Stuck with a Spell

by Scott, D. D.

  The Bootscootin’ Books:

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  The Mom Squad Mini-Mayhem Mysteries (Short Stories):

  The D. D. Scott Special Edition Boxed Set (includes The Bootscootin’ Books, Thug Guard, Lip Glock and Fluid Fulfillment)

  Non-Fiction On-Writing Books:

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  Audio Books

  Available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes

  Buckles Me Baby (Coming Soon)

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  I also luuuvvv connecting with all of you superfab readers, so c’mon over and hang with me:

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  You’re all welcome in D. D. Scott-ville anytime!!!

  The Best of Ereading Wishes — D. D. Scott

  NOTE FROM DAVID SLEGG

  I really hope you’ve enjoyed your time with Nicky, Sam and the rest of the Stuck with a Spell crew. D.D. and I had a lot of fun coming up with the story, and we hope you had fun reading it.

  I grew up on a cattle farm on the banks of the Wabash River and studied Ag Economics at Purdue. I’ve been just about everything under the sun. When I say everything, I mean everything. I’ve been a waiter, a research technician, a bouncer, a salesman, a mapmaker, a bookseller, an ultramarathon runner, an AutoCAD drafter, and an editor. Oh, before I forget, I should also mention I recently earned my MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) from Simmons College in Boston while living there for the past several years.

  Friends have been telling me for years that I should write a book. These urgings were not for the reasons you might expect. Let’s just say I’ve had an unusually high number of improbably unlucky experiences. We’re talking about the sorts of things that you’d find humorous if they were happening to a character in a novel but not so funny if they were happening to you. I intend to inflict some of these situations on my characters. Hell, it might even be therapeutic.

  How vain it is to sit down to write if you have not stood up to live.

  ~Henry David Thoreau

  There have been many variations of the sentiment behind the Thoreau quote above. Several successful writers have said something to the effect that you should go out and experience life before you begin to write. If that’s true, I’ve got the “go out and live” half of the equation covered in spades.

  Speaking of living, I recently moved back to the family farm. I’m actually writing this note to you in my father’s old office sitting at his antique rolltop desk. When I’m not writing, you can find me doing the daily tasks that come with running a cattle farm. They include everything from mending fence to birthing calves. I also take time to run, hike, and read when I can.

  You’ll find both the noise of the city and the sounds of the country in my stories. There’s also a strong possibility that you’ll meet a librarian or two along the way. I’m really excited to be launching my career co-writing with Amazon and B&N Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Comedy and Humorous Mystery Author, D. D. Scott. It’s a real joy to have such a great co-author who’s full of great idea’s. We’re looking forward to more adventures in the STUCK WITH A Series.

  You can hook up with me at:

  @DavidSlegg on Twitter

  And on Facebook.

  I think we’re going to have a good time. Come and laugh with me.

  The Best of Ereading Wishes — David Slegg

  STUCK WITH SLEIGH BELLS

  (A Stuck with a Series - Christmas Novella)

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Ring a ding ding, Y’All!”

  And no, I ain’t ringin’ the bell at a Salvation Army pot. Although, I do take part in that each holiday season.

  Not today, folks. Not today.

  I’m jinglin’ these damn sleigh bells as fast as my scrawny arms can shake ‘em because word has it that doing so could have some major ramifications this time of year.

  First of all, it damn sure beats swallowing rocks. Would you believe that’s what those stupid ass neanderthal cave men used to do? Before they figured out how to make bells, they swallowed rocks so their distended bellies would jingle when they were ready to mate. How romantic, right?

  So, anyhoo...back to my bells. Oh, but first, I’d better tell ya a bit about me.

  I’m Lucy Weiss, retired from running my award-winning Meat n’ Three Diner in Nashville Tennessee. Yep, right there in Music City sits my diner, Lucy’s LunchBox Cafe. Every day, we serve up the Holy Trinity of White Vegetables - mac and cheese, white beans and mashed taters - plus the meat of your choice, barbecued, of course. Thus, we’re a Meat ‘n Three Diner. I never could understand why people can’t figure that out. But anyway, I’m Lucy. Although, my friends and family just call me Grams.

  I guess I’m also a bit of what kids nowadays call a Quant. Fancy name for one helluva computer genius - aka hacker. I can totally rock ‘n’ roll across any keyboard. And I can do things you ain’t never seen with a mouse.

  Now then...about these bells...

  I have it on good authority that ringing these sleigh bells with gusto can not only ward off bad luck and evil spirits, and trust me, in this family, that’s important stuff, but also, these bells can attract meteorites!

  Now, how cool would it be to see Santa Claus comin’ to town ridin’ the big ass tail of a meteorite?!

  Okay. Just kidding...sort of. That’s not the reason I’m ringin’ bells. But, for the record, I do think Santa arriving by meteorite would be totally awesome sauce.

  I’ve also been told by one of my sources that if I’m the first sleigh bell dingler of the season, I’ll herald the arrival of Dietger, the Gaily-Clad King of Winter and his Splendiferous Ice Court. Now, mind you, I’m a huge fan of Ice Capades, but I’m thinkin’ this might even top that.

  That brings me to exactly why I’m putting everything I’ve got into shakin’ these bells.

  I’ve got my own King of Winter. That would be my significant other, Father Time, who I hooked up with last year during one helluva hullabaloo mixed in with the season’s holly too. But my Babycakes Father Time has some issues.

  Luckily though, I’ve now got him trained better than Pavlov’s dogs. So, in a manner of speaking, he’ll be saved by the bell. Well, that or he’ll be salivating like hell.

  Yep, here he comes now...

  Poor guy, looks like he’s in a drunk and dazed stupor.

  To Be Continued...

  We hope you enjoyed this Sneak Peek at STUCK WITH SLEIGH BELLS, which is coming this holiday season! For all of you Grams fans...this is her story. What a hoot of a holiday it will be with her in charge!