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: Blondie and the Three Wizards

Welcome 2021! It's been raining like crazy the last few days, which is kind of soothing even if it's also a little dark and dreary.

I finished up a work project and had time to get somewhat organized for the new year. I have a few small things to get lined up but I'm ready to dive deep into 2021.

Had a very slow week in television. I caught a couple episodes of Blue Heelers and a couple episodes of Silent Witness. I also did a few year-end marathons and watched my usual classic TV and mystery shows.

And that's how I'm starting this year. Tonight's post is from Blondie and the Three Wizards, a sexy short that riffs on Goldilocks.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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…

Xandra entered the common area of the residence hall and paused. "Whoa." She had to pick from the trio of gorgeousness scattered around the room?

Based on the file descriptions, she had a solid idea of who each man might be. And Chris spoke of them frequently. Bless him for making her a part of his life and acting as the big brother she never had. She could really use his advice for how to deal with this group of men, his friends and colleagues.

Moving further into the lounge space, she drew the attention of the men.

The one closest to her rose and gave her a nod. "Hello. You must be Xandra." He smoothed his shirt and stepped forward. "I'm Sam Guilliams." He thrust his palm toward her, blushing profusely.

She shook his hand. "Hi. Yes. I'm Xandra." She'd pegged him correctly.

Sam had a light blue button down shirt and meticulously creased khaki pants. His shoes were spotless, brown loafers with a highly buffed sheen. After his initial eagerness, he retreated back to the table, suddenly timid.

The second man let out a long, low whistle. "Well, hello there, Blondie." His gaze raked over her slowly. "Aren't you a beautiful sight?" He made a twirling motion with his finger, suggesting she turn around in a circle.

She almost followed the unvoiced order but caught herself. "You must be Heath. Chris warned me about you." She smiled, taking the heat out of her words and trying not to be sad at the loss of her mentor.

Heath chuckled. "Should've known." He also stuck his hand out and grasped hers. "Nice to meet you, Xandra." He let go and gave her a bow.

Her mood brightened again. Hard to stay when someone wild, aggressive, and brash made it impossible.

The final member of the trio lifted a hand. "I'm Dare. We're sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but glad to have you here." He moved forward. "Chris left some big shoes to fill." Putting a hand on her shoulder, he led her to the large table in the center of the room. "Let's get things rolling here and find out what you can do and how we can help." He pulled a chair out for her.

Two hours later, Xandra's head whirled with information. Sam listed out a full two pages of pros and cons if they worked together. His presentation showed he had an immaculate depth of knowledge and his skills were impeccable if not rigidly wielded.

Heath pretty much said he'd get her where she needed to be but they'd discuss her instruction over dinner. Then he put on a dazzling show of blindingly spectacular magick designed to impress. And break at least half a dozen rules. <No surprise there.> Heath probably had met a rule he wouldn't break.

Dare started out by asking her a question. "Where did you and Chris leave off?"

She appreciated the gesture. "We were in the middle of the third stage in level three." She wondered if the number three would be a thing for her.

Dare's eyes widened. "A difficult series of maneuvers. Did you have a specific agenda for continuing your lessons?" He conjured the Book of Magicks and opened it to level three.

Again, he'd impressed her. Not by a long monologue of how things should work or by showing off with crazy skills. Instead he asked and offered. Kind of refreshing.

Xandra pointed to the third—seriously, three again—maneuver. "Chris showed me this over and over and I still don't get it." If she didn't master the combination of visualizing and verbalizing, she'd never make it to the next level.

Dare nodded. "This is one of those skills that when it finally clicks, so many things will fall into place." He gave her his full attention and explained further. "The hardest part about the combination casts is subtlety. The vision has to be fully formed before the incantation is spoken or the result is nil." He tapped his finger on the page. "Try this. Visualize a large bouquet of flowers."

She closed her eyes and pictured lilacs.

"Now, hold that image and fill in the details. Make sure there's a vase, water, whatever else is needed for the bouquet to fully form."

Xandra let her mind fill with the suggestions. A green vase filled with water surrounded the blooms. A spray or two of greenery interspersed with the purple petals. She opened her mouth to utter the spell but Dare stopped her.

"Not yet. Hold the image and let it solidify. Don't speak the words until you fully envision the bouquet."

She waited a moment, until the image fully formed, then uttered her cast. "Bring it forth."

A large bouquet of lilacs appeared on the table, exactly how she'd pictured it in her mind.

Her mouth dropped open. "I can't believe it." Her gaze flew to Dare's. "That's incredible."

Heath rolled his eyes. "Look at Mr. Romance scoring big points." He smirked in Sam's direction. "Think we have a chance now?"

Sam shrugged. "Of course. Xandra can't make a snap decision about something this important."

Xandra gave a nod. "That's true." She directed her attention to Dare. "I do thank you though." She got up. "Can we do our individual meets tomorrow? The master sage wants a decision by the end of the week."

The men agreed and they set up times. Sam insisted on nine a.m. He only had that time available for the next day. Heath didn't want to meet until at least two in the afternoon. Apparently, he had a hot date and didn't plan to be up before noon. Dare asked her what time would work best for her. She suggested around five, which worked out well for him.

She gave another nod. "I'll look forward to seeing you all again." Turning, she exited the common area and fanned her face. "Man … not gonna be an easy decision."

I love putting a fun spin on classic fairytales and this story brings a lot of joy when writing.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Blondie and the Three Wizards

I hope 2018 is off to a great start for everyone. For myself, it's like an arctic tundra in Ohio but that gives me time to write, edit, and catch up on lots of television. Unless it's three a.m. and the dog has to pee… then it takes fifteen minutes to bundle up to go outside so we don't end up coming back in as popsicles. LOL

As mentioned, I watched Passionflix's The Trouble with Mistletoe last week and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Honestly, the adaption hit all the right emotional notes. There were moments that felt a little rushed, but I have to give props for being able to convey small story beats so masterfully.

Also got caught up on Riverdale. The winter finale tied up the black hood storyline… I think. That new janitor dude is very sketchy-looking so, yeah, not sure. I am looking forward to new episodes to see what new fresh hell Hiram has planned for Riverdale.

I'm almost halfway through season two of Chicago Fire. I'm still not wholly down with the entire McLeod arc. The resolution, while satisfying—watching Isabella shut Gail down was a thing of beauty—didn't exactly make up for not know why she had it in for station fifty-one. Her bonus notwithstanding, I didn't quite buy the whole vindictive nature.

I'm looking forward to the return of my regular network fare in the next two weeks, especially Arrow.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Blondie and the Three Wizards, a paranormal romance spin on Goldilocks.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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 Atherton concentrated on the billiard ball and pictured how he wanted to maneuver it on the table. He sent the image forward and the white orb moved across the felt, striking the grouping of solid balls. Two sank into the corner pocket and the third traveled to the center left.

Heath Meyer rolled his eyes. "You never go for the all in one shot, do you?" He stood with his shoulders braced against the wall of the rec room, his arms folded across his chest.

Dare shot him a quick glance. "You know it's against regulation play to do that. We're supposed to hone our skill but stay within the parameters of the game." He shouldn't have to explain this every time they shot a magickal game of pool.

Sam Guilliams snorted. "Heath always looks for the shortcut. And the rules don't apply to him." Guilliams sat at one of the tables, books cracked open and a bag of implements resting beside them.

Heath shrugged. "Why should they? More fun to break them anyway." He cocked his head to one side. "No, I just know what ones to break." He pinned Sam with a hard stare. "At least I'm doing something other than shoving my nose in a book."

Guilliams growled. "I'm reviewing the mentor guidelines. One of us will be chosen by Chris's former apprentice, this… Xandra Blue." He tapped a page in his notebook.

Heath snorted. "Phfft. You two should get out of the way. One look at me and she'll be all over this." He made a sweeping motion from his shoulders to his hips.

Dare rolled his eyes but didn't join in the fray. Instead, he set up the next shot in his mind and pushed the image out again. After sinking three more balls and clearing the table, he weighed the pros and cons of mentoring an apprentice. Heath and Sam traded barbs all the time but either would get the job done and the other would back off and get out of the way.

Dare could use the bump in status being an advisor would provide. But the reason the apprentice got to choose couldn't be ignored. They had to be comfortable with the counselor. Learning the upper levels of wizardry took a lot of work, concentration, and guidance. If the pupil's personality clashed with the tutor's, the instruction proved difficult and often impossible.

A scenario that guaranteed failure for the apprentice and a tarnished reputation for the mentor, which didn't accomplish anything. Chris Makepeace left a golden legacy, one tough to live up to. And one lost woman with a huge decision to make would determine the fate of three wizards.

Sam would over prepare—his usual modis operandi. He'd provide detailed lists of why he'd be the best choice. Heath's ego would make him confident—not that he needed the boost. He'd be suave and charming and act nonchalant about Xandra's choice. Dare… well, he'd hang back and study her in the moment. He wanted the opportunity but only if the fit proved good.

He glanced in the direction of his friends. "Whatever or whoever she decides on, things will be interesting for the next few weeks."

This will hopefully end up being lots of fun. I like putting a twist on a classic.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Blondie and the Three Wizards

July 12, 2015

Well… not a bad week, with the exception of a nasty case of poison ivy. Bleh. I'm not fond of being itchy in any way, shape, or form. *scratch, scratch*

SDCC happened this week and I'm so excited for a couple of new shows and movies. I also love seeing the actors from my favorite shows do their panels. Looking forward to taking some time to dive into everything.

Teen Wolf is getting really creepy, which I love. I'm sort of long on theories and not much else, but something tells me Peter Hale is behind everything. LOL He's so easy to blame.

The Last Ship is so good at drawing out and ramping up tension. Another show where I have theories about who's behind the scenes trying to manipulate everything. I can't wait for tonight's episode.

My Friday night lineup of Defiance, Killjoys, and Dark Matter keeps getting better and better. One of the things I love about Defiance is how quickly they move the plot along. And a major brawl between Amanda and Stahma never hurts anything. Pushing the envelope where family relationships are concerned is also an interesting choice. And speaking of family relationships, the Jaqobi brothers are quickly turning into one of my favorite sibling duos. I'm holding back on forming strong opinions with Dark Matter at the moment. I can't quite figure why Two is going for Three yet. I have a few ideas, but none have formed into anything solid yet.

Tonight's post is from Blondie and the Three Wizards, a sexy short take on Goldilocks with a twist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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…

"Xandra, you'll need to choose a new mentor." The Wizard Master, John Silo, slid three files in her direction. "I took the liberty of narrowing down the options to the top three."

Xandra shrank back. She didn't want to think about finding a tutor yet. Her grief resided heavily in her heart and mind.

She frowned. "We laid Makepeace to rest this morning. Do I have to make a choice right this moment?" Did Silo have no idea how much Chris's death affected her?

The sage studied her for several long moments. "Xandra, you can't fall behind. I'm aware the difficult position you're facing, but it's because of your circumstances that I'm asking you to put your sadness aside and meet with the three wizards as soon as possible." His eyes held sympathy, but also resolve.

Xandra sighed. "May I at least have the rest of the day to mourn Makepeace?" Twenty-four hours shouldn't be too much to ask.

Silo nodded. "You may, my dear. But no longer. You'll need one on one time with each candidate and I need your decision by week's end." He moved the files to the edge of his desk. "Go ahead and take these with you. Review the information when you have time." He eased away from the desk and stood up.

Xandra rose and reluctantly took the files. "Yes, Master Silo." Turning, she made her way slowly to the door.

Silo gave her one final piece of advice. "Give each one a fair chance, Xandra. You'll discover the correct mentor if you carefully weigh their skills and personalities."

Xandra made a noncommittal grunt and exited the Wizard Master's office.

Carefully weigh the options. No big deal, right? Except her decision could determine whether she got to stay in the apprentice program to develop into a fully qualified wizard, or get shipped off campus and relegated to performing simple tasks in the regular workforce.

So, yes, her decision would prove to be a very big deal.

Xandra is going to have her hands full trying to figure out which wizard will be her best bet.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye