Paranormal Excuses and Rationalizations

I hate to be late. 

I’m an early-bird, over worrier, plotter and planner when it comes to tasks. That’s why being late for my post today makes me wince. Especially when the summer seems to be flying by with record speed and I seem to have used up all excuses about why I’m not as on top of things as I usually am. 

Therefore, it must be something more. Something magical or sinister that’s interfering with my timeliness. It seems I haven’t used up all my excuses after all. Not if the reason or excuse for being late is due to something paranormal.

My post is late because…

•       As a vampire I mix up night & day
•       I sprained my wrist mixing my cauldron
•       The only date I remember is the full moon
•       I planned to time travel back & post it early
•       I lacked the ability to type with my paws
•      The devil made me do it…really
•       I was busy writing new spells
•       Someone cursed me & I had to reverse it
•       It got lost when I sent it telepathically
•       I was blinded by my aura
•       I accidentally ate it while in my shifter form
•       The ghost kept me up & I was too tired 

Don't Be Too Late for This Sale

My post might be late but it’s not too late to catch this .99 cent sale for Not a Chance if you hop on your broom, teleport or get those fingers on the keyboard before the sale magically disappears.

 NOT A CHANCE is on sale for .99cents for a limited time.

Not a Chance in book #2 in The Enchantlings series, so if you want to start Hope's journey from the beginning then don't forget to pick up Destiny Calling—two books for under $8.

Hope just wants to be normal—too bad that will never happen.

The last thing Hope Hallows wants is to become the latest headline. Living in a town that likes secrets, she prefers to keep hers hidden. Avoiding a nosy reporter’s questions about her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with a single touch, and those who crave this bliss, is nothing new. But having her brother’s annoying girlfriend, Berta, go missing is—especially when it makes Hope suspect number one. 

As a triplet, her resemblance to her beloved dead sister causes her family to grieve even more, and her escalating supernatural skills makes Griffith, her half-human-half-Oppressor boyfriend, wary. He wants to put his unsavory past behind him—this could include Hope—since her abilities remind him of the Underworld. 
In her desperate search to find Berta, she stumbles across a tunnel. Phantom voices within whisper that evil has been waiting for a new leader—and isn't she lucky, they've chosen Hope.

Get Your Copy of NOT A CHANCE for .99 cents today!

Share Your Favorite Paranormal Excuse in the Comments

About the Author:
Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four

seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter

Be the first to know about Maureen’s book sales and new releases by following her on BookBub, Amazon and/or signing up for her newsletter

"TALK NERDY TO ME!" - Celebrate Nerd Pride Day with Here Be Magic

Since 2006, May 25 has been designated as Nerd Pride Day. In honor of this auspicious occasion, we asked everyone at Here Be Magic: "Tell us something nerdy about you..." 

Read on as our authors reveal their innermost geek!

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"Being a nerd is about feeling an intense adoration of a topic that inspires you to gather knowledge or paraphernalia far beyond the extent of the average fan. To wit, I have a billion pieces of vintage clothing that don’t even fit, all because I love vintage clothing. If that’s not nerdy in its own way…what is? 

Note: I am not a hoarder otherwise, only with regards to my nerdly hobbies. 
Also note: cats don’t count in the “not a hoarder” category. I have six." 

~ Jody Wallace, www.jodywallace.com 

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"Do I have to do "just one", asked the giant nerd? I mean, c’mon, I’m a software tester in my day job, a general technophile, and a lifelong fan of multiple SF/F authors and media properties. I can yammer on for hours about Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, the MCU, Mac vs. PC, iOS vs. Android, and the minutae of worldbuilding in the Tolkien legendarium. 

Especially Tolkien.

Come to think of it, that may be my answer right there. ;D" 

~ Angela Korra'ti, www.angelahighland.com

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Nicole Luiken is an avid reader AKA a bookworm. Instead of bringing a towel with her wherever she goes à la Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, she brings a book to read, usually of the SF/Fantasy variety. The best way to lure her away from her books is with a Board Game Night.

~ Nicole Luiken, www.nicoleluiken.com

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"I took a minor voice-acting role in a not-for-profit fan-made Doctor Who audio play. (I won an audition against pros and everything!)"

~ Shawna Reppert
www.shawna-reppert.com

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"My personal nerdiness is on full display in my writing office. There's a figurine of Cerberus, the 3-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld, with various faeries and dragons to keep him company. My collection of Ray Bradbury sci-fi novels has a place of honor among rows of books on myths and legends and the paranormal. You'll see a signed photo from a Klingon cosplayer, a poster of demon-hunter detective Constantine, plus my vendor's booth banner and a couple of ID cards from the last comicon I attended. Not to mention the fully articulated wolf head that my hubs wore at said comicon...

Why yes, those ARE Marvel action figures standing around my keyboard. I use them to act out scenes in my stories – honest!" 

~ Dani Harper, www.daniharper.com

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"I love to dress up in Victorian/steampunk clothes and go to museums, festivals, and anywhere I can, with as many like-minded friends as possible."

~ Cindy Spencer Pape

www.cindyspencerpape.com

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"I'm sure there I have multiple nerdy habits in addition to my lifelong bookworm obsession. I'm sharing my latest obsession—the Supernatural television show. Last year I binged the seasons with my daughters (their second time through) and we've been to the convention twice. 

I impatiently wait for my Thursday night fix with, "The Boys", plus I have several Supernatural t-shirts that I wear with pride as if I am a Hunter waiting for Sam and Dean." 

~ Maureen L Bonatch, www.maureenbonatch.com

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"I’m in my 60s, and a grandmother. But that doesn’t stop me from flaunting my SUPERNATURAL t-shirt, my DR. WHO wallet, or whatever else I want to show off. My office is my nerdy paradise, with everything from a Superman doll, Phantom of the Opera artwork, X-Files paraphernalia, and my beloved bobblehead Groot. 

"When people comment on my stuff, I proudly tell them, “You’re never too old to be a nerd!”

~ Linda Mooney, www.lindamooney.com

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Our very own Veronica Scott in the soundbooth
during the creation of a Star Trek audiobook. 
https://www.amazon.com/City-Edge-Forever/dp/B01H47NKNU/

"I grew up watching the original Star Trek every week with my younger brother. There are no words for how cool we thought the show was. So I think my proudest nerd/geek moment might be the fact that I am now an actual  “Star Trek” Red Shirt Security Officer – I got to play one in the 2016 official audiobook of the Harlan Ellison original script for ‘The City on the Edge of Forever.’ That was one of my very favorite episodes back in the day, although there are quite a few major differences between the show that was broadcast at the time and the original Ellison script. My character for one thing LOL.  

"I only had seven words of dialogue in the audiobook BUT I said them to Kirk, with Spock standing next to us (in the teleplay script – sadly audiobooks are not usually recorded with a full cast all at one time, so I did my seven words alone in a booth but still….). I got to sign the title page of the script next to all the famous real actors, which was a thrill and I will forever be an official member of the Enterprise crew. And the best part is that my Red Shirt character doesn’t die!"

~ Veronica Scott, www.veronicascott.wordpress.com

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Now it's YOUR turn! Tell us one of your nerdy secrets! And on June 2, three lucky commenters will be drawn at random by the Rafflecopter. Two will win an adorable mini Millennium Falcon BOOK LIGHT! And one will win this Doctor Who travel bag!

(Must be a legal resident of the US and over 18 to enter. Winners will be announced in the comments on this post, in the Rafflecopter box, and in the Here Be Magic  Here Be News feature of the blog. Email addresses will NOT be disclosed.)

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Supernatural TV I love from Back in the Day and Today

by Maureen L. Bonatch 

I don’t always watch television, but when I do—and when I have the rare opportunity to choose the station—I usually pick a supernatural or paranormal television show. Besides offering a wonderful escape from the stress and demands of the everyday, I believe watching these shows helps me with my writing. 

Show vs. Tell

As a writer, I’m constantly striving to show the scene rather than tell it to the reader. This includes using a lot of descriptive terms. When I’m watching television, this isn’t always necessary for the actors/actresses. You can already see the scene, the color of their hair, eyes and their facial expression. Therefore, as a paranormal and fantasy writer, I believe that watching these shows is more than entertainment. It’s also educational. Perhaps a kind of research tool. (Consult your accountant- I’m not one- but if you’re a fiction author, you should be able to deduct your Netflix.)

While watching the show I’m mentally crafting how I’d write the scene in a novel to depict the picture I see on the screen. I have my notepad handy (paper, or the digital one on my phone) to take notes, or to remember an amazing line from the show.

Stretching the Imagination

Paranormal and fantasy television shows encourage us to stretch our imagination. A good one has us easily accepting this into our reality. Over the years, I’ve watched this genre of television grow with technology and the ability to use fabulous costumes, make-up, stunts and special effects. It’s more obvious just how far this has advanced when I watch an old favorite like The Land of The Lost, or I Dream of Jeannie or Bewitched. But when I was watching those shows back in the day it didn’t matter. I didn’t notice how fake some of the creatures looked—because I was already enraptured by the show. 

Some of My Favorites

I’ve watched many different paranormal and supernatural television shows, but some stand a head above the rest (at least in my book ;). Here are a few that I’ve either binge watched multiple episodes with an insatiable appetite to know what happens next. Or that I had to wait impatiently for the week to pass so I could revisit my favorite characters.

•       Supernatural
•       Outcast
•       Stranger Things
•       Ghost Whisperer
•       Medium
•       The X-Files
•       Millennium
•       Charmed

In fact, my first published short story, That Magic Moment, was inspired from the television show, Charmed. 

Can love cross the boundaries mortals have erected to reject all that cannot be explained?

As the last witch in the Turner line, Celeste doesn’t know if she’s finally found true love or if her grandma cast a love spell to continue the Turner line. 

Dane Johns is a man not easily forgotten, but that’s exactly what Celeste plans to do. Because he has one big flaw. He’s a mortal.

Do You Have any Favorite Television Shows You’d like to Share? 

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter