Ratrilpot Stories
Ratrilpot is an island kingdom that is shaped like a teapot and that is located in the Sugonian Seas. The first Ratrilpot story, Mother Knows Best, was published in AlienSkin Magazine in 2005. 15 other stories were published in other online markets over the course of the next 10 years. In 2016, John collected all of these tales and several unpublished tales into a short story collection titled: Talt Tales and Magical Misadventures.
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Talt Tales and Magical MisadventuresReleased: September 14, 2016 Mythical Monsters, Magic and Mysteries, a Maniacal Monarch, Spirits, Ghastly Games with Fabulous Names, Pumpkins, and… Exploding Frogs? From reimagined fairy tales, to traditional fantasy tales of redemption, to ridiculous parody fun, this short story collection features a decade’s worth of published fiction set in the kingdom of Ratrilpot. Relive the mayhem of Mother Knows Best, the silly spectacle of Survival Idols, and the triumph of Talt Tales: The Hunt for Closure. Or embark on new adventures featuring Tristan Talt, Grandma Goodwitch, and Lavender Pie that are exclusive to this collection. For Ratrilpot fans new and old, there’s something Magical* inside for everyone.** (* Not actual magic. That costs extra.) (** Everyone who buys the collection, or borrows it from a library, or acquires it in some other legal way that does not infringe upon the author’s rights. It’s not like anyone could really give the book away to EVERYONE; do you know how many people there are in the world?) |
Mother Knows Best
First published: AlienSkin Magazine - April/May 2005
The witch has everything she needs for her dark spell, including the essential ingrediant: a little girl. What she doesn't realize is that the girl she's kidnapped, Lavender Pie, may be a bit more than even she can handle.
The Fourth Kiss
First published: Wild Violet Magazine Volume V Issue 1: Mythic Myst (March 2006)
Lucy's new housekeeper is more like a warden. But when a mysterious parchment arrives in her secret spot, Lucy realizes Mrs. Scuttlebottom is the least of her worries. Dark magic is about destroy her dreams of happiness, unless she can work some magic of her own.
A Time to Croak
First published: AlienSkin Magazine - Aug/Sept 2006
Lavender Pie's reputation with exotic animals makes her the primary suspect in an unexplainable set of froggy murders. Can she clear her name and find the real culprit? More importantly, will she have time?
Eaten Out of House and Home
First published: AlienSkin Magazine - Oct/Nov 2006
When Grandma Goodwitch falls victim to a magic spell of someone else's creation, it'll take all of her wits to protect her reputation and her home. The only question is, how much home will be left to protect?
Toasting the Groom
First published: AlienSkin Magazine - Aug/Sept 2007
What will Marcus risk to prove that he's worthy of Mel's hand in marriage? His fortune? His social standing? His Head?
The Midnight Ride of Polly Revere
First published: AlienSkin Magazine - Oct/Nov 2008
How much trouble can you get into while riding your horse and using a magical conversation crystal at the same time? Polly Revere is about to find out.
A Shade of Guilt
First published: OG's Speculative Fiction - Issue 26 (September 2010)
What led to the downfall of Naxor Goodbane's brother? Summon his shade and find out.
Preying for Help
First published: Allegory - Volume 15/42 (Summer 2011)
When Grandma Goodwitch is asked to help find a man that's ventured into the Fearsome Forest, she knows it's unlikely he'll still be alive. But that doesn't mean she won't try, even if it means risking her life as well.
If the Shoe Fits
First published: Aurora Wolf - Top Five Volume 2 Issue 10 (Sept 2011)
When apprentice godmother, Crystal Meadows, is kidnapped and forced to arrange a wedding, she quickly learns that her assignment is not only about ensuring a happy ending for her client, but also preventing a tragic one for herself.
Survival Idols
First published: Aurora Wolf - Top Five Volume 3 Issue 9 (Aug 2012)
For Prince Kendall of Stillwell, winning the Queen's Survival Idols contest means the world; for if he loses, he will no longer be a part of it.
A Girl's Best Friend
First published: Silver Blade - Issue 14 (Sept 2012)
You can't lie to Ratrilpot's Queen. So when Her Majesty tasks Byron with finding out if Eilloena wears a gift from her deceased father so the Queen can steal it for herself, Byron must act quickly. For their friendship means the world to him, and saving her from heartache is worth any price.
When the Curtain Falls
First published: eFantasy Magazine Volume 1 Issue 8 (March 2013)
For the ancient Zlaka, life's been about running away from a past he'd sooner forget. So when the chance for redemption comes, he longs to embrace it. The only question is whether he's willing to pay the price.
Severance
First published: eFantasy Magazine Volume 1 Issue 11 (June 2013)
Kisa knows his tenure as a knight may soon end; his only hope is that he can finish this one last quest, before it finishes him.
A Matter of Taste
First published: New Realm Magazine Vol. 02 No.04 (January 2014)
Tory Trodden wants nothing more than to escape Hoodlum's Hollow, so the question isn't when it will happen; it's more like, Will he be breathing afterward?
Talt Tales: The Hunt for Closure
First published: New Realm Magazine Vol. 02 No.09 (July 2014)
When Tristan Talt's father passes, he finds himself digging up the past to find closure in the present. But as much as he hopes to heal his old wounds, he soon finds himself fearing he'll wind up more scarred than ever before.
The Monster and the Ward
First published: New Realm Magazine Vol. 03 No.09 (July 2015)
Nicholas Needleson was the type of boy who could find good in just about anything. But even he was having a hard time finding a silver lining in the news that he was finally leaving the orphanage he'd prayed to escape.