Funky Dan and the Pixie Dream Girl by Courtney Lanning is a debut fantasy novel that pokes fun at contemporary romance and fantasy tropes with both humor and respect. The first novel in The Boston Magic Mountain fantasy series, Lanning’s Funky Dan explores the rich mythology and lore of the mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Roxie is a sweet trans girl who just wants to spend the rest of her summer vacation playing music with her friends in their band. Living in a southern college town like Fayetteville has its challenges. Dan is a shop wizard who would give anything to escape the store he has been trapped in for a century under the watchful eyes of a witch and a talking fox.
Their paths converge when Roxie is given the ability to travel into dreams and tasked with fighting off nightmares.
Unbeknownst to Dan and Roxie, other dream walkers are searching for an enchanted key, and if they find it, they’ll plunge the entire city into a living nightmare. The shop wizard and pixie dream girl will have to team up to stop them, facing their own nightmares along the way.
I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.
Why did you write this book?
I read lots of fantasy titles every year, and I just don't see enough transgender representation in the genre. So I wanted to try and reverse that. I also wanted to give transgender women a hero to root for, maybe someone they could see a piece of themselves in. As the Ozark Mountain Magic series continues I aim to include other LGBTQ+ characters and give them the spotlight.
What makes fantasy books great to read, even if people think they won't like the genre?
The best answer I can think of is magic. Magic serves as the bedrock for the fantasy genre, whether it's a mystical weapon or some sacred spell, maybe even one's inexplicable ability to do things that defy explanation. And I think given the state of the world, everyone could use a little magic in their lives. Lord knows I read for escapism, but I think the fantasy genre can bring magic into anyone's life. And it's not a monolith. Fantasy has plenty of subgenres. It's not all high fantasy Tolkien stuff. There's urban fantasy like The Dresden Files, weird westerns like the Gunnie Rose series, fairy tales like Lost in the Never Woods, magical realism like The River Has Teeth, and so much more. I'd encourage anyone who has convinced themselves they don't like fantasy to delve deeper into the genre. There's plenty to enjoy, and lots of nooks and crannies to explore.
What surprised you the most about the writing process for this story?
Nothing surprised me more about the writing process than how much I'd come to love the characters. Dan's longing to be free, Roxie's determination to be true to herself, Eely's sass, Odessa's mystical nature, each of these characters has a space in my heart. Hell, when I finished book #3 in the series I bought myself a white stuffed animal fox, named her Eely, and I've slept with her by my side each night since. I even took her on a recent vacation to Denver so I'd have a piece of home in every hotel. My only wish is readers come to like these characters as well.
Books and downloads are available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles Nook, iTunes, and Kobo.
About Courtney Lanning
Courtney Lanning is a journalist in Fayetteville at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She's earned a master's degree in multimedia journalism. When she's not writing, Lanning is probably watching a movie, playing video games, reading or out running. Her debut novel, Funky Dan and the Pixie Dream Girl, is slated for release by the end of June 2021. She can be found on Twitter under @SapphicCourtney or on Facebook under Courtney Lanning -Author
About Riverdale Avenue Books
Riverdale Avenue Books is an award winning, innovative hybrid publisher at the leading edge of the changes in the publishing industry. We publish e-books and print titles under 13 imprints: Desire, an erotica/erotic romance imprint; Riverdale/Magnus the award-winning imprint of LGBT titles; Pop featuring pop culture titles; Afraid, a horror line; SFF, a science fiction fantasy line; Truth, an erotic memoir line; Dagger, a mystery thriller imprint; Sports and Gaming featuring sports and gaming titles; Verve featuring lifestyle titles; Hera featuring both the true and fictional lives and loves of women aged 35 and up; 120 Days an LGBT pulp fiction line and Circlet, an erotica/erotic romance imprint. Started in 2012 by industry veteran Lori Perkins, Riverdale is a full service publisher, with a subsidiary rights department. Visit us at www.RiverdaleAveBooks.com
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