Synopsis

Soleil is lost in time, launched through history at the hands of the Old Ticker. Now he is out of his element. He must adapt to his new home, hope it’s possible to return to his original time, and pray for a chance to correct some mistakes along the way.

Tyrell knows Flarence killed Darren. He wants revenge, though a mere human with limited resources has no chance of harming a Genie. But Roy’s body is failing to the point that not even Genie blood can sustain him. The cause of Roy’s slow death may give Tyrell the opportunity he needs to make Flarence suffer.

The Old Ticker’s designs have been leaked. Now they rest in deadlier hands and more mischievous minds. A pair of spell-casting revolvers were nothing compared with the new weapons being developed in secret. The Genies may have met their match when a scientist emerges armed with the most devastating firearm the world has ever known.

These three novellas are the culmination of the Mystic Rampage series—historical fiction, contemporary action, and near-future science fiction. Connecting them all is their shared theme of overcoming regrettable decisions to forge a brighter future.

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Guest Post

What to do now that the series is over

Making the Mystic Rampage series a trilogy was uncertain for a while. The second book ended with the main characters being separated and I wanted to cover each of them individually to tie up as many loose ends as possible after the events of “Public Display of Aggression.” I developed the ideas for three stories to accommodate the trio of characters that needed their plot lines wrapped up. If I’d done it that way, the series would have consisted of six books, which isn’t too long, but the time I anticipated needing to finish was discouraging. Based on my history, one year to write a book is possible, but it’s a rushed job. Two years is sufficient to be satisfied with the product. I didn’t want to spend another six years – at a minimum – on this series so I decided to compress the last three novels into novellas that could fit into a single third book. It cut time on my part, and I also feel it’s nicer for the fans. Anyone who is curious about what happens to the Genies, Tyrell, and Claire won’t have to wait to find out, and even though the last book is more expensive, it’s still cheaper than purchasing three books separately.

The time requirement wasn’t the only reason I decided to end the series after three books. I succumbed to writer’s block while working on this series, and an effective treatment for that is to temporarily dive into a new idea. I put Mystic Rampage on hold for a month every year so I could participate in National Novel Writing Month. One year I wrote a traditional fantasy about a dragon and another year I tried a coming-of-age story about angsty high schoolers with emotional superpowers. Those were both in my “wheelhouse” because they were fantasy in their own way. Last year I went outside of my comfort zone and tried to write a romance novel. I’m not happy with that last one, but the important thing is that I have three drafts of brand-new stories to revise and pitch.

In January of this year, I faced a tough call about which draft I wanted to give my attention. I mentioned that I’m not pleased with my romance attempt, so putting that on the back burner was a no-brainer. In the end, I decided to focus on the dragon story because I feel like I can develop a stronger pitch for it. The emotional superpowers story is more original than a fire-breathing dragon in a make-believe kingdom, but it’s also a lot weirder. The Mystic Rampage series has sold fairly well so far, but I don’t feel I have enough notoriety as an author to sell a crazy idea yet. I’ll stay predictable for now, and my next book will involve knights, royalty, and mythical creatures of yore. But I have something else in the background. Something that will, as my dad would say, come out of left field.

I’ve also branched into other formats. The next project I complete will be a novel because that’s what I’ve been practicing for years, and I’ve become accustomed to that structure. I’ve never tried screenplays, but I’m beginning to consider learning how to construct them. I’ve attended some lectures put on by an organization called the Pipeline Group, which helps authors adapt books into scripts. The lectures I’ve attended haven’t been for script writing, but rather for building pitch decks and workshopping loglines. I’m done with the Mystic Rampage series, but just for fun I sometimes revisit the first book and try to make a story bible for it, and I’ve even tried turning the first chapter into a script. I don’t know if any of my books will ever be turned into a movie, but it’s fun to dream.

One other possibility that I only briefly consider occasionally is adapting Mystic Rampage into a comic series. When there isn’t a lot going on I occasionally pass the time by going online and looking up artists for hire. I haven’t inquired to anyone yet because I don’t take the idea too seriously. Even if someone were willing to take the job, converting text into panels would likely take more time than I have available now. Revising a draft of a novel and studying screenplays is enough to have on my plate currently, particularly since I also have to maintain my day job’s requirements. The next project I complete will be my new fantasy novel, then maybe I’ll give a screenplay a shot, and possibly, in the distant future, I’ll consider the option of a comic book adaptation.

About the Author

Hugh Fritz is thrilled to have completed his Mystic Rampage trilogy, a project eight years in the making. While writing the series he has outlined and written rough drafts of other stories ranging from horror to romance. He is currently bouncing between his works in progress, deciding which one should get his full attention. Whatever comes next will assuredly be a step in a whole new direction.

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