Sunday Snippet: Countdown to Midnight

Well, Marchdefinitely enters the year with a roar. We've had the crazy weather that hopsback and forth between warm and cold along with snow showers, thunderstorms,and thirty-degree temperature changes in twenty-four hours. Weirdly, it'ssomehow fitting that March is my birth month. Volatile and a wee bit mercurial.

My focus is stillall over the place, but I have multiple work projects, which helps when I needa change of scenery. It drives me batty when I read the same paragraph over andover because I keep getting distracted by everything. Being able to hop fromone manuscript to another helps in a weird way.

Had a decent weekof viewing. Still not quite getting a full slate in, but I'm happy with theshows I'm keeping up with. I'm having issues with one of the streamers on adevice, but I got the show watched despite the tech glitches.

Started out with thefinale of Agatha Raisin. I have a bonus behind-the-scenes episode towatch then it's on to a new show. I'll miss this one. I've had so much funwatching the characters interact and solve mysteries.

Caught another SilentWitness episode. So sorry about Jack's dad. And the whole deal with his momis beyond sad. Very nice to see Nikki be there for him. I'm wondering aboutSimone at the moment and Sam is playing a very cagey game.

Enjoyed another Deathin Paradise. I'd seen most of this one and enjoyed it the first time. Ilove Martha to bits and can't wait to finish Humphrey's run to start BeyondParadise in the near future.

Watched another episodeof Elementary. Interesting episode and I'm almost sorry the FBI ladywill live to show up again in the future.

Caught an episodeof The Batman. I had vague memories of watching this the first time but noteverything. I'm still not sure how I feel about Batgirl. I think I end upliking her better once Robin enters the show.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes,which I'm kind of happy about. The later seasons were kind of hit or miss forus when the kiddos were young.

Finished the secondseason of The Secret Life of Amy Benson and I'm really hoping we get athird. I'm invested in the characters and want to see what happens next.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Countdown toMidnight, a novella that reunites a couple in the run up to New Year's Eve.

Here's the miniblurb:

When a necromancer is hell-bent on raising an army ofghostly beings on the cusp of the New Year, Jace Pembroke, a mysticadvisor, is called to stop the spirit-wrangler, but she can't do it alone. Sheneeds help from ghost hunter Ridley Saint, but convincing him won't be easybecause they used to be a couple and she walked away because a ghostly ancestortook up residence in Jace's home. Fighting the clock as it ticks towardmidnight, Jace has to stay mum about what tips her off to keep Ridley away fromher ghost and attempt to banish the spirit-wrangler trying to bring the beingsacross the divide.

And a preview snippet…

Solstice Eve

Jace Pembroke relaxedin a tub full of bubbles. "Finally have some time to recharge and nourishmy inner self." Closing her eyes, she sank lower in the water, letting thefrothy suds brush up against her chin.

"Jacie, my girl.You've got big trouble brewing."

Jace's eyes poppedopen. "Gram, I don't want to hear anything negative right now. You knowhow hard I've been working to sort out everyone's issues." The holidayseason brought out so much in people … sadly, not all of it good.

Jace's grandmother tookcorporeal form, something she could only do on the solstices and equinoxes.

She wagged a finger."I know, I know. But this can't wait. Norman Thurgooder is getting readyto wreak havoc in the city, right here in our glade." She paced back andforth.

Jace's nose scrunchedup in concentration. "Thurgooder. Why is that name—" She broke offwhen the memory clicked. "Wait, the necromancer?" What kind of shitplan did the spirit-wrangler want to unleash?

Mellie Pembroke pausedlong enough to nod. "Yes, the necromancer. Rumblings are strong on theother side. Everyone is excited about New Year's Eve when Thurgooder hasdecided to launch his master plan." She waved her hands back and forth."Get out of that tub and get dressed. We've got a lot to get through andyou'll be a prune by the time I'm done explaining." She faded out thencalled from Jace's bedroom. "Don't waste time, Jacie."

Jace heaved a sigh andpulled the stopper from the tub. Only one other person called her Jacie andJace couldn't let her thoughts go to him right now. Too many memories to sortthrough and not enough time to take a trip down that lane.

Drying off, she firmlyclosed the door on her past. "I walked away from Ridley for areason." And that reason happened to be in her bedroom right now.

Jace made the shorttrip to her room and found her gram pacing again. "Okay, Gram, you'regoing to make me dizzy if you keep up with the back and forth on myfloor." She pointed to the chair in the corner. "Take a seat and I'llget dressed." Rifling through her drawers, she pulled out a pair ofleggings and a waffle-knit shirt.

Mellie shook her head."No time for sitting, Jacie. You've got someplace to be and a favor to ask."She waved her hand and continued walking.

Jace frowned."Where, exactly, do I have be?" She pulled the pants on and shruggedinto the shirt. "And who am I asking for a favor?" Yanking anotherdrawer open, she found a pair of thick socks and tugged them on.

Mellie paused andleveled her gaze on Jace. "You have to find that young man of yours. We'regoing to need his help."

Say what? She couldn't have heard hergrandmother correctly. No way could she bring a ghost hunter in to whatever thenecromancer had planned. Ridley's first action would be to send Mellie to theafterlife.

Jace blinked and shookher head. "Hell, no, Gram. That's not going to happen."

This story is inthe very beginning stages, but I'm having so much fun writing it. I love a goodghost versus an evil being.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye