Living the Dream

Hello again. Happy summer! This week, the Tuesday Tales authors are writing to the word prompt SOUR.

“All that happens is the will of the Maker, and while it may be distressful for us, it suits His purpose. Even He is forbidden from interfering in what must be. Good and evil have battled since time began, the pendulum swinging back and forth as it must. We all play a part in what the future will bring.”

“I know that, but if we lose another…”

Garth reached for her hand, the heat from him blocking out the cold filling her soul.

“The reason the princess wasn’t with them when the accident happened was because she collapsed at a restaurant where they were eating. The owner called 9 1 1, and the paramedics took her to the hospital. We believe Galen, Rogan’s mage, created a toxin and intended to disable her so that the seekers could bring her to him. He must’ve put it in her food, but he was unaware of how quickly her body would react to the toxin. Her immune system is stronger than any virus, bacteria, or poison known to humanity, so when this toxic element entered her blood stream, her cells moved to isolate it in her abdomen until Astrid can remove it.”

He glanced at his hand, fingers blanched by the force of her grasp. She released her grip and sighed in apology.

“She can’t be poked and prodded, Garth, you know that.”

The thought of what indignities humans could be exposed to during medical tests and examinations soured her stomach.

“I know, and everything is being done to prevent that. Meg has guarded her fiercely all these years. She won’t back down now. As soon as Astrid’s senses warned her that something had happened, she contacted me. She should be with her by now and will attend to her. She’ll discover the true nature of her illness and deal with it; moreover, we’ve sent a doppelganger, one who died only a few weeks ago, and while she’s young to return to earth so soon after her passing, she was the only one available at the time. We’ve only so many guardians at our disposal, and since the time they can spend with humanity without returning to Sanctuary …  She will replace the princess for a few weeks and buy us some time. It should be sufficiently easy to keep Galen’s coven confused long enough to get her highness home safely. If Rogan has one weakness, it’s his constant ability to use lesser minds as servants, and a slow mind is always easier to dupe.”

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Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Wow. Midway through June already with the summer solstice in a week’s time. They keep saying we are going to have a long, hot summer. I hope so because we certainly had a long, cold winter.

This week the authors of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt LEAF. I’m continuing with the set up to The Bonds of Time, a paranormal/fantasy.

Garth removed his cap, running his fingers through his hair in an effort to cool his body.

“I had no idea that he knew as much as he did, but I should have guessed. We’ve sent others to replace the guardian, hoping they’ll keep her parents safe, but she must return to the estate or possibly Sanctuary itself, as soon as possible.” He hung his head, a rare sign of defeat in an immortal warlock of his magnitude. “He’s stronger than ever, Lorna, and can block his mind from me. I used to be able to reach out to my bother, to calm him, but I fear he’s more demon now than anything…”

This was not what she’d hoped to hear, but sadly there would be more.

“What aren’t you telling me, Garth?” she bit off the words, her fear fueling her irritation. “Don’t make me pull it from your mind. The way I feel would make it a painful, public display and draw unnecessary attention to us.”

Garth flushed, cleared his throat, and looked at her. She was more than capable of carrying out the threat and having been on the receiving end of the angry sorceress’s reading more than once in the millennia they’d been together, she was certain that he had no desire to repeat the process.

“Earlier this morning, I received a message from her primary guardian. There has been an accident, and the princess’s three companions, the young fay who’ve watched over her all these years, are dead. Some kind of motor vehicle accident that caused the car to explode since fire is the only thing that could’ve killed them. Their souls have returned to the ether, but it will be some time before they can resume any type of work here. They will need several months in Sanctuary to regain their strength.”

“By the Maker! Where is the princess?” If she needed to return to the estate, she wasn’t dead.

“Samantha is in the hospital, awaiting some sort of exploratory procedure. The guardian is with her, and Astrid should be there shortly. She’s well-versed in all types of human medicine as well as our own.”

Lorna hissed, her face taking on cat-like features in her distress. She stomped her foot, crushing a dead leaf under her boot, and reined in her frustration, her face resuming its human characteristics.

“Exploratory procedure? You know the changeling can’t undergo surgery or any other complex medical procedures in a hospital meant for humans. The differences would be visible and within minutes, she would become a test subject or worse. What fool took her to a hospital?”

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Gaze of Stone
Shayla Summers

Marked for execution, a Gorgon refuses to surrender to the immortal order hunting her. The one man assigned to bring her in discovers her deadly gaze is nothing compared to the danger of wanting her. In a world where desire means destruction, love could turn them both to stone.

Black Tied: Sapphire
Rachelle Ayala

Bound by power and obligation, a formidable supernatural being finds his control unraveling in the presence of a woman who refuses to kneel. What begins as a dangerous alliance ignites into a passion they cannot afford. But when ancient forces demand obedience, will love defy destiny—or be sacrificed to it?

French Quarter Bound
Amy Simone

In the shadowed streets of New Orleans, a djinn bound by ancient magic is summoned by a woman who never meant to make a wish. As desire coils between them, old bargains and darker enemies close in. Freedom has a price—and love may be the most dangerous wish of all.

Animal Instincts
Patricia Rosemoor

When animal rescuer Skye Cross stumbles into a brutal underground shifter fight, she uncovers a hidden world of predators—and the powerful man who commands them. Luc Lazare can control minds and shift at will, but he can’t control his growing need for the woman who could destroy his family. In a world ruled by instinct, trust may be the deadliest risk of all.

Renegade Wolf
Ari Thatcher

After shifting into wolf form on live television, Stephanie becomes prey to a ruthless werewolf hunter. The only man who can protect her is the one whose kiss awakened her wolf—and claimed her as his mate. Hiding in the wild Ozarks, passion and danger collide as they fight to survive a predator who never misses his mark.

Shadows and Threads
Dani Haviland

A centuries-old vampire who has never questioned eternity meets the one woman who forces him to choose it. As ancient powers tighten their grip and fate itself begins to unravel, love becomes both weapon and salvation. Forever has always been his domain—until now.

Destination Wedding
Rebecca York

Kidnapped from a mall parking lot, Camille Norland awakens on a fortified island—dressed for a wedding she never agreed to. The security agent who has secretly loved her must race against time to stop a ruthless billionaire determined to claim her. In a game of power, obsession, and survival, love may be the only way out.

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Welcome back. June seems to be behaving itself at least so far. I have mu yardword done for the year, and I’m looking forward to a quiet relaxing summer. This week, the authors of Tuesday tales are writing to the word prompt, BERRIES.

I’ve started a new book. The Bonds of Time is a paranormal/fantasy with a touch of time travel in dreams, and will be part of the Timeless Love Series. It’s got angels, demons, fairies, changelings and humans, of course. It’s a backburner book for me since I have others on the front burner, but I’ve decided to work on it just for you. So, without further ado…

At first glance, the man in the thin, nylon jacket and a New York Yankees’ ball cap and the woman in an olive coat trimmed in faux fur, an ivory knitted cap covering her head, seemed no different from anyone else admiring the ancient monoliths, but on closer inspection, something about them seemed out of place, and demanded a second glance.

Neither of them carried a camera or a tourist information pamphlet, and they walked along absorbed in one another rather than in the majesty of the stones surrounding them. The woman, an ageless beauty with regal elegance, seemed to glide gracefully along the pathway, while the older man trudged beside her as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

With her free hand, she pushed back the lock of platinum hair, and the only tress of its color in her tawney mane. The movement betrayed her agitation more clearly than any other action could have.

Other than her lips, the color of ripe berries, her complexion resembled the alabaster of ancient statuary.

“I’ve missed you, Garth, but for you to call me into this world now can only mean that something terrible has happened. Six months ago, when you reported to the Celestial Council, you claimed everything was under control, and that we would have at least five years to ensure her proper training; now, you say that she’s got to come home immediately. What’s caused this sudden change of heart? Don’t try to soften the blow, Garth. If you’re correct, we don’t have time for niceties.”

The man removed his hat and shook his grizzled mane. Taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he mopped his brow with an amazingly firm hand. Despite the coldness of the day, he perspired profusely.

“I’ve been in this form too long, I can’t control my body temperature, and it’s becoming noticeable. I need to return to Sanctuary, if only for a few days.”

“You’re prevaricating and stalling, husband.” Her voice filled with frustration. “You called me here; I want an answer now. What’s gone wrong?”

“They’ve found her, Lorna,” he answered his voice low, his tone remorseful.

She gasped. “Impossible!”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have believed it myself, but I saw it with my own eyes. The guardian sent to France to watch over her human parents is dead. He was brutally murdered by one of the seekers. I was called in as soon as the body was found. A residual scan of his remains showed that he’d given them vital information before he died.’

Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Welcome to June and almost summer as well as the sixth month of the year, which means we’re halfway through 2026. So far the first half of the year has been so-so, with sales lower than usual, but I’m hoping that will improve. I need to do more promoting, I guess, but that is my weak spot.

I finished the A to Z challenge in April, met several new bloggers, whom I hope will continue to follow my blog as I follow theirs. In addition, I’ve written two new books so far this year, one romance suspense, the other cozy mystery with a lot of rom-com in it. I seemed to have crossed over the line between the two genres. We’ll see what happens with sales. I’m hoping to write two more before the end of the year, but I have a month long holiday planned for August which will cut into my writing schedule this year. Hoping to write only in the morning and enjoy the rest of the warm summer days. Winter seemed especially long this time around.

This month’s question: Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My stories come from all over, but world events and the news do give me lots of ideas. In some situations, my stories are reactions to current events. My characters can be very opinionated at times, and at others, they can be more open-minded than many of the people around me. My ideas tend to be influenced by current events and the reams of misinformation and disinformation that abounds on the Internet, so I walk a thin line.

I would say that my holidays also give me story ideas. I’ve been known to set my tales in places that I’ve visited, such as Scandinavia, The British Isles, the Carribbean Islands, and Mexico, as well as here in Canada, adding details from my own experiences and the things I learn while I’m there. My stories also come from a sense of national pride since I’m setting most of my latest books in Canada and adding in its beauty and culture.

The third source for story ideas has to be my overactive imagination and the ideas that manifest themselves in my dreams. I may not recall the entire dream, but something will stick with me, and I’ll feel the need to let the idea play out. As all of my books are character driven, a lot of the time I don’t know where I’m going with a story until I get there. That’s the joys of being a pantser. Even you can be surprised in the end.

Check the link to see how others have answered this month’s question. https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

It’s June! Summer is only three weeks away, and while the weather continues to be erratic this year, we have had enough nice days for me to plant my flowers. This week, the authors from Tuesday Tales are crafting scenes in their WIP to the word prompt sugar. I’ve used a form of the word. This is the last post from The Case of the Missing Prince, since the book goes to the editor this week. Hope I’ve left you wanting more.

“The newspaper editor, a member of the anti-royalist coalition, claims the king has been hiding the information so as to influence the upcoming elections.”

“How could knowing whether or not the prince was alive do that?”

“It all goes to trust,” Petrov admitted. “When questioned about the fact that the prince was in Canada to sign treaties to bring nuclear energy to Zobora—a rather specific concern if you ask me—the energy minister denied all knowledge of such, and as for the prince being dead, he reminded the reporter that the prince had long been a fan of green energy initiatives of all kinds. Crown Prince Stanislav was expected back in Zobora in October to take over the reins at Zobora Copper and Fine Metals and could answer their questions himself.”

“And did it help.”

“Perhaps it buys us a little more than a week to show proof of life. The king addressed the nation three hours later, denied the allegations concerning the prince’s death, telling them that he and the queen have been in contact with their son and that they look forward to his return before his birthday on October 23. He stressed that Stanislav wasn’t in Canada to sign any agreements, but to gather information and start a dialogue on the issue. He added that the prince will share his vision for the country at his birthday party, well ahead of the election.”

I let out a slow breath. Everything had just changed and not for the prince’s benefit. Once his picture started to circulate, someone was bound to recognize him. Knowing the tabloids, one of them would probably offer a reward to anyone who could point them to a living prince or his remains. It was far from an ideal situation, and if the people searching for the prince were to offer to foot the bill, Prince Stan could be in far more trouble than he thought. I had to get to him first.

“And you’re sure all of this is legit? Not some AI fabrication meant to deceive and confuse?

“Completely legit as you say. To use one of your expressions, there’s no need to sugarcoat it. The article contained details only someone close to the prince would know.”

“Or a damn good spy. So, who is it? Anton, Zandro, Emile, Jacob, or a spy in the palace? Let’s be practical here. Other than those directly involved and the immediate royal family, who else knows the truth?”

Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

I hope you had a happy Memorial Day weekend. Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Today, the authors are crafting scenes to the word prompt BUTTER. I’m continuing with The Case of the Missing Prince. The story has taken a few twists and turns since our last encounter. Hope you’ll be able to follow. Enjoy.

“Do you recall why you asked me to come with you on this job?”

I nodded. “Yes,” I stated looking as though butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth. “I remember all of the reasons I wanted you with me.” I ran my hand along his arm.

“We’ll discuss some of those other reasons after, but for now let’s talk about this one. How can I watch your back when you leave like that? Now that we know that the prince is alive and hiding from those who tried to grab him, the danger is greater than ever. They’ve killed at least once to set this up. They won’t be happy if we find him first. I’m not saying I expect you to take me to the can with you, but I am saying that I was worried, although I did suspect you were making a call. So what did the queen of hackers have to say?”

“I’m sorry, and to be fair, I didn’t expect to be gone that long.” As succinctly as I could, I shared what Hallie had with him concerning Andreea and her husband. “Despite his background he was very anti-nuclear energy—maybe it was because of it, but whatever the reason, it looks like Andreea picked up the torch after he died.”

I shoved my hands in my coat pocket to remove my gloves when a slip of paper fell to the floor.

“You dropped this.” Al handed it to me.

I reached for it. “It must be something old from before we left Ottawa,” I mused before opening it, thinking it was a receipt from Tim’s since I hadn’t worn this coat since last spring.

It wasn’t. The note was short and far from sweet.

Leave this area. Mind your own business or become a casualty of war. You’ve been warned.

War? Since when had this become a war? There was no signature, but I recognized the upside down horseshoe as the last letter of the Greek alphabet, Omega, the end, or the name of the person behind ZOE. Who had put it there?

Knowing who was after the prince should make everything easier, but it didn’t. What it did was send my brain into overdrive once more. How did I know this wasn’t a red herring, something to get me off the right track and send me in the wrong direction?

“What is it?” I handed the slip of paper to Al.

He read it and scowled. “Damn it, Evie. This is exactly what I was saying. Anyone who was close enough to drop a note in your pocket could’ve done a lot worse.”

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