One of my very favorite people released a brand new book in a brand new (to him) genre, and I’m SO EXCITED to help celebrate!! Eric R Asher has established his work in urban fantasy and steampunk — and is stepping into the world of cozy fantasy! The Theme Park At The End Of The World is your ticket to all things wild and wonderful!!
10 things that happened in a theme park that I had to put in a book!
by Eric R. Asher
These are 10 things I’ve experienced over the years that I either had to put into The Theme Park at the End of the World, or included in one of the upcoming sequels. Some of them might sound like a comedy skit, but no, I can assure you they weren’t.
- Friends. There’s nothing quite like spending time in the parks with friends and family. I’m all for a solo trip, and there are some definite good times to be had with those, but I love being in the parks with other theme park enthusiasts. And even if they aren’t enthusiasts, we can work on that.
- Stepping onto a ride that was FAR more intense than expected. I think the best example of this is Velocicoaster at Islands of Adventure. I’d heard reviews, but it’s hard to explain how intense that ride is until you actual ride it. The airtime is phenomenal. My number one coaster I’ve been on!
- Amazing food! A lot of folks don’t go to the parks thinking they’re going to try some new dish that sets them off on a whole new foodie pursuit, but I’ve had that happen multiple times. From a rich Pastelón to a sizzling goat curry to an over-the-top corndog to a grapefruit beer, theme parks have introduced me to some fantastic foods over the years.
- The malfunctioning character costume. A long, long time ago I worked in a theme park and, on occasion, had to dress up as a rather large rooster. I didn’t enjoy it much back then, because if you’ve never worn a 30-pound costume in the dead middle of summer it’s fairly exhausting, but I have fond memories of it now. If you’re wondering if the zippers ever break, yes. Yes, they do.
- Monitoring guests on a dark ride who have no idea they’re being watched. I won’t dive into any of the eye-bleach worthy moments, but I will say it was incredibly amusing at times to stop the lift on a dark ride to ask someone to stop doing whatever they weren’t supposed to be doing. Definitely a few shouts of surprise.
- Volunteering for night shift when it was time to drain the water ride and squeegee out the algae. It was fine until you lost your footing and plopped down in a sopping wet puddle of cold green goo. That’s why they let the kraken do it at The Theme Park at the End of the World.
- Thinking I didn’t need a poncho on a raft ride because “We’re going right back to the hotel anyway.” Well, that was before I met Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. Some vloggers say it gets you wetter than a shower. Those vloggers are right. It is an absolutely relentless dunking of a ride. Utterly fantastic until you remember the hotel is still a bus ride away and the sun is going down.
- Meeting vloggers in the parks who you’ve watched for years. I enjoy a good theme park vlog, and you’ll find The Theme Park at the End of the World is dedicated to a few of my favorites. We’ve met many of them over the years, and every one of them has been kind and spared a moment to chat.
- Weddings in the park. Well, this is an easy one. My wife and I got married in the parks just this year down at Universal Studios Orlando. It was very low key, just us and our officiant so we didn’t disturb anyone, but it was quite an amazing thing to get married in one of our favorite places.
- After hours events. At The Theme Park at the End of the World, the night belongs to the Fae. But much like that magical time, I absolutely adore after hours events at real world parks. If you get a chance to go to one with limited attendance, I can’t recommend them enough.
Welcome to The Theme Park at the End of the World. Magic thrives here. Anything is possible.
Working at the park was something Ellie and her friend Cole had always wanted to do. Living there was something she had never dreamed of. Now, those vibrant streets and towering rides are part of her everyday life, along with food prepared by some of the finest Fae chefs she’s ever met. Her new home has brought her laughter, a measure of unpredictability, and unexpected friendships. One being with a war-weary Fae. Yet Ellie soon discovers all is not what it seems…
Roman has a dark past and a soft heart. Still, he aims to make the park a haven of wonders for Fae and humans alike. Thanks to him, the evenings belong to the Fae. During those treasured hours, the rides become something more, and those from Faerie bring their own sort of joy.
Ellie must bridge the divide between two worlds when a human inspector arrives at the park. Failing now could place her friends and family in peril. Unmasking the Fae who dwell in The Theme Park at the End of the World would be a loss for all.
Uncover the secrets, thrills, and heartwarming moments that await in this slice-of-life cozy fantasy adventure!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Coastal Magic Convention Featured Author Spotlight post.
Eric will be one of the amazing authors we’ll get to hang out with during the 13th annual reader weekend in Daytona Beach, FL, Feb 20-23, 2025.
For a full list of Featured Authors, info about the weekend, and link to register to attend, visit http://www.CoastalMagicConvention.com.
And be sure to watch for more Featured Author spotlights coming up here each month!
Funk-N-Fiction 