Skye Ritchey's Blog, page 23

Sunday Snippet: Hot as Hades

Had a slower work week and got a good bit of cleaning and clearing done. I also got some solid viewing time in. I'm also somewhat stunned that August is just around the corner. This year is flying by.

I started my watch week with Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and got two episodes finished. The first one did indeed have Percy the Putz involved in his usual shenanigans. The second one made my heart ache but I thoroughly enjoyed getting some background on Birdie. I'm loving the episode titles for the second season as much as I loved the first season's. Can't wait to finish season two up this week, which I think is probably doable.

Caught two episodes of Silent Witness. These finished out the eleventh season and I'm getting into the seasons I've definitely watched before. I'll be starting season twelve this week.

Enjoyed two arcs of Classic Who and I'm getting close to the end of the seventeenth season. Not sure how many more Four has but I'm excited to start Five's tenure soon.

Finished up UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I thoroughly enjoyed both seasons and got a few neat little plot bunnies from what I viewed.

Caught four episodes of The Muppet Show and finished out the second season. The guest stars were Bob Hope, Teresa Brewer, John Cleese, and Cloris Leachman. Looking forward to starting season three.

This was my week for finishing up seasons. I watched the last two episodes of The Hardy Boys and I'm so excited there's going to be a second season. I really enjoyed how everything played out and I'm so happy everyone got the ending they deserved. Also kind of thrilled there's a seed planted for more possibilities for the eye.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. The first one finished out the third season where everyone said good-bye to Beth and Jack. The second started season four with Will on the hot seat trying to save the practice. Glad to see Andrew sticking around for a bit and I kind of liked the new doctor.

I finished up the Master Class with David Carson. I enjoyed getting his insight to graphic design and learned some new things. I also started a new class with LeVar Burton on storytelling. I'm very excited to work through this series of classes.

Caught two episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm loving how accepting the group is being about Theo and I'm kind of interested in how the academy stuff is playing out. I like Nick okay but I'm a little twitchy about his motives. Can't wait to find out if there's more going on there.

Enjoyed two more episodes of the Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved this show. The wine episode ended up being a great little mystery and the golf course episode was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved seeing the story play out on that one.

Started Star Trek: Discovery and have to admit I'm cautiously optimistic. I quite enjoyed the first episode. I'm looking forward to more.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med and have to say again I'm so glad I'm finally getting to watch this series from the beginning. I'm getting close to the end of the first season and I'm looking forward to season two.

Passionflix premiered season two of Driven and the first episode rocked. I loved the first actor that played Colton but the recast works very well. Looking forward to the next three episodes!

Started UFO Witness and liked the first episode. It's only a single season so I'll see where things go.

For nostalgia's sake, I started the new version of the Rugrats(heretofore referred to as New Rugrats). The original will always have a special place in my heart since all three of my kiddos loved the show. It had the rare ability to appeal to little ones and grown-ups with so many inside jokes. The new version is quite charming and I'm happy to say I think I'll enjoy it.

Last but not least, I started a new episode of Blue Heelers. It's a two-parter and looks to be kind of interesting with lots of bridges being burned and internal affairs out for blood.

Whew. That's if for television this week. Tonight's post is from Hot as Hades, a novella featuring the god of the underworld coming to the assist of an artist that needs a little help with a couple of nefarious guys.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Roxie St. Clair, an up and coming artist, wants to live and work on her own terms. But when the god of the underworld informs her of the underhanded tactics of her former employer, she decides to turn the tables and fight back.

And a preview snippet…

Roxie St. Clair burned hot.

Baking, boiling, dripping in sweat, hot.

She'd known using all four kilns at once would make her studio unbearable. She also figured it would make her attached loft warmer than usual.

But not sweltering.

She couldn't shut any of them down either. Too much rode on getting as many pieces completed as possible. She could kick herself for that last creative spurt she'd had.

But it would turn out as some of her best work.

Her very best ever.

The notion brought a smile to her face. She'd never lacked pride in her work—hand thrown pots and clay sculptures—but she did doubt ever making it a success.

Now, she had her chance and couldn't afford to blow it.

The lease on her lovely space would be up in six months and her upcoming show next week would make or break her. If she didn't score enough interest from distributors, she'd be out on the street.

With no choice but to go back to work for evil Edsel Montague.

Oh, how she hated that man. And his creepy, twisted, little day dreams involving the two of them in the throes of passion.

As if. Maybe at half past never she'd consider hooking up with her former employer.

Possibly her soon to be again employer.

Stop it, Rox.

She'd escaped his groping hands and graphic descriptions. Had been free for almost a year.

Best year of her life so far.

Blowing a wisp of hair out of her face, Roxie lifted the heavy length off her shoulder and twisted it up on top of her head. Using one of her carving tools to keep it in place, she instantly felt cooler.

And that, in turn, made her less anxious. She still had the six months to get everything in place to take over the lease from her anonymous benefactor.

Flopping down on the sofa, she kicked her feet up and said yet another silent thank you to the person who'd made it possible for her to pursue her dream.

She still had no idea who her savior might be, or how they'd known her deepest desire. Maybe they'd witnessed the constant harassment from evil Edsel and decided to grant her fondest wish—aside from murdering the pawing pervert—of living and working on her own terms.

Whatever the case, Roxie would be forever grateful. She enjoyed the freedom to create whatever came to mind and prayed she'd be able to continue.

Checking the time, she realized the first kiln would be shutting down in a few minutes. Time to brave the heat and go take a look. She couldn't wait to see how the latest batch turned out.

Roxie is so much fun to write. She doesn't know she's between a rock and a hard place, but she'll soon learn.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hell Is in the Details

Another crazy-busy week but I got a lot of television watched. Finished up some short-term projects and got started a new long-term project that I'm excited about. July is almost over and I'm kind of surprised by how fast it's flying by.

On the television front, I actually got four episodes of The Muppet Show watched. Julie Andrews, Jaye P Morgan, Peter Sellers, and Petula Clark were the guest stars. Had a funny conversation with my brother about the reason I've been rewatching the series—mainly because it's something I remember us doing when we were way younger—and he regaled me with how he remembers certain skits more than he remembers the guest stars … and that's actually kind of true for me, too.

Ended up getting in two episodes of The Hardy Boys also. Really excited the guys got into the secret room and I loved how they completely disagreed about what to do with the pieces of the eye. Interested in what Stacy's game actually is. Something tells me she's not quite as ready to trash everything to do with the circle as she claims. I love how shady all the possible baddies are on this show. I can't wait to see how the first season ends with the finale.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice and enjoyed both. I liked being able to see Beth and Jack grieve for their loss. Andrew is definitely growing on me, which is a good thing because he sticks around for a long time. Will is Will and I like him as he is.

Watched two more Master Class lessons with David Carson. The first focused on designing impactful magazines and I got some good information from that one. The second one was about designing your future and had the four group members trying to predict what their future would like in design. It was interesting and I liked the group overall.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The final with midwinter as the backdrop ended up being really good. The opener of season two with the epiphany set some interesting dominoes in play. I'm kind of excited to see where things go.

Loved the finale of Street Legal. I'm kind of hoping there's a second season because I'd like to know where the characters end up going. I kind of didn't see the partners hooking up coming but I'm interested in how that ends up playing out.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med. Both were excellent. I'm so happy I'm finally able to catch this show from the beginning.

Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries had a great episode. Watching James and Peregrine tiptoe around each other makes my heart equally happy and sad. I love seeing the ramifications play out with them though. Next episode looks really good with Percy the Putz stirring the pot again.

Watched the second part of Silent Witness and ended up really enjoying the ending. I think I caught it during my initial run because I vaguely remember how things played out.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and enjoyed the four episodes. I'm still not sure about the whole new regeneration of Romana but we'll see how the season plays out.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I'm nearing the end of season two and I'm not sure if there's another season or not but I quite enjoy this show.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's interesting. There's a reporter that's annoying but otherwise good story rolling out.

Started a new-to-me series with Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved the first episode and look forward to see how the next few hold up to the premiere.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Hell Is in the Details, a novella that puts the characters on the path to undo some immortal magick.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Macyn has a one-night stand with an immortal creature and suffers the consequences when he traps her in a maze of deception. Once free, she withdraws from her clan and it's up to Vig to bring her back from the brink of madness.

And a preview snippet…

Macyn considered giving him a false reason. But he'd know. He always did. The guy read her like a book. And played her like a maestro. Only Vig could have flipped just the right switch to make her vent the rage she carried around.

She owed him the honest answer. "Research. I want the damned bastard dead. Permanently." Her gaze lifted and met his.

She waited, expecting Vig to volunteer. He didn't. She inclined her head, respecting his reason for not doing so. He wanted her to make the choice and commitment to ask for help.

She kept her line of sight steady. "Please tell me there's a way." There had to be…

Vig bobbed his head. "There's a way."

Son of a bitch. Her relief hit so hard she almost crumpled, but he stepped forward and angled her toward a chair.

Sinking down, she fought past the lump in her throat. "Show me how. Teach me, please." The word sounded so foreign coming from her, but not as hard to say as she'd imagined.

Vig reached out and clasped the bottle. "First, let's get this put away." When her fingers loosened, he tucked the alcohol back into the nook she'd pulled it from.

She inhaled slow and deep. "What's next?" Determination filled her but it battled with the defeat that wouldn't go away.

Vig held out his hand. "Come to my place for something to eat." He helped her up and wrapped an arm around her to keep her upright.

They made the walk to his home, the cool air helping to sober her up. She followed him into his kitchen and he put a couple of quick sandwiches together and settled across from her. She dutifully ate the ham and swiss—just the right amount of mustard—then drained the glass of water he'd placed on the table.

Why he took care of her, she'd question at a later time. She didn't warrant his tender treatment. Well … maybe not completely tender. He'd cut to the quick back in the catacombs.

Vig cleared the plates and sat down again. "I'll explain how to get rid of the immortal, but you won't like it."

At this point, she'd walk naked through the village if it worked. "I don't care. I want him gone for good and I'll do anything to make it happen."

Vig gave her a long, level look. "You might not be able to."

This book is coming together in way I didn't expect and I'm pleased with the results. I like the vibe between Macyn and Vig.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Haunting Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

It's been a busy week with medical emergencies—not mine, thankfully—and vacationer pickups. Also had a few work projects to get worked in.

Had a great week for television. Started out by finishing up the sixteenth season of Classic Who and I got a start on season seventeen. Interesting choice to have Romana regenerate as the princess of the final arc. We'll see how that plays out.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The focus was on the Royal Air Force and I enjoyed the episode. I also started the next one which feature sacred sites and UFOs.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lou Rawls and Cleo Laine were the guest stars. Had a great conversation with my brother about watching this show while we were growing up.

Enjoyed another episode of The Hardy Boys. The jury is still out on whether the grandma is a good force or a not-so-good one. I'm really excited to watch the next episode with the secret room.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and, yep, a tragedy occurred. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the last of Beth and Jack, which is actually what I expected. I'll look forward to their sendoff.

Caught another Master Class with David Carson. This one talked about working with clients and I got some solid information from the session. I might not work full-time with graphic design, but I do work with clients on a regular basis and the lesson had some good strategies for meeting expectations that can apply universally.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina had an interesting episode. I'm still not a Wardwell fan and even less so after this episode. I'm kind of excited to see what Cerebus is going to bring to the story and Zelda made a bold choice I didn't quite expect.

Watched the penultimate episode of Street Legal. I have to give Steven Lund kudos. I loved his journey in this episode. Olivia overstepped in a way I didn't quite believe. I hope there's a bit of an explanation in the final episode of season one.

Enjoyed another Ready Room recap. I'm having a lot of fun with guest stars who were previous cast members. I might not be able to say the same with season two. I'm not a Q fan in the slightest. Here's hoping the writing makes me change my mind.

Finished up another episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. I also caught another episode and started a new one. I'm creeping up on the halfway point of season three.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med. Again, I really enjoyed the multiple threads. Will's arc impressed me. I loved the opening scene with Rhodes and Will working together and getting along, mainly because of the reactions of the rest of the team.

Watched another episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Bertie cracks me up. I love Samuel and Violetta. I'm hurting for Peregrine and James but I can't wait to see more and how they work things out. I miss Fleur and I'm kind of hoping we'll see more characters of the Adventuress Club. So far, season two is making me very happy.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness's two-parter. Nikki's dad is a piece of work. I'm kind of glad I can't remember how things play out with him. Looking forward to seeing the second part this week.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from A Haunting Yule, a holiday spirit sexy short featuring a banshee and a goblin.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Holiday spirit Thom Tinsel brings an unlikely duo together for Yule. Urika Uhl is a banshee holding on to a past she needs to let go. Ingo Ingalls is a goblin searching for his place in the netherworld. Thom's magick shows the couple their differences can help them build a strong future together.

And a preview snippet…

Urika swept through the halls of the community building. I'm not going to use my cry to help goblins. I won't do it.

"Urika!" The head crier, Bancroft Harlow charged toward her. "You can't refuse to use your gift. It's unlawful." He paused, a little out of breath.

Urika waved her hand. "I don't care. If you won't sanction those horrible trolls and refuse them our aid, then I'm done." She spun back around and stalked toward the exit.

Bancroft trotted after her. "You have an obligation to fulfill and you're our top seer. You won't be allowed to walk away." His tone turned hard and unyielding.

Urika closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. "You can’t ask or expect me to help goblins." Her stomach churned. "Especially around Yule."

Bancroft's face softened. "This season is hard for you. I do understand that. But you can't pick and choose. Not anymore." He sighed. "The others are tired of the preferential treatment you're shown."

Urika sneered. "Then maybe they should knock me from the top spot. Better yet, I'll climb down from the lofty perch and let them fight over it."

Bancroft shook his head. "No, that's not the answer. You'd open yourself up to having more goblins to work with. The lessers are usually available to do readings. Right now, we have a backlog of people making requests. You know this."

Urika swallowed hard. "I can't, Bancroft. I can't. I'll take leave. I'm due for some." She rarely left the glade and had plenty of time saved up. "It'll let you save face and give me time to work through my issues." Not that she'd try all that hard.

Bancroft frowned. "You get to use this trump one time, Urika. Next year, you'll not be allowed to shirk your responsibility." He turned to head back to the grotto area. "And don't be surprised if you don't get bombarded with angry banshees who have to pick up your slack."

Urika fought down a wave of sadness. "Why can't people understand?" Goblins savaged her parents … why should the brutish thugs have any opportunity to see their futures?

She made the short walk home and entered her small cottage, hoping to have a mug of hot tea and maybe a long nap.

No such luck. The moment she crossed her threshold, a faint buzz coursed through her veins. She cast a careful eye around her living room and found an ivory envelope hovering over her mantel.

Crossing the floor, she retrieved the missive. "What now?" Removing the seal, she briefly scanned the contents.

 

Hail and welcome.

To Goodacre you must go.

Find peace, solitude, and answers

To what you must know.

Remember the joyful season

And let it be a balm

Discover the quiet strength

And reestablish your calm.

 

A set of instructions and a time to cross the veil into the nether realm followed the rhyming verse.

Urika tucked the invitation under her arm and headed to pack some clothes.

"I'll most definitely take advantage of some downtime away from the glade."

Whew. Urika has some issues she definitely needs to work through. Goodacre is going to be full of surprises for her.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Haunted Hideaway

Happy Independence Day if you're in the US. If not, I hope you're having a terrific weekend. Our weather is very pleasant and mild so I'm not going to complain about that. I will express frustration with random people letting off fireworks, but only because our doggos hate them.

Had a truly jam-packed, great television viewing week. Started and ended the week with No Offence. I finished up the series and I'm not disappointed at all. What a experience!

Also watched Silent Witness and I'm almost through the second episode of the two-parter. I watched the first part at the end of last week and should have this one finished up by the time I'm ready to post this blog entry.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. The fifth part of the key has been found so I'm almost ready for season sixteen to come to a close. So far, I've been on the fence with this season but it's enjoyable.

Watched an episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one dived into the cover-ups in the US. I'm always fascinated by how much this show reminds me of the X-Files. I love it.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Rudolf Nereyev and Elton John were the guest stars. Really enjoyed Elton.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm starting to like the new doctor. He kind of rubs everyone the wrong way but I truly feel for the guy coming to a small village where the residents are all used to things being a specific way.

The Hardy Boys had a terrific episode. I'm kind of interested in how the boys are dealing with starting at a new school and uncovering their mom's past there.

Dove into another Master Class with David Carson. I didn't think I'd get much out of the whole collage lesson but I did walk away with a few ideas about how textures and colors work together on a physical level.

Watched Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and, wow, Sabrina definitely had a bomb blow up in her face. I'm kind of glad to see it but also now wondering how everything is going to play out. Still not a big fan of Wardwell.

Caught another episode of Street Legal and thoroughly enjoyed. I'll be honest … I'm not always a fan of Olivia but I enjoyed her interaction with Emily. I'm also really interested in the dynamics of the partners. Definitely going to enjoy watching the rest of the episodes.

The Ready Room had a great recap and family reunion with Wil, Jonathan, and Brent. Such a fun episode and really looking forward to the next one.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and really enjoyed it. I'm totally down for the rivalry between Halsted and Rhodes but I'm looking forward to when they're really great friends too.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out because Nick has been getting on my nerves lately. We'll see if that improves or not.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Haunted Hideaway, a sexy short that got a start after a conversation with a friend about a spooky tale of the building she lives in.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Harley Rand meets Ruck Tate when she moves back to her small hometown in Ohio and leases an apartment in a historic village. Little things happen from the moment she moves in—items mysteriously end up in different locations, the doorbell rings and no one is on the other side, and random things go wrong in the apartment. Intrigued, Harley dives into the history of the buildings in the village and discovers a few fun facts and a couple of unsettling ones … like the building is probably haunted. Harley believes in ghosts but has no idea how to broach the topic with the handsome superintendent. She may not have to … Rand has a few secrets he's not quite willing to divulge, even to the lovely new tenant.

And a preview snippet…

Harley Rand pulled into the nearly empty parking lot behind the huge brick building on Whitewoman Street. "Wow … nothing like being hit with a ton of memories." She'd spent a lot of time in the building during her high school years.

Back then, the canal-era historic village drew in a good bit of tourism and provided a solid part-time job even if she had to wear period appropriate clothing at Captain Black's Sweet Shop. The corner business drew in hungry visitors and locals who wanted a quick lunch or to grab some of the famous candy and ice creams.

Harley tilted her head to one side, glancing up at the second and third stories. "Not so much now." The sweet shop had become an upscale wine and coffee bar about five years ago.

Pop the Cork seemed so out of place in the village but only because Harley had been away almost ten years. The inn at the south end of the road now housed the local branch for one of the state colleges. The general store across Hill Street had morphed into a deli marketplace with the general store moving to the opposite side of Whitewoman. Harley got out of her car and breathed deeply. Nothing like coming home.

She turned and walked to the end of the parking lot then grinned. "At least the Pewter Pub and Lock Twenty-Three remained the same." The restaurant and bar had been a staple in the village for as long as she could remember.

A truck pulled into the parking lot and the driver killed the engine. Harley squinted a little, trying to get a glimpse of the man inside. He drove a foundation vehicle so he had to be Ruck Tate, the guy she'd been speaking to for over three months, trying to arrange the deposit and scheduling the move. The driver's side door popped open and she got her first look at the head of maintenance.

Dammit … he would have to be her type. Not too tall, day-old scruff, and longish hair. She'd hoped he'd be pot-bellied and close to retirement.

Then again, his whiskey-smooth voice belied that wish, something she'd known deep in her gut.

Pasting a smile on her face, she strode forward. "Ruck Tate?" She thrust her hand forward.

He grinned. "Yeah. And you're Harley Rand. It's nice to have a face to put with the voice I've been hearing." He shook her hand and nodded toward the building. "Ready to head in? I've got your keys and your copy of the lease." Letting go, he glanced around. "You've got movers coming, right?"

She lifted her chin. "Not until early tomorrow. But I'll be staying so I can greet them when they get here."

Ruck stepped up onto the wooden decking and led the way to upper level then pushed the main door open. "They can park on the street below. It'll be easier for them to bring your stuff up the steps from there." He stopped by the mailboxes in the vestibule. "You're box number three." He handed her the key. "If you have packages, the delivery guys usually leave them on the table or on the floor beside it." He glanced up. "Unless you give them different instructions. So far, we've never had trouble with people taking stuff that doesn't belong to them."

Harley accepted the key and followed Ruck into the hall. He stopped outside unit number three and unlocked the door then handed her the key. She sent him a brief smile then entered her new home. He followed her through and explained where to find everything then handed her the lease. She tucked it inside her purse and asked a few questions, which he answered.

He started for the door and she followed but he stopped short and she bumped right into his back.

Her face heated. "Ugh. Sorry about that."

He shook his head. "No, my fault. I forgot to give you the garage door opener." He retrieved it from his back pocket. "If you'll come back out, I'll show you which one you can use."

She nodded and followed him again. Big mistake. Stop looking at his ass.

Hard not to. His khaki cargo pants fit snugly without being tight. The sleeves of the dark green T-shirt with the foundation logo hugged his biceps. She really needed to get a grip and remember why she'd decided to be footloose and fancy free. No more relationships.

Ruck paused at the foot of the steps leading to the garages. He titled his head, as if waiting for a response from her.

Harley blinked. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?"

His lips curved. "I asked if you wanted to meet me up there with your car. Unless you've got stuff to unload?"

She did have a few things, namely the air mattress she'd be sleeping on until her furniture arrived in the morning. "I'll just follow you up on foot for now."

He dipped his head and flashed a smile. "Let's go."

He made short work of showing her the space and giving her the code if she forgot the opener. After they walked back down to the parking lot, he headed for the truck.

Harley waved. "Thank you. I appreciate you meeting me here."

Ruck lifted two fingers and saluted her. "No problem. Call me if need anything." He backed out of the lot and headed up Hill Street.

Harley blew out a slow breath. "Whew. Here's hoping I won't have to call." He had such a nice guy vibe.

And her promise to avoid entanglements already teetered on the edge.

I love writing Harley and she's going to have some fun with an uninvited but not unwelcome presence very soon.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Halloween Haunt (a Lantern Jack tale)

Long week with a zillion phone calls to settle everything on getting a new vehicle to replace our totaled one. Happy to say as of Friday it's all taken care of. Yay!

Not a bad week with work projects and a solid week of good television. Started out with Street Legal and I'm ending with another episode of the same. Starting to really enjoy this show.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room and thoroughly enjoyed Evan Evagoria's interview. Such a great character he played. And he's a huge fan of the franchise and that came through so much.

Also watched another episode of Chicago Med and enjoyed the three threads playing out during the episode.

Enjoyed another episode of No Offence. This show … man, it's so good. Not sure if there will be more episodes, but I'm so glad I found this one.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness's two part episode. Yeah, they're all two part episodes, I know. This was a really great one and I liked how everything came together by the end.

Watched another arc of Classic Who. They're still on the trail of the time key components and this episode ended up being more fun than I originally thought it would be.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and it's got some drama, which seems to be woven in more than usual. Great episode so far.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused around UFOs and US presidents. Actually pretty interesting viewing.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Dom Deluise and Bernadette Peters were the guest stars. I'm still nostalgic for the first season, which is probably my favorite.

The Hardy Boys had a great episode. The tall dude is finally—maybe—done for. Liked getting a little more information on Laura's past and I'm trying to decide if I want the grandmother to be super bad or a red herring of goodness.

I viewed another Master Class with David Carson on graphic design. This one had another lesson about color and I found it fascinating.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is going to some interesting places. I can't decide if I want Sabrina to really twist everything on its ass or if she needs something to blow up in her face. I'll find out by the next episode if that happens.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Halloween Haunt, a Lantern Jack tale featuring a clairvoyant medium and a cranky vampire.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lantern Jack is back to right another wrong. Hadria Hardcastle is a clairvoyant medium who runs an investigation agency—she solves the unsolvable. Safford Sturgeon is a six-hundred-year-old vampire tired of his undead existence. When a trail of dead bodies leads Hadria to Safford's front door, she has to decide if he's guilty or being framed. Safford won't make her job easy, but meeting Hadria shakes him out of his lethargy and promises to make his life worth living.

And a preview snippet…

Hadria woke up from a nightmare that doubled as a prescient dream. "Someone is going to die." The gut-churning knowledge meant she wouldn't get back to sleep.

She got out of bed on shaky legs and almost tripped over an ugly, carved pumpkin. Her gift allowed her to see the man under the curse. He'd been trapped for a very long time.

She tilted her head to one side. "You must have done something horrible to carry the hex you have."

The pumpkin responded. "I did. But I've seen the error of my ways and I'm on the path to redemption." He paused a moment. "Folks refer to me as Lantern Jack. No one is allowed to speak my true name until I make my final amends."

Hadria dropped down to sit cross-legged on the floor. "You haven't wronged me so there's another reason you're here." She had to admit, he offered an excellent distraction from her nasty dream.

Jack made a tsking sound. "I'm sorry to say you won't be distracted for long. I'm here to help you find the killer."

Hadria narrowed her eyes. "You're speaking truth but you're not speaking all. What are you holding back?" The fact he mentioned her dream gave her additional insight to his nature.

Jack's carved visage shifted to surprise. "Your gift is strong."

She nodded. "Let's call it the curse I live with." Not exactly a wonderful blessing.

Jack spoke again. "I can't reveal all I know, but I can guide you where your gift can't."

Hadria sensed his honesty. "Do you know if I'll make it in time?" Her track record could use a boost.

She'd been too late the last two times. But she had helped catch the culprits in both recent cases. Maybe she'd actually have a chance this time.

Jack gave her a careful answer. "It's possible but not certain."

Hadria sighed, picked him up, and carried him into her small kitchen. "Tell me what you can. I won't be able to go back to sleep anyway." She grabbed the coffee canister and started filling the basket to brew a pot.

Please let this pumpkin help me this time.

The Lantern Jack stories have been a lot of fun to write. This one is getting Jack closer to his goal and he'll have one more hurdle to jump if he manages to get Hadria and Safford together.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Gotta Make a Living

Apparently, the week before last ended up being bizarre not only because Mercury is in retrograde but two other planets are squaring up. I'm kind of glad I made it through the insanity. The past week had some challenges but things finally started coming together and smoothed out. Whew.

My youngest kiddo returned from Alaska where she had a great time. She graduated high school last year and she and my dad finally got to take a trip this summer. They had great weather and got to do a ton of fun sightseeing events.

Had a slightly slower than usual television viewing experience. I started out with a new episode of No Offence. Viv had quite the revelation at the end of the episode and I'm interested to see where things go from here.

Enjoyed another episode of Silent Witness. This one has some quirky undertones and I'm interested in the second part to see how everything plays out.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and started a new one. Since my new washing machine arrived, I've been catching up on laundry and getting some quality time in on my Australian show.

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. For some reason, I thought they only needed to find four pieces of the key, but it's actually six. Should be interesting to see how the final three play out.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on UFO tech, which I find fascinating. The theories that come out of the woodwork regarding why and how the technology is used always makes me smile.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Guest stars were Madeline Kahn and George Burns. Both were shows I didn't remember.

Watched a great episode of The Hardy Boys. Things are starting to come together and I'm really interested in where things will end up. I'm ready for the tall guy to get served. Just saying.

Enjoyed a new episode of Peak Practice. I have a feeling the next one will have a tragedy but I rather liked the new doctor they introduced. Looking forward to more from him.

Caught another Master Class on graphic design. This one focused on life as a working designer. I didn't think I'd get much out of that lesson, but I actually did. Even if I don't want to pursue graphic design as a career, the concept of what's important in the career you choose provided some good information.

Finally, I'm watching another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This is set around Thanksgiving and there are some great character reveals. I like this show but I'm not champing at the bit to get to the next one … yet. This episode does have an awesome guest star in Michael Hogan and I'm happy to see him in the mix. Reminds me to send positive vibes out and hope his recovery is going well.

That's pretty much it for television and life updates. Tonight's post is from Gotta Make a Living, a novella with a noir flair.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Niles finds Claire standing over a dead body and can't decide if he should call the cops or haul her into his arms. Claire makes the choice easy by asking him if he sees any smoking guns. They decide they better work together to find the killer before Claire is framed for a murder she didn't commit.

And a preview snippet…

The things he wanted to know had nothing to do with Conrad's death. He'd have to put his libido in check and focus on the pertinent information. But…

He straightened. "Not here. How about Blinky's? I could use some good coffee." And time to regroup.

Her eyebrow rose. "Lovely choice." Her gaze slid toward Conrad. "What about him?"

Niles reached for his phone. "I'll call it in." He pressed the send button. "Yeah, Kovach? Niles here. Send a unit down to C&P BioTech, and get my brother out of bed. Conrad Pesterson has been murdered."

Kovach repeated the information then added, "I don't think Nelms is in his bed, Niles. He met that new lawyer lady, Cera Springfield, after shift."

Niles rolled his eyes. "Then get him out of her bed, Kovach. He needs to be on this one from the beginning." Nelms would pitch a bitch fit for being pulled away from his latest female companion, but he'd throw a bigger one if he didn't get first dibs on the crime scene.

Kovach snorted. "He's not gonna be happy, but I'll get him." He wanted a beat. "I don't have to tell you to stick around until the beaties get there, do I?"

Niles sighed. "Inform the beat cops I'll be here exactly five minutes. If they're not here, it's on your head." He ended the call before Kovach could wheedle more time.

Claire flashed a cheeky grin. "You've got this down to a science, don't you?" She tilted her head to one side. "Something tells me poor Conrad isn't the first stiff you've stumbled across." She didn't wait for a reply, instead stooping down to the floor.

Niles watched her move, gathering her purse and its contents from the carpet. "Is it your first?"

She shot him a sultry look. "Most of the stiffs I come across are attached to living, breathing men." She lifted a shoulder. "Lame humor aside, yes, it's the first dead body. I've dealt with bullet holes, knife wounds, and more messed-up faces than I can count. Stands to reason I'm overdue for a corpse." She grimaced.

Niles remembered his first and the gut-wrenching heaves of his stomach. Then again, he'd been with Nelms on the hunt for a missing girl and by the time they found her, she no longer resembled the picture they had. Claire handled Conrad's demise much better than Niles would have expected.

Niles waited until she got to her feet. "Do you want to skip the coffee?" They could meet the following day if needed.

She shook her head. "No, but I'd like to be clear before the police get here." She started for the door. "I'll submit to whatever tests they want and give a statement, but not right now." She paused with her hand on the knob. "Can we meet at Blinky's?"

Niles waved her off. "I'll be right behind you." He checked the time … the beaties had three minutes before he headed out.

I love this story! Niles and Claire are evenly matched and headed for a big adventure to get to the bottom of Conrad's death.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Ghoulish Games (a Lantern Jack tale)

You know, it's been a week. I don't which planet is in retrograde right now but it's effing everything up. LOL My washer died and the delivery of the new one has been moved three times. I might get it Tuesday but I'm not holding my breath. The husband had a deer smash into his vehicle and it's a probably a loss. My daughter's car is having issues. I'm kind of scared to even walk outside in case the sky falls or something else weird.

All that said … I'm not really complaining. It's just a lot of bizarre, inconvenient stuff hitting all at once and I'm kind of scratching my head and wondering how soon the universe will right itself. LOL

Had a great work week and got some solid television viewing in. I started out UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This episode focused on abductions and I always find those stories fascinating.

With the new season of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteriespremiering this week, I caught the behind the scenes special from season one. Lots of fun information and interviews.

Watched another episode of The Muppet Show. The guest was Steve Martin and he had fun with his appearance.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. The mystery is getting deeper and I'm thoroughly enjoying the way everything is coming together. I love the group of friends and how they're completely in on the whole deal now.

I enjoyed another segment of Master Class. David talked about developing logos and I got some good information from him. I have a few tweaks to make to a couple of logos I've put together for book series.

Caught another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm getting a little more invested in the characters and I'm interested in where everything goes. I love Hilda's new job!

Peak Practice had a good episode. It took me a while to get into the storyline but I liked how the show played out. It seemed like it was going to go in a tragic direction but ended up not going that route.

Started a new to me show with Street Legal, which is a spinoff of an eighties original. I loved the premiere episode and think I'll end up liking this one.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room, recapping episode four of Picard. Wil is a lot of fun when he's interviewing the actors and I loved the behind the scene special effects segment.

Started an episode of Chicago Med and, so far, I'm enjoying it. The surgeon character is such an ass he's fun to watch. Another aptly titled episode with choices as the theme.

Last but not least … Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteriespremiered!! I've been so excited for a second season and I'm so happy I had two episodes to watch. This show is so much fun and it took a direction I didn't expect but I'm totally there for. Peregrine isn't a carbon copy of Phryne and that thrills me. I have so much love for the sixties vibe, too. Not sure why that era fascinates me so much but I'm almost always down to watch things set during that decade. And I'm over the moon I'll have another episode to watch soon!

That's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Ghoulish Games, a Lantern Jack sexy short featuring a nymph and a hellhound.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lantern Jack is back to right another wrong. When Glenna Greer finds a man on her doorstep she faces a dilemma. Use her powers to save—which she is forbidden to do—or let him possibly die. The urge to heal is strong in the wood nymph and she risks banishment going against her clan's directive. When she discovers Radbourne Renner is a hellhound, she's really in a quandary.

And a preview snippet…

Glenna Greer sat in her sacred circle next to the hearth in her home and cast outward with her mind. Her subconscious soared, leaving the tiny cottage in the forest glade to wander among the mature maples, oaks, walnuts, and pines.

"And my favorite ash and birch trees too."

She maintained wary watchfulness. If caught using magick, she'd be sanctioned—possibly banished. She had nowhere she could go, but she couldn't resist pushing boundaries.

A loner at heart, Glenna didn't want to give up everything associated with the nymph community. She had friends even if she didn't see them all the time. They gave her space, which she appreciated and she tried to be available when they needed something.

But she didn't understand the archaic reasoning behind the total lockdown on using their magickal gifts. "Why have them if we can't hone them?"

She caught a brief flash of something hovering on the fringes of her consciousness. An unfamiliar man approached from the highway—someone not of the glade. Startled, she merged back into her corporeal form and let out a gasp.

Rising from her charmed location, she dashed to her front door and flipped the deadbolt. "Just in case." She closed her eyes and swallowed the bubble of nerves climbing in her throat. "I have nothing to fear. This is my domain." But … her brief glimpse of the man—hulking with bulky muscles—kicked her personal safety instinct into high alert. "There's a good chance I'm freaking out over nothing."

When she projected, she often slipped into the past. For all she knew, the guy could've been a relic—a visitor from long ago. But … her gut warned otherwise.

Moving back to her magickal circle, she lowered down and assumed a lotus position. "Maybe meditation will shed some light." She cleared her mind—as much as her heightened senses would allow—and slowed her breathing. Inhale, exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

A few moments later, her eyes snapped open. "Oh, no." A big change headed her way and Glenna had no idea how to prepare.

I have so much fun writing the Lantern Jack stories. My fondest hope is to do a twelve days of Halloween and release the whole series.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fundamental Basics (a Lantern Jack tale)

June 6, 2021

Well, hello, June. It's mind-boggling to think half the year is pretty much gone. I'm rather glad summer is just around the corner even though I'm not a huge fan of super-hot temperatures.

I've been in a weird place lately and pondering whether there's something else on my horizon. Lots of ideas are jostling in my brain. Stay tuned … I might have more to come on this topic.

Decent week of television this week. I started out with three episodes of The Muppet Show. Judy Collins, Nancy Walker, and Edger Bergen were the guest stars. Each episode ended up being pretty fun.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. I'm enjoying the mystery and I really like the sibling interaction. It'll be interesting to see how deeply the grandmother is involved.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice. The show took turn I didn't expect, which I always enjoy.

Enjoyed another Master Class with David Carson. The fifth lesson focused on putting yourself into your work. I came away with some great ideas.

Caught another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Once again, I ended up surprised by Zelda. Still not a huge fan, but I think I'll end up liking her character arc.

Watched the third installment of The Ready Room. Michelle Hurd is such a cool actor. I've enjoyed her in almost everything she's participated in.

Caught another Passionflix Quickie. Hooked ended up being a lot of fun. I loved having an older couple as the main characters.

Ended up watching a full two-parter of Silent Witness. Really liked the storylines and their outcomes even though both weren't optimal.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one features a biker club and, so far, it's pretty decent.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and liked the storylines. The reunion theme fit most of the scenes. The one confusing bit with the super-great surgeon maybe planted some seeds for future episodes. Not sure about that one.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I'm thoroughly enjoying the third series. Dinah and Viv are formidable and I love how Spike kind of slides in wherever he's needed. Good stuff.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. The second part of the key search isn't quite as interesting as the first, but I love K-9's interactions with everyone.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Fundamental Basics, a Lantern Jack tale featuring a sprite and a spook for the pumpkin to match up.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lantern Jack is back to right another wrong. A sprite, Farin Frazier, is a social outcast who comes together with Qeb Quince, a spook who is questioning his undead existence. The two shouldn't be attracted to each other, they're mortal enemies, but they find some common ground on All Hallows, when magick is at its strongest.

And a preview snippet…

Qeb Quince answered his phone on the fourth ring, expecting yet another telemarketing call. When a live voice greeted him, he blinked in shock. "Um, hello, yes, this is Qeb."

"Mr. Quince, we'd like to hire you for a delivery to the ancient forest. Are you available?"

Qeb frowned. "A date would be nice." Who am I kidding? Not like my calendar is full.

The voice replied. "The delivery would be for October twenty-ninth to a Ms. Farin Frazier. The address is 5445 Dark Forest Lane."

Qeb cocked his head. "I'm not familiar with that area. Let me look it up to see if I can make the delivery." He pulled up his map app.

"A detailed map will be provided. The payment for the delivery will be five hundred dollars."

Qeb's mouth dropped open. "Is this illegal?" Did he care? Okay, yes, he did. But not enough to turn the job down.

The voice chuckled. "No, it's not. You won't get arrested for making the trip."

Qeb didn't hesitate. "I'll take the job. Where do I pick up this package?" He wrote the details down and promised to pick the item up the next day. "Five hundred dollars."

More than he earned in the bar—the only one he could work in because no one but other preternatural beings could see him. At least not easily. He worked three nights a week and pulled in one to two hundred bucks a night. Mainly as a bar back, hauling kegs and cases of alcohol up from a downstairs cooler and restocking mixes and glasses. He loved the physical labor but longed for something more engaging. He could join a fighting venue but smashing faces didn't rate high on his list of life goals to continue.

He snorted. "I'm not going to be one of those broken-down fighters who can't get out of the ring."

Then again, he might be one of those morons who never left the bar because he couldn't do anything else.

His gut clenched at the thought. "There's gotta be more out there for me." He couldn't be the only spook that felt that way.

But none of his friends seemed interested in being more than what they were. Why didn't they strive to test boundaries? Or look for new adventures?

Settling in for the evening, he shrugged. "At least I can look forward to spending some time in the forest." If he had to make a delivery, he might as well explore.

A new memory to add to his collection.

I love the Lantern Jack stories and hope to have a string of these ready to publish around October.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fistful of Sorry

I hope everyone who has a long weekend gets to enjoy the time off. We're continuing to be low-key and not really doing much more than our usual food fest of pizza, burgers, brats, and sides. I've been trying to balance cleaning and sorting with writing and editing work.

Had a really solid week of television viewing. I started out with Peak Practice. I had to skip an episode because it's not available for streaming.

Caught another Master Class lesson about graphic design. This one featured using photography in design. Got a few great ideas to maybe use for covers and marketing material.

Ended up watching a full episode of Blue Heelers and started another. The tension and conflict seems to be amping up and I'm not sure I really like it. It's gone a little into soap territory, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it's not what I expected.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina pulled a fast one and made me shift my opinion a little on Zelda. This is a good thing. I really didn't like her at all until she chose Sabrina and Hilda over the high priest. I kind of hope he dies in a fire. I'm also not loving the teacher. Again, it might be residual Doctor Who dislike bleeding over.

Caught an episode of the Ready Room. I like Wil's enthusiasm and he asks some great questions. Looking forward to the recap of episode three.

Watched a couple of Passionflix originals. A holiday Quickie, The Merry Mistake, entertained with a mistaken identity vibe. That finished up the holiday fare from this past year. I also got to watch the premiere of Wicked and thoroughly enjoyed! I'm looking forward to more paranormal romance adaptations.

Got another episode of Chicago Med in. This one ended up being a good viewing with lots going on but fairly equal storylines.

Caught the opener of the third season of No Offence. Man. A gut-wrenching episode. I love, love, love Dinah and Spike's friendship. I have a sneaky suspicion he'll be moving up and forming the third point of the trio now. I'm okay with that.

Finished up the tenth season of Silent Witness and should start series eleven this week. This is an episode I remembered watching but I'd forgotten how it played out. Ended up really loving it.

Started the sixteenth season of Classic Who. New companion, new K-9, new multiple arcs with a single thread. I think I'll like through line with four-part arcs.

Last but not least, I caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one had a focus on police files. Pretty interesting.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Fistful of Sorry, a novella that has the main characters at odds but finally realizing they balance each other to perfection.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orly Manx and Cal Luminity always approach situations from opposite angles, but usually end up on the same side. When Orly pushes a cadet too far during training, she apologizes to Cal for not following his advice. But Cal isn't interested in listening or quick to forgive, which drives a wedge between them and Orly realizes how much she needs Cal to play yin to her yang.

And a preview snippet…

Orly waited a full day to track Cal down again. When he answered her knock, he raised a brow but otherwise ignored her. Okay, he's still very pissed off.

She met his gaze and offered a simple apology. "I'm sorry." Best place to start, right?

Cal remained silent … for a long time. When he didn't acknowledge her apology, she didn't know what else to do. Dipping her chin, Orly turned to walk away.

Cal finally spoke. "You know what? You are. A very sorry excuse for a role model." He spun around and stalked into the living room. "But you never signed on to be one did you?" His scathing look should've left scorch marks on the floor between them.

Her shoulders slumped. Figured he'd go for the jugular, when a simple smack to the head would do. She wanted to run, but couldn't make her feet move. She needed to make him see her sincerity.

Or die trying.

She bit back a sigh. "No, I don't want to be a role model, but I accept that's part of the package." Moving into the room, she closed the door. "I'm trying to make amends and do what's right." What more did he want from her?

Cal snorted. "How? By coming in here with a fistful of sorry and expecting everything to be okay?" He flung a hand out. "Well, it's not right … or okay." He sank down on the sofa and shook his head.

Orly flinched a little. "It's a start." She settled across from him on the opposite end of the cough.

Cal exhaled slowly. "Yeah, but like I said, it's not enough."

She pushed back. "What will be enough?" He had to give her something to go on.

Cal shrugged. "I don't know. Willingness to change. Adapt to different needs?" He pinned her with his gaze. "An ability to assess the best way to bring out the talent of someone different."

The light-bulb went on in her mind. "Like you do with me?" How the hell had she missed that? "Crap, Cal. I just realized you bust me down and build me up all the time. You take me to task, tear into me, then when that doesn't work, you change your approach." She huffed out a breath. "At least a little, until I wrap my head around something. That's what I need to do, isn't it?"

Cal agreed. "It would probably help."

Orly sank back against the cushions. "Why do you put up with me?" She closed her eyes.

Cal snorted. "I asked myself that question before you came in."

Orly worried her lower lip. "What was the answer?"

Cal lifted a shoulder. "I didn't have one. In fact, I decided I needed some distance to figure it out."

Orly sat forward. "Please don't walk away, Cal. We're good together." The absolute best, in fact.

Cal arched a brow. "Don't you mean I'm good for you?"

She deflated a little. He made a valid point.

Cal straightened. "Hey, I'm not serious, Orly. Part of the reason I wanted distance is because—as you pointed out—I'm too close to Benson's situation. And if I don't have you to pull my head out my ass, I might suffocate."

She laughed and relaxed.

Cal grew serious. "The thing is, I can't get a handle on whether Benson really wanted to die or if he called for help with the attempt."

Orly jerked with reaction. "Help. It was a call for help." Her gut instinct didn't waver on that idea.

Cal arched an eyebrow. "You're certain, are you?"

Orly nodded. "Fairly." She explained about her parting words to Benson during the last class. "I'm certain his attempt took balls and what he couldn't speak he demonstrated."

Cal exhaled on a long breath. "It's not going to be easy for him to come back from his actions." Concern marred his face.

Conviction filled her. "Then I'll help him." For as long as it took.

Orly has a double challenge to meet with getting Benson back on track and showing Cal she wants to work with him instead of against him.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Fiery Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

Had a family wedding this weekend and it ended up being terrific weather, kind of warm but the venue had air conditioning and it cooled off in the evening and the mosquitoes weren't awful.

Had another weird mix of a week. Got a lot of writing done and several new projects on the horizon I prepped for. Not a bad week for television either.

Started out with a new episode of Blue Heelers. Didn't quite finish it up yet, but I'm over halfway through.

Watched another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm still enjoying this one. I'm a little on the fence with Zelda but I'm kind of invested in finding out what happened to Sabrina's parents. And Harvey's dad is a total ass.

Caught the second class on graphic design in the Master Class series I started. This one focused on typography and ended up being pretty interesting and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Started the Ready Room episodes for Picard. I enjoyed Wil Wheaton's mix of insider knowledge and uber-fan vibe. Looking forward to more of these.

Watched another Passionflix holiday Quickie. The Package ended up being another fun elevator setting. I'm a fan of being trapped with nowhere to go and having to deal with a bad day.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med. I'm really happy I'm finally able to watch this series from the beginning. A heartbreaker of an episode but happy at the end.

Watched the series two finale of No Offence. This ended up being a really terrific season. I'll look forward to starting series three this week.

Also started the first part of a Silent Witnesstwo-parter. I vaguely remember this one and the next episode marks the end of series ten. We'll be getting into the seasons I've watched before.

Caught the final episode arc for season fifteen of Classic Who. Leela stayed behind on Gallifrey so I'm assuming there'll be a new companion when I start sixteen this week.

Started the second season of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The first episode opened with a deep dive into Nazi secrets surrounding unidentified flying objects. I've seen quite a few of those clips on another program but it's interesting to see how different experts interpret things.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show with Milton Berle and Rich Little as the guest stars. Lots of fun to have the comedians interact with the muppets.

Also started a new episode of The Hardy Boys. I had a long conversation with my brother about the show, which he recommended. I enjoy the intrigue and clues and I love how the brothers interact with each other and their friends.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

A holiday spirit, Spruce Lightfir, gives Enzo Escada, a fire demon, the perfect place to lay low over the Yule holiday. Enzo craves some time alone, away from the demanding overseer of Enzo's peerage. When Quinne Quailer, a mystic, arrives for a sabbatical from the human world, Enzo is cranky about the intrusion … until Quinne's presence calms his fiery inner soul. Maybe the miracle of Yule can free Enzo from his life of servitude.

And a preview snippet…

Enzo Escada delivered the scorching sentence to—damn, he didn't even remember the offender's name, only the level of damage required to mete out Lucien Darhk's justice. Once Enzo completed the task, he left the building and let the enforcers do their thing—which usually involved extracting new promises from those beholden to the overseer of the soul asylum. Enzo strolled down the street, choosing to walk back to the high-rise owned by Darkh Dominion, Lucien's corporate cover.

The entire skyscraper housed the unlucky minions employed and deployed by Darhk and his business interests. "And it's been my veritable prison for over two decades." Enzo entered the building devoid of feeling—except for the simmering rage that always lurked in his soul. "The instrument of my torture."

Especially now. Lucien always kept Enzo busy around any holiday, but Yule seemed to average a higher than normal volume of retribution. Enzo stepped into the elevator and hit the down button. He resided on the lowest sub-level by choice. The opposite and farthest away from Lucien's lofty penthouse at the top of the building.

When the doors opened, Enzo found Lucien waiting for him.

Enzo paused mid-step, not happy. "Why are you here?" He barely kept his hostility from his voice.

After the first decade of service, Lucien had promised to leave Enzo alone and not invade his sanctuary.

Enzo had grown to hate the overseer—who kept Enzo so busy he didn't have time to do much more than sleep to recharge.

Lucien gave him a tight smile. "Ah, yes. I've sullied your sacred space with my presence." He flicked his gaze from Enzo's feet to his shoulders. "But, as it's my building, I'll always reserve the right to come and go as I please."

Enzo lifted his chin. "As you wish." Keeping his tone civil with only the thinnest deference, he continued. "Is there something else you need from me?" He'd be hard-pressed to provide anything until he got some rest.

Lucien waved an envelope. "This arrived today. Apparently, I'm required to give you leave time if I want to keep my standing in the underworld." He sneered and slapped the envelope against Enzo's chest. "You've got through the dates listed here then I want you back here to carry on my work."

Enzo briefly scanned the invitation.

 

The time is nigh for solitary pleasure.

Come to Goodacre at your leisure.

Quiet and solitude to end the year.

Seek what you need to make things clear.

 

A range of dates were listed below the stanza along with instructions for how to arrive at the bed and breakfast.

Enzo shifted his attention to Lucien. "You're allowing me to go?" He hadn't been given a reprieve since he'd been roped into service for the overseer.

Lucien waved a hand. "I don't appear to have a choice." He smirked. "Besides, you'll be back. Not like you have anyplace else to go." He strolled down the corridor, leaving Enzo in stunned disbelief.

He read the card again. Solitude. How long had it been since he'd truly had nothing but himself for company?

Entering his suite, he snorted. "At least two decades." Yeah, he might live on the lowest sub-level now, but he didn't start there. Between the jobs Lucien sent Enzo out on, and the constant surveillance Darhk maintained, alone wouldn't be a good definition for any of Enzo's time. He quickly packed a bag and exited his home that never felt like one.

He didn't lock up—not really a need—but he did take a long hard look at the place he considered one step up from a prison cell. The time alone … he welcomed. No people, no jobs, no justice.

"Maybe the flaming pit inside me will calm and I can actually … rest."

Even if he'd only have a few days.

I have so much fun writing the Holiday Spirit shorts. Quinne and Enzo are both grumpy and Spruce is cranky yet they'll all be festive by the time Yule arrives.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye