A Peek Into My Mind

Jax Charles ~Paranormal Investigator~

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

All Things Paranormal

I’ve been hard at work on a new series. This is the first urban fantasy I’ve ever written, so I’m heading into new territory, and so far I’m having a blast. It takes place in a truly a unique city located at the edge of the hill country. People who live there have a saying. “Keep Austin weird.” Quirky and unique, this culturally diverse area of Texas is steeped in supernatural tales about ghosts, haunted highways, and bizarre historical legends. That made it the perfect setting for me to write about Jax Charles, a paranormal detective just getting his boots wet in the supernatural world.

I’m going to let him tell you a little about himself.

My name is John Nick Charles, but everyone calls me Jax. My parents argued for months before I was born about what they were going to name me. Dad wanted me to call me John after him, but Mom was partial to Nick. They ended up compromising, but the first time my Uncle Darwin saw me, he said, “Hello, Jax,” and it stuck.

I’m a private detective, but not your ordinary run-of-the-mill kind. Paranormal investigating is my thing. I deal with witches, ghosts, shapeshifters, alchemy, and the occult. My name usually doesn’t come up over cocktails at dinner parties. Most people in Austin don’t even know I exist. Unless they find themselves in a situation that requires my particular expertise. And even then, they hesitate to talk about it.

 

Jax Charles, PI

It came as a surprise when famous explorer Sir Dwight Winston showed up at my office looking to hire me. I was just getting started, so I couldn’t believe my luck. A wealthy man like him could afford a top-notch team of investigators. Why would he pick an inexperienced PI like me? Turned out he wanted to keep things off the record. So, of course, I jumped at the chance. I needed the money. And it seemed easy enough. My mistake. The next thing I knew, I had been transported to Geiranger Fjord, a place in ancient Norway, in 425 A.D., with orders to retrieve Odin’s Spear.

 

 

The Hunter’s Moon

After an unexpected visit from my Uncle Darwin the night before, my secretary, Marlene, informed me I had an appointment with a potential client. I was exhausted from lack of sleep and not looking forward to the meeting. I had qualms, worrying it was one of those cases where I’d be tailing a spouse, trying to get proof they’d been cheating. Imagine my surprise when I found out it had to do with a pretty girl. And a shapeshifter. One that might be going rogue.

 

 

 

(Coming soon)

The Twilight Carnival

Talk about a blast from the past! When Uncle Darwin stopped by my apartment with passes to the carnival he’d taken me to as a young child, I almost declined. But he was so excited to see his old friend Ty, I couldn’t turn him down. And it’s a good thing. There was trouble brewing at the Twilight Carnival. Strange things had been happening. A mysterious stranger had been seen lurking around, making mischief and spooking the superstitious Carnies. Of course, Darwin volunteered my services, so I ended up with a mystery to solve.

 

 

About The Author

Susan A. Royal takes her readers on adventures to other worlds where anything can happen and frequently does. She raised three children in a 100-year-old house with a ghost who harmonized with her son while he played guitar and pulled up blankets to warm her feet on cold winter nights. Susan writes Sci-Fi/Fantasy with action, adventure, and liberal doses of romance and is currently working on the third in her time travel series: It’s About Time. Want to know more? Check out her other books on Amazon and go to susanaroyal.com for a peek inside this writer’s mind. You never know what you’ll find.

All eBooks and books are available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

~Into The Unknown~

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

In loving memory of Daylon Jones Royal

February 15, 1945 – October 20, 2015

While channel surfing a while back, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. Never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why.

In the movie, Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an average middle-class guy who loves his family and works hard to provide for them. Only there’s another side to his character. He still believes in magic. When Roy experiences a close encounter, he doubts his sanity. But he can’t let it go because deep down inside, he wants it to be true. So he makes up his mind to prove it.

My husband was the same kind of man. He worked hard, took care of his family, and lived a quiet life. But, like Roy, there was more to him than met the eye. The casual observer never saw his keen sense of adventure. He had a fascination for the mysterious, the unexplained. The idea of travelers from another world was intriguing to him.

He would have loved the chance to do what Roy did. So it isn’t hard to visualize him standing on the runway at the end of the movie like Roy, all smiles. Reluctant to leave his life on earth, yet filled with nervous anticipation at the thought of going on an adventure beyond the stars.

I like to think that’s exactly what he’s doing right now. I’m certain he’s enjoying every minute.

And someday, I’ll join him.

It’s The Little Things

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

  In the past year, I’ve realized something. I have some extraordinary people in my life. People who’ve done a hundred things for me that I can’t do anymore. Things that make my life easier. Like noticing when something in the house needs attention and fixing it without being asked. Or taking out the trash. Checking to make sure the doors are locked. Washing the dishes. Calling or texting every few days to make sure I’m okay (mentally and physically). Bringing me food. Stopping by for coffee. Sending me cards.

  They’re always willing to help in any way they can. And they do it because they care, not just because they think they should. They’ll never know what a difference it’s made. But I will. Because it’s the little things that count.

The Cardinal

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

First thing every morning, I go for a cup of coffee. Then I open the blinds next to my computer. Today, I was greeted by a cardinal in my birdfeeder. You know what they say about cardinals, don’t you? That they appear when angels are near and represent loved ones who have passed away. They are messengers from Heaven who deliver words of love and comfort during difficult times. I always think of my husband when I see them. It’s been nearly eight years since he died, and I still miss him every day, but I can smile when I see a cardinal because it makes me feel like he’s near.  

~Into the Unknown~

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

In memory of Daylon Jones Royal, born February 15, 1945.

Susan A. Royal's avatarSusan A. Royal

…This is something I posted a few years ago…

While channel surfing a while back, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. Never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why.

In the movie Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an average middle-class guy who loves his family and works hard to provide for them. Only there’s another side to his character. He still believes in magic. In the movie, when Roy experiences a close encounter, he doubts his sanity. But he can’t let it go, because deep down inside he wants it to be true. So he makes up his mind to prove it.

My husband was the same kind of man. He worked hard, took care of his family…

View original post 123 more words

~Into the Unknown~

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

 / SUSAN A. ROYAL / EDIT

Daylon Jones Royal February 15, 1945 – October 20, 2015

While channel surfing a while back, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. Never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why.

In the movie, Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an average middle-class guy who loves his family and works hard to provide for them. Only there’s another side to his character. He still believes in magic. In the movie, when Roy experiences a close encounter, he doubts his sanity. But he can’t let it go, because deep down inside he wants it to be true. So he makes up his mind to prove it.

My husband was the same kind of man. He worked hard, took care of his family and lived a quiet life. But like Roy, there was more to him than met the eye. The casual observer never saw his keen sense of adventure. He had a fascination for the mysterious, the unexplained. The idea of travelers from another world was intriguing to him.

He would have loved the chance to do what Roy did. So it isn’t hard to visualize him standing on the runway at the end of the movie, all smiles. Reluctant to leave his life on earth, yet filled with nervous anticipation at the thought of going on an adventure beyond the stars.

I like to think that’s exactly what he’s doing right now. And I’m certain he’s enjoying every minute.

And someday, I’ll join him.

July 20, 1969

/ Susan A. Royal / 2 Comments

I’ll never forget that summer. After a whirlwind romance, my boyfriend had asked me to marry him and we were busy planning our October wedding. And of course, we spent every moment together. Otherwise I might missed it altogether. He was in the Air National Guard and was fascinated with anything to do with flying and/or space travel. So when he found out they were going to broadcast the landing on the moon on television, we had to watch.

So there we were, sitting in my parents family room, watching their black and white twenty-something inch television that didn’t get very good reception. To be honest, the whole space thing didn’t mean that much to me. But I knew it did to him. And, I was just happy that we were spending time together. So we watched.

On 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped off that ladder and planted his left foot on the moon. Then, he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Suddenly, I understood. Mankind had taken a giant step toward the future. We’d gone where no man had gone before. And I cried.

~The Pyrex Bowls~

/ Susan A. Royal / Leave a comment

I have a lot of keepsakes. Most of them aren’t antiques or collector’s items, but they’re special to me. Why? Because they come with memories attached. And what is more precious than a memory? These Pyrex bowls belonged to my mother. They may have been a wedding present. She used the largest one when she made potato salad. Every time I use one of them, I think about her.