by Tash, Red
“What about the band?” I asked.
There was a clipclop of musical hooves on the pavement, and Holly and the rest of the band rode up to the van. They were all so thin and frail, they fit on the back of the uni, no problem. “Not leaving without us, are you?” she said.
“The more the merrier,” Harlow said. “My mansa, su mansa.”
I didn’t know what the future would hold, but for the first time since I could remember, I was going to sleep well, in the company of friends. Tomorrow’s troubles, and whatever Dave and April would bring, would wait.
As we pulled out of the parking lot back onto State Road 37 heading south, I asked Harlow if he wanted to go back and burn down the casino, just in case.
He laughed. “Arson? Are you serious? I’m a troll, Deb, not a monster.”
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed Troll Or Derby, won’t you please tell your friends? Better yet, leave a review! Hearing from my readers is always the highlight of my day, and I’m dying to hear what you think of Roller Deb, Harlow, and their first adventure.
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Praise for This Brilliant Darkness:
“The quick, snappy dialogue moves the story fabulously, and with the many change of POV’s (each chapter), the story kept building in momentum into a tangled web of darkness, mystery, and paranormal terror. The fast pace was refreshing and I kept on reading, wondering what was going to happen to Christine and how all the characters twined into the bigger picture. Because of the dark mystery created, I was looking forward to the resolutions. Who or what is Greachin? Why did the entity choose Christine? How does Richard’s deceased wife fit into all this?—for what purpose? There is a hint of more SF going on than seems apparent with the emergence of the flat sun, and the paranormal activities around its sudden appearance, not to mention the very strange and beguiling creature Greachin and its macabre habits—very cool SFF concept, especially when we get into the head of the ‘thing’! Still, a lot of underlying threads left lingering in the reader’s mind which demand a sequel. The main character, Christine, is energetic and likeable. She is always trying to find out what’s happening to her and the people around her. She fights … right to the bitter end.” ~C. Turner
“This Brilliant Darkness is such an iconoclastic blend of warm good humour and, well, darkness. I liked the characters - liked as in, I would like to hang out with them. They are hilarious and earnest and full of individual quirks and challenges. And yet when things start getting serious, it is surprising and brutal. The book needs a sequel. I understand one is in the works.” ~E. Twist
(It is! That Crackling Silence is what I’m calling it for now.)
“I read this on my new Kindle Fire I got for Christmas 2011. It was a great read on a five hour plane ride to Mexico. Having the book to read made the trip so much more enjoyable! When I got to Mexico New Year’s Eve and walked a dimly lit path to my hotel, I saw bats flitting about and wondered if the creature, Greachen, was lurking about in the agave! The characters are well-developed, an otherworldly creature very mysterious, and I liked how the chapters were broken up and also that the author provided a description of each of the characters at the beginning of the book. I was left at the end a little shocked because I’d become so attached to the main character, Christine…but based on other reviews I think there’s a sequel coming, which is great! I look forward to Red Tash’s sequel to This Brilliant Darkness and highly recommend this book!” ~J. Jansen
“I originally started this book before the holidays…for the entire month of December Christine kept popping up in my mind ,when I finally had the time to sit down and start the book again I finished it in one sitting and it had me up till 1:30AM. Fast moving, imaginative and excellent read..I can’t wait until the next book..so red tash you better get busy!! The only negative I can come up with is that I was very tired at work today because I couldn’t put it down last night..Well done!!” ~S. Torres
“The enigmatic Red Tash has created a compelling, multi-layered - and fully nuanced - modern fairytale, full of pop reference and varied philosophical allusions. This Brilliant Darkness is smart, thrilling, funny and full of great characters tangled in the kind of small-town webs Stephen King revels in. Excellent writing from a writer to watch. One of the best new writers I’ve read in years. Pick it up!” ~A. Howerton
Download This Brilliant Darkness.
Praise for the first Wizard Tale:
“I truly enjoyed the descriptive qualities of ‘Wizard’. You feel as though you are truly there with the character. It is magic itself to be transported to another place; to share the senses, thoughts, and moments. Others try to capture it all with verbose text. I would rather be lead through a story like following the Piper, than marched through step by ardous step. So, I thank you for the tune Red Tash, and look forward to more!” ~P. Nickles
“What a sweet little read! Ideal for a few stolen moments. Red Tash displays her talent for comic writing in this charming short story about a wizard trying to have a holiday while at a Drive-In Cinema - it’s entertaining and fun! For more from this new author try ‘This Brilliant Darkness’ - a very original suspense-filled dark fantasy.” ~T. Hubmayer
“The cover for this short story is perfect! It sets up the mood for this short story that is at once cute and comedic as well as dark and scary at the same time. I found myself thinking about the characters and story long after reading it. A perfect and original short read!” ~P. Creeden
“I read this charming story in under ten minutes. I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter or any fantasy genre. Best of all, the pacing and grammar was flawless. Bravo!” ~PJ Jones
Download The Wizard Takes a Holiday for free.
Praise for The Wizard Takes a Fitness Class:
“Naturally when Fitness Class came out I was ecstatic! And it was definitely worth the wait. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a short story with so many laugh-out-loud moments. And the creativity displayed in the story telling is impressive. At a time when JK Rowling has defined Wizardom for the world, Red Tash makes it fresh again.” ~S. Akers
That’s right, by popular demand, The Wizard Takes a Fitness Class!
You asked for it, you got it!
The mysterious Wizard is back, and he’s brought along his demons—literally. What’s this about a nemesis and a gambling addiction? Can’t an old man enjoy a cone of Ben & Jerry’s and a nice nap at his favorite San Francisco B&B without a bunch of Chinatown zombies trying to get in on the action? And why are the sidewalks of The Castro suddenly so fabulous, anyway?
You don’t have be an LGBTQutie-patootie to shake your booty. Just ask the Wizard, or anyone who’s read his latest Wizard Tale.
Better yet, read it yourself!
By your suggestion, The Wizard Takes a Fitness Class is also longer than the first wizard story—much longer. Cover art is once again by Nik Caesar, this time with color by John Hageman.
If you can’t exorcise your demons, why not try exercising with them?
Download The Wizard Takes a Fitness Class today.
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Tales of Haydon by new author Tim Tash:
Four interlinked high fantasy tales of mages, princes, kings, and mysterious maidens. Explore the hidden city; battle the Queen’s Champion, Lady Sarita; meet shape-shifters; hunt a wild beast; and hear tales of regret from a King’s boyhood.
Featuring: A King’s Greatest Sin, The Errand, The Scar (excerpt from The Lion, Making of a King), & The Hidden City
Tales of Haydon is a short story collection, approximately six thousand words, appropriate for all ages.
Download it today.
About the Author
Red
Tash is a journalist-turned-novelist, a practicing ninja and a whole heck of a lot to handle. She loves to laugh and tell stories, and she hopes you enjoy them.
Prior to penning Troll Or Derby, Red skated as Tyra Durden for the Derby City Rollergirls, and as part of TeamMILF at RollerCon 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. Becoming a rollergirl was the third most empowering thing Red had ever done for herself at that point in time, ranked after having a homebirth and writing her first novel.
Red thanks you from the bottom of her 265s for skating through this book to the very end. She looks forward to reading your reviews.
Red Tash and Punky Bruiser, of TXRD and A&E’s Rollergirls.
Blood & Thunder is the first roller derby magazine dedicated to the modern revival of the sport. Get a subscription at their website, bloodandthundermag.com
Table of Contents
Troll Or Derby
Acknowledgements
Prologues & Beginnings
Chapter One
Chapter 1.5
Chapter Two
Chapter 2.5
Chapter Three
Chapter 3.5
Chapter Four
Chapter 4.5
Chapter Five
Chapter 5.5
Chapter Six
Chapter 6.5
Chapter Seven
Chapter 7.5
Chapter Eight
Chapter 8.5
Chapter Nine
Chapter 9.5
Chapter Ten
Chapter 10.5
Chapter Eleven
Chapter 11.5
Chapter Twelve
Chapter 12.5
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter 13.5
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter 14.5
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter 15.5
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter 16.5
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter 17.5
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter 18.5
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter 19.5
Chapter Twenty
Chapter 20.5
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter 21.5
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter 22.5
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter 23.5
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter 24.5
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter 25.5
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter 26.5
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter 27.5
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter 28.5
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter 29.5
Chapter Thirty
Chapter 30.5
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter 31.5
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter 32.5
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter 33.5
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter 34.5
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter 35.5
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter 36.5
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter 37.5
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter 38.5
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter 39.5
Epilogue
Red Tash
This Brilliant Darkness
The Wizard Takes A Holiday
The Wizard Takes A Fitness Class
Like Red on Facebook
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Tales of Haydon
About the Author
Red & Roller Derby
Blood & Thunder
