by Nova Nelson
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
He appeared undeterred. “You can’t what?”
“I can’t pretend the past didn’t happen.”
He nodded decisively. “Good.”
“Good?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Because I wouldn’t want you so badly without all your messy baggage included.”
When I laughed, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear without saying another word. He was waiting to see what I would do, what I would say.
But there was too much to say. So instead, I scooted closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder, and he wound his arm around my waist, holding me gently as we watched the fireworks ring in a new year.
Book 10 of the Eastwind Witches is coming soon. In the meantime …
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Author’s Note
Do not read this till you’ve finished the book!
“Sweet baby jackalope.”
That was what I said as soon as I realized how this book would end.
It was shortly followed by, “For fang’s sake!” and maybe a few other choice words that they don’t use in Eastwind.
I hate to abdicate full storytelling responsibility, but to some extent, the story goes where it wants to go, and I, the writer, either have to move with it or battle against it. It never turns out very good when I do the latter.
So, when my muse said, “You have to send Tanner through a portal and shut it behind him,” I was probably feeling a little like you are now.
But if you’re Team Tanner, there’s a light at the end of the portal: this is by no means the last book in the series (I already know people will ask).
Usually, I only ever have a vague sense of what happens one or two books down the line, but I do know that I hid something back in book 5 that gives me quite a bit of hope that we’ll see Tanner again in some form or another.
I love writing Deputy Culpepper, but I also adore Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Broody. I’m glad Donovan’s finally getting his shot with Nora. Only time will tell if he screws it up royally.
Thanks for visiting Eastwind and staying a spell. It’s such an honor to share these stories with folks like you.
Here’s to new beginnings whenever we need them.
-Nova Nelson
12/21/18
About the Author
Nova Nelson grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie novels. She loves the mind candy of cozy mysteries and has been weaving paranormal tales since she first learned handwriting. Those two loves meet in her Eastwind Witches series, and it's about time, if she does say so herself.
When she's not busy writing, she enjoys long walks with her strong-willed dogs and eating breakfast for dinner.
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