Choose Your Own LSP Adventure Episode #3

 The LSP Reader group chose Option A: She's seen the symbols scratched into a table upstairs.

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“Because I’ve seen these symbols carved into a table upstairs in the history room.” Tizzy pulled an umbrella from a decorative umbrella stand beside the door.

“What kind of symbols are they?” Sidney asked, taking the umbrella from her and opening it. He walked her to the driver’s side door of the van like a gentleman.

Not that she’d thank him or give him her approval. She grunted and climbed in. She didn’t mind vampires, but bloodlines couldn’t continue when one half of the couple was unable to produce children. Therefore, she couldn’t encourage him in any way.

He closed the umbrella and climbed into the passenger seat, water dripping from the ends of his shaggy, surfer boy hair.

“The kind of symbols used by those who believe in the old gods and goddesses,” she finally answered as she backed out of the driveway. “Or who’ve researched them and are messing around with things they shouldn’t.”

He stayed silent on the short drive to the library. If he knew anything about old gods and goddesses, he didn’t share and until Tizzy knew more about what they were dealing with, she wouldn’t speculate.

They pulled into the library parking lot and noticed the new librarian, Ms. Hornfellow, locking the front door.

“We’ll have to wait until she leaves and break in,” Sidney said, tapping his watch. “It’s closing time.”

“I don’t do B&E with vampires,” Tizzy said. “We’ll ask her if we can look upstairs real quick.”

“You want me to turn on the charm.” Sidney gave her an eyebrow wiggle.

If she’d had a cane, she’d have smacked him with it.

There’d been a string of librarians who’d come through Burberry since November. The position didn’t pay much and the townsfolk were a strange bunch to contend with even before the paranormals started moving in.

Tizzy exited the van and waved at Ms. Hornfellow. “Hello, dear.”

Sidney followed along behind her holding the umbrella over her head.

“Hello, Mrs. Walker.” She’d opened her own umbrella and when another flash of lightning lit up the sky, she startled.

Tizzy gestured to the library. “We need to get upstairs to the historical room for a few minutes. If you don’t mind?”

She glanced between them. “I do mind. This storm is ramping up and it’s been a very long day.”

“You’d be doing me a huge favor,” Tizzy tried again.

Ms. Hornfellow reached for her door handle. “We open tomorrow at ten a.m. You’ll have to come back then.”

Sidney let out a grunt and Tizzy turned to him and whispered, “have your glamour powers back yet?”

He shook his head.

 

***

Bum, bum, bummmm…

What should Tizzy and Sidney do?

A.    Go to the diner and visit the library in the morning when it reopens

B.    Break in after the librarian leaves

C.    Spell the librarian into doing what they want

Continue to Episode #4: http://lostsoulsparaagency.blogspot.com/2021/08/choose-your-own-lsp-adventure-episode-4.html

Choose Your Own LSP Adventure Episode #2

The reader group chose Option B: In the back of Dara’s Diner eating raw beef by the handfuls.

 

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“Spit it out already.” Tizzy settled into her favorite wingback chair. “I’m getting older by the second.”

“He was found in the kitchen at Dara’s Diner eating raw beef by the handfuls.”

Tizzy snorted while attempting to hold back her laughter. “Better than raw pork or chicken.”

Sidney crossed his arms, giving her a hard stare. “He’s practically froli-loli-locking comatose now.”

“What does Sparsh need me for? If he’s powerful enough to spell you from cursing properly, then he’s powerful enough to figure out what’s going on with Patrick. Honestly, you should start with Dara. It’s usually the spouse.”

“This is obviously a paranormal issue. She doesn’t have any powers.”

Tizzy brushed off his comment with a wave of her hand. “Don’t put anything past Dara Henry.”

“She’s been in Charleston for the past two days visiting family. She’s not on the suspect list.”

“Who is?”

He rubbed beneath his chin. A flash of lightning from outside lit up the room.

“You don’t even have a suspect list?” she asked. “What do you want me to do? Conjure one for you?”

“Ally said that witches can’t use another witches grimoire without side effects or unintended consequences.” He reached behind him and withdrew a pocket-sized notebook. “We found this near him. It contains several half-written spells.”

A makeshift spell book. She didn’t want to be interested. Patrick Henry probably deserved a mouthful of raw beef, but someone playing with spells, now that interested her.

She held out her hand. “Anyone can play with spells. It doesn’t have to be a witch. The cosmos isn’t that much of a snob to limit powers to only those born into covens. Witches are self-made, too.”

She flipped through the pages noting the neat cursive script.  She didn’t want to gender stereotype, but the neatness and loops suggested a woman. Whoever had made the notes had dotted the I’s with little hearts.

“These are emotional manipulation spells.”

“That’s what Sparsh wanted confirmed.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you start with this information?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so stubborn about helping.”

She flipped through a few more pages, stopping at a drawing of three symbols. A normal person would think they were pentagrams, but a seasoned witch knew better.

“Let’s go,” she said, pushing to her feet. “You learn to drive yet?”

“No. And I zipped over here from the diner anyway. That’s why I’m all wet.”

She grabbed the keys to the Volkswagen bus from the side table by the door. “I want to visit the diner, but first we need to make a stop at the library.”

“Why?” Sidney followed her through the door.

“Because…”

Your second adventure choice! Does Tizzy need to stop by Burberry Library because…

A. She’s seen the symbols before scratched into a table

B. She needs to return Hope’s overdue library books

C. She keeps a set of hidden Walker grimoires upstairs in the history room

Continue on to Episode #3: http://lostsoulsparaagency.blogspot.com/2021/08/choose-your-own-lsp-adventure-episode-3.html

Choose Your Own LSP Adventure Introduction and Episode #1

Welcome to Episode 1, Choose Your Own LSP Adventure!

Have you ever wanted a chance to control the characters in your favorite book series? I’ve given my reader group just that opportunity in a Choose Your Own Adventure style story. Through polls on Facebook, they’ve chosen the characters, setting, main crime, victim, and group of suspects. Now, we’re rolling through the story one short clip at a time and at the end of each episode, my readers choose the next direction.

It’s campy, fun, and completely unedited. Come here for the weekly posting of the episodes, and join us in the Lost Souls ParaAgency Reader Group to help choose the direction of next week’s episode.

Are you unfamiliar with the Lost Souls ParaAgency romantic para-cozy mystery series? All 5 books can be found in one awesome bundle here: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Souls-ParaAgency-Books-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B08RJ5DF5G/

Join us in the Lost Souls ParaAgency Reader Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1768437189833082/ 

On to the story!

Sleuths: Tizzy Walker and Sidney Cross

It was a dark and stormy night in Burberry. Never had Tizzy Walker counted so many lightning strikes in a row. Flash, flash, flash. The thunder came quick after each streak of light, confirming the worst of the storm settled overhead.

She cackled like a mad witch. Thunderstorms were awesome. Perfect for meditating and connecting with the cosmos. Rarely did she have the house to herself as well as a lack of drama surrounding her nieces. Peace and storm. Her favorite combination.

Then the doorbell.

Tizzy grumbled. Maybe they’d go away. She shut her eyes.

The doorbell sounded three more times.

How ridiculously annoying. She untangled her legs and took a deep breath. Since her hip injury, she didn’t roll in and out of meditating position as easily as before.

The doorbell rang again.

“If you ring that bell one more great goddesses time, I’m going to box your ears.” She lowered her voice. “Or make you fall in love with a mirror.”

She flipped the deadbolt and snatched the door open. A gush of wind blew her hair into her face.

“I’m getting wet, Aunt Tizzy,” a familiar male voice said.

Ugh. The vampire boyfriend. “I thought I told you not to call me aunt. Ms. Walker will do fine. What do you want? I’m busy.”

“Can I please come inside?” he asked, the annoyance clear in his voice.

She crossed her arms. “Feels like a vampire trick to me.”

“I’ve been in your house before. I’m only being polite.”

She backed out of the doorway. “Fine. What do you want, Sidney?”

He stepped inside and ran a hand over his wet, shaggy hair. “Sparsh needs a favor.”

“Doesn’t he always?”

“He said to remind you about the animal control issue he helped you solve. Whatever that means.”

She always told her nieces not to owe the LSP any favors. Exactly because of situations like this. A perfectly good storm night ruined.

“What does he want?” she asked.

“Patrick Henry is back in town. Tonight he was found…” Sidney hesitated.

Dum, dum, dummmmmm…

Your first adventure choice. What was Patrick Henry found doing?

A. In the middle of town square barking like a dog.

B. In the back of Dara’s Diner eating raw beef by the handfuls.

C. In the local shoe store licking the soles of high heel shoes.

The voting takes place in the Lost Souls ParaAgency Readers Group on Facebook. If the current episode has been voted on, you'll find the link to it below. Join us at any time!

Episode #2: http://lostsoulsparaagency.blogspot.com/2021/08/choose-your-own-lsp-adventure-episode-2.html

Throwback Thursday Quote from Bad Witch Takes a Case

 

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What's this Kindle Vella thing authors are getting worked up about?

 

Coming soon to your ereader! Bad Witch Makes a Blunder

 

Does a bad witch deserve a fresh start?

Lola has a plan. Ignore the talking raven, make some fast cash, and hightail it out of Burberry before the Spring Solstice. You know, in case the bad witch buried in her lost memories wakes up and wreaks havoc on the small town.

But when a coworker’s no good, ex-con ex-husband blows into town, he sets his sights on adding Lola to his crew of degenerates for a heist. After a firm no thanks, and a quick spell to seal the deal, Lola thinks she’s rid herself of the problem.

Then the problem turns up dead! And that’s only half the problem.

With a side-kick like mean girl Dara Henry, the Lost Souls ParaAgency watching her every move, and that darn talking raven, will Lola be able to stop the heist, find a killer, and make it out of Burberry alive by the solstice?

Find out in Book 2 of the Bad Witch Mystery series!

Prequel–O Come, All Ye Witches (A Lost Souls ParaAgency/Bad Witch Mysteries Crossover)

Book 1–Bad Witch Takes a Case

The Bad Witch Mysteries are a part of the Lost Souls ParaAgency universe:

Lost Souls ParaAgency and the Three Witches of Burberry

Lost Souls ParaAgency and the Ghostly Reunion

Lost Souls ParaAgency and the Illusion of a Vampire

Lost Souls ParaAgency and the Mysterious Bag of Bones

Lost Souls ParaAgency and the Creature of White Oak Swamp

Or just grab the Lost Souls ParaAgency Bundle Books 1 - 5

PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0994SZYV5/

 

Late #ThrowbackThursday quote from Bad Witch Takes a Case

 Poor Reg! He's a bit of a doormat but it's very hard to say no to Lola and Dara. 

Grab your copy of Bad Witch Takes a Case from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Witch-Takes-Case-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07ZP9P7NN/

Squirrels everywhere! New cozies with cute squirrels on the covers

 I love squirrels and in fact, I feature one in my paranormal cozy mystery All's Fairy in Love and Murder. 

I'm excited to share a couple of other paranormal cozies that feature squirrels on the cover. One is a new release and the other is coming soon!

A Tail of Murder by Elle Adams

Robin Wildwood has always been the black sheep of her family… or red squirrel, as it were. She and her familiar, Tansy, left their coven to strike out alone, with no intention of returning home. The Wildwood witches are the best at everything they do, and their leader - who happens to be Robin's grandmother - is the Head Witch of the entire region. As for Robin? Screwing up is her only major talent.

After her grandmother's unexpected death brings her back to the small town of Wildwood Heath, Robin finds herself surrounded by bickering relatives and rival covens wanting to claim the coveted title of Head Witch. It seems her grandmother didn't name a successor, and it all gets worse when Robin stumbles upon the dead body of another coven member and realizes that her grandmother may have been murdered, too.

Even the family screw-up isn't inclined to lie down and accept defeat, so Robin teams up with her tarantula-collecting cousin, her gardener extraordinaire best friend and her former crush (turned hot sports captain) in an attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery. But will she survive long enough to see the Wildwood Coven's leadership change hands… and who will be the next Head Witch?

Cherry Charms by Bella Falls

Aurora Hart’s life has never been better. She’s got a successful business as an ice sculpture artist, a group of loyal friends in the Humbugs, and a hot bear of a boyfriend. Her reputation as the savior of Christmas gets her more attention than she wants, especially when the event planner for the summer solstice celebration wants her help making something special.

Everything’s going swimmingly until something goes terribly wrong. Now, all of the attention is focused on Rory, except for all the wrong reasons. Accused of being the reason things for the festivities are ruined, she needs the help of her fellow Humbugs to find who’s really behind it all. They need to work fast if they’re to keep all hope for Holiday Haven from melting away.

Water you waiting for? Get cozy and read Cheery Charms, the second book by Bella Falls in the Winter Witches of Holiday Haven series.

Pip is so glad to have some squirrelly friends! 

Juniper is a fairy godmother with a killer problem.

I messed up big time!

The guy I meant to give a dash of good luck to—well, now he's dead. I'm not the one who killed him, but if I hadn't become distracted by the talking squirrel, then he'd still be alive. 

Now, I have to find the murderer and bring them to justice. To do that, I have to give up my wings and magic wand and pretend to be human. 

It's a small price to pay to bring down a killer.

P.S. Did I mention there's a talking squirrel? Are you ready for a different kind of mystery-solving magic? 

All’s Fairy in Love and Murder is book one in a planned series about a fairy godmother who’s ready to spread her wings. (And solve a few crimes along the way!)

You’ll love this book because of the use of magic, the smart but eccentric cast of characters, and the twists and turns that make for a great cozy mystery experience.

Have you read any good paranormal cozies with animals featured in them lately?

#Throwback Thursday quote from Bad Witch Takes a Case

 I think it's obvious why Dara became a target and it didn't have anything to do with these things!

Grab your copy of Bad Witch Takes a Case from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Witch-Takes-Case-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07ZP9P7NN/