After writing a portal fantasy novel, L.E. Harper, an author from another universe, visited Bolingbrook. 

Donna, who asked that we not use her last name, saw Harper step through the portal. “She looked around and said this didn’t look like her fictional world. When she asked if I recognized her, I told her I didn’t. Then she said something about not being trapped in a fan fiction version of Kill Your Darlings.” 

Peter X. Stiller claims he saw Harper inside Meijer. “She was staring at an issue of the Babbler when I saw her. Then she recorded a video saying she was inside the Babbler universe. She wanted to know if she was in the Babbler blog universe or the book universe. I didn’t know what she was talking about. Fortunately, she dropped the subject and started talking about her book, Kill Your Darlings.”

Joan, who didn’t provide her last name, claims she saw Harper at Clow Airport. “She recorded a video saying visiting Clow was a waste because she couldn’t get into the UFO base. I thought she was just another Babbler tourist. Then she walked up to me and asked who the mayor is. I said (Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta). She breathed a sigh of relief and said she was in the safe universe. Before I could say anything, she asked if I would like to preorder her book, Kill Your Darlings.”

Near the end of the day, Donna saw Harper leave our universe. According to Donna, Harper looked up to the sky and said, “Can you open a portal back to my universe? I need to  promote Kill Your Darlings in my universe and upload my videos to TikTok. Hopefully, I helped KYP become a bestseller in this universe. My counterpart would really appreciate that.” A portal opened in response. Harper urged Donna to preorder Killing Your Darlings, then left. 

This universe’s Harper couldn’t be reached for a comment.

A receptionist for Alexander-Basta said she was busy, but would probably say something about tourism in Bolingbrook.

In the background, a man who sounded like Trustee Sheldon Watts said, “You’re seriously going through with this evil plan?”

A woman who sounded like covert social media operative Charlene Spencer replied, “I prefer to call it amoral, and it’s already working. First Party voters are so obsessed with dissolving (DuPage Township) that they’ll ignore the upcoming Village Trustee election.”

“You still think it’ll work?”

“It is working. Have you read Bolingbrook Politics lately? My bots and sock puppets are so effective, they’ve persuaded <Name Redacted> and Carol <Redacted> to lead the charge. They’re going to be the key to a (Bolingbrook Independent Voices) victory.”

“But Carol doesn’t like me.”

“Politics leads to some strange hookups.”

Also in the Babbler:

A Fire in the Shadows is the bestselling vampires in Bolingbrook book in the world.
Mayor Alexander-Basta announces the start of Weredeer hunting season
Chicago Mayor blames zombies voters for her defeat
God to smite Bolingbrook on 3/1/23

Note: This is a work of fiction. All opinions expressed are my own. They do not reflect the views of any organization I work for or of my employer.  

I am also the author of the Bolingbrook Babbler Stories. For book updates and a free ebook, sign up for my newsletter. Pathways to Bolingbrook, A Fire in the Shadows, and The Rift are available at Amazon and elsewhere.