October has flown by – I can’t believe Halloween is almost here. Hubby and I recently went to a ghost talk with a real-life ghost hunter, and it was fascinating! I have lots of ideas for future Confessions of a Closet Medium Series now.
Do you believe in ghosts? I do!
Then, I went to a book signing/costume party and that was super fun. Here I am in the Mad Hatter costume with a gal who came as the Cheshire Cat. I never pass up a chance to wear a costume!
Catnip News: I’m thrilled and honored to be included in the Only Murders In The Inbox newsletter for Of Potions & Potents this month. Please check it out and like the article—I want to support the publication as much as possible! 🧙
When Catniss Inglenook inherits an old Victorian library, nicknamed the Nook, from her eccentric Aunt Eliza, she never expects it to come with a ghostly companion and a litter of mischievous kittens.
As I roll into the sleepy town of Briarwood, North Carolina, the quaint cobblestone streets and ivy-clad cottages feel like something out of a fairy tale—if the fairy tale included buckets of rain and a sky angrier than a wet cat.
The windshield wipers are in a frenzied battle against the deluge as my ten-year-old VW Bug chugs up to the grand iron gates at the bottom of Inglenook Hill. Brick pillars stand like silent sentinels, guarding the mansion at the top—my inheritance from my Aunt Eliza's will. With a sputtering cough that signals defeat, my car gives up the ghost, leaving me stranded in the storm.
“Great,” I mutter, resting my forehead on the worn steering wheel. The rhythmic drumming of rain is the only reply. “Welcome home, Cat.”
Home. A funny word for a place shrouded in so much mystery, it might as well be Brigadoon. My parents bolted from this town when I was a seven and never looked back. Through the years, whenever I asked about Briarwood and Aunt Eliza, they'd exchange nervous glances before distracting me with a trip to the beach or a new doll. Being an avid reader as I grew, I figured out early on that my family had a secret. One that was tied to my aunt and this town.
A soft light illuminates the plaque on one of the pillars, designating the official name as the Historical Inglenook Library of Curiosities and Fine Literature. It doesn’t mention that my aunt also lived here her whole life. What secrets does it hold?
In other catnip news: I've added my own subscription community right here on my website. You don't have to go to another platform to get FREE short stories and exclusive bonuses from me. You can join my private cozy cornerand get access to get early access to new books, exclusive stories not sold at retailers, and more. You can sign up and choose your tier here:
Across the way, Larissa Loomis’ grandmother hovers near as Larissa lines up buckets of cut flowers she’s grown in her greenhouse. The grandmother isn’t an earthbound spirit so much as a guardian angel, but I see Larissa batting at her shoulder and ear as if a fly is buzzing around her head. Grandma is needling her about not having enough yellow tulips—her favorite—or lilacs.
Next to Larissa is Pete Younkers and his two teenage daughters, placing fresh produce and eggs on the three tables they’ve set up in a U. With them is the girls’ mother’s spirit. She’s earthbound, and it’s no surprise why—she refuses to cross to the afterlife, fearing she won’t see her girls grow up.
I know all of this because I’m a ghost whisperer. A medium. I see and hear the dead.
I am also the president of Thornhollow’s Chamber of Commerce, and in January, when I came up with the idea to have a spring swap meet complete with a farmers market and food trucks, I also made a resolution to myself—no more ghosts.
Having this ability has nearly gotten me killed several times and put a strain on my relationships with friends and family. Although I've helped bring peace to certain folks by assisting their loved ones in finding closure and moving on, I took a hard look at what doing so has nearly cost me after my wedding last October. Any person with an ounce of sense can see the risks far outweigh the benefits.
At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
“Tell them,” Olivia Younkers calls to me. She wrings her non-corporeal hands. “Tell them I love them. Tell them I'm here!”
If only it were that simple. As a successful businesswoman who runs a wedding gown boutique along with my Aunt Willa’s event-planning business, I have other responsibilities. Many people in town knew my aunt had the gift. In these parts, many fear such abilities or, at the very least, ignore them, chalking it up to things better left alone.
Those who are more open to the possibility still feel uncomfortable if you walk up out of the blue and tell them their loved one has a message. The spirit may believe it would be a welcome piece of news, but I've discovered it often does more harm than good.
Returning my attention to my clipboard, I keep walking. If I have an opportunity at some point during this weekend, I'll pull Pete aside and see if he's receptive to receiving a message from his dead wife. However, if I’m going to keep my pact with myself, I need to ignore her.
I love the color purple. Also, pink and silver. Occasionally, black and white (like Princess Winnie's fur!)
Purple is my favorite, though. Every time I wear it, someone compliments me. I swear, they are my people! I should start a club for purple lovers. My favorite mug is purple and I have a box of purple pens.
Experts claim that a person’s favorite color says a lot about their personality. Whether you fancy blue tones or red shades, the colors you prefer offer fascinating insight into your character.
‘Character’, hmm…I’m pretty sure most of my characters love purple, too!
So what does that say about us? I looked it up and found this: Those who love purple are intriguing, lovely, and down to earth. I like it!
This month, my cozy author bestie, Molly Fitz, is spotlighting me in her REAM community AND she's holding a super magical giveaway!
Check out her Cozy Kitty Club and be sure to enter the giveaway!
That's why I created and love my Cozy Corner Reader Community where my very special readers get exclusive short stories from me, along with early access to all of my books. I love to share recipes, pictures of my pets and plants, puzzles, and coloring pages with my VIP readers!
This is my grandkitty, Princess Winnie. She's fond of catnip, bingo, and sleeping in a basket on the dryer. Her majesty would love for you to come play with us! https://reamstories.com/nyxhalliwell
This year, I'm releasing a new Candy Shop Witch Series and planning to get out two of those books, maybe three. I'll also publish Phantoms Are Forever in the Confessions of a Closet Medium series.
My Cup of Catnip tier enjoys fr.e.e updates, early access to new stories, and special, exclusive short stories just for you. I also send you puzzles, recipes, and more for only $5/month (you're buying me a cup of tea!).
The Furry Tales tier is only $7/month and includes my complete library, as well as everything in Cup of Catnip. It's the best deal and buys me that cup of tea along with a new toy or treat for Princess Winnie once a month.
Come join us! We'd love to have you!
Nyx and Winnie
P.S. Did you know that you can FOLLOW me for F.R.E.E? Just hit the purple FOLLOW button and you'll get all my writing updates. https://reamstories.com/nyxhalliwell
What a delicious season. The cool weather and falling leaves make me want to curl up with a cup of tea and a good story. Also, candy! How about you?
Thank you to everyone who helped launch the release of Wedding Bells & Psychic Spells. Your support and reviews made my whole month! I can’t wait to get started on the next Ava caper, but in the meantime, I’m working hard on the new 2024 Candy Shop Witch series. I plan to have three books to release next year for you, and I hope to share snippets of them with you soon.
Ghosts and marriage…what a combo, right? How would you feel if a few ghosts showed up on your wedding day to shoot your intended?
I love writing the Confessions of a Closet Medium series, and Wedding Bells & Psychic Spells was no exception. Ava (the reluctant ghost-whisperer) and her friends have the craziest experiences, and I feel like I'm watching a movie play out when they take me along on each adventure.
For this story, I had to research Prohibition and gangsters, how to set up a moonshine still, and figure out a way for a dead witch to terrorize one of the secondary characters. The book releases at retailers on October 3rd. You can preorder it in my store and get it three weeks early (plus SAVE $1), or sign up for any of my tiers to get early access next month free.
Small-town murder mysteries, a reluctant ghost whisperer, a quirky guardian angel, a cantankerous cat, and more!
Ava Fantome sees ghosts, but lordy, she wishes she didn’t! Returning to her family home in Georgia after her Aunt Willa is murdered, she must take charge of her aunt’s business, live with a shape-shifting cat, cope with small town secrets, and deal with poltergeists, cursed objects, and malevolent spirits…and then there are the townsfolk who don’t want her messing in their affairs. It all adds up to magic, murder, laughter and love.
This boxed set includes THREE full-length humorous paranormal cozies in the Confessions of a Closet Medium series, featuring reluctant ghost-whisperer, Ava, and her talking cat, Tabby. This collection includes: Vows & Vengeance, Cupcakes & Corpsees, and Tea Leaves & Troubled Spirits.
Ava needs a break from ghosts! Too bad her honeymoon getaway is filled with them. What's a reluctant ghost-whisperer to do? Solve a mystery, cross the earthbound spirits over, and try not to die in the process!
I hope you're ready for the next Confessions of a Closet Medium story, Haunted Honeymoon. Spending a weekend on a tropical island sounds like the best honeymoon ever for her and Logan, but unfortunately, it's not the relaxing break they imagined.
Find out what happens to them and a psychic goat named Fred in this next installment in the best-selling series! Preorder now from my store and get it for ONLY $1.99! Plus you'll receive the story a full week EARLY!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “From the moment I met Ava I just knew she was going to become one of my favorite heroines. “ ~ Reader review
Long walks on the beach, a couples massage, romantic dinners—it’s all I’ve been wishing for. A honeymoon gift from a friend sends us to an island retreat that promises the perfect weekend getaway for me and Logan.
Arriving at the secluded spot, however, we discover the staff members are ‘missing’, and ghosts inhabit the dilapidated historic mansion that once belonged to the island’s owner. The only living person seems to be a mysterious woman who insists her goat, Fred, talks to her and predicts the future.
Fred claims an ancient curse is at work and a phantom killer who wants the island to himself stalks the land. If Logan and I don’t leave, we’re next on his list.
But we’re trapped—our only means of escape lying at the bottom of the sea. Can I use my ghost-whispering skills to help the earthbound spirits cross over, as well as track down this killer? Or will the ancient evil that haunts this place make my honeymoon one to die for?
It's here! The next story in Ava and Logan's adventure, Haunted Honeymoon, takes place on a deserted island. This is a novella (a short story) that was originally intended to be in an anthology for this spring - thus the short nature of the story. We were limited to 15,000 words.
Unfortunately, that anthology was cancelled. Since the story was already drafted, I decided to go ahead and give it to you VIP readers anyway! I hope you'll enjoy this adventure with Ava, Logan, Tabby, Persephone, and a new character - a goat named Fred!
It releases in my store on February 7th (and you get $1 OFF). Release day at retailers is February 14th - Valentine's Day! Easy to remember, right?
Isn't the cover adorable?? My cover artist is amazing (www.fanderclai.com)
A tropical island getaway seems like the perfect honeymoon setting for newlyweds Ava and Logan, but a haunted mansion, a strange disappearance, and a goat named Fred, make them wish they’d stayed in Thornhollow.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “From the moment I met Ava I just knew she was going to become one of my favorite heroines. “ ~ Reader review
Long walks on the beach, a couples massage, romantic dinners—it’s all I’ve been wishing for. A honeymoon gift from a friend sends us to an island retreat that promises the perfect weekend getaway for me and Logan.
Arriving at the secluded spot, however, we discover the staff members are ‘missing’, and ghosts inhabit the dilapidated historic mansion that once belonged to the island’s owner. The only living person seems to be a mysterious woman who insists her goat, Fred, talks to her and predicts the future.
Fred claims an ancient curse is at work and a phantom killer who wants the island to himself stalks the land. If Logan and I don’t leave, we’re next on his list.
But we’re trapped—our only means of escape lying at the bottom of the sea. Can I use my ghost-whispering skills to help the earthbound spirits cross over, as well as track down this killer? Or will the ancient evil that haunts this place make my honeymoon one to die for?
Get cozy with a warm drink and dive into this special, limited edition set! Includes:
Of Potions & Portents, Sister Witches of Raven Falls, Book 1 - Welcome to Raven Falls, where four sisters—Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter—run their witchy shop, Conjure, and find themselves up to their magickal tea cups in murder, mystery, and romance!
Pumpkins & Poltergeists, Confessions of a Closet Medium, Book 1 – Avalon Fantome sees ghosts, but lordy, she wishes she didn’t! Returning to her family home in Georgia after her Aunt Willa is murdered, she must take charge of her aunt’s event planning business, live with a shape-shifting cat, cope with small town secrets, and deal with poltergeists, cursed objects, and malevolent spirits…and then there are the townsfolk who don’t want her messing in their affairs. It all adds up to magic, murder, laughter and love.
Cinder, Sister Witches of Story Cove, Book 1 –Once upon a time in a small town called Story Cove… Four magickal sisters, plus their family, find themselves in very real, living versions of their favorite fairytales. These stories come with princes, poison apples, and shape-shifting wolves, but also murder, mystery, and—let’s not forget—magick. Enchantment abounds as they fight evil, break curses, and navigate the modern dating world, all while searching for their personal happy endings.
