The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan

"One of the most captivating and magical books I've read" ~ Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune "Intelligent, enchanting, playful" ~ Publishers Weekly "Often bringing to mind the adventures of Alice during her travels through Wonderland" ~ Chicago Literati In Chicago, a curious L train runs through a hidden side of the city, at the intersection of something here and something there, right where you stop believing in last. On that train, you'll discover fantastical truths about the city, alongside the most fascinating cast of characters, including one exceptional girl by the name of Francesca Finnegan. Once upon an autumn night, Francesca invited a boy named Richard aboard the secret L, for an adventure unlike any other. The night was a mad epic, complete with spectral whiskey, fabled Ferris wheels, gravity-defying first kisses, and more, as the pair traveled through past and present city landmarks such as the famed Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Dunning Mental Asylum, and Riverview Amusement Park. Unfortunately for Richard, the night ended like one of those elusive dreams, forgotten the moment you wake. Now, Richard is all grown up and out of childish adventures, a humdrum adult whose life is on the verge of ruin. It will take the rediscovery of his exploits with Francesca, and a reacquaintance with the boy he once was, to save him. Witty, humorous, and at times profound, this modern fairytale teaches a lesson - one that adult readers are sure to benefit from. Half the proceeds from this book are donated to Chicago Public Schools. Learn more at fairytalechicagodotcom.

Literature & Fiction

Wiley, Steve

Genre Fiction

Lavender Line Press LLC

The Imagined Homecoming of Icarus Isakov

A homecoming tale unlike any other, The Imagined Homecoming of Icarus Isakov recounts the fantastical return home of goblin anti-hero and puckish narrator, Icarus Isakov.When Icarus receives a mysterious letter from the long-lost girl next door, he returns to the ghost town of his childhood in search of her. Icarus lodges at a mystical tavern, one serving memories instead of drinks. There, imbibing the past and exploring the present, Icarus is swept up on wonderfully strange adventure, taking him from the depths of wish-filled seas to the highest of dream castle ramparts. Along the way, Icarus faces old demons with help from a curious cast of characters, including a forgetful faun, a drunken elf, and a chance mermaid. It will take all of them to find the girl next door, and to rediscovery home.The Homecoming of Icarus Isakov is a touching and thought-provoking ride through nostalgia, memory, and the idea of home. Icarus's playful narration style make the pages fly, and the magical tavern makes a stunning backdrop for this surreal odyssey.

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

A homecoming tale unlike any other, The Imagined Homecoming of Icarus Isakov recounts the fantastical return home of goblin anti-hero and puckish narrator, Icarus Isakov.When Icarus receives a mysterious letter from the long-lost girl next door, he returns to the ghost town of his childhood in search of her. Icarus lodges at a mystical tavern, one serving memories instead of drinks. There, imbibing the past and exploring the present, Icarus is swept up on wonderfully strange adventure, taking him from the depths of wish-filled seas to the highest of dream castle ramparts. Along the way, Icarus faces old demons with help from a curious cast of characters, including a forgetful faun, a drunken elf, and a chance mermaid. It will take all of them to find the girl next door, and to rediscovery home.The Homecoming of Icarus Isakov is a touching and thought-provoking ride through nostalgia, memory, and the idea of home. Icarus's playful narration style make the pages fly, and the magical tavern makes a stunning backdrop for this surreal odyssey.

Jones, April

The Elven Inquisition: A Woke Fairy Story

Elf privilege. Marginalized mermaids. Woke trolls. Pumpkin fairy reparations. Welcome to the chaotic kingdom of Fantasmagoria, where an inquisition for absolute equality rages and the masses combat all forms of social injustice by any means necessary. Elves are burned at the stake for suggesting there is a biological difference between mermaids and goblins. Djinns are executed for granting capitalistic wishes. Vampires are tortured to death for insensitive jokes made five hundred years ago. Finbar Finneban is a well-intentioned faun employed by the kingdom newspaper. At work, Finbar is made to censor, ensure staff diversity, and write virtuous articles on the inquisition. Problem is, Finbar resents the inquisition. He hates the victimology, identity politics, and cancellation culture. More than anything, he hates the madness of crowds. The question is: can he, and the kingdom, survive them?The Elven Inquisition is a hilarious, thought-provoking satire on the divisive politics plaguing modern-day America, from Fairytale Chicago author Steve Wiley.

Elf privilege. Marginalized mermaids. Woke trolls. Pumpkin fairy reparations... Welcome to the chaotic kingdom of Fantasmagoria, where an inquisition for absolute equity rages and the masses combat all forms of social injustice by any means necessary. Elves are burned at the stake for suggesting there is a biological difference between mermaids and goblins. Djinns are executed for granting capitalistic wishes. Vampires are tortured to death for insensitive jokes made five hundred years ago. Finbar Finneban is a well-intentioned faun employed by the kingdom newspaper. At work, Finbar is made to censor, ensure staff diversity, and write virtuous articles on the inquisition. Problem is, Finbar resents the inquisition. He hates the victimology, identity politics, and cancellation culture. More than anything, he hates the madness of crowds. The question is: can he, and the kingdom, survive them? The Elven Inquisition is a hilarious, thought-provoking satire on the divisive cultural and political issues plaguing modern-day society, from Fairytale Chicago author Steve Wiley.

A Beard Tangled in Dreams: The True Story of Rip Van Winkle

"Intriguing reimagining of the 1819 classic that explores the landscape of dreams" ~Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize\nMystery, adventure, and romance converge upon a path of twilight in this first-ever retelling of the oldest published fairytale in American history, Rip Van Winkle.\nThe original Rip Van Winkle was a modest sixty-four pages. Quite short for a tale spanning twenty years. Why so short? None of those pages accounted for all the years that languorous legend spent asleep. There has never been a single published word of what Rip dreamt all those years, until now. Those wildest of dreams follow Rip from the furthest reaches of his mysterious past, through every enchanted forest of folklore, to a wedding without end in the future. This wonderfully strange sailing over the Sea of Dreams reveals not only the truth behind Rip Van Winkle and his notorious slumber, but the real meaning in dreams for us all.\nFrom author of the highly acclaimed Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan comes another thought-provoking and unconventional fantasy, sure to help readers of all ages rediscover their own inner dreamer.

The Curious Case of the Village in the Moonlight

Saint-Paul Mental Asylum, France, June 1889Newly admitted patient Vincent Van Gogh watched as the first stars of what would become The Starry Night blinked to life. There was the half-moon, creeping up from behind the hills. The wind rose with such splendid force, he could almost see it. There was the sleepy village, colored with candlelight.In that village lived a lamplighter. That notorious starry night would be his last one on the job. The town was scheduled to be wired with a new and innovative technology called 'electricity' the following day. The lamplighter began his last night of work at the village tavern during 'green hour' - an absinthe-drenched celebration in his honor. Green hour would transform the night from familiar to fantastical, with the village street lamps mysteriously vanishing. The lamplighter is swept away on a wonderfully strange adventure to find and light the lost lamps, one that will take him from the depths of wish-filled rivers to the heights of the star-filled sky. Along the way, the lamplighter finds help from a curious cast of characters including the man on the moon, an ages-old cypress tree, and the wind itself. It will take all of them to find the lost lamps, and a lost love.From author of the highly acclaimed Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan comes another thought-provoking and unconventional fantasy novella, sure to help readers rediscover the stars.

Saint-Paul Mental Asylum, France, June 1889\nNewly admitted patient Vincent Van Gogh watched as the first stars of what would become The Starry Night blinked to life over the sleepy village of Saint-Rémy.\nIn that village lived a lamplighter. That notorious starry night would be his last one on the job. The town was scheduled to be wired with a new and innovative technology called 'electricity' the following day. The lamplighter began his last night of work at the village tavern during green hour — an absinthe-drenched celebration in his honor. Green hour would transform the night from familiar to fantastical, with the village street lamps mysteriously vanishing. The lamplighter finds himself swept away on a wonderfully strange adventure to find and light the lost lamps, one that will take him from the depths of wish-filled rivers to the heights of the star-filled sky. Along the way, the lamplighter finds help from a curious cast of characters including the Man in the Moon, an ages-old cypress tree, and the wind itself. It will take all of them to find the lost lamps, and a lost love.\nFrom author of the highly acclaimed Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan comes a thought-provoking and unconventional novella, sure to help readers rediscover the stars.

Arts & Photography

History & Criticism

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Wiley, Steve. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Wiley, Steve

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Wiley, Steve. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan

The Fairytale Chicago of Francesca Finnegan

The Imagined Homecoming of Icarus Isakov

The Imagined Homecoming of Icarus Isakov

The Elven Inquisition: A Woke Fairy Story

The Elven Inquisition: A Woke Fairy Story

A Beard Tangled in Dreams: The True Story of Rip Van Winkle

A Beard Tangled in Dreams: The True Story of Rip Van Winkle

The Curious Case of the Village in the Moonlight

The Curious Case of the Village in the Moonlight