Skeleton Squad Archives - Page 2 of 2

Sep 22nd Skeleton Squad and Bone Jet

Only Fifty-Three days to Halloween! Can you believe it? Toil and Trouble and the rest of the Skeleton Squad continue their search for the Halloween Spirit. This week, found a ghost, a carved pumpkin, AND member of the Skeleton Squad, Octavia Octopus parked on top. But no spirit, darn it. I guess that’s progress. LOL! Toil and Trouble’s quest for the Halloween Spirit continues.

Toil, Trouble, and the Skeleton Squad discovered Bone Jet, working out in the Sunroom, and holding a jam session. They of course had to join in. Didn’t move the search forward, but they all sure had a good time.

Well, its the end of September, the yellow, red and brown leaves are falling. Autumn has arrived. Still nice enough to work out in the sun room, if Bone Jet, would share the equipment!

This week the Skeleton Squad hitched a ride with us to Pleaseant Valley RV Park in Howard, Colorado. They scared the campsite owner into giving us our own deck next to the fifth wheel. Immediately, the Skeleton Squad convened a meeting on the deck table overlooking the Arkansas River.

The next day the search began in earnest with the entire group lining up Next to the hummingbird feeder, a group of birds gathered. They frightened all the hummingbirds away, including a particular member of their squad who tried to use the feeder. However, later that evening, a single courageous hummingbird appeared and fearlessly ate from the feeder, daring anyone to come close. Hope you can see the little fellow is just above Octavita’s head.

Penélope Piranha dove into the river under the guise of hunting for the Halloween Spirit, but we suspect she was just having a blast swimming the stream and scarying the boaters.

Great fun was had by all. On our way back, I heard the Skeleton Squad whispering about aliens and Roswel, New Mexico. I sure hope they aren’t planning to pull a stunt like that. I’ll keep you updated! Never a dull moment with this squad.

Speaking of journeys, or possible ones, you may want to check out A Witch’s Journey. What’s it about you ask. Well….

Pepper McKay comes from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, magic brings her nothing but trouble. She learned the love of wildlife rescue and rehab from her Aunt Ashling. After graduating from college, Pepper works for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and lives from paycheck to paycheck until she inherits the McKay property in Lobster Cove. With the family land and resources, she dares to dream of starting her own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Lathen Quartz, a former Navy SEAL turned handyman maintains the enchanted McKay property for the McKay estate. But someone is trying to steal the McKay magic. Lathen offers to help Pepper achieve her life-long dream of building a wildlife center. During the long hours spent together on the project, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. But each harbors a deep, dark secret. Will they overcome their demons and give love a chance?

How about a sneak peak between the pages of A Witch’s Journey and some of their Halloween escapades?

Klaren threw her coffee in his face, cup and all, then bolted out of his arms and down the stairs as a huge reddish wolf advanced snarling and leaped over the railing knocking Ben down the stairs. He hit the ground and tumbled down the path, he scrambled to get to his feet. But the wolf was too fast, one leap and animal landed on the Ben’s back, knocking him forward before he finally landed face down on the ground out cold. In a blink of an eye, the wolf was gone and witches closed in on all sides.

Pepper ran to her mother and helped her to her feet. “You ok?”

“I’m fine, just sorry I didn’t have time to get more information out of the son of a bitch. Did you see what he did? I wasn’t about to let him transport me to who knows where.” Klaren brushed at the knees of her jeans viciously.

The witches formed a circle around Ben. Wisps of fog trailed along the ground and took shape as spirits floating in the meadow. Duncan stepped forward and cast a spell ensnaring the man in vines of shimmering light.

“Don’t make the vines too tight around his neck, we need him to be able to speak,” Ravyn said in a calm lilting voice.

“Done,” Duncan replied.

Ravyn flicked her fingers, a bucket of water appeared over Ben’s head, it tipped and the liquid splashed over him.

Ben sputtered and cursed, his eyes wild.

“Mr. Bochard. It’s come to our attention that you are misusing magic for personal gain. You’ve called on dark magic to curse an innocent to do harm to your own kind. How do you plead?” Ravyn asked in a commanding tone.

“Bitch.” Ben bit out. “I only acted to get back what was mine.” He narrowed his eyes at Pepper.

She cast a blindfold on him. “Don’t want to take any chances. Not sure what he’s capable of.” Pepper said when Ravyn glared at her.

Ravyn nodded. “I’ll take that as a guilty plea, Mr. Bochard . Therefore, you are to be spellbound immediately.” She paused. “But first, Pepper do you have the candle?”

“Yes.” Pepper produced a tall, thick twisted black candle with beautifully carved moon phases on all sides.

“Step into the circle, face the full moon depiction north.” Raven closed her eyes and murmured several words. The candle ignited in a black flame flickered then faded to pure white.

Happy Halloween Season! See you next week, with another installment of the Skeleton Squad and their adventures to find the Halloween Spirit.

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Journey, ghosts, Halloween Spirit, Halloween Spirit Search, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Skeleton Squad, Tena Stetler, wildlife rescue, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Sep 15th Beware There’s Been A Skeleton Squad Sighing!

You have now been forewarned! As with the past three previous years, in the days leading up to Halloween, the Skeleton Squad began their search for the Halloween Spirit. Each year the elusive Spirit has only managed to elude the Squad for only so long. Will they catch it early this year? Which is why they were in Cripple Creek, Colorado, one of the most haunted cities in the US. They were visiting spirit friends, in caves, haunted homes, and hotels hoping to get the jump on the Halloween Spirit this year. Or will their search continue until October 31st? Follow their adventures every Friday through Halloween!

They were sighted partying at a Rocking M Campground in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The Squad had begun their search and could be found in fire pits (yikes) around the campground,

in our wood storage, and evading the wasps in the dead tree trunk.

Nope, so sighting of the Halloween Spirit in Rocking M Campground. However, I did over hear them say they were going to find and enlist Dave from Ohio, and our own Bone Jet for help in the search! I guess we’ll have to wait and see what comes of that.

Yep, we happened to be camping at Rocking M that same weekend. The Skeleton Squad climbed all over our truck begging for a ride into Colorado Springs. As we were packing up, they stowed away in the under storage in our fifth wheel trailer.

Check back each Friday and see what the Skeleton Squad has been up too. Were there any sighting of the Halloween Spirit?

Now a suggestion to keep you entertained until we next meet, one of my Halloween tales, Hidden Gypsy Magic and it happens to be on sale! Check it out. You won’t believe what happens at Halloween party!

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.

If you’d like to check out more of my paranormal romance/mysteries, click here.

See you next week for more adventures of the Skeleton Squad!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Bone Jet, Halloween Countdown, Halloween Spirit Search, NM?, Roswell, Skeleton Squad by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.

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.