Zelda, known to her friends as Zell, visited Ascroft, eh? to tell them about Secrets and Scallywags, the sixth novel in the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Welcome, Zell. Let’s get started, shall we?

Yes, indeedy! Thanks for having me. I’m Zelda, known to my friends by the classy nickname Zell. I’m an octogenarian, do you know what that means? It means I’m like a fine wine – been around for a while and super valuable.

Nice to meet you, Zell. Can you tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Good job coming up with a perfect opening question. Now pay attention, cuz this is kinda complicated. I star in a series about a book club who are characters in a cozy mystery series about a book club who travel into cozy mysteries. Got all that?

Maybe . . .

No matter. Most important thing to know is that me and my other clubbies pick a new book every month or so to have a book journey. We read the first page, and then whoosh! We are inside the book. It’s fun and scary and dangerous, sometimes. But we're a gutsy bunch and up for any adventure. And we’d better be! We have to solve the mystery and get to The End to exit the book.

Wow, that sounds exciting. Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

Ha! The writer thinks she makes up the story, but all she really does is type it out. I mean, we live it! We’re the ones who decide what to do and when.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Honey, I’ve been evolving for eighty-one years! I just get smarter, cleverer, and more adorable as the years go on. Cleverer is a word, right?

I think so. Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them?

I love ‘em all! Our book club has some of the best folks alive. Or dead. See there’s this one character … oh never mind. You’ll have to read the series. Must be honest and say I’m partial to my buddy Frank. He and I have been in the club the longest.

He’s a nice guy?

Oh, he’s not a guy. He’s a Siamese cat. Well, kind of a guy-cat, if you know what I mean. But he’s witty and snarky and a whole lotta fun to hang out with.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in Secrets and Scallywags?

Right where I find myself in all the Magical Mystery Book Club stories. At the center of the mystery figurin’ things out.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and this book?

This was a super fun adventure! We got to hang out with ghost pirates. Now, before you get all afraid, they are really nice guys! We were in the book to help them find a lost treasure that contains something very special. I don’t want to give it away. But we always solve the mystery. Otherwise, I’d still be stuck in the book instead of talkin’ to you!

I better go. We’re picking a new book to travel into today! Gotta get to my book club meeting in time for our potluck!

Thanks for having me. Hope you’ll read all about the pirates., they’re pretty dang cool. My favorite pirate is Bucko, by the way! You’ll love him, too, I bet.  

Thanks for coming, Zell, and good luck to you and your author, Elizabeth Pantley, with Secrets and Scallywags, another fun book in the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

First seen on  https://dianneascroft.com/blog/