Greetings from Germany
Birte
Kalidris at gmail.com
Ohh~ Yes! So awesome! I’m so excited for this book!! thank you so much for the contest! Please, please count me in! *A*
arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com
Sounds great. I would love to read more. Thanks
debby236 at gmail dot com
Thnak you for the chance to win your book!!! mevalem258 A T gmail
Hehe – work? That poor boy *snigger*
Thanks for the chance to win
Stephen Osborne is a new author to me, and based on the blurbs I’m definitely going to check out both Pop Goes the Weasel and Rat Bastard.
Please include me in the draw. gauk63(at)yahoo(dot)com
The book sounds really great please count me in I love a good ghost story.
ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
Please count me in. Thanks.
This sounds like a great book. Would love to read it.
Deborahhansen52@yahoo com
Looking forward to Weasel’s proposal.
llhunter.romance@gmail.com
I’ve had incidents similar to the cutting board in real life. For example, recently instead of heating water for some tea, I turned on the wrong burner and exploded a glass baking dish filled with a beautiful apple crisp. And when I say exploded, I mean… I didn’t know something could break into that many pieces. And it wasn’t even my dish!
ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com
This sounds like a funny book and I’d love to win it – haven’t read any of this author’s work.
andreams2013 at gmail.com
Having lived in Illinois, it’s fun to know the legend is true. I’d love to win this!
And the winner, chosen by Random.org, is….Lee Todd! Congrats, Lee!