Tena StetlerAuthor of Paranormal Romance/Suspense & Cozy Mysteries With Magic Spark!

Oct 31st Halloween Spirit Search – Success!

It’s  Halloween!  Can you believe it? Toil and Trouble and the Skeleton Squad set up their 24/7 surveillance and caught the Halloween Spirit on video. Success!

Well, October’s cooler days and chilly nights have arrived with a skiff of snow.  Yippee!

This week, Toil, Trouble, Bubble bat, Moby Fish, Aragon Spider, Octavia and the newest member of the Skeleton Squad, Chloe Cobra  set up twenty-four-hour surveillance with each skeleton taking a shift. Toil and Trouble were sure they’d  catch the spirit of Halloween before the strike of midnight on Halloween.  Octavia spied the Spirit first, then the Skeleton Squad  led by Toil and Trouble surrounded it and demanded surrender. The Halloween Spirit was happy to sing and dance for the Squad! They called Broomhilda to report their success.

Broomhilda’s (skeleton), from Texas (thank you Jessica) search relayed she was glad the Halloween Spirit had been located and that she and her cohorts would be preparing for their own Halloween Celebration!!

The final post of October beside the search for the Halloween Spirit, the Skeleton Squad accompanied me to The Stanley Hotel to help me with the haunted tales of Cripple Creek, Colorado on my Say What Blog. Have you ever seen a ghost? A visit to haunted places in Colorado, my own stomping ground,

Halloween has arrived!! Bwwwaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I hope you enjoyed the Skeleton’s Squad search for the Halloween Spirit. Not to mention the haunted places – last haunted post today, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO and newest haunted mountain hotel, The Black Monarch Hotel in Victor, CO  on  My Say What Blog. Next year we’ll do it all again! 

My last featured Halloween themed book from my collection is Hidden Gypsy Magic.  You do know I write paranormal romance/mystery. Right? This week, we are talking about demons and witches!  What’s Halloween without witches, spells, demons, curses and things that go bump in the night? You won’t believe what happened at their Halloween Celebration.  So hurry grab your copy and join the #fantasy #adventure! You won’t believe the battle between good and evil.

A little about  Hidden Gypsy Magic 

The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.

The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.

Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs.

A sneak peek between the pages of Hidden Gypsy Magic!

He glanced at his watch. Eleven thirty. A half-hour before midnight and Halloween would be over. Someone clapped him on the shoulder and he whirled around, fist clenched, and arm drawn back.

“Whoa, there Brock.” His friend Butch grinned. “A little jumpy on this Halloween night?”

“No, no not at all.” He lied. “Just deep in thought.”

Members of the Historical Society and The Witch’s Museum gathered around the front door. He hurried over. “Ready to leave so soon?”

“Yes, we’ve had a wonderful time, but it’s late…”A member of The Witch’s Museum said on a yawn.

“Past our bedtime” Another person added jokingly. “Great house you have here.”

“Thank you and thanks for coming.” He escorted his guests to their cars while Gwen took a defiant Misfit upstairs to their room. A thin cloud floated across the full moon in the star-strewn night sky. A twinge of anxiety niggled at his gut as he breathed in the crisp autumn air. Maybe Gwen’s right. He hurried inside. The door slammed behind him and locked.

Gwen raced down the stairs.

His gaze was drawn to the wall where the painting hung. Earlier in the evening, he’d noticed that no one was in the painting…now the chairs contained members of Beth’s family and she stood next to the fireplace inside the painting. Didn’t they all cross over? Could spirits come back after crossing over? Shit! Gwen was right, something is brewing.

Pepper and Lathen stood grim-faced next to Gwen. His mother and father crossed the room to join the little group. Butch helped Martha on with her coat then paused as the back door slammed and locked. The shutters banged against the house. Butch reached for the door handle, an eyebrow raised as the deadbolt slid into place.

“Son, I think your house is trying to tell you something.” His mother peered at the stairway where Dylan, Riva, and Molly stood.

Jeremiah and Morgan stepped out from behind the staircase. “What’s going on?” Jeremiah wanted to know, wrapping a protective arm around Morgan pulling her close.

**

“It feels like all the air is being sucked out of this room.” His brother’s face turned ashen white as Beth’s ghostly form took shape in the center of the room.

Brock moved to the little group gathered and glanced at the grandfather clock standing in the hallway. Fifteen minutes until midnight. The witching hour on All Hallows Eve. A nervous chuckle rose up in his throat. How cliche. His brother would be a believer after this night.

He cleared his throat and wrapped an arm around Gwen’s waist. “Can we help you, Beth?” Misfit’s howling could be heard clearly from the upstairs bedroom.

“No, but I hope we can help you.” Ghost Beth glanced back at the painting and sadly shook her head. “The ghost of Judge John Hathorne stands outside ready to curse or worse all those involved in sullying his reputation. The house stands between all of you…protecting—” The ghost’s hand and arm made a sweeping motion toward their group, “— against his magic ability.”

A soft almost hysterical giggle burst from Gwen. “Doesn’t he know that by his actions this night, he has not only outed himself but proved the rumors and article are true?”

“I don’t believe he’s considered that point.” Beth’s ghostly grim face twitched into a half-smile. “He’s bent on revenge, but apparently had trouble passing through the veil this evening.” She pointed to the clock and then laid a finger on her lips.

Happy Halloween! The Skeleton Crew captured Halloween Spirit and called Broomhilda with their find and agreed they’d reconvene next year.  While you’re here, check out my other paranormal romance mysteries. 

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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Hidden Gypsy Magic, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Salem, Search for Halloween Spirit, Skeleton Squad, Tena Stetler, Time travel, Witches by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.