Sunday Snippet: A Bright, Burning Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

Well, it's kind of fitting that my last blog post for 2023 is on the actual last day of the year. I'm taking that as a good vibe to carry into 2024.

Had a semidecent week. Finished up a couple of things that needed attention and started to get my website updated after a very long dry spell. I'm also very close to launching the new endeavor I've been working on for several months.

Did pretty much a full run-through of my usual slate of shows. I have a whole lineup of holiday stuff I want to watch also. I know it's weird to wait until after the holiday is over but I've been very Scrinch-like the past couple of weeks, mainly because of the yucky cold.

Started out with My Life Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. I will say I still get a little put off by how prickly Alexa can be. I'm sure that's by design, but it annoys me.

Agatha Raisin kind of crushed me a little. I love Agatha and James and having them kind of end things breaks my heart. But I do love they ended on a soft goodbye instead of a harsh one. Looking forward to the next episode.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and I'm kind of surprised how things played out. Did not expect the new guy to have such a dark secret. I love that he exposed it himself. Can't wait to see how this ends.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and it's one I'd seen before. Meeting Humph's dad explains so much. I love how this episode played out. Looking forward to starting Beyond Paradise to see if there's more of Humph's family.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Loved diving into Joan's previous life a little. I'm very intrigued by her and having glimpses into her former profession is always fun.

Finally continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This episode had some great moments even if it ended up being heavier on the cylon lore. Hoping to catch another episode in the near future. Also need to backtrack a little and watch the webisodes and movie.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I actually remembered this one because Alfred ended up being a lot of fun. I love it when he steps out of his comfort zone into his former life.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of this one, especially Angelica trying to be silent. In all fairness, she got robbed for once.

Watched another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I have one more left for the first season. So far, I'm enjoying it, but I'm glad I have season two ready to go because I have feeling the first is going to end on a cliffhanger.

Finished up my episode of VIP from last week and started a new one. I forgot I didn't get all the way through the episode because I remembered how it ended.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Bright, Burning Yule, a holiday spirit short.

Here's the miniblurb:

Stella Silverbell, a holiday spirit, is tasked with bringing Nyssa Nameth, the ultra female werewolf, together with the Braddox Bennington, the prime hunter of all wolf shifters, during the Yule season. Their joining can end centuries of misconception, but they have to get over their preconceived notions first.

And a preview snippet…

Braddox Bennington paused with a towel to his head after a shower when someone burst through the front door.

"Braddox? Where the hell are you?" A cousin, Hank Hamel, shouted up the steps.

Braddox answered. "Gimme five. I'll be right down." He dragged some workout clothes on and flung the towel over his shoulder before descending the stairs to find Hank in the study. "What's up?" He draped the towel over the banister and dropped down onto the couch.

Hank paced back and forth in front of the fire. "Why haven't you organized a hunt? It's been months since we've patrolled for the wolves." He stopped and planted his hands on his hips.

Braddox frowned. "Have there been new reports? Are the packs running wild?" He should've been informed if there were.

Hank glanced away. "No, they're all quiet and barely poking their heads out to scent the wind." His face reddened.

Braddox bit back frustration. "Then what's the rush? Dad's only been gone for two months. And his death wasn't suspicious." If it had been, Braddox wouldn't hesitate to call for a hunt. "We knew he didn't have long once the diagnosis came through." An inoperable brain tumor could not be called into doubt.

Braddox didn't want the mantle of leadership, but he wouldn't walk away. His bloodthirsty relatives made sure of that. If anything, his brothers, cousins, and uncles hastened his father's demise.

And Braddox faced his first holiday without his dad and wanted a little time to adjust. "If you guys need something to do, why don't you catalog and update the book of kills? Dad only made it up to the 1950s." Maybe if they noted just how many of the packs they'd eliminated, they'd lose some of their bloodlust.

Hank snorted. "No way, man. That's the leader's job." He hand-waved the idea and sat in the chair closest to the sofa.

Braddox shook his head. "No, Hank. It's my job to make sure they're entered. There's nothing written about how to make that happen." Or who had to make it so.

Hank leaned forward. "Dude, you're gonna have a revolt on your hands if you think this will fly." He huffed out a rude snort.

Braddox shrugged. "So be it. Anyone who wants to challenge me for top-spot status can do so." He might welcome the challenge. "But let's get through our yule season first. I didn't get to take any time after Mom died five years ago, and I refuse to pull anyone else away from their families during the holidays." Even if some of them probably wanted an excuse to cut out.

Hank leaned back again. "Yeah, okay. But look, you've got to consider a full summit after the new year. If you don't, you will be challenged for top spot." He got up and headed for the door.

Braddox followed. "I'll let you know what I decide. Have a happy yule." He closed the door and headed back to the couch.

Braddox couldn't find fault with Hank's warning. He didn't doubt he'd face a pile of trouble if he didn't gather everyone and take a stab at being their leader. But he couldn't continue with business as usual. He would not rule the way his father had. Or at least not the way he had after his wife died.

And that would piss a lot of his relatives off.

Flopping down, his head hit the back of the cushions. "Bah, I don't want this conflict." He wanted something different.

A rustling outside the door drew his attention. Maybe Hank had returned to offer more unwanted advice. Rising, he crossed the room again and pulled the door open, ready to blast his cousin.

Instead, his mouth snapped shut when a hovering envelope greeted him.

Braddox snagged it and shut the cold out. Removing the seal, he retrieved a parchment folded in half.

 

You need some time and space to grieve, regroup, ponder, and adjust.

Why not spend the Yule holiday at the Goodacre Bed and Breakfast?

 

Directions were printed below along with an invitation to cross into the nether realm whenever he'd like.

Braddox huffed out a breath. "Why the hell not?" Maybe some time away would get his mind on the right track and help him decide what to do about the future.

And actually give me time to mourn my dad.

Braddox headed back upstairs to pack.

This one is complete and ready to launch into the universe. I'll be uploading the information in the next week or so.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Blondie and the Three Wizards

Happy holidays to all who celebrate. We're having a quiet weekend at home to avoid spreading all of our cold germs to anyone else. I'm very okay with that.

Started two new projects this week and slowly getting back to semi-normal while fighting the cold making the rounds through our house. My husband currently has it again.

Made an almost full run through of my current slate of television shows. I've been trying to make sure I get plenty of sleep, so I hopefully don't end up with a setback with the cold.

Watched an episode of My Life Is Murder and remembered I'd seen most of this episode before. Enjoyed watching it again.

Started another two-part Agatha Raisin and rather enjoyed the dynamic between James's sister and Agatha. Looking forward to the second half.

Finished the second half of a Silent Witness two-parter. I'm kind of excited to see where things go with a new person on the team.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I don't remember watching much of this one before, but I do have recollection of at least one scene. Interesting that one of the guest stars is a regular on Agatha Raisin.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Thoroughly enjoyed it. This show definitely intrigues me.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I think there might be one more episode of season one left.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered both of the vignettes and enjoyed watching them again.

Watched another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm still intrigued by everything and can't wait to find out more about Amy's past.

Finished the week out with an episode of VIP. I have vague memories of watching this during the initial run of the series. Lots of fun.

That's it for the personal life update this week. Tonight's post is from Blondie and the Three Wizards, a twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Here's the miniblurb:

Xandra Blue, a mage adept, has to pick a new mentor from three extremely sexy wizards. All three have the skills and could make great partners, but the guys don't make it easy for her to choose.

And a preview snippet…

Dare silently observed Xandra exit the room. I want her. And he wanted to be her mentor. His gut indicated they'd be just right for each other.

Heath made a low grunt of appreciation. "What a babe. You two are going to be left in the dust when she chooses me." His lips quirked in a sly twist.

Sam frowned. "You don't know she's going to pick you. She has to meet with us and decide who can do the best job as her mentor." He stomped back to the table and opened another book.

Heath snorted. "Yeah, well, if she's as hot as I think she is, you guys won't know how to handle her." He moved to the billiard table and racked the balls again. "What do you think, Dare? That sweet little thing would look good on my arm, right? Hell, she'd look good anywhere on me." He waggled his eyebrows.

Dare shrugged. "Are there any females you don't think would look good on you?" Heath's ego didn't lack for anything.

Heath grunted. "Nope. Know a few dudes that would make excellent arm candy, too. I'm an equal opportunity kind of guy." He moved around to the side of the table then closed his eyes.

Dare waited a moment, timing his response to when Heath would push his vision forward. "You're an opportunist of the top variety, all right." He hid a grin when the balls went off kilter.

Heath let his middle finger do the talking in response.

Dare laughed. "Rack up again. I'll give you a free shot." Trash-talking aside, Dare played fair.

Always.

Sam glanced up from his book. "Xandra will never advance if she picks Heath. He'll try to keep her in bed all the time and not focus on her training." He rolled his eyes.

Heath gave Sam a bland look. "And if she picks you, she'll spend to much time organizing, alphabetizing, and color coding to learn anything from you."

This time, Sam let his middle finger speak for him.

Dare didn't join the fray. He decided to step back and let the drama unfold. He could be magnanimous.

Because he had no doubt Xandra would find her way to him as her obvious choice in due time.

This is such a fun story to write. I love having three male characters that are so different from each other but still terrific friends.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Blending In

I got slammed with a nasty cold and definitely feel it this week. Completely derailed my daily relaxation stress reducer posts. I'll hopefully catch back up next week or start over again for the new year.

Finished up several work-related projects and added a few to my calendar. Hoping to start the new year off with a full slate to stay busy.

Not a bad week of television, even with the icky cold making me super tired and exhausted.

Watched another episode of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed it. I'm still trying to get used to the New Zealand locale with the second season. Still a fun show.

Caught the second half of Agatha Raisin. Feel very badly for James, who kind of seems like the odd man out of the group. Loved how this one played out.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and not sure on the new pathologist. He's not bad, I guess. Clearly, it's time to shake things up for Jack, which probably means things won't go well when his brother gets out of prison.

Enjoyed another Death in Paradise, which is one I didn't remember. I'm getting into the Humphrey episodes I missed on the first watch.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite liked the dynamic. I'm very interested in getting into more of what happened with Joan's medical career. Sherlock is definitely true to form and I'm getting into this version.

Caught another episode of The Batman. I think I have one or two more episodes of the first season then a bit of a shift to the second one.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. For some reason, I think I might have missed a season or at least some episodes. I'll do a run through after I finish up the sixth season.

Continued with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued by how the season is unfolding and I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go.

Finished out the week with an episode of VIP. Some familiar early aughts faces in this one. Also a fun episode.

That's pretty much it on the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Blending In, a novella that puts a couple undercover and brings them together despite their best intentions of staying apart.

Here's the miniblurb:

Wren and Ethan go undercover in the seedy Bottoms. Ethan's by the book style clashes with Wren's off the cuff attitude, but when a powerful mage makes a threat, they'll have to forge an unbreakable bond or go down in flames.

And a preview snippet…

Ethan considered Wren's justification. "Okay, what's next?" He might as well roll with tide.

She suggested an info gathering opportunity. "No engagement. We go in, get some intel, and come out. That's it." She made a few adjustments to her outfit, knotting the T-shirt under her breasts and letting her hair down.

Ethan followed Wren into Hunter's Glen, his heart pumping with both anticipation and trepidation. He didn't do on-the-fly work and he feared it would show. He didn't want to let her down.

Once inside, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. "I'll follow your lead. I need a few minutes to get into the role and follow the vibe." And maybe get his shit together.

Wren jerked her head, acknowledging the request. She led him through the throng of people and directly by the trio who'd drawn their attention. The mood coming from the bar area consisted of boisterous bravado mixed with an angry undertone.

Ethan adopted a besotted demeanor, trailing behind Wren like he couldn't wait to get his hands on her. Not a hard sell for him. This might not be as difficult as he'd thought.

She led him to a corner table in a shadowy recess close to the bar. Good cover and strategically located. He admired her quick and spot-on assessment.

Tugging him close, she spoke quietly in his ear. "Look oblivious to everyone but me but pay very close attention to the conversations." She settled onto a chair and gave him a sexy smile.

He scooted his around so he could play the part she assigned to him. Leaning one arm over her shoulder, he twisted her toward him so they looked extra cozy. Her eyes went wide but she didn't resist. And a note of admiration crept into the dark depths. He'd made the right move.

She tilted her head toward him, doing a good impression of a private conversation, but her attention focused on the bar. Ethan tracked the conversations at the line of pool tables. Deviating from the plan might end up paying off if the first hour they spent barely touching their drinks and eavesdropping indicated anything.

He leaned in, speaking in low tones. "Sounds like the triple threat is here to meet the wall of muscle on table two." He eased back and gave her a bold stare.

Wren tipped her chin. "Sounds right. They're waiting until the weasel-faced guy leaves. They don't trust him." She scooted closer, almost sitting on his lap.

But it put her in a prime position when the trio of Orion men made their way to the pool tables. Under the guise of practically making out, Ethan and Wren spent the next sixty minutes carefully catching the bulk of the planned attack on a group of fae intermediaries. Wren's eyes widened when the crucial piece of information dropped. The big ringleader told the trio to be ready within the week.

Ethan made a move to stand, pushing his chair back a little, but Wren slid up onto his lap.

She rested her forehead against his. "Not yet. Too obvious. Let the game wind down first." She eased back and held his gaze.

He didn't argue and gave a barely perceptible nod. Moving his hands up, he palmed her thighs, keeping her from shifting back to her seat. Her lips quirked but she didn't resist.

The final ball sank into the pocket and a round of drinks was raised to the winners. Ethan checked his urge to make tracks. He'd follow Wren's lead again.

When they drew a stare or two from the burly bikers and some raunchy commentary, Wren did a sensuous slide off his lap and tugged him upward.

They left to whistles and catcalls and thankfully before anyone tried something stupid.

Once outside, she clasped his palm. "We're primed with some good intel. Keep acting the part until we clear the next block." She shivered a little from the bite in the wind.

Ethan wrapped an arm around her and tucked her into his side. Neither spoke, pretending to be too into each other to talk. They made their way across the street and headed for the little apartment over the thrift shop.

This story is getting a second book because Ethan and Wren have more to say about their relationship.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Belle of the Underground (a First Breed Nation novella)

I'm having a weird month so far. I'm doing well with posting daily relaxation, stress reducer things to avoid becoming the Scrinch (Scrooge and the Gringe combined), yet I'm also feeling kind of down, which is not the norm for me. I'm thinking a happy medium might be the best I'll do this year and I'm okay with that.

Had a week of busywork projects, which ended up being kind of fun. I like jumping around and moving back and forth between jobs. Keeps me on my toes and paying attention.

Had a solid week of television. A lot of what I worked on this week let me have background noise and I got a lot of shows watched!

I started with the first sixtieth anniversary special for Doctor Who. Thoroughly enjoyed having Ten and Donna back together. Looking forward to the second special this week.

Trying out a new to me show with Elementary. Watched the first two episodes and I like it so far. I didn't watch at all when it originally aired and I'm looking forward to seeing more of this show.

Caught two episodes of The Batman and should be semi-close to the end of season one. Looking forward to more of this one.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Liked both and loved the play on vintage TV shows the ghost stories episode had.

Watched two episodes of VIP and remembered one from the original airing of the show. Lots of fun with the ice bullets before they were really a thing.

Caught another episode of My Life Is Murder and ended up liking it a lot. The drag queen setting was fun and the snark fest between Alexa and the manager deserves a chef's kiss.

Enjoyed another Agatha Raisin episode. It's the first of a two-parter so I'm excited to see what happens next. Very fun to watch Agatha and James navigate living together.

Finished the second half of a two-part Silent Witness. Actually liked how this one played out. It's cool to revisit old cases and the one they went back to ended up being an important one.

Caught another Death in Paradise episode. I'm enjoying Florence and Humph working together. And I'm fond of the JP and Dwayne dynamic.

Also started a new Passionflix series with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. Got the first episode in and I'm intrigued so far. Looking forward to seeing how the two seasons play out.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Belle of the Underground, a novella that launches the First Breed Nation series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Raven Malone doesn't have an easy job, but she's a mix of freak and geek so both groups are willing to work with her. She meets her match when regular guy, Gio Roberts, starts poking around in her cover up of an unexplained murder. Sparks fly, especially when she lets him in on the underground community she's established. They forge a bond and work side by side, trying to keep everything together. 

And a preview snippet…

Flushing slightly because she'd completely understood his meaning, Gio quickened his step until he reached her side. "What did this used to be? Aside from the subway part. I got that much." He stuck close to her as she led him out and across an old, unfinished tunnel then up into another area.

Raven leaned against the wall, propping one foot behind her on the smooth surface. "From what we can tell, the area we're getting ready to head into was once a subsection of an old hospital. Long abandoned."

"How long have you been down here?"

She punched in a series of numbers and the door slid open. "We've been gathering down here for as long as anyone can remember. The more modern aspects have all occurred in the last five years." She entered the area and he followed, stunned at the sight greeting his eyes.

"What the hell?" He'd been expecting something dank and dusty. This was far from it.

Raven chuckled. "I know. It's rather amazing."

They stood in the middle of a lab, a pretty well set up one.

"There's a clinic through the big doors over there." Raven pointed to the east. "And we have a containment center through the ones along the back wall."

"Containment center?"

"Nothing big, but it's where I hope to hold the one responsible for the killings."  

Gio shot her a skeptical glance. "What exactly do you think you can do down here that can't be done up there?" He pointed toward the city above them.

"Trust me when I say it'll be better if you let us handle it." She wound her way around the equipment to make her way to a large board hanging in the middle of the room. "The cops upstairs will never be able to bring this person in and make a case."

Gio made his way to her location and stood across the table from her. "Look, you can't handle this. The justice system isn't perfect, but it works." He placed his elbows on the table and leaned toward her. "The victims' families need justice and closure. You can't act as judge and jury. Unless someone put you in charge up there and I missed it."  

Raven snorted. "First, we're talking about down here. And yes, I am the one in charge. You might say I'm the HBIC … and if you knew the whole story, you'd understand exactly how true that statement is. Second, if your system could deal with this, I'd let it. Believe me when I say it's hundreds of times easier."

He considered her words. "Then why don't you let it?" He had a very strong feeling he wouldn't like her answer.

She crooked her finger at him. "C'mere. I'll show you." With a flourish she tugged a white drape off the board hanging above the table.

Gio is so much fun to write. He already walks a fine line and after meeting Raven the line is stretched even tighter.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Behind the Line (a Night Raven Banner novella)

Not sure I'm ready for December. The last few months have really flown by, and I can't seem to keep up. I must be getting old. Or life is coming at me fast and that's why I'm struggling to stay in the moment.

And because I'm failing at staying in the moment, I started a daily post for self-care on Instagram and Blue Sky. Each day I'm going to post something that I do just for me to help me shed stress and enjoy a few minutes of me time.

To that end, I might be including some television shows, so keep an eye out for a few specials that aren't in my normal rotation.

I did get two episodes of My Life Is Murder in this week. I'm a little puzzled by the change in location from Australia to New Zealand, but I'm running with it for now.

I also finished up the bonus episodes from Agatha Raisin season two and caught the premiere of season three. I kind of miss Gemma but Toni is a lot of fun.

Watched two episodes of Silent Witness. Hard to say goodbye to Thomas and it's weird to not see Clarissa at the Lyell anymore. I do like the new vibe Jack and Nikki have. Looking forward to seeing if they add any new cast members.

Also enjoyed two episodes of Death in Paradise. Camille left for Paris and Humph is working through the new dynamic. I really enjoy this show and I'm so glad I can see it in chronological order.

Finished Only Murders in the Building and I did get the villains right. Excellent third season and I'm excited about season four because who saw that one coming with the new victim?

Caught another episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. The dynamic between Bruce and Alfred is a lot of fun.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones I remembered and enjoyed the first time around. I love it when the parents truly have no idea what's going on.

Enjoyed another episode of VIP. The over-the-top villains are always entertaining. I truly miss that sometimes.

Also watched another episode of Peak Practice. Once again, I'm not interested at all in one of the storylines, but I do love the two new cast members and what's going on with them.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Behind the Line, an Under the Night Raven Banner novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Emory Cavendish is trapped behind enemy lines and Verity Jones mounts a rescue mission, thinking she won't get much help. Surprise doesn't express her emotion when every other pilot jockeys for a spot on the team to save Emory. Their hard-won acceptance fills Verity with confidence and gratitude. She'll need their full support to bring Emory home.

And a preview snippet…

Verity stuck her hand out from under the plane. "Can you hand me the wrench?"

Percy Longfellow placed a metal object in her palm.

Verity started to raise the tool up to tighten a bolt then rolled her eyes. "A wrench, Longfellow, not a vice grip." She slid out a little. "The silver object with the hexagon-shaped opening." Her lips twitched.

Percy shrugged. "There's a reason I only fly these things." He found the correct tool and gave it to her.

She rolled back under the plane and tightened the bolt then moved her fingers along the cable to make sure it held tightly. Satisfied, she started to move over to the next area.

A pilot came running into the hangar. "Jones! We made contact." He paused, bending over at the waist and dragging air into his lungs.

Verity slid out from under the plane again. "With the resistance?" That would be excellent news.

The pilot straightened and shook his head. "No, with Cavendish."

She dropped the wrench, her mouth hanging open. "You're not joking, are you?" Holy shit!

She scrambled to her feet and put the wrench away, the ingrained lessons from her dad never forgotten.

Percy stilled her hands. "Go, Verity. No one would joke about that." He nudged her toward the door. "I'll take care of putting your tools away."

She went, her head filled with wonder, fear, and … love. Ducking into the communications shed, she put the headset on. "Night Raven base to Cavendish, over." The radio crackled and squawked, and she made an adjustment to the frequency. "Emory, is everything okay?" Dragging in a shuddering breath, she bounced her knee with impatience.

Emory's voice came through the headset. "It's all good here."

Sinking with relief, Verity started peppering him with questions. "How? How did you manage to make contact?" He'd never risk something not secure.

Emory chuckled. "I think I'm working with some of your long-lost family members. Their ingenuity reminds me of you." Another burst of static followed his statement.

She smiled, so damned happy she could burst. "It's so good to hear your voice."

Emory concurred. "Same. I found the beacon and managed to make sure it worked. I'm assuming you know my location?"

Verity nodded. "We know the plane's location. Yours, we're a little iffy on."

Emory responded. "I'm at a farmhouse. It's about three clicks from the plane."

Now it would be so much easier to launch their retrieval operation.

Verity looked at the map on the wall. "This is good. We're coming to get you, Emory. Probably within two to three days now that we have your exact location." A tap on her shoulder from Worthington had her making a hasty farewell. "Hang tight. I'll see you soon." She handed the headset to the CO. "I'm sorry for the breach in protocol, sir."

Worthington's lips curved. "We can let it slide this time, Jones. Be ready for a briefing first thing in the morning."

Verity lifted her chin. "Yes, sir." She practically danced out of the comm shed while Worthington spoke to his CAG. "Not long now, Emory. I'll have you back soon."

I have so much love for this series. I think everything is finally coming together and I'm having so much fun writing these characters.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Beastly Shadows (a Lantern Jack tale)

I hope everyone who celebrates US Thanksgiving had a lovely holiday. Mine was low-key, which is how I enjoy the holiday the most. As usual, my husband cooked for ninety-seven people instead of the three that were here, but that means leftovers and readily available meals for a few days!

Kind of a light week for work projects in varying stages. I ended up getting a decent amount of writing completed. I finished up two manuscript drafts and I'm in the fine-tuning stage for those. I'm excited to start revising! I also did some additional planning for the other ventures I'm trying to launch soon. Should be an exciting December!

Had a great week of television viewing. I got an extra show in this go around but still didn't get to pick back up with my Battlestar Galactica rewatch. Hopefully this week.

I ended up watching two episodes of Silent Witness. I'm sad that Clarissa is leaving but look forward to new faces. Can't wait to pick up with the second half of the current two-parter. It ended on a cliffhanger.

Also got two episodes of Death in Paradise in this week. Started season four, which I'm enjoying. Humph is a lot of fun and Dwayne has been very entertaining so far.

Ended up watching two episodes of Only Murders in the Building also. Finished the penultimate episode last night and, wow, I love this show. And … I'm pretty sure I guessed correctly with a slight twist on the murderer. Can't wait to watch the final episode.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Batman. One I remembered and the other one I didn't so really enjoyed that one. Not sure how many episodes are left in the first season but looking forward to more.

Caught two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. I did remember both. An interesting bit was the theme changed for one episode then went back to the original. Weird what I notice when I'm streaming shows.

Watched another episode of VIP. The over-the-top storylines are so much fun. I really miss some of the shows from the late nineties and early aughts.

Enjoyed a behind-the-scenes episode of My Life Is Murder. I'll be starting season two this week, unless there's another bonus episode.

Also watched a behind-the-scenes episode of Agatha Raisin. A lot of fun to see and hear the actors talk about their characters. There might be one more BTS for season two then I'll be moving on to season three.

Picked back up with Peak Practice. I skipped ahead a little because I honestly don't care about Andrew and Kate's torrid relationship. Might try to work another episode in this week.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Beastly Shadows, a Lantern Jack tale.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lantern Jack is back. To end a centuries old feud between werewolves and the hunters, Lantern Jack has to right another wrong. He sets out to bring childhood friends Bebe Beasley and Mannix Mortimer together on Halloween night, but to do so he has to put Mannix in the path of a bullet.

And a preview snippet…

Bebe pulled her gloves off when her phone chirped.

After reading the caller ID, she sighed. "What is it, Bastian? I'm busy right now." Okay, dead heading her garden could be done anytime but the less she had to deal with family drama the better.

And two calls in a day crossed her tolerance threshold.

Bastain got to his point. "Be on the lookout for Mannix Mortimer. He might be headed up to your area." He paused a moment. "And you know what to do if you see him."

Bebe really, really hated her cousin sometimes. "Fine, Bastian. I'll be watchful. I always am." She cut the call and ignored the dread balling in her stomach.

Getting up, she entered the cabin and dumped her gloves in the bin and washed her hands. "I don't want to chase Mannix around." She actually liked him.

She could not say the same about overbearing Bastian.

To be fair, she enjoyed the Mannix she played with as a child whenever Bastian and his equally annoying brother weren't around. Images of climbing trees, swimming in the pond, and running through the woods crystallized in her mind. Those were good memories.

As a grown up, she appreciated the attractive man he'd become. Hard planes, chiseled muscles, a face made to stop traffic, and haunting silver eyes. If not for the stupid family vendetta, she could easily fall for him. But … she'd be foolish to do so. She didn't really know the adult Mannix—only his reputation. Which, rumor had it, featured a lot of women crawling in and out of his bed. Not that she blamed any of them.

Bebe stepped out onto the porch and yelped when she found a carved jack-o-lantern sitting beside the door. "Where did you come from?" Probably one of the high school clubs making the rounds.

They often did surprise drop-offs, even out in wood country where Bebe lived. Geraniums in the spring and mums in the fall. A nice neighborly gesture.

Bebe bent down. "Someone did a terrible job on your face." She turned the pumpkin around.

When her fingers touched the rind, a series of images and sounds flashed through her mind. A rifle, a shot ringing in the air, rolling fog and dancing shadows, and a loud, long howl.

A shiver went down her spine at the weird premonitory glimpse. Something wicked this way comes.

This one is finished and almost ready to release. I love writing the Lantern Jack tales and can't wait for everyone to see this one.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Beast in the Belfry

Entering thankful week with so much to think about and be grateful for. There's a lot going on in life right now and some of it's not great. But … there's also so much that's good and I always try to focus on the good stuff. I spent way too many years as a glass half empty girl. The stress of that did not do me any favors.

I got to edit an amazing holiday story, which I didn't expect and I'm so happy I got the project. It's from one of my favorite authors too!

My husband started a new job that he can do during his off season from the golf course, which is an amazing opportunity.

I got to watch a play my daughter did the entire lighting setup for, and I'm so glad I got to go and see what she's accomplished with her theater major. I already get to hear her radio show for her media production major. She has a semester left and I can't wait to see the amazing things she does with her future.

Had a pretty decent week of television viewing. I managed a full round of my current slate of shows, minus the Battlestar Galactica rewatch. Hoping to pick it back up this week.

Started out with the first half of a two-part Silent Witness. Kind of an interesting case mixed in with the personal aspect for the characters.

Caught another Death in Paradise. This is an episode I got to see part of before and it's nice to have the full context of everything that happened.

Loved the episode of Only Murders in the Building. So awesome to see Theo again. I love his friendship with Mabel. I'm kind of hoping the trio is back together by the next episode, but it's fun to see Mabel interact with other people. Going to miss seeing her in her aunt's apartment though.

Watched another episode of The Batman. This one introduced the Riddler. I'd forgotten how much teamwork between Yin and Batman was in this one.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I kind of remembered both and liked being able to sort of rewatch and still be a little surprised.

Caught an episode of VIP. This one ended up being a lot of fun and had some terrific character moments.

Watched an episode of My Life Is Murder. Nice to see Alexa kind of joining in and participating in a celebration. Here's hoping we get more of that in later episodes.

Also got another episode of Agatha Raisin in. This ended the second series and had so many great moments. I'm excited to see what season three brings.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Beast in the Belfry, a novella that has a bit of a supernatural twist.

Here's the miniblurb:

A curse leaves artist Vittoria Blahm disfigured and marred for life. But Cal Gilligan sees the true woman under the scars, and he falls hard for her when she saves him from plunging to his death. Vittoria can't quite believe anyone wants her and fears risking her heart to the possibility.

And a preview snippet…

Cal gazed out on the expanse of buildings on campus—an unshakable feeling of home settling over him. He swung a leg over the open window and settled on the sill. A sound caught his attention and he turned, taking in easels and paints, the couch, bed, and kitchenette. Shit! Does someone live here?

A wild-haired, screeching person flew out of the shadows, their hands raised for attack. Startled, Cal gasped when its—no, her—face came into view.

"Get out! Get out!" She grabbed his arm, tugging hard. "Leave. Now!" Fear filled her gaze but also anger.

Cal tried to duck out of the way, but in his haste he tottered sideways and went crashing through the open window. He skidded along the tiled roof, scrabbling to hold on. A firm grip on his wrist kept him from sliding—thank the universe—and gave him time to pull himself back up and into the tower. The woman scrambled away, cowering against the wall.

Cal stepped forward but didn't invade her personal space. "Thank you. You pretty much saved me from a horrible death." How he spoke calmly when his heart thundered, he'd never know.

She flicked her gaze to him but quickly glanced away. "You need to leave. This is my home." Her hands balled into fists.

Cal apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." Something about her called to him.

The mission work his parents did exposed him to distraught, damaged people. This woman had deep-running scars on the inside. Probably more painful than the ones marring her face.

He slowly stuck out his hand, palm up. "Cal Gilligan. U of M is my alma mater, but I've been gone for several years." When she didn't respond, he continued. "I didn't mean to invade your space. I just accepted a position in the literature department, and I used to come here all the time, especially during my final year." Silence. "Anyway, please accept my apology again. I'll leave now." He tucked his hand inside his pocket and crossed the floor, heading for the steps but stopped short when he passed the painting. "My God. This is incredible." He shot her a look. "Did you paint this?"

I have so much love for this story. Cal is just the right guy to bring Vittoria out of her self-imposed prison. I can't wait to finish this one!

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: All Roads Lead Home (Warlock's Curse novella)

November is continuing the crazy weather tradition. Warm a few days then frigid a few. The whiplash roller coaster is in full force. Please keep arms and legs inside during the ride and make sure you've got plenty of allergy meds and mucus relief tablets on hand.

Had a somewhat light work week and got to focus on writing, which is kind of great considering it's Nanowrimo month.

Also got some decent screen time this week. I didn't do a double rotation, but I did make a full run through of all my shows with a little overflow.

I caught two episodes of Agatha Raisin. Season two is a bit different with longer episodes and different titles. So far, I'm enjoying the fallout from the aborted wedding … and the mysteries of course.

Watched the second half of Silent Witness and started a new two-parter. I'm enjoying the kind of messy storylines. Considering this series has been around for twenty-three years, it's interesting to see how much it's changed from the beginning.

Enjoyed two episodes of Death in Paradise and finished out season three. Kind of nice to see Humphrey's wife and get an actual end to their relationship. Also great that neither really ended up being the bad guy.

Caught another episode of Only Murders in the Building. Loved how the trio finally got to work together … sort of. That might be the only thing that really sticks out as being a little off for me this season. Otherwise, I'm enjoying the mystery.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I like seeing the villains kind of double up and then double cross each other.

Got another episode of Classic Rugrats in and remembered both vignettes. Thoroughly enjoyed both. It's so much fun going back to this show and thinking about watching when my kids were little.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from All Roads Lead Home, a Warlock's Curse offshoot novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Sebastian North has a legacy to remake and he begins by searching for the one that got away, Hagan Culpepper. Hagan wants nothing to do with Sebastian. She's worked a long time to get past the hurt and damage he caused and doesn't believe he's embarked on a new path. Her return spells new possibilities and spins a few secrets she isn't quite ready to reveal.

And a preview snippet…

Sebastian North answered the door. "Nadia. Falk. Thanks for coming." He ushered them into the manor and nodded toward the beautifully appointed living room.

Nadia arched her brows. "We're not meeting in the study? You said this is an official get together." She took a spot on the sofa.

Falk made a slow walk around the perimeter of the room. "Yeah, I thought all pretentious assholes liked to loom over their guests from behind some huge monstrosity of a desk." He finally completed his circuit and settled beside Nadia.

Sebastian kept his gaze on Falk, mainly because Sebastian had no idea how to approach the topic he needed to discuss. "Yeah, well, I can't argue that point. And I'd be a hell of a lot more comfortable being a pretentious asshole … I mean I learned how to be one from the best there was." He referred to Nadia's dad Boris Manchen.

Nadia waved a hand. "That goes without saying. But you've moved past my sperm donor's machinations, right? Meaning you'll figure out how to not make mad grabs for power." She leaned back and kicked her feet up onto the ottoman.

Sebastian's chin jutted out. "Right. Exactly. Which kind of brings up the point of asking you two here…" He inhaled slowly and let the breath out with the same measured pace.

Falk grunted. "Just spit it out, man. The longer it takes you to say what you need the harder it's going to be." He slumped down and crossed his ankle over his knee.

Sebastian almost laughed. The possibility of Falk smashing Sebastian's face in increased whether he spoke or not. Because Sebastian had a big ask and Falk wouldn't like the request one damned bit. But Sebastian needed to right his wrongs if he ever wanted to remake Boris's legacy.

And that meant Sebastian needed Falk's help.

Leaning forward, he pinned Falk with a hard stare. "You won't like this, but I need your help." He didn't give Falk a chance to replay. "I have to find Hagan, and you're the only one who can put me on the right path to do so." There … he'd spit it out.

Falk blinked. "You want me to lead you to my sister?" His head jerked back and forth. "Fuck, no."

I love, love, love this series and I hope I can get it ready to go and out into the world in the near future.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zip Cuffs

Ugh. Turning the clock back is a bummer. I've been reading arguments for staying on standard time or making daylight saving time permanent. I think I'm coming down on making DSL permanent, but either way, it would be nice to not have to turn the clocks in any direction.

Had a busy work week and hit my daily goals to stay on target for project dates. I also got a lot of writing in and updated some completed manuscripts for my new venture. I truly hope to launch it before the holidays.

Not a bad week of watching television. I'm debating on how many streamers I'm going to keep because they keep raising their prices. I'm okay with paying more if it's not all going into shareholder pockets. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of deal SAG-AFTRA can make with the studios. That might also help me decide which streaming platforms I'll be keeping.

I ended up starting a new Silent Witness two-parter and struggled a little with this one. Domestic violence is a hard watch and there aren't many clues to who the culprit is. I'm hoping to finish the second half later today.

Caught another Death in Paradise and enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of Humphrey and can't wait to finish his run so I can watch the spin off Beyond Paradise.

Watched another episode of Only Murders in the Building and enjoyed it even if a lot of the scenes were goofy. It's kind of nice to have the comedic skills of the cast on display.

Got another episode of Battlestar Galactica in on my rewatch. This one had some good moments with a lot being left unsaid, which ends up biting a few people later.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman, which finished up the two-part origin story of Clayface and put Yin on the tentative side of the Batman.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered the first part with the submarine imagination scenario but forgot about the one where they discover Chuckie is left-handed. I love going back to these episodes and seeing them again.

Caught another episode of VIP and enjoyed it. It's fun to see the characters out of their element. It's also fun to see Val figure out what's actually going on.

Enjoyed another episode of My Life Is Murder. Nice to have a bit of Alexa backstory about her husband and how his death still affects her.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Zip Cuffs, which will soon be renamed Falling from Thrayce.

Here's the miniblurb:

Thrayce Stratton finally has the man she wants, Dino Singer, but when all evidence points to him as the culprit behind several gruesome fae murders, she'll absolutely do her job as an enforcer—including using zip cuffs to get what she needs from Dino.

And a preview snippet…

Thrayce let the curtain fall when Dino pulled into her driveway. "Betrayal cuts deep." His earlier hesitation sent up a red flag for her.

Why else would he be reluctant to meet unless he had other plans … of the killing kind? But thankfully, Dino walked into her trap right on time. As soon as he popped the door open, she knocked him out with a siren song. He dropped like a stone in her entryway.

She grabbed his feet and dragged him into her private interrogation room—something she added after he got nominated to his position. Securing his feet first, he came to when she cuffed him to a chair with his arms behind the back.

At first, Dino found the scenario kinky. "Damn, Thrayce, I had no idea you were into this stuff." His lips quirked in a sexy grin.

She put that thought out of his mind quickly. "I'm not." She finished pulling the zip cords around his wrists. "Someone got tipped off. They know we spent the night together." Pushing down the anger at his betrayal, she yanked on the cuffs. "This is an actual interrogation, you moron." Her heart hurt when she thought about what would come next.

Dino's eyes went wide. "What? Why? You can't possibly think—"

She cut him off. "Really? I can't? How convenient the one night you're fucking me, there's no body found?" The truly damning fact.

Dino frowned but stayed silent. His thighs flexed and his shoulders shifted. No doubt discomfort hit him on all levels. As designed.

Thrayce walked around him. "No wonder you did such a fast turnaround on the whole being together thing." Bile rose in her throat.

Dino cocked his head. "Who planted this little seed?" His gaze narrowed in on her.

Thrayce didn't see the harm in telling him. "Watson Kincaid."

Dino snorted. "How convenient it's the one person who opposed my nomination." He shook his head.

Thrayce paused in front of him. "You know him?" How come I don't?

Dino jerked his head. "Only by sight and by the nastygrams he sends to the board, decrying the lack of a certified election." He grimaced. "Apparently, I was nominated and appointed by underhanded tactics and Kincaid is not happy about it."

Thrayce grabbed the information Watson gave her. "They why were you in the vicinity of all the murders?" She tapped the paper. "I verified this intel. I didn't just take his word." The confirmation of Dino's whereabouts kind of sealed the deal.

Dino growled. "You didn't call the council, did you? Because if you had, they would've informed you I had meetings in those locations, scheduled over a month ago." He shifted his position again, trying to keep the blood flow to his hands and feet.

Thrayce paced back and forth, her mind spinning. "And the bodies started dropping this week. Except on the one night you spend with me." She gnashed her teeth. "Maybe just a bit too convenient. Dammit." She hated how far apart they'd grown … so far she couldn't, with certainty, discount the so-called proof she'd been given.

Dino laid her out with his next words. "Sure as shit it's too convenient. And dammit, Thrayce, I can't believe you didn't trust me. How could you let someone get between us?"

Thrayce's shoulders slumped because she shouldn't have. "Well, fuck." So much for being good at her job.

This story is coming together in a way I didn't expect and I love it.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye