Author: Teague de La Plaine

Teague is an underground man; he is amoral, anarchistic, gentle, urbane, and over-civilized to the point of decadence. He knows the hypocrisy of bureaucracy, the hatred implicit in religions and goes through life avoiding pain, keeping his emotions in check, and after that, being “cool” and looking for kicks. He is searching for something that transcends all the bullshit and often finds it in jazz.

Living as a writer

I've often wondered--and heard others wonder--what it takes to become a full-time writer. I'm not talking about a journalist, but rather a novelist. That's my aspiration. There a lot of answers to this question and plenty of good answers. First and foremost is this: you have to write the books. But aside from the craft … Continue reading Living as a writer →

If Only She Could

1."Her finger's not getting any better." Tom looked up from his workbench and pushed his glasses up onto his forehead. He looked at her standing there, outlined by sunlight streaming in through the back door. Lucy was standing in her shadow, the strong, older hands resting gently on Lucy’s shoulders. “It looks like it’s spreading. … Continue reading If Only She Could →

The Butler and the Novelist

Chuck Wendig's Famous "Flash Fiction Challenge" Topic: Write a short story based on a tweet by Magic Realism Bot. Tweet: A butler counts to ten. In that time, he lives twelve years as a 16th Century novelist. Length: 1,500 words (oops, I went over by roughly 500 words) It's time for another shot at tackling … Continue reading The Butler and the Novelist →

Excerpt from “Eidolon Vodou”

The following is from the opening chapter to my new book. Still woking on finishing the story, but I hope to have it published before the end of the year. Let me know what you think! THE SUN FINALLY dipped below the horizon, dropping the field into darkness. The trees running along the sides of … Continue reading Excerpt from “Eidolon Vodou” →

The Tree

Chuck Wendig’s Famous “Flash Fiction Challenge” Topic: Write a piece of flash fiction about a tree. Length: 1,000 words While working on the revisions to my first novel, I thought I’d finally take some time to un-muddle my brain and do some of the writing exercises proposed by a favorite author of mine: Chuck Wendig. I’ll … Continue reading The Tree →

On being a father

I was thinking about my boy today. I was thinking, “Why do we do it? Why do we talk about this amazing thing we’re going to do together: raise a family?” And as soon as they’re old enough to crawl — and for the rest of their lives — we send them off for most … Continue reading On being a father →

Leaving Sierra Leone

Leaving Sierra Leone was a masterpiece. Every moment was recorded in my head, like the surreal digital camera work of Michael Mann in one of the late night taxi scenes in Collateral. I sat outside the BAST house, staring at the Africa Bar, at the large fruit bat flying overhead, at the brightly lit monstrosity of … Continue reading Leaving Sierra Leone →

Arriving in Sierra Leone

The train from Stuttgart to Brussels was hell. I couldn't fly because the small prop aircraft wouldn't allow my three heavy trunks. So I had to take the train. I had intended no taking the ICE, with only one stop-over in Cologne. But when I got to the station, the conductor told me there wasn't … Continue reading Arriving in Sierra Leone →