Sunday Snippet: Events in Motion

Weird weather week with sun followed by a huge middle finger FU from Mother Nature with snow and rain. At least I got a lot of stuff done around the house and had time to get a good bit of writing in also.

Decent week for television. I caught another episode of Picard and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved getting some additional background on Chris. I'm honestly not completely sure how I feel about the Romulans but I love the intrigue of everything that's going on.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and also loved getting more background about Rhodes. I'm a fan of the actor and I'm a total sucker for characters who have dad issues.

Since it snowed this week, I watched a Passionflix holiday Quickie. A Holiday Lift ended up being pretty fun. I love the whole stuck in an elevator trope.

Ended up watching a complete episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I love stumbling across actors who got their start on this show. A favorite from City Homicide guest starred in one of the episodes.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it went in a direction I didn't expect. I love it when shows do that.

Caught another episode of No Offence. Again, the show went in a direction I completely didn't expect it to go in. Excellent stuff!

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. I ended up getting annoyed with Four again. Sometimes he's just a bit too full of himself.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on possible earth landings and linked several ancient cultures to the mythology. Very fun episode.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm almost finished with the first season and really enjoyed Ethel Merman's stint as a guest star.

Last, but not least, I watched another episode of Peak Practice. I'm not quite finished with it yet but it's going to have a sad ending so I'm putting it off. LOL

That's it for life and television updates this week. Tonight's post is from Events in Motion, a novella where the main characters are on a path designed by fate and they're not sure they want to be there.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Fate has a plan for Drury, one she's not all that certain she wants to follow. Porter doesn't believe in destiny, but when Drury sets a chain of events in motion, he has to change his perspective or risk losing her to chance.

And a preview snippet…

Porter ducked out of the grotto. "Meditation, bah!" Why the hell did Dru think she had to commune with whatever the hell she thought existed out there?

He strode down the sidewalk with his hands clenched into fists.

"You're an idiot, Porter Magda."

He whirled to find the oracle, Gwyn Beecha, gliding toward him.

Moving off the walkway, he braced his shoulders against a mighty oak. "Thanks for the observation, Gwyn. Wanna share what I did wrong this time?" He couldn't wait to get another verbal bitchslap from someone.

"You don't help her."

He assumed the her to be Dru. "I've been there for her. The safe port in the storm when she wrecks her life. What more do you want?" He closed his eyes.

Gwyn tsked. "Such a burden. But hers is bigger. You know that somewhere deep inside you."

Gah! He hated the soothsayer bullshit. Even when a kernel of truth existed in her words.

He lowered his chin. "I know she needs someone and I'm it. The rest … I don't care about." The whole destiny from on high mumbo-jumbo did not impress him. "Or believe in."

Gwyn lifted a shoulder in a delicate move. "Believe in destiny or don't, but you have to have faith in something." She pinned him with a hard stare.

Damn, he hated Gwyn's all-seeing gaze. "I have faith in Dru. Always have. Always will." The otherworldly stuff he could do without.

Gwyn narrowed her gaze. "Do you love her?"

He didn't hesitate. "Yes." He did, pretty much more than anything.

Gwyn lifted her chin. "Then you have to give your full support. No matter what. If you don't, Porter, we'll all lose her. I can't underscore this enough." She put her hand on his arm. "Get out of your own way and do what needs to be done."

With those final words, she turned and slowly glided away.

Porter started after her. "What the hell has she seen?" Didn't matter … he obviously needed to do more.

Too bad he didn't know exactly what.

And maybe that's the whole point.

When I plotted this one out I ended up having additional ideas for how things should play out. There will two more installments of Dru and Porter's story.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: An Eternal Yule

Not a bad week overall. I had time to get some solid organizing completed and I'm happy to make progress on that project. Also got in a good bit of writing, which always makes me happy.

Pretty good week for television viewing. I caught another episode of Picard and, wow, I didn't see one of the deaths coming. Nice to catch up with old friends.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. It's good to fill in some blanks from previous seasons of the other Chicago shows.

Got another episode of No Offence viewed and, seriously, thoroughly enjoyed it. Viv, Dinah, and Joy are terrific characters.

Started another two-part Silent Witness. This ended being an interesting episode. I'm looking forward to watching the second part.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. I gotta be honest, this season Four is kind of annoying me. He's not quite as fun as the previous seasons.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on past and present possible visitations. Interesting stuff.

Got two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'd completely forgotten they let one of the old guys backstage for a while. He's not nearly as fun when he's not with his partner.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice and it had a lot going on but ended up being really good. I'm thinking there will be a sad good-bye in the near future.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm hoping to get a little more about Rose. I'm still trying to make a connection with that character.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from An Eternal Yule, a Holiday Spirit short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tortured vampire Haddon Hobbs can't seem to fight his bloodlust anymore and it's going to be the end of him if he can't. Psychic Tabitha Tarheel is tired of seeing the worst the world has to offer in her visions. Holiday spirit Joy Garland brings the two together over the Yule season to help them find renewed hope for the future.

And a preview snippet…

Tabitha double-checked to make sure her sign had been turned to closed before she locked the front door and switched off the lights. Walking through her shop, the Divine Divined, she straightened a few things, reset a couple of crystals, and ran her hand over the large spirit catcher at the bottom of the steps leading to her apartment. She didn't need illumination, knowing the interior of her space by memory.

Pulling the door open, she headed upstairs. "Another day of crazy sales and yuletide cheer." Except for Lisa Gilpis.

Tabitha had left at the break of dawn after having a dream about the recently divorced woman. She'd gone straight to the precinct house and met with Monica Sturgis, a friendly detective that didn't scoff at Tabitha's visions.

Tabitha sighed and closed her eyes. "Why couldn't I save Lisa?" Because the vision of Lisa's murder happened after her life slipped away. "But at least I led the police to her killer." Which didn't make her feel any better.

Tabitha entered her apartment and went to start a shower. She hated the visions during the solstice season. They rarely bore glad tidings.

Sitting at her vanity, she took her hair out of the messy bun. "Why can't I ever see sugarplum fairies instead of stabbing knives?" Meeting her reflection's gaze, she sighed. "I dread the holiday this year.'' She'd rather be alone and away from everyone.

The air around her shifted and a zing pulsed along her nerve endings. Being attuned to the netherworld, Tabitha got up and turned the water off. Exiting into her living area, she checked the windows then nodded when a knock sounded on her door. Crossing the room, she pulled the heavy wood open and blinked when an envelope fluttered outside.

Looking both ways, she retrieved the waggling parchment and slowly shut the door. "Weird.'' Taking a look at the item in her hands, she slid her thumb under the ornate seal and the paper unfolded. "Huh, it's some kind of invitation."

 

Taking a break from the sight's you see

Is something you'd like to do.

The visions you have and can't unsee

Take a hard toll on you.

Here's a chance to get what you want.

Take a trip through the mist

Shed your worries and relax alone.

Clear your mind and set the tone

To celebrate Yule with good cheer

And remember what the season means each new year.

 

A handwritten note followed the brief, typeset invitation…

 

The Goodacre Bed and Breakfast offers solitude and peace. Cross through the veil and start to heal your mind and soul.

 

A time to move through the shrouded fog surrounding the nether realm ended the missive.

Tabitha smiled and blew out a shaky breath. "What perfect timing." She'd grab a quick shower and pack some comfortable clothes and a few books along with her nature sounds app on her phone. "I'll be set for a very peaceful and relaxing holiday."

With Goodacre being in the netherworld, Tabitha would also be vision free regarding the real world for the duration of her stay.

She turned the water back on. "Maybe I'll never leave…"

I love the holiday spirit shorts. It's so much fun to create these scenarios then bring the couple together to see what happens.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: An Enticing Yule

A lovely week with warmer temperatures and some rain. Excited to see some spring weather rolling in. It's supposed to be in the high fifties and sixties this week and I'm totally down with that, even if it gets chilly at night.

Not a bad week for writing either. I played catch-up on a few more manuscripts and fleshed out some plot bunnies. The sages are on a roll right now and I'm not sure what prompted their creativity. I won't complain though.

Good week of television also. I watched a couple of movies starting with Enola Holmes, which I ended up really enjoying. Glad to hear there will be another one at some point. I also watched a total favorite of mine, Grease 2. This is one of those cases where I loved the sequel more than the original. Seriously.

I restarted my watch of Picard, picking up with episode six. Wow, a lot to unpack in that episode. I'm excited to see what happens next.

I finally started Chicago Med. I've been waiting to see the first season and ended up getting access. Enjoyed the first episode.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice. I ended the second season and started the third. Both were good episodes.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I like the overarching storyline for the new season and the wrap-up of the previous season's fallout. I'll be honest and admit I'm not keen on the new supervisor but I'll reserve judgment for now.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it was as twisty as I thought it would be. Enjoyed the two-parter.

Started season fifteen of Classic Who. Pretty decent opening arc the lighthouse setting. Interestingly, it ties into one of those unsolved mysteries of the unexplained and I love it when the show does that kind of thing.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on Area 52 and what might or might not be going on there.

Two more episodes of The Muppet Show are complete. I'd forgotten about Harry the mad bomber. He made an appearance and blew some stuff up.

That's about it for television and this week's wrap-up. Tonight's post is from An Enticing Yule, a Holiday Spirit sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A shifter and a watcher have to find their Yule cheer … with a little help from holiday spirit, Cinnamon Mistleberry. She's got her work cut out for her. Pandora Prewitt is a multi-shifter struggling to find her true form or risk banishment from her tribe. Dexter Diamond is a watcher, the group of preternatural humans who document the shifter chronicles, questioning his life's work. Cinnamon brings the duo together at Yule to show them the enticing value of love.

And a preview snippet…

Pandora entered her small cottage and slammed the door. "Dammit. I know what I have to do. Riding my ass won't make it happen any sooner." She paced back and forth, giving her anger full rein.

Fear crept in, hovering on the fringe.

She stopped. "No, I won't be swayed by scare-mongering." If the pack pushed her out, so be it.

No. On her own, she'd surely lose her mind. Already, the symptoms of feral psychosis nudged at her. She struggled to focus during her shifts and each time she tried a new form and failed to connect, she died a little more.

"Why can't I find the right fit?" The thought of being banished or locked away in a psychiatric ward almost choked her.

She wouldn't survive. She wanted to soar with freedom, live the way her pack members did—in harmony with their animal side. Frustrated, she flung her jacket off and tossed it on the table.

When a loud knock sounded, she stomped to the door. "By all that rules the universe, leave me alone." Yanking the heavy oak toward her, she stared at empty space. "What the hell?" She'd fully expected to find her pack alpha frothing at the mouth.

Instead, a burst of smoke delivered a sealed envelope that landed on her small porch. Glancing around, Pandora bent down to retrieve the parcel. No one hid in the bushes or along the tree line.

Closing the door, she flipped the letter over and back. "No address or name. Huh."

An ornate seal gave an official-looking flair.

A thread of worry wound its way through her. "I hope this isn't bad news."

She had until after the Yule holiday—through the first of the year, in fact—to find her true form.

A horrible thought occurred. "Unless the pack decided to cut their losses." She blinkdly walked into the living room.

They wouldn't push her out before the holiday, would they? Why wouldn't her alpha deliver the news himself if they did? The envelope trembled along with her hands. Should she open it or not?

"Gah. Only one way to find out what's inside." She slipped her finger under the seal and lifted the flap.

Pulling out an embossed card, she breathed a sigh of relief.

 

The search for your form needs a key for the lock

A place to lay low without pressure from a ticking clock.

Come to Goodacre for nurturing care.

The discovery of your nature might be found there.

 

Instructions to confirm the reservation and how to arrive in the nether realm via the mists followed the invitation, along with a seasonal Yule message.

Pandora didn't hesitate. "Yes, definitely yes." The parchment etched her reply on the page then winked out of sight.

Pandora dashed into her bedroom and packed for an extended stay. "If nothing else, I won't have to walk on eggshells around everyone who's waiting for me to sink or shift."

As if she enjoyed the constant scrutiny.

I'm super thrilled with how this story came together. I have so much fun with the holiday spirit shorts.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Elemental Healing (a Lantern Jack tale)

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. We're having a low-key day without a lot of fanfare. That's exactly the way I like to celebrate holidays and my middle kiddo had his gallbladder removed earlier this week so being kind of quiet is a good thing.

Had a decent week of television viewing. My work schedule is still sporadic and I've been able to catch up on a few more writing projects. I'm also taking some time to organize my works in progress and then I hope to plan out a tentative schedule to finish up the ones that are close to being done.

I started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's pretty good. I'm a little confused about the new character being in uniform but hopefully that will resolve itself by the end of the episode.

Watched the first episode of No Offence's second season. Really nice setup for the overarching storyline. I really love Viv and Dinah's dynamic. This show is so excellent.

Caught the opening episodes of the tenth season of Silent Witness. Really liked the first two-parter. I've started the third episode and I think it's going to be a twisty one.

Watched the final arc of Doctor Who's fourteenth season. Pretty solid storyline and I'm starting to like the dynamic between Four and Leela. I like her.

I ended up with a free six-month trial of Discovery+ so I started a show called UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I love diving into theories of visitors from outer space.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Both were very funny. I've discovered I really enjoy the ballroom dance segments. Considering I'm not a huge comedy fan, this is high praise.

And that's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Elemental Healing, a Lantern Jack sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lantern Jack is back to right another wrong. Erica Ellis is a fire demon whose powers are going out of control. She needs intervention and an ancient ritual could save her from harming others. Perth Pettigrew is a mystic knight and knows the old rites. Too bad he's no longer using his gift. It's up to Lantern Jack to bring the two together for some elemental healing.

And a preview snippet…

Perth finally slowed down several blocks away from the beautiful fire demon. "Nice I can still sense the type." He'd learned early on how to tell one kind of fae from another.

He'd thought the ability had gone into a deep slumber. Five years. Half a decade since he'd used his training in the mystical healing arts.

"Not since Alisa died."

Died, right. Killed helping a demon in the underground movement.

"We were brash and arrogant, thinking we could help demons on the down low." He climbed the stairs to his home. "Not worth it."

Letting himself into the loft he used to share with Alisa, he tossed his keys on the counter. The room spun a little, his adrenaline waning.

"Figures. That's what I get for using my power after being dormant for five years." And it would be the last time.

If he didn't perform the rejuvenation ritual on All Hallows, he'd lose the ability to do more than spiritual healing; not that he'd done much lately.

"How can I, when my spirit is broken?" The image of the red-hot fire demon flickered in his brain.

Nope. He wouldn't get involved. He'd made his decision. No more pushing the envelope. Time to get out. Her inner conflict all but oozed out of her. She lacked skill and her power frightened her.

"Damn, she looked terrified." His lips quirked. "And pissed." He sobered.

An angry fire demon with no control didn't bode well. He discounted his concern. "She has the whiskey." No doubt she used the alcohol to curb her impulses.

Perth had seen the tactic work before.

"Too bad it won't help her for long." The power flowing through her rivaled anything he'd previously worked with. "She's dangerous." But beautiful.

Like Alisa had been. He picked up a photo of her smiling and happy. "Time to put these away." He found a box and packed the images of his former life inside.

He didn't need them anymore. He no longer had that life. He'd soon start on a different path.

Placing the last picture in the container, he traced his fingers over the glass. "Time to say good-bye, long past time." The only thing left would be to let his mystic powers wane.

I like writing Perth and his conflict and reluctance to get involved with a fire demon. The Lantern Jack stories are so much fun to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye