Elizabeth Pantley | Updates

The Best Part about Writing Books Steeped in Magic

Elizabeth Pantley — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When you write a fiction series you need to keep track of a million details. What does each character look like – eye color, hair type, height? Who lives where? How far is it to the ferry dock? What’s the name of the local grocery store? Which characters drink coffee, and which drink tea? The list is endless. There are programs that can help you keep track of all these details, but honestly, in the time I took to enter all the data I’d probably have another book written!

I do keep logs and chapter summaries, and searches are relatively easy to do. Except when it’s a minor point that you totally miss. Yep. I did that.

In one chapter of a book, I mention that a certain magic mirror is teardrop shaped. And then, oops! In another chapter of a different book in the series, I called it an oval. Then came the obsessing.

Will anyone notice? Will they call me out on the change of shape? Or am I the only one who would notice in a million years. Well. Except now that I’m telling you – you know… And if people call it out does that make the book look unprofessional? Obsess. Obsess. Obsess.

But all that obsessing landed me with the perfect answer. And it was so obvious it made me laugh.

The land in which that novel takes place, Destiny Falls, is enchanted. Rooms change size, shape, and location to suit the people who live there. New doors and new rooms suddenly appear. Over time, a building morphs from a castle to a modern-day mansion.

Well, maybe you’re quicker than I was, and you see this coming . . . in the next book, the mirror is a rectangle, and it is hanging lower to the floor so that . . . well. I can’t give everything away now, can I?

With this revelation I realized that writing a series that is based in an enchanted world is a writer’s paradise. I can’t make a mistake now, can I? No matter what happens I can just chalk it up to magic.

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Valeria Talks about the Film Festival

Elizabeth Pantley — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hi, I’m Valeria! I’m a member of the most fascinating book club ever. In this group, we don’t just read the books, we are whooshed into them and become the amateur sleuths! Puzzles and Premieres was my favorite book ever. We traveled to a ski town that hosted a famous film festival.

The setting was amazing! The town was surrounded by snowcapped mountains, ski resorts, and lush forests. The downtown area featured many wonderful movie theaters, and oh, my gosh! At night it was lit up with the lighted marquees and strings of twinkle lights that made it truly magical.

We got to see premieres of movies that weren’t shown anywhere else. We saw famous movie stars, directors, and producers. We had a marvelous ride on a horse drawn sleigh ride on paths that took us past glorious scenery. There was even a gondola that rode all the way up to the top of the mountain.

The restaurants and shops in the town were fantastic! Vintage clothing stores, fancy restaurants, and shops with all kinds of hats, jewelry and trinkets. Shopping was great fun.

Even though we were there to solve a murder mystery, the setting is what did it for me. I’d never been to a film festival and have always dreamed about what a life in the spotlight would be like. It was really an exciting and wonderful experience.

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Word Search Puzzle!

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Play here: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/9798550/flimflam-fairy/

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Featured Quote

Elizabeth Pantley — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Click to see it full size.

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Atticus Talks about Jigsaw Puzzles

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Good afternoon and thank you for hosting me today. I am Dr. Atticus Papadopoulos. I’m a professor and doctor of astrobiology; my major area of interest is extraterrestrial technology. I’m a member of a fascinating book club that journeys into cozy mystery books that are part of a massive collection held in an enchanted library. I am often sharing a bit of knowledge with our book club group about the various places to which we travel.

In this particular book journey, Puzzles and Premieres, jigsaw puzzles take center stage as they provide the clues to solving the murder mystery.

Assembling jigsaw puzzles is a very popular pastime. One study found that over 70% of adults in the United States enjoy puzzles. There are very few hobbies that have such a high percentage of interest.

In addition to providing relaxing entertainment, assembling a puzzle is an outstanding way to develop connections between the dendrites in your brain cells. It challenges your mind to recognize subtle differences in colors, patterns, and shapes. Its effects are so powerful that incorporating a puzzle routine into your life can even increase your IQ by a few points and stave off memory loss in your senior years.

Puzzles are also known to increase the production of dopamine, a chemical that regulates mood, memory, and concentration, giving you a jolt of that powerful chemical with every successful piece placed on the board.

Puzzles are far more than a game, they are an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle, and they were an outstanding supplement to this murder mystery story.

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Featured Puzzle

Elizabeth Pantley — Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Click on the link below to complete the puzzle:

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1f3caf7390e8

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10,106,007 pages read!!!

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I haven't checked my author page in a while. It shows the number of Kindle pages read for all my cozy mysteries. Imagine my shock when I realized that over TEN MILLION pages have been read by real live people!!!! What a thrill that is for me!

I LOVE my job - I LOVE writing mysteries - and I LOVE all my readers! You guys are the reason I keep doing what I'm doing. Your emails, your reviews, your kind support means the world to me. I want to say Thank you - it's because of you that the magical worlds I imagine can live on the page instead of just in my crazy head.

I've had a busy year, so it's been a few months since I released a new book - but the new one is well under way and I'm having a blast. I can't wait to share another story with you.

~ Elizabeth ~

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When a Character Got Downright Pushy

Elizabeth Pantley — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When I embarked on writing my first novel, I was excited to know that I was my own boss, and I could write whatever I wanted and make all my own decisions. But I was shocked to discover that was not entirely true. . .

I was deep into writing a scene in my first book way back then, and my main character was heading out for a day-long mountain hike with a friend. I felt that I needed to have a third person along for the adventure. I spent a day pondering the right choice of character to fill this spot. I reviewed all my options and had a few possibilities in mind, but no one seemed exactly right.

The next morning, I woke up and it was as if one of my characters was standing in the room saying “Pick me! I want to go on the hike.” But it made absolutely no sense. Why on earth would this character be hiking with the main character?

I went downstairs to breakfast and the character met me in the kitchen, again tickling my brain: “Pick me! I’m the one who should tag along on the hike!” I started to consider how this might work, but kept shaking my head, nope. It doesn’t make any sense.

But my character would not leave my head! She was very persistent, and then got downright pushy. Slowly, the scene unfolded in my mind. Oh, my goodness, Yes! Not only did it make sense – it was absolutely the right direction for the story. I’d been led to the perfect person to tag along!

I headed to my office and began to type. The chapter flowed so quickly I could barely keep up. This character was not only the perfect choice, she was the only choice!

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Featured Quote

Elizabeth Pantley — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Click on the picture to see the full image.

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Free book! - Falling into Magic - April 22 to 26

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

~ Take a journey through a magic mirror to an enchanted land.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MCRCW9J

What if you fell through a mirror into an enchanted world and met a magical family you never knew you had? That’s what happened to me. And now I’m trapped. Well, trapped isn’t a very nice word for such an amazing place, but that’s the truth of it.

What it’s like to wake up on the other side of the mirror? Find out in this excerpt from Falling into Magic, book one in the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series.

EXCERPT from Falling into Magic:

My eyes felt crusty, and I could barely open them. My muscles felt weak and rubbery, and my mind was fuzzy. I thought I must be sick. Or hallucinating.

The thing that pulled me out of my daze was the purring Himalayan battleship docked on my chest, as always. Her bright blue eyes looked directly into mine. “I’ve been worried sick, Cupcake. It’s about time you woke up.”

I stared at my cat and blinked a few times. My mouth dropped open, but no words came out.

“Helloooo, Hayden! What do you think? Are you just loving my new talent?”

It took a minute for my brain to connect, and when it did, my eyes popped wide open. “Sassy?! Are you talking to me?”

“Well actually, it’s more like whispering inside your head. Thrilling, right?” Her little eyebrows went up and down. “But first things first, Sweetcakes. The name ‘Sassy’? Just plain rude. I cringe every time you say it. From now on I shall be called . . . ta-daaah! . . . Princess Latifa.” She did a little bow. “That’s right. It’s Princess Latifa now.”

I stared at Sassy and thought about how outrageous this was. Not just the talking part, but the Princess Latifa part. My imagination had totally taken the reins.

“Not amusing, Bestie. That is how I see myself, so would appreciate a bit of respect. Every time you call me Sassy, I simply want to weep.”

It was clear I was dreaming, so I thought I might as well go along for the ride and talk to the cat. “I don’t think I can call you that . . . how about Latifa, maybe?”

“Hmmm. Latifa. Laaa-teee-faa. If you say it with some melody, then it will do. But every time you say it, I will think Princess Latifa in my head.”

And in my head, I’ll be thinking Sassy Princess Latifa, I thought.

“Hey!” Her furry head snapped up. “I heard that, you know. But I’ll allow it. It sounds royal. And, by the way, those Himalayan battleship jokes are just hurtful. I’m a curvy feline, and just purrfect for my breed. Let’s make a deal, girlfriend. You stop with the body shaming jokes and I won’t point out your imperfections.”

“Okay, right.” I shook my head and pinched myself. Ouch! Weren’t I supposed to feel pain only if I was awake? I reached up to feel my head for bumps. None that I could find. I looked up at the tall, gorgeous wood ceiling. It was crisscrossed with polished wooden beams. The hidden inlaid lights were twinkling, just like that yacht I toured at the harbor, and . . . wait. Where in the world was I? A talking cat? Sassy is now Princess Latifa? A custom wood ceiling? Clearly, I was dreaming, pinch or no pinch, but the most realistic dream I had ever had.

The door opened, and a man walked in. “You’re awake,” he said.

~ ~ ~

~ The Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series ~

“It will blow you away!” ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

~ Over 1,000 five-star reviews on the six-book series

Also in Paperback, Kindle Unlimited, Audiobook

Entire series is free in Kindle Unlimited

eBook is also FREE April 22 to 26 on Amazon UK, AU, CA

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Free book! - Shifting & Shenanigans - April 22 to 26

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Join a book club that's trapped inside a book! They become characters when the mystery comes to life. It’s all fun and games – until they learn they must solve the crime to escape the book.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3WLF7CW

Here’s an Excerpt from Shifting and Shenanigans, Magical Mystery Book Club #1:

“Why the confusion?” The sleek Siamese jumped back up on the chair and tilted his head at us. “Pffft. It’s like you’ve never heard a talking cat before.”

We continued to stare at him.

“Cat got your tongue?” He guffawed and snorted.

“Are you really a talking cat?” I asked as I walked a circle around the chair inspecting the area.

“Whatcha’ lookin’ for?” the cat said.

“I am looking for a hidden person, or a tape recorder – or something to explain how that voice appears to be coming out of your mouth.”

“Uh, Paige,” said Glo. “I think the voice is coming out of his mouth. I think it’s a talking cat.”

“You think?” gasped the cat. “Honey, scoot yourself on over here and pay verrry close attention. Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?” Then he guffawed at his parody of Chris Tucker’s voice and the famous line from the movie Rush Hour.

“Let’s say you really are talking—”

“Yeah. Let’s say that,” said the cat, flicking a whisker.

“How is it possible?” I asked.

“Uhm. You’re talking. How is that possible?” He stared at me with big blue curious eyes.

“What’s your name?” asked Glo.

I turned to her. “Are you just skipping over the logical details and jumping right into hey, there talking cat, what’s your name?”

“At least one of you has some manners,” mumbled the cat. “Allow me to introduce myself. The name’s Frank.”

“My grandmother never told us about you or this library,” said Glo. “And we’ve both been to the inn many, many times. Do you know why she kept it a secret?”

“Yep.”

“Can you tell us?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Are you always so incessantly curious?” Frank jumped down off the chair and walked in a circle around me.

~ ~ ~ ~

What reviewers say about the Magical Mystery Book Club:

~ I read 150+ cozy mysteries every year - this is by far the most unique storyline I've read.

~ An absolutely ingenious idea for a series!

~ Two paws way-way up!

~ I adore this series, and it keeps getting better with each book!

~ I loved it so much, I read the series twice!

~ ~ ~

Series Book #1 of 11.

Also available in Paperback, Kindle Unlimited, and Audiobook

eBook is also FREE April 22 to 26 on Amazon UK, AU, CA

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I interviewed Beth Dolgner, a cozy mystery author. Read it and see a picture of her “poison garden dress"!

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you had to define your books in ten separate words, what would they be?

Escape, Fun, Cozy, Spooky, Whimsical, Paranormal, Magical, Welcoming, Safe, Kind.

Have any of your scenes made you cry?

One of the ongoing storylines in my Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast paranormal cozy mysteries is that my main character, Emily, lost her husband in a car accident that happened under odd circumstances. Emily has always wanted answers about what really happened, and she’s convinced Scott’s ghost should be around, even though she’s never gotten proof of it. In book seven, Quiet Nights, Emily gets all those answers as well as closure. I cried while writing the entire scene, because it was such a moment of release for Emily, even amid her grief.

Which would be your spirit animal?

The most popular character I’ve ever written is Felipe the chupacabra. Felipe is great fun to write, and I love that my readers have embraced him with so much enthusiasm. At a convention a few years ago, I let readers know that anyone who ran up to me and shouted, “Felipe is my spirit animal!” would get a free keychain with him on it. Felipe is smart and rambunctious, and he tends to cause chaos wherever he goes. Does this sound a little like me? Maybe.

Do you have any weird writing habits or quirks?

I like to listen to music when I write, but I absolutely cannot listen to anything with lyrics, because it distracts me from my own words. Now, when I begin writing, I put on music by Midnight Syndicate. It’s spooky atmospheric music, and you’ve likely heard it playing if you’ve ever visited a haunted house attraction. Many haunts license their music to help set the scene.

In fact, in my Nightmare, Arizona series, I describe the background music playing in the entryway of Nightmare Sanctuary Haunted House. It’s my little nod to Midnight Syndicate. Their music is beautiful but spooky, so it’s perfect for writing paranormal cozy mysteries!

Do you ever get angry at a character for doing something you didn’t plan for?

Let’s talk about Carter Lansford. Carter is in my Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter urban fantasy series, and he is a pretentious, spoiled, rich-boy jerk! He’s also the first character who truly came to life in my imagination, doing and saying whatever he wanted, with absolute disregard for my outline.

Carter would say such mean things to my main character, Betty, that I would literally talk back at him as I was typing his dialogue. So, picture me at my computer, shouting, “Seriously, Carter?” while he mouthed off as only he can. I’m happy to say he had a great arc across the four-book series and is now my favorite character I’ve ever written.

Have you ever had a strange/funny/lovely experience with a reader?

I’ve had many, and my readers keep me going when I’m frustrated or burned out. Their comments, support, and kindness are such a joy to me. One of my favorite experiences came from a reader whose friend was undergoing chemo treatments. We arranged for me to send a copy of Homicide at the Haunted House to the friend, who started reading it out loud to the others at chemo with her. I was told they all started to refer to chemo appointments as “book club” because it gave them something to look forward to, despite the circumstances.

You can find links to all of her series below, as well as her website and social media.

Crones of a Feather Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Nightmare, Arizona Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Romantic Urban Fantasy Series

BethDolgner.com
Facebook
Instagram

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How I Choose the Settings for my Books

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the Magical Mystery Book Club series, the group gets to travel into mystery books and live the entire experience first-hand. They find the dead body (yeah, some of the members don’t like that part!), they figure out the suspects, and they solve the mystery. Since the club can travel into any book from their cozy mystery library, there are thousands of choices where I can place the setting of these adventures! That’s where my fun begins. They travel to small towns, take voyages on cruise ships, and even go back in time! With all those options, how do I pick the setting? Lots of different aspects lead to the decision.

What comes first, the chicken or the egg?

There are times when a story pops into my head – but it could happen anywhere. I’ll sometimes outline the victim, the murder, and the suspects first, and then decide where in the world they will be. There are times when the plot drives the setting, and others when the setting drives the plot.

Choosing where to place the story.

I always want to have a small, contained environment. Big city murders don’t blend well with my cozies. But there are lots of possibilities for locations! From small towns filled with local charm to cruise ships sailing around Hawaii, I like to place my mysteries in locales where the suspects, villains, and red-herrings can happen naturally among the small population.

Weather, Terrain, and Events Lend Themselves to Locations

Some stories lend themselves to small mid-western towns, and others lead me back in time to days long ago. Once the characters show themselves, I’m able to build a world that suits their needs.

Shifting and Shenanigans finds the group in a small farming town. Vampires and Villains takes the book club on a cruse to Hawaii. Cowboys and Chaos takes them back to the old Wild West. Bakeries and Buffooneries takes place in a charming Hallmark-Channel-worthy small town where everybody knows everybody, and no secret goes untold. These are all fun places to solve a mystery!

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Word Search Puzzle!

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Play here: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/9391535/the-magical-cozy-mystery-book-club/

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A Favorite Book Fan Moment

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

One of the unexpected joys of being an author is finding a fan out there in the world randomly. Not at a conference or a lecture, but when you’re living your everyday life and stumble upon a reader. Here is one of those moments that I’ll always remember.

We were at my son’s baseball game when an officer approached the stands. I was sitting in the front row near the middle, when she walked up to the woman seated at the end.

“I found a wallet in the parking lot,” she said. “I thought it might belong to one of the parents here.”

The officer opened the wallet to look for identification. “It belongs to Robert Pantley,” she said.

“Yep! It’s the coach,” said the parent. “But his wife is right there.” She looked over and called to me, “Elizabeth!”

I walked over and the officer looked me in the eye with an intense stare. “You’re Elizabeth Pantley, the author! Your no-cry sleep book saved my life when my baby was a newborn and I was a sleep-deprived zombie. I still follow your blog. I’m so excited to meet you! Thanks for everything you do.”

The officer sat in the stands with me for a while. I told her all about my fiction series books. We watched my son play baseball and had a great time talking about our families.

P.S. No, that’s not actually me or her in the graphic!

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Read what the Mystery Review Crew says about my NEW RELEASE - Critters & Crimes!

Elizabeth Pantley — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

"Surprising twists kept this plot moving along, with heaps of red herrings thrown in. There is gentle humor that springs from the characterizations. The settings are gorgeously described, with plenty of attention to detail, so they can be imagined in the reader’s mind. Pantley does a fine job of making her talking animal creatures so life-like that even readers who don’t normally enjoy magical realism will be swayed."

This was a such a delightful read!

5 stars = "it was amazing”

https://mysteryreviewcrew.com/critters-and-crime-magical-cozy-mystery/

~ ~ ~

A quaint riverside town holds many secrets ... and the only ones who’ve seen it all are the critters.

This book club dives (literally!) into the pages of a cozy mystery. The quirky group must solve the mystery to get out of the book. It’s so much fun - you’ll wish you had a book club like this!

In this journey, they choose a book set in a lovely riverside town. They land in a charming neighborhood and find they are part of a local book club. They are having a great time – and then a dead body shows up.

The clues to what happened come to them in a unique way – via the critters in the house.

As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique setting of their journey, as they solve the mystery – one critter at a time.

AMAZON:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLX616P2

- eBook, paperback, audiobook & Kindle Unlimited.

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Featured Quote

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Click on the picture to see the full image.

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Featured Puzzle

Elizabeth Pantley — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Check out this scene from my new release: Critters & Crimes!

Click on this link to complete the puzzle online:

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=02acff2a0ee8

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An interview with … ME!

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

(Originally done by Dollcas at Great Escapes Book Tours.)

Hi Elizabeth. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you began writing cozy mystery books.

I spent twenty years as a parent educator writing and lecturing about raising babies and young children. When my youngest graduated college, and my first grandchild entered kindergarten I decided to make a leap and write the cozy mystery novel I’d always dreamed of writing. That was years ago. Once I started writing cozy mysteries, I realized how much of a calling it was and the books just flow out of me! And I’ve never had so much fun in my work!

What books/authors have most inspired you?

Oh! There are so many! I find bits of inspiration in almost every book I read. It seems every author has a character, a scene, a word, or an idea that plants a seed. The seeds combine to inspire me as I create new worlds.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I write what I know so that my work is authentic. The settings in my series resemble places I know well so that I can describe them in ways that my readers are transported there. Even though I write paranormal fiction, I like there to be a solid foundation of truth and reality. What comes together is a place that feels real, even when talking cats are involved!

Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?

I think everyone has moments of blockage. I take advantage of those by catching up on all the other work and household tasks that build up when I’m busy writing. A short break away – whether it’s a few hours or a few days seems to reset my brain.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

My favorite advice is: If you want to be a writer you must read … and you must write. Read a lot. A whole lot, the more the better. Write a lot. Write afraid. Write nervously. Write uncomfortably. Write poorly. But … WRITE! The more you write, the better you will get.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?

As a mother of four young adults who are all paired up, and a young grandchild as well, a large part of my free time is spent with my family. We hike, play board games, talk, eat, and have many great shared family moments.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Here’s a secret. I’ve traveled. A lot. I’ve toured my parenting books all over the US, Canada, Australia, even Hong Kong! I’ve traveled with my family around the USA, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The one place I love to be most? My very own home! I’d rather be home than travel anywhere else!

What is next on the horizon for you?

I just released book eleven in the Magical Mystery Book Club series: Critters and Crimes. Once that book settles in, I’ll be off to the keyboard once again!

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A Weird Thing Happened on My Walk

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I take a daily walk around my neighborhood. I like the fresh air and exercise, and I enjoy looking at the different homes and landscaping. The other day, I saw an old blue car parked on the street. Something about it made me suspicious. I’m not sure whether it was how it was parked, where it was parked, or how it looked. Probably a combination of all that.

Then, I questioned myself. As a writer of mysteries, was I just creating a story over a regular old parked car? I turned around and walked past it again. No. I really did get a feeling that it didn’t belong there.

Luckily, we have a neighborhood watch group. I texted the group and asked if anyone knew about the car. No one did. That ramped up my suspicion. One of my neighbors agreed with me, and he called our local police station with a non-urgent situation.

So, what happened? I bet you want to know. Did the car belong to a random person’s guest, perhaps? Or was it a door-to-door solicitor selling candy bars or magazines? Nope! The police investigated and it turned out to be a group of people caught trespassing in an empty home! The people were arrested, and that old blue car was removed.

Perhaps my fine-tuned mystery author’s spidey-senses work better than I realized.

PS That's not a picture of the actual car....

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