Writing is … fun. Writing is … work. Writing is … insane.

Writing is … play.

What is writing? All of the above.

But for me, it’s more a playground. Some fun, some kinda scary, and some nauseating. Remember the merry-go-round you’d push and push until you got so dizzy you feared the worst? That’s writing.

My Hex series is different since there’s a different witch in each book. Although I do bring the previous witches back just because I can’t let them go.

The book I’m working on now, The Best Hex Ever, is a playground of ups and downs. A lot of visits to the slides, swinging high and crawling through the multi-colored tunnels.

Witchy Maggie is a lot like Jazz, but she likes to blow things up more. Since she’s a Guardian for all creatures, she’s there to protect the weak and knock down the nasty. She does it very well too. She’s the fort you explore. Climbing to the top and looking out all sides to see something different. Always something new to find when you’re the adventuresome type.

Declan is a half fire demon that makes me think of the swings. You pump up and down (get your mind out of the gutter!) and your stomach does that whoosh! thing and you’re breathless all the time.

Maggie’s BFNWF (best female not witch friend) Sybil, who’s a calming Fae but also has the teeter-totter attitude in that while you feel relaxed around her anything can happen.

And Snips, Declan’s imp assistant who’s like one of the small animals you’ll ride. He’s so organized he’ll get your to your destination even if your imagination thinks you should be somewhere else.

Let’s add the messenger ferrets for the compound Maggie lives in. Highly caffeinated and mega attitude. They’re more like a nonstop game of tag.

That’s why when I talk about writing, I call it playing. I’m playing with my characters, not writing them.

We’ll have the playground all to ourselves where anything and everything can happen.

Lots of laughter, some tears (luckily, band-aids usually aren’t necessary), a need to stop and catch my breath.

Some days are rainy and gloomy, but the playground is always there with the sun shining. And other days the moon is full and there’s some sexy dancing going on there.

And when the writing goes tough, it’s easier to think of it this way than just slogging through it.

What about you? Do you try to view a task as more play than work to make it go easier?

Linda

Laura looked around the room that belonged in a museum then back to the man seated on a high backed chair that she swore resembled a throne. Gorgeous was an understatement where he was concerned. Midnight black hair, cobalt blue eyes and a body made for a centerfold. She reminded herself she was here on business, not to mentally seduce the man who was paying her to design a summerhouse for him.

But it didn't stop her from dreaming, did it? Judging from the smile in his
eyes, he was equally interested.

No so his feline companion. Since she wasn't fond of cats, she had no idea if it
was Persian, Siamese or something else exotic. She only knew the bronze -furred, green-eyed creature looked at her as if Laura belonged in her litter box.
Laura made a mental note to stay out of claw's reach. The cat had draped itself
along the chair arm where Dante could stroke the cat's back in slow strokes that
Laura imagined were trailing across her own skin.

She really must get out more!

"If you don't mind I'd like to look at the area again," she said with a wary
smile in the cat's direction. 

"Of course." Dante smiled back.

She rose from her chair and made her escape. She'd barely taken three steps out
of the room when she heard a woman's voice.

"Are you honestly sure you want to use her?" the woman asked.

"She's lovely, don't you think?" Dante said.

"Only if you like them flat-chested and mousy."

Flat-chested and mousy? She was a respectable 34B, thank you very much and had just gotten highlights that cost a small fortune.

Curious, Laura crept back toward the room and peeked around the corner. A tall woman lounged, there was no way you could say she was merely sitting, on the chaise by Dante's throne, uh, chair. Her hair was the same rich bronze shade as the cat's fur. Even her form-fitting silk dress echoed the same luxurious color.

I wonder if she dyes her hair to match the cat, was Laura's catty thought as
she carefully backed away and moved to the rear of the house to finish her work.

When she returned to the room, Dante was alone with only the cat for company.
Laura felt her smile slip. She swore that damn cat smirked at her.

"Did I hear voices?" she said. "If you have company, I can come back another
time."

"No, that's all right," Dante assured her, running his long-fingered hand along
the cat's back. "There is just myself and my cat."

November’s here and I’m wondering what happened to October.

That’s easy. I had a month of blog promotion and book signings for Hex in High Heels and I attended the Emerald City Conference where Yasmine and I got to hang out. It was so much fun even as we made faces at each other during the book fair. What can I say? They put our tables facing each other and we couldn’t help ourselves. And this is me at the book fair.

Plus my husband had surgery last week. He’s doing well, but the surgeon discharged him the night after his surgery citing with all the flu he was safer at home. Hm, did he ask me about my nursing skills to make sure I’m not like Nurse Ratched (reference One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for that one).

Barney is acting like my nurse’s assistant, checking on Bob every so often and Bogie goes in to give him a quick kiss on his hand. Naturally, no dogs allowed on the bed. The man actually thought he could climb the stairs to his own bed. One short walk down the hospital hallway proved that wasn’t to be for awhile. :}

I’m one of these people who are like the Energizer Bunny. I go on and on and on … you get the picture. Then I crash.

And this afternoon, that’s just what I did. I sat at my laptop thinking about what I’d write and my brain whispered “wouldn’t you rather take a nap?” Being it was a very warm afternoon; I answered the sleep siren’s call and curled up on the bed with Barney and Bogie as furry bookends.

What’s the benefit of an afternoon nap? You wake up feeling more alert. If not, there’s always a caffeine zap. If your critters are napping with you, you have that cuddle time. Just like the puppy in the picture.

So if your brain whispers “wouldn’t you rather take a nap?”, go ahead and treat yourself.

Linda

‘I live in a world of my own, but that’s okay, they know me there.’

What can I say? It’s me.

My witchy world may reside in my imagination, but there are times when I think it hovers just on the edge of my vision. That if I turn my head fast enough (total ow there since we would be talking whiplash), that I’d actually see that magickal world.

The underground clubs would hold all sorts of preternatural creatures. You’d brush shoulders with witches at the grocery store. That dog sniffing after your poodle might show up as a gorgeous guy the next day. Bunny slippers might show up in your front yard and not just to eat the grass either. Trust me, they don’t carry plastic bags with them. You could walk into a dressing room and find a gargoyle in there unless he’s out somewhere creating his own form of chaos.

I love the idea of living in a world of wonder. Where anything can happen when you least expect.

A house could boast a hidden cupboard that holds magickal supplies. A basement that’s been well enforced for vampires or in Nick’s case, a former bomb shelter. An herb garden that boasts a lot more than the usual herbs for cooking.

It’s a world filled with rich color, sights, and scents. Not like Harry Potter’s world or even Samantha Stevens. One where magick is not all that unusual. Where you can hire Jazz to banish a curse a co-worker cast on you and/or maybe a revenge spell from Blair for that same co-worker. Perhaps seek out Stasi for a love spell.

If you’re willing to walk on the wild side, you could visit Klub Konfuzion where vampires, shifters, witches and who knows what else might be there. Hire a limo through Dweezil, although I warn you not all of his drivers are as pleasant as Jazz. And the Full Moon Café isn’t for anyone who isn’t of the furry persuasion.

I told you – it’s a world of my own where anything can happen. And the first four books are only the beginning as I weave more spells, create more characters that would have fangs, horns, and , although Fluff and Puff are convinced they are the true stars.

There are no fairy tale castles, no caves where the dragons dwell, (they just might have a comfy penthouse), no gothic looking houses. Although, there just might be those too. Because, as I said, this is my world.

That’s the fun part of creating your own world. You can let it be anything you want it to be.

What about you? What do you want to see in your world?

I'm also signing my Hex series at Eclectic Books in Murrieta, CA. 39520 Murrieta Hot Springs Road in the Margarita Ville Shopping Center at 7pm. We're having a Halloween celebration!

Linda

Three weeks ago today I went out to our front yard and next thing I knew a white bundle of fur was wrapped around my leg with a “hi!’ smile. Collar, no tag. I didn’t want him to get hurt and I put him in the back yard then inside the house when it got too hot.

This little guy acted as if he’d always lived here and he got along with Bogie, my Chihuaua/Yorkie. What was I to call him? Barney popped into my head and he responded to it right away. Yes, I was good and called the shelter to make a found dog report. I told her I had a Westie who was probably 2 or 3 years old.

Barney is affectionate, loves to play, high energy, but good around Bogie, who’s 18, and it was love all the way around. Barney had a blankie in my office and would lie there or in my chair while I wrote on my laptop. He also hung out downstairs, sitting with my mom in her chair or on the couch. 

Then it happened. Monday I saw a lost dog poster on a nearby lamppost, but said a white mini Schnauzer. Same color collar and was lost the same day Barney appeared in our yard. And I was positive it was Barney even if I thought he was a Westie.

I was in love with this dog, but I had to do it! I called and it was him, and his name was Simon, although he responded to Barney better than Simon. :}

He lived maybe 15 houses down from us and it was the longest walk I ever took. The owner, a very nice widow, was so happy to see him back. And I was sad. She had another dog, but her life was also taking some serious turns. I left almost crying, because Barney had been such a strong part of our lives. But she said if she moved, she could only take the older dog and would I take Barney. I told her in a heartbeat.

I did the right think and I felt like it sucked to be an adult. But it was a no brainer to return Barney to his owner.

Bogie searched for Barney all Monday evening and we all missed him. I love Bogie, he’s my spoiled baby, but Barney had become a part of our family.

Then the surprise. I got a call this morning. The owner said she’d been thinking about it and she asked if I still wanted Barney. That she felt it was for the best.

You can figure out my answer.

So Barney’s back with us for good. He ran into the house as if he never left it and he seems one happy puppy.

Funny thing – I was right. Barney’s two years old. I have all his papers and we’re all one big happy family. Even Bogie’s happy to see him back.

So, that’s the saga of Barney. A happily ever after ending too.

Linda

Writers go through it when deadlines near, when a scene doesn’t come together the way they expect it to, and the absolute worst of all, when they sit at their computer and there’s not one word inside their heads. The imagination has gone on vacation and didn’t tell anyone.

Then there are the times we writers are buried under work and we wonder if it will all get done in time. I think of it as going forward one word at a time.

Yes, there’s everyday panic. You go shopping and realize your list is at home. Will you remember to pick up everything you had on it or forget something … or three? Times it’s happened to me I’ve wanted to slap myself upside the head. Then I mentally hear “take a chill pill, Aunt Lin” from my niece. She knows how I am when I’m grocery shopping. Shopping at the mall is more pleasure. Other shopping is a chore and I want to get in and get out without having to think about it.

And panic if you’re meeting new people. “Will they like me?” “Don’t have red wine because I might spill it.”

I’ve discovered that a little bit of panic is a good thing. It sharpens your mind. At least it does mine. I remind myself if I panic, I take steps backwards, while if I use that panic to my advantage, I go forward.

Nothing happens if I forget a few things at the store. Unless it’s dog food and there’s none at home. Hungry dogs are cranky dogs. :}

So don’t sweat it, don’t let panic overtake you. Think of how you can use to help yourself.

Linda

Do you like scary stories or movies late at night? The kind that has you looking under the bed, checking inside the closet, and keeping more than a few, or all, the lights on?

I’ve done all of the above. Along with wondering just what the noise outside was.

But it doesn’t stop me from watching them or reading a scary book at night.

Because when it comes down to it, scary is fun!

Am I demented or are there more of you out there?

Linda

There’s always talk about file sharing sites where readers find downloads of authors’ books. What they don’t realize, and sadly, some don’t care, is that these sites are illegal since it’s copyright infringement and in the end hurts the author.
 

I always wondered what Fluff and Puff would do if they wanted to make sure romance writer witch Thea’s books didn’t have that problem.

This is why I like having the guys on my side.

Linda

“Very cool,” Fluff crooned, using his ears to tap the computer keys. “Think it will work?”
 

“Krebs did the basics. We’re just making it better.” Puff read off computer code that had more than a smidge of magick to it while Fluff typed away. “Okay, type all and then hit enter.”
 

“Yes!” The slippers grinned as they slapped high fives with their ears and sat back to enjoy the show.
 

                                                ###

“Perfect! I love file sharing sites,” the woman crooned as she clicked on the download button.

She looked up at her friend. “This is Thea James’ latest hardcover book, no less. I’ll make a copy for you.”
 

“Thanks! I found her first book. I haven’t read that one.” Her friend was busy on her laptop as she was on another book file sharing site preparing to download a book file. “I wish I’d known about these sites a long time ago. I sure would have saved a lot of money.”
 

The first woman frowned and stared at her computer as the screen abruptly turned red.
 

Bad bad bad! Much safer to just buy the book, because then your computer wouldn’t melt.  Now to deal with the site itself. Love, Fluff and Puff.

“Oh my God!” She shrieked as she jumped away from her computer that slowly and steadily melted into a metallic puddle.

"Eek!” The other woman dropped her laptop onto the floor where it also was dissolving at a rapid rate. 
 

They stood back and stared at what used to be their computers then looked at each other.
 

“Who’s Fluff and Puff?’

Surf Bunnies

“Cowabunga!” Fluff and Puff shouted as they pushed their bunny surfboards through the rolling waves. Naturally, the boards’ surfaces were decorated with Happy Bunny’s motto ‘Pscyho but cute’. Their bunny RayBans were clipped to their heads and colorful board shorts covered the lower half of their bunny slipper bodies.

“Tell me again why we brought them here?” Jazz grumbled, adjusting her large brimmed hat and the towel protecting her long legs from the morning sun.

Krebs shook his head. “Isn’t there some spell that would give you ultra sun block? You look like a mummy and frankly, you’re scaring the kids.”

“The spell is used in a special cream and it gives me a rash.” She reached for the bottle of 300SPF sunblock and slathered it on her hands and arms. “This stuff only works for a short time before I have to reapply it.”

Krebs grinned as he watched Fluff and Puff turn their boards around and paddle to shore, eventually bouncing up on their tails, riding the waves with magick slipper aplomb.

“Krebs! Come surf with us!” The slippers shouted as they smoothly made their way onto the sand. A puff of magick and the boards instantly turned themselves around, ready to go back out.

“Next time hexy babe you’re staying home.” Krebs jumped to his feet and retrieved his board, running down to the bunnies. “Cuz you’re acting like a real downer.”

“”Next time you’re staying home”,” she mocked his words with a hint of snarl as she pulled away the towel and rubbed the thick cream on her legs and along the top of her feet. Even as she did it she was positive she could feel the sun’s rays burning their way through to turn her skin just out of the pot lobster red. “”Let’s take the guys to the beach, Jazz. They can try out the surfboards I gave them for their birthday. We’ll have fun.” Yeah, real fun,” she snarled. “I’ve got sand where sand shouldn’t be. My Coke has sand in it. My hot dog had sand in it. My – oooh pretty!” Her gaze was diverted down the beach toward two gorgeous hunks of male playing Frisbee. She lifted her sunglasses a notch to get a full color view then dropped them back down as she shifted her position on the towel just a bit.

Jazz lost track of time, ignoring Fluff and Puff’s shouts of glee and Krebs’ yells as she concentrated on the volleyball game with the same fascination she gave any Hugh Jackman film.

“Augh!” She threw up her hands, ready to blast whoever splattered water on her only to find it was Fluff, Puff and Krebs shaking themselves over her like wet dogs. Her formerly perky ponytail drooped down between her shoulders.

“Busted,” Krebs sang out in unison with the bunnies. “You were checking out those guys.”

“Was not.”

“Was so.”

She sighed, knowing denial wasn’t going to get her anywhere with her tormenters. “It was a better show than you guys out there like Frankie and the gang.”

“What? You date him too?” Krebs picked up his towel and rubbed his bare chest. “What would Nick think of you staring at some buff guys?”

“What would Nick think of you using the term buff? Have you guys had enough surfing? Can we go home now?”

“One more wave,” Puff demanded.

“Yeah!” Fluff danced up and down. “This is way cool.”

Jazz stared at their faces, brighter than she’d seen them in a long time. They were wet, smelled like salty bunny and sand coated their tails, but that didn’t matter to them.

She realized there were going to be a lot more beach days in her future since she couldn’t trust them to behave with Krebs. She glanced over at the Frisbee match still going on.

“Go ahead, have all the fun you want. I’ll be fine.”

 

Or why I need Wifi inside my head.

A group of us were talking about how ideas hit us at the oddest times. As in not when we’re sitting at the computer.

Witchy Jazz introduced herself while I was out running errands. And let’s not forget Irma, who plopped into the passenger seat and said “Do you really have to drive so fast?”

We can stand in line at the grocery store and see something that grows into something else inside our imagination. Or read or see something on TV that will do it.

The problem is that means we can’t immediately type it up or write something down.

One time my husband and I were driving back from Tucson and an idea came to mind. My notebook wasn’t handy, so I called a writer friend, gave her the details and asked her to email them to me. I’ve even called myself and left messages on my voice mail. Yay bluetooth! My husband gave me a leather zippered portfolio he got at a conference and I keep that in my center console along with a small notebook inside my bag. I always have pens on me and as long as there’s even a receipt inside my bag I’m set. There’s been times when I’ve borrowed paper at the hairdresser’s or even used the back of my business cards. So far, I haven’t resorted to writing on my palm.

Yes, it would be much easier if I had Wifi inside my head and it would transmit directly to my computer, but at least there’s other ways.

And if I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea I can reach behind me for a notebook and a lighted pen. Always best if you see what you write.

Have you ever been desperate for a piece of paper to write down something?

Linda

Many times I’m asked where I get the ideas for my books, but funny thing is, for the past few years I hear “what a wild imagination!”

I’ve had the same imagination all my life, but I guess it just decided to burst into full bloom.

A writer’s imagination can take many directions.

A mystery or suspense writer might imagine that that trash bag lying by the side of the road holds a body.

A horror writer might imagine that same trash bag as holding an acidic goo that eats your skin.

A romance writer could imagine the trash bag holding a hunky guy that was tossed there by his ex girlfriend who was ticked off because he wouldn’t commit, but the minute he sees this new woman he’s ready to go the whole route. Or even a litter of puppies or kittens that she takes to the local vet who just happens to be sexy.

And a paranormal writer? Pretty much anything. A rare crystal that bestows magical power to the one who finds it. A stolen spell book. A creature that was cast out of its clan.

Sci Fi? Hm, let’s see. We could go back to that crystal again, but it sends the finder to another galaxy. And if Han’s Solo there, I’m on my way!

What do you think your imagination gives you?

Linda

“I can’t believe she left us on the side of the road!” An outraged Horace threw up his stony arms as he paced back and forth in the dirt. “This is gargoyle abandonment.”

“We got tossed out too.” A disgruntled Fluff sighed heavily. “But it’s your fault for telling Linda she’s a lousy driver.”

“Cutting off another car is not a crime and she should have cut off that eighteen wheeler. Just use your magick and zap us to the hotel,” Horace suggested.

Puff shook his head. “Jazz bound part of our magick, so we’re limited this week. She said we behave or else and we’re not going to use it all up first thing.”

Horace looked off to the side. “What is –?”

Fluff and Puff looked in the same direction and watched the snake slithering their way. “AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!” They leapt into the air and landed on Horace’s head.

The gargoyle shouted and batted at them, but no way they were getting down. All three looked at the road as a rattletrap truck slowly made its way toward them then stopped. The man that climbed out looked several hundred years old with a battered hat perched on his head and a matted graying beard.

“Hey, can we hitch a ride?” Horace asked.

The elderly man grinned, displaying broken teeth. “Well lookie here, dinner.” He reached back inside his truck and pulled out a rifle that looked as old as he was. He was quick for his advanced age as he brought the rifle up.

“Get us out! Get us out now!” Horace shouted as Fluff and Puff instantly wrapped their magick around them and they disappeared in wisp of smoke.

“Damn!” The old man muttered as he returned to his truck. “I lose more food that way.”

                                    *****

“You can’t go,” Linda told them as she applied lip gloss.

“Bite is about vampires. We belong there more than you do,” Fluff argued.

“You won’t like it. If you promise not to get into trouble, cruise the casino. But no making the slots pay out.”

“We want to see Bite!” Puff whined.

“Oh yeah.” Horace flipped pages of a magazine detailing local sights. “Showgirls, vampires. Works for me.”

Linda sighed. “If I don’t take you, you’ll find a way to go, won’t you?”

“Yep.”

She dug in her suitcase and pulled out a tote bag. “Fine, but no dancing on stage and no singing along or I’ll tell Jazz and you’ll never leave the house again.”

An hour later the bunny slippers were screaming in horror and covering their eyes with their ears and Horace watched the stage with avid fascination.

“Lord Vampire has a good thing there,” he said.

“It’s gross! We don’t like seeing womens’ boobies!” The slippers howled, now burrowing under the table in search of Linda’s tote bag.

Linda smiled. “I told you you wouldn’t like it.”

Fluff and Puff exchanged telling looks. “She’ll be sorry she brought us here.”

                                                *****

And what do bunny slippers do to get even?

“If they’re not here in five minutes I’m leaving without them.” Linda checked her watch.

Four minutes, fifty-nine seconds later the door opened with Fluff and Puff sliding inside and Horace behind them.

“What have you done?!”

The off-white slippers were now a rich chocolate brown and the gray stone gargoyle was white. All three were dripping on the carpet.

“You didn’t tell us there was a chocolate factory!” Fluff accused.

“And for good reason.” Linda turned to Horace. “Look at you!”

“I don’t like chocolate, but marshmallow was pretty cool. Those vats are really deep. I almost drowned.” Except his outrage was rapidly cooled as Linda hauled the threesome into the bathroom and under the shower.

“Oh come on!” Puff tried to wiggle his way out of her reach as she squirted body wash on all of them. “You complain because we have chocolate all over us, but you use chocolate smelling soap?”

“You will use your magick to clean up that mess on the carpet,” she told them as she sudsed and sudsed and sudsed. Once she was finished, she toweled them dry and ordered them into her tote bag.

They hunkered down in the bottom of the bag and shared a telling look. “Maybe it’s not a good time to tell her we stashed Elvis in the back of her SUV.”

“You get the book?” Puff asked, practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

“Yeah, but it wasn’t easy.” Fluff wiggled his nose and a yellow and black large paperbound book dropped in front of him.

“Las Vegas for Bunnies,” they read the title in unison, awe in their voices.

“You really think she’s going to let us go?” Fluff tipped an ear toward the book so the pages would move.

“Sure, she will. Jazz wouldn’t take us, but Linda will.” Puff practically buried his nose in one page. “Wow, look at all these games they play. Even craps.” His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.

Fluff read along with him. “Uh, Puff, that’s not the kind of crap you’re thinking of.”

“What’re you doing?” Horace ambled over to look over their fuzzy shoulders.

“Linda’s going to Las Vegas and we’re going to ask her to take us with her. We want to be prepared for anything,” Fluff replied.

The gargoyle plopped down next to them and began reading. “Craps!”

“Not that kind of craps,” the bunny slippers told him.

His expression fell with disappointment. “Damn. Probably not as much fun.” He examined a claw then started picking his sharp teeth. “So, you think Linda would take me too? A lot of shows there with some pretty sexy ladies who might like gargoyles.” If he’d had eyebrows they would have been bopping up and down.

Puff leafed through the book, mimed a gagging noise at one colorful page and would have moved on but Horace swiftly moved to stop him.

“Yuck!’ Puff protested.

Horace’s eyes remained fixed on the photograph showing a Las Vegas show complete with showgirls clad in skimpy costumes. “Oooh baby.” He straightened up. “We are so going.”

Fluff and Puff agreed. “And if Linda says now we can always stow away in her suitcase. It has a zippered pocket she rarely uses.” Puff said.

Fluff headed for the door. “I’ll get the snacks for the trip.”

“Nothing healthy!” Horace called after him.

“Yeah, like we eat healthy.” Puff rolled his eyes. “This is going to be fun!”

Or will it?

Linda’s speaking at the RWA Cactus Rose Writers Group on Saturday April 18. Information can be found at their site http://writers.meetup.com/1024/

Even witches need to unwind, which is why Stasi, Blair, Jazz and ghostly Irma are vegging out in Stasi and Blair’s family room. Scented candles are scattered throughout the room, Van Helsing is on TV since they need that Hugh Jackman fix and, bottles of wine dot the coffee table, and any form of junk food you can imagine is within reach.

The witches are wearing their form of loungewear that involves pajama pants and t-shirts while Irma is wrapped in a plush robe and netting wrapped around her hair to hide her pincurls.

“Okay, this is has been the absolute worst Samhain in history,” Stasi sighed, rummaging through the bowl of snack size candy bars until she found a Snickers bar.

“Oh I don’t know, there’s been a few that come to mind. What about 1723? So not a good year.” Jazz batted at Fluff and Puff who were too close to her stash of See’s Bordeaux chocolates. “Do not even think about it,” she warned them. “This has been more than totally weird, but we’re here in one piece, aren’t we? And Stasi’s got a totally sexy wizard in her life.” She grinned at the red hearts that seemed to enjoy dancing around Stasi’s head. ‘And look at you with your hearts and Trev having hearts too. Good thing humans can’t see them. No way we could explain those away.”

“Terrific, everyone’s having sex but me!” Blair wailed, sniffing as she ate a Hostess cupcake.

“Excuse me, but it’s been some time for me too,” Irma reminded her, staring mournfully at the wine and a box of HoHos on the table. Since food didn’t stay inside ghosts’ stomachs, Irma could only look and not touch. “I don’t understand how you all can eat like this after what’s happened?”

“Precisely why we can eat.” Stasi stole one of Jazz’s precious chocolates and grinned at her friend as she bit into the brown sugar cream. “We knew that Mercury retrograde along with a lunar eclipse on Samhain would cause problems, but considering everything else that went on, it’s amazing we, and the town, are in one piece. Of course, there’s so much snow out there, that I feel like we’re living in a snow cave and power outages haven’t been all that much fun either. A normal life would be good.”

“And maybe we won’t be called witch as if it’s a bad thing,” Blair chimed in.

“And you have a sexy wizard in your life now. With luck the lawsuit won’t continue and now maybe the lake will have a chance of recovering from that nasty magick blasted at it,” Jazz said, conjuring up a bottle of nail polish and repairing her chipped manicure. “Once again, we’ve shown our stuff and do we rock or what?” She grinned at her friends who she’s known for over 700 years.

Stasi’s smile said it all. “Yes, I do. Witches rule.” They exchanged high fives that fairly sparkled with their combined power.

What about you when you’re spending a girls night out? Do you worry about big bads coming up with nasty magick?

Linda

I received word that my workshop proposal for the Emerald City Conference in WA was accepted and what a fun one that will be! The title is My Bunny Slippers Ate My Homework -- How to Create Unforgettable Creatures

"In paranormal there's no reason for secondary characters to be human when preternatural creatures can be just as engaging and memorable. 

Linda Wisdom has created some unusual creatures in her new Hex series that readers now consider as real as your favorite pet. Now she'll discuss how they came to be and insight into where they came from."

You can be sure that Fluff and Puff will be there!

You can check out the conference at http://www.gsrwa.org/conference.php

Linda

Here in California we have sunshine and days that tempt you into spending time outside or work in the garden.

I love gardens, but they don’t love me. Even allergy meds don’t save me if I work with plants.

One spring I wanted color everywhere in our yard and I bought up all sorts of gorgeous flowers and then “suggested” my husband plant them all for me. He grumbled but after a day of digging, the colors exploded along one corner of the yard with various flowers.

By morning, they were gone because it seemed our then puppy, Bogie, thought they were edible and nibbled his way through the garden the way a Peter Rabbit went through the carrot patch. Blooms were gone with only the stalks left.

I was in shock! Couldn’t cry, couldn’t rant and rave. Who knew a puppy would decide colorful flower blooms would make a great snack?

Flowers were planted again and luckily, Bogie left them alone. But he had another worry along that time. Namely, a mama owl that’d nested in the eaves next door and thought Bogie would make a great nighttime snack. I would have lost him that first night if I hadn’t been outside and clapped my hands to head her off when I heard her screeches. And this was one huge owl! After that, we went outside with Bogie and Cocoa. She even tried to snag him one night when we were out walking. That was one determined owl and it went on all summer.

But what I remember is one late night I saw something perched on our back fence and I turned on the patio light only to have Mama owl swivel her head around with a “turn off that light!” look. And I did.

Bogie’s not all that big now, 12 pounds, and if Mama owl were still around who knows, and we still hear the owls and frogs out here. But she can always go elsewhere for late night snacks.

Linda