Sunday Snippet: A Rockin' Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

What a wild week. We're back to almost winter temperatures with freeze warnings this weekend and the first part of the week. My cold is sorta kinda over, but the crazy weather probably won't help.

Had a pretty decent work week. I'm in flux on a number of projects but the work is moving steadily along. I'm happy to stay busy.

Pretty good viewing week also. I finished up a rewatch and have to pick a new show to watch on one of my streamers … and I have no idea what I want to choose.

Started off with My Life Is Murder and it was so fun to see a regular in one of the shows I watch do a guest turn in this episode. Can't wait to watch the finale this week.

Caught another behind the scenes episode of Foyle's War and enjoyed it. I have one or two more before starting the next season of the show.

Watched another episode of Poirot and loved the mystery. Hastings completely falling for the girl ended up being very interesting along with Poirot kind of lending a helping hand. Very cool.

Started the new season of Silent Witness. Jack's new look is … okay? Enjoy them being in a new city, and I'm liking the vibe of the characters.

Elementary, as usual, didn't disappoint. Such an interesting case and having Sherlock go out on a limb for Shinwell was rather cool.

Finished up my Batman Beyond rewatch and, honestly, the show holds up. Not sure what I'll pick next, but it might be DC universe adjacent.

Watched another Star Trek: Lower Decks. Kind of fun to have a one-off character come back and not end up being an actual hero. I like the risky maneuver there.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Rockin' Yule, a holiday spirit short featuring a hellhound and a nymph.

Here's the miniblurb:

Saffron Sapienza is in trouble with her hellhound pack for being wild and overindulgent. She's looking for an escape in the hopes of letting her latest scandal die down. Gabriel Gabor has a big decision to make—become nobleman of the nymphs or give the job to his archrival, a man who tries to take everything Gabriel has. A holiday spirit, Jolly Jingleman, brings the duo together at a secluded bed and breakfast over Yule and works his magick to help the couple find their holiday cheer along with some direction for their future.

And a preview snippet…

Gabriel Gabor rubbed at his temple. "I don't know what else you think I can do here, Mason. The holiday season is in full swing, and everyone is distracted by upcoming events." Gabriel paced back and forth in front of the roaring fire in Mason Mulgrave's living room.

Gabriel made his appeal to the nymphs—they needed to integrate into the human realm or risk growing stagnant with their dwindling numbers. The fae glade members approached Gabriel to take over after Mason retired. The group wanted Gabe as their nobleman yet didn't want his advice or to follow his recommendation for a better future.

Mason steepled his fingers. "Tyson's not helping the situation. He's got a bunch of the group frothing at the mouth about tradition and staying in our own confines. Why mess with perfection, blah-blah-blah." He blew out a long, slow breath.

Gabriel snorted. "The stupid thing is, Tyson wanted to integrate not six months ago, but when you approached me to become nobleman—and most of the group backed me as your choice—Tyson backtracked and decided to throw his hat in to muddy up the waters." Which Gabriel should have expected.

Tyson Truman wanted whatever Gabriel had.

Mason sighed. "I should've been prepared for that possibility." He got up and added on the log to the fire—even though it burned hot and steady. "Now we have to have a vote, and it could go either way." He settled back in his wingback chair.

Gabriel voiced his nagging thought. "It'll go one way if I step aside." At this point, he might as well.

Mason's gaze snapped to Gabriel. "You're not serious."

Gabriel shrugged. "I think I am. Do you really want a decade or more of strife and turmoil? You know if I win the vote, Tyson will work behind the scenes to wreak havoc. If he wins the vote, we risk dying off and ending the nymph lineage." He held Mason's stare. "I honestly don't want to be around for either eventuality." Because losing the little they had left didn't appeal at all.

Mason frowned and got to his feet. "You'll think about sticking it out though, won't you?"

Gabriel rolled a shoulder. "I'll take a few days and let you know right after the Yule holiday."

Mason clapped him on the back. "I'll wish you a happy yule then—even though you've got a lot of thinking to do." He walked Gabe to the door.

Gabriel left Mason's small cottage and started the walk to his bungalow, tucked into a copse of trees, flanked by a rolling hillside. "Right. Happy Yule is something of an oxymoron this year."

Having so much fun with the holiday spirit shorts. I love writing the pairings and adding a dash of merriment with the holiday spirits.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Rockin' Yule (a holiday spirit novella)

December is off to a roaring start. We got some interesting and good family news and I think I'm very close to being finished with my holiday shopping. I might have one or two last-minute things to figure out but that's it.

As noted in my last post, I continued with my Batman: The Animated Series rewatch and started with episode thirty-one and ended with episode forty-seven. I had forgotten a couple of those episodes, in particular "His Silicone Soul" and "Off Balance," which introduced Talia and Ra's Al Ghul.

There were also several of my favorite episodes in this bunch. "Beware the Gray Ghost," "Christmas with the Joker," "Almost Got 'Im," and "Harley and Ivy." Christmas with the Joker is one of my all-time faves and I usually watch it on a yearly basis.

I'm enjoying the rewatch so much, I'm probably going to continue through the end of the year. I have a lot of love for this show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Rockin' Yule, a holiday spirit novella featuring a hellhound and a nymph.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Saffron Sapienza is in trouble with her hellhound pack for being wild and overindulgent. She's looking for an escape in the hopes of letting her latest scandal die down. Gabriel Gabor has a big decision to make—become nobleman of the nymphs or give the job to his arch rival, a man who tries to take everything Gabriel has. A holiday spirit, Jolly Jingleman, brings the duo together at a secluded bed and breakfast over Yule and works his magick to help the couple find their holiday cheer along with some direction for their future.

And a preview snippet…

Saffron Sapienza's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?" She paced back and forth in front of Calvin Cates, the alpha ruler of her shifter pack.

Her ire rose to epic proportions. Calvin could not have picked a worse time to spring his decision on her. Why did she have to be punished? Why couldn't the hex cat and shapeshifter get the lecture?

Saffron turned to face the window, dragging in a deep breath. "You're banning me from the Yule celebration?" She whirled to face Calvin. "I'm being penalized because two pack members think with their dicks instead of their brains?" She planted her hands on her hips. "How is that fair?"

Calvin shrugged. "Didn't say it was.'' He leaned forward. "But I can't have a fight during the festivities and they're bound to have a blood battle if they're around you."

She threw a hand up. "Bah! I warned both we'd only be short-term but neither listened. I'm not ready to settle down and you know why."

Calvin nodded. "True. But if you didn't stumble from scandal to scandal, you might have more supporters."

Saffron closed her eyes, frustration licking along her spine. "Dammit, Calvin, it's not my fault my mating cycle hasn't kicked in yet. I'll know when it's time and when I've found my match. I always tell anyone I get involved with I'm not in it for the long haul yet." She wouldn't be until she found the one she'd spend her life with.

Calvin sighed. "That's part of the problem, Saffron, you've got a stockpile of former lovers who've been on the merry-go-round you call your love life."

Saffron snarled, her hellhound blood heating up with anger. "Are you seriously slut-shaming me right now?" She barely managed to keep her inner hound at bay.

Calvin blew out a long, slow breath. "No. That's not what I'm trying to do, Saffron." He got up and came around his desk. "You know me better than that."

She shot back. "Do I? Because right now all I'm hearing is how two fragile males can't deal with the big bad female so the woman has to suffer."

Calvin quirked an eyebrow. "Now who's not being fair? I get what you're going through and I know you don't go out of your way to create problems. But you're one member in a pack of hundreds. You have to face that reality. I know it sucks but what other solution would you suggest?"

As much as she hated it, Calvin had a valid point. Only two of the pack species had true mate cycles. The hellhounds and the lupine wolf shifters, of which Calvin belonged to. So he did understand the difficulty she endured when she had an itch that needed to be scratched but commitment didn't enter the equation.

Saffron's shoulders sagged. "Fine. I'll spend the solstice on my own."

Alone … and probably miserable.

I love the holiday spirit stories! It's fun to weave a little whimsy into the lives of the characters when they're facing big dilemmas.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Rockin' Yule

We're having unseasonably warm weather for January. The temperature hit seventy degrees today. I'm pretty much planning on having a blizzard during prom season and possibly during my daughter's graduation in May. Just saying.

I've had the unique experience of being project-free for a whole week. I can honestly say it's actually been kind of nice to have the downtime. It's good to catch up on mundane things like clearing my inbox and deleted items files.

Had a semi-decent week of television viewing. I finished up the episode of Frankie Drake and watched a new one. I really love this show.

Caught an episode of Midsomer Murders and finished out the twentieth series. I have a behind the scenes thing to watch then off to series twenty-one. Looking forward to starting it.

Finished the Sapphire and Steel series. I can honestly say the way ended surprised me but not in a bad way. The unique spin on how time functioned ended up being fun to watch.

Also caught the Three Doctors arc of Classic Who. Very interesting to go watch this one because I didn't get to watch during its original run.

Watched two more episodes of Gargoyles. Started the second season, which is a lot longer than I originally thought it was. I've also discovered I'm pretty sure I missed the entire third season of this show. New stuff!!

Started a new episode of Murdoch Mysteries and I'm enjoying it so far. I feel like fans are on borrowed time because sooner or later the shoe is going to drop on William and Miss Hart will be the one to wield it. Not sure how I feel about that, to be honest.

Finished up a Blue Heelers episode and started a new one. Still enjoy this show so much. I love getting a look at how law enforcement works in another country, even if it's fictionalized.

Finally, I've been waiting and waiting for a very long time for an old British show to make its way to the streaming services. It's finally here! I watched the first episode of Peak Practice and I can't wait to watch the episodes with one of my favorite actors. Of course, he doesn't show up until the final season and it's a solid bet I won't be able to wait to watch his episodes, but I'm trying to view in chronological order. We'll see what happens.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from A Rockin' Yule, a Holiday Spirit short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Saffron Sapienza is in trouble with her hellhound pack for being wild and overindulgent. She's looking for an escape in the hopes of letting her latest scandal die down. Gabriel Gabor has a big decision to make—become nobleman of the nymphs or give the job to his arch rival, a man who tries to take everything Gabriel has. A holiday spirit, Jolly Jingleman, brings the duo together at a secluded bed and breakfast over Yule and works his magick to help the couple find their holiday cheer along with some direction for their future.

And a preview snippet…

Jolly Jingleman, a holiday spirit in the nether realm, put a log on the fire and settled back onto the sofa. He had a new book he could read but he opted for a deck of cards instead. This close to the Yule holiday taught a very valuable lesson...

"Never make plans, start a new book, or go on vacation because, inevitably, the spirit forces will wreck all of the above."

He'd been around long enough in the afterlife to always be prepared—especially during the cheeriest time of the year.

He took a nip of his hot toddy. "So many people lose their holiday happiness." Hence the reason spirits had busy schedules during the last month of the year.

Sure enough, halfway through his third game of solitaire, the low burn of energy buzzed through his system. He scooped the cards up and put them away then retrieved the fluttering notification from the mantle. Settling down on the couch again, he perused the orders to bring two wayward souls together for the holiday.

Leaning back, he set the parchment aside. "Well, well, well. I have my work cut out for me." He brought out the Book of Everything and found the background for Gabriel Gabor, a wood nymph in an ancient glade. "Let's see, Gabriel is up for the nobleman position. His problem?" Jolly read through the lengthy description. "Ah, he's not sure he can get the nymphs on board to integrate into the human realm. Doesn't help his archrival wants the position and likes to spread dissent." Jolly shook his head. "Tyson Truman is a piece of work."

The man didn't care how much nymphs disliked strife. He fanned the flames of fear, wanting to rule over the masses and keep them under his "protection".

Jolly rolled his eyes. "More like control thinly veiled as protection." Truman only cared about lording himself over the other nymphs.

But the nymphs were slowly dying out. Gabriel recognized the need to spread out and gain new blood. If it didn't happen soon, the species would cease to exist.

Jolly turned his attention to Saffron Sapienza, an extraordinarily beautiful hellhound. Tall, darkly exotic in human form, and deadly, but gorgeous in her hound form.

Jolly chuckled. "Whoo, boy. She's a fire cracker."

Saffron tilted the world on its axis no matter where she went. She didn't do anything on purpose. In fact, she rarely enjoyed the attention she received or the havoc it caused within her pack of shifters.

Jolly snorted. "She's a perfect storm of brains, beauty, and unrestrained hellhound blood."

Too bad the DNA limited Saffron's options. Hellhounds had a high sex drive but they mated with one person and they had a switch that flipped when they found their match.

Jolly laughed. "No wonder the spirits needed help on this one."

With the nymphs rarely leaving the glade and Saffron's pack issues, the two wouldn't have met under conventional circumstances.

Jolly rubbed his hands together. "Okay, let's find a place for my charges to explore new possibilities with no distractions."

He thumbed through several locations. The city penthouse would have too many diversions for the potential couple. And the chalet, while lovely, lacked the romantic ambiance Saffron deserved when she finally met her mate. The next location pinged as exactly right.

"Ah... here we go. This will be perfect." Goodacre Bed and Breakfast.

The secluded inn, situated in the nether world, would provide privacy and a charming locale for the duo to discover their future.

Jolly got up and shifted between the veils separating the spiritual realm from the supernatural nether world. "I have a stage to set."

I love writing the holiday spirit sexy shorts. It's fun to come up with ridiculous names for the spirits and create conflict for the fae / supernatural characters.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye