I’m thrilled to finally share a project that has been close to my heart for years, the Lorem Ipsum Mystery Series. After recently revisiting these manuscripts, salvaged from the old corrupted file of words once thought lost, I’ve fallen in love all over again with the world of Braedon Cove and its protagonist, Ali Undershot. She discovers that language itself can be a powerful force capable of shaping reality, something I am only now rediscovering.
The Secret Language of Braedon Cove
In the quiet coastal town of Braedon Cove, Ali Undershot uncovers a mysterious printing press in the basement of Mr. Lime Soup’s home. This isn’t just any printing press, it’s the Lorem Ipsum Press, a device that turns words into reality. As Ali learns to operate the press, she discovers that various linguistic elements hold supernatural powers that can protect, reveal, transform, and even trap.
The series is meant for readers to consider what lies ahead: What if words had literal power? What if arranging letters in certain patterns could affect reality itself?
Linguistic Magic at the Heart of the Mystery
What makes this series unique is how it weaves actual linguistic concepts into the supernatural fabric of the story. For those unfamiliar with these elements, here’s a glimpse into the magical system that powers the mysteries:
- Lorem Ipsum: Far more than just placeholder text, in Ali’s world, Lorem Ipsum is an ancient linguistic formula with transformative powers.
- Anagrams: Rearranged letters reveal hidden truths about characters and places. The name “Mr. Surloin” contains an anagram revealing his true nature, while “Mr. Lime Soup” hides something about his bright public persona.
- Pangrams: Sentences containing every letter of the alphabet create “complete magical circuits” that can protect against supernatural forces or bind agreements.
- Lipograms: Writing that deliberately avoids certain letters creates protective barriers against specific supernatural influences.
- ETAOIN SHRDLU: The twelve most common letters in English (in order of frequency) correspond to fundamental aspects of reality and can be arranged in patterns to create different magical effects.
- Etymology and False Etymology: A word’s believed origin affects its power more than its actual origin, allowing characters to manipulate reality by promoting alternative word histories.
- Palindromes: Words and phrases that read the same backward as forward create closed energy circuits that can trap supernatural entities.
- Acrostics: Hidden messages formed by the first letters of lines or paragraphs create binding effects on named individuals or concepts.
- Syntactic Reversal: Speaking or writing in deliberately reversed syntax creates protection against supernatural intrusion, particularly mind reading.
The Five Books of the Series
The series consists of five interconnected novels, each focusing on different linguistic elements while building on Ali’s journey to master the Lorem Ipsum Press:
- Relish A Donut: Ali discovers the press and its connection to a mysterious death.
- Retail Hounds: A supernatural threat emanates from the local dog shelter.
- Harlot Undies: Strange messages appear in laundered clothes at the local laundromat.
- Rush To Denial: Ali must protect herself from Mr. Surloin’s increasing influence.
- Hunted Sailor: The final confrontation where all linguistic elements come together.
If you look closely, the titles themselves form an elaborate anagram system that gradually reveals the true nature of the Lorem Ipsum Press.
Reading Between the Lines
What I love most about this series is how it transforms the reading experience. Readers become detectives not just of the plot but of the language itself, spotting anagrams, checking for missing letters, and examining first letters of paragraphs for hidden messages. The boundary between writer and reader blurs, creating a unique collaborative experience.
As Mr. Lambert, the mysterious bookstore owner, tells Ali: “Read once with your heart, once with your mind, and once with your soul. Each reading reveals a different layer of truth.”
A Labor of Love
I’ve developed a comprehensive reader’s guide that delves deeper into these linguistic concepts and how they function in the series. While I initially worried it might be asking too much of readers to engage with these complex ideas, I’ve come to believe that the right readers, those who love language, puzzles, and supernatural mysteries, will be delighted by these layers of meaning.
That doesn’t mean I think it will sell.
The Lorem Ipsum Mystery Series represents my love letter to the magic of words and the power of language. I can’t wait to share Ali’s journey with you all very soon.
“Words were never merely symbols on a page. They were always spells waiting to be cast.”
— Daedalus, Founder of the Lorem Ipsum Press