“My FairLady” by Brooklyn Ann Butler is a perfect-bound chapbook published exclusively for Brian James Freeman’s Patreon supporters in June 2026 as part of Lividian Story Box: Volume One. This Limited Edition one-time printing features a full-color front cover, inside cover, and interior illustrations by François Vaillancourt.

Excerpt from the Chapbook:
Hale House was full of ghosts, if the stories were anything to go by, but it was hard for Audrey Martell to worry about that when she felt like a ghost herself. She haunted the hallways, grandiose library, and parlor with only two staff members who were here from ten to six every day, wondering how in the hell she could have made the same mistake for the third time.

Like Audrey’s previous husbands, Ben had only married her for her money. They’d been married for less than a year before he was cheating on her with another rich woman—Lana Renault, an actress half Audrey’s age. The same day the divorce was finalized, Audrey read in the latest issue of the National Enquirer that Ben and Lana had announced their engagement.

Audrey supposed she should at least be happy Ben hadn’t been able to fleece her in the divorce. Since he was at fault—Audrey learned from her first marriage to be sure to get proof of fault—he received no alimony. But she’d assumed he’d have fought to keep Hale House. He was the one who chose the grand old mansion with its vast grounds, luxurious rooms, and especially the enormous six-car garage and adjoined shop. Ben idolized the late-night talk show host, Jay Leno, who had an infamous car collection, and had aspirations of restoring classic cars to add to his own growing collection.

When they first moved into Hale House six months ago, Ben had filled the garage with project cars. But he’d barely spent the first week tinkering with a ’65 Mustang before giving up and sending the car off to a professional restoration shop. He tried again on another car, only to come back inside, cursing and bleeding from cuts he said came from slipping tools, or parts falling on him. By the third week, all four cars went off to be restored by another’s hands.

If Ben had been new to working on cars, Audrey wouldn’t have thought anything about him giving up so early. But he wasn’t. Among the first things he’d shown her when they’d started dating were restoration projects. Audrey remembered seeing the three he had then: a ’63 Dodge Challenger that was done, aside from the paint job; a ’72 Chevy Nova that was complete mechanically and now needed bodywork and upholstery; and a clunker of a ’69 El Camino that he’d just started.

How many hours had she spent in his garage, watching him work on those cars? Watching how capable Ben was with his hands and the gradual transformation of the El Camino from an eyesore into a shiny classic was a huge part of why Audrey had fallen in love with him…

Publication Format:
This Patreon supporter exclusive chapbook is perfect bound, printed entirely in full-color, and signed by Brooklyn Ann Butler and François Vaillancourt. Limited to a print run of 600 copies. Shipped with the other chapbooks in Lividian Story Box: Volume One.