Gaming after years of idle dice -- Call of Cthulhu revisited #roleplaying

Regan Worth

Last night John and I did something we hadn't done in years. We sat down with friends to play Call of Cthulhu. The game, like our Dime Store Novel series, was set in New Orleans. The time period was around 1926 -- or right after High Rollers. John was the storyteller, as he had been so many afternoons and evenings in the past. He was a bit nervous, since he hadn't flung the dice is so many years. So was I. But we were both excited to be in the game again.

I played Regan Worth -- a character who had first come to life at the gaming table about 10 years ago and who made her written debut in High Rollers.

Our friend Doug also played a character he had invented around 10 years ago, in a Call of Cthulhu campaign I ran -- the one in which John brought Swampy to life. Doug played the soup-slurping priest who made his written debut in From the Gator's Mouth. Steve, Brandon, and John N. played students -- peers of Regan. It was the first day of school. The day started with catechism. And a lockdown.

"What?!" cries  Regan. "I'm not sitting in a dumb school all day. I have things to do. People to see."

Steve tries the window and -- wouldn't you know it, it's locked. About that time, we hear a noise. Regan, due to the fact her father is a bootlegger, recognizes it as a gunshot. Sure enough, a few minutes later, a bleeding man staggers through the door and dies. Well...the priest claims he's dead. But then Brandon tries to move him. Sanity check. The man twitches.

Steve, decides to hook him up to an electrical outlet. The body fries. Regan is non too happy -- not only does the room stink to high heaven, but there is no ghost. WHAT?! No ghost?! Even when the priest gives last rights -- no ghost. Something is not right, but she can't confide in these people -- these people who would just think she's crazy. So she keeps still. 

Before long, she hears a shuffling noise. So does the priest. They look out the doorway and see a blank-faced guy shuffling along. Knowledge check. "The Walking Dead." Whatever. Even the walking dead should have have a ghost, right? Wrong. The priest repels him with the cross and then says the stupid 23rd Psalm. Bam...the walking dead drops. Holy water splash and still no ghost. Regan is not impressed and, in fact, is getting a little annoyed at the priest. How is she supposed to learn something if she can't even talk to the ghosts -- not that there are any....but still.

The party splits up. Steve and John N. head to the shop classroom to try to find makeshift weapons. Regan and the priest spot a ghost. Regan sees a lever that opens a secret door into a slave's staircase. Surprisingly, the priest steps into the stairway. Regan follows. So does Brandon. The priest keeps staring at the walls. Regan doesn't have a clue why, but she's glad enough because it slows his pace and she has short legs. Plus, she is wearing stiletto heels. Clip-clip, up the stairs. The priest stops and talks to someone in an office. He does not look happy. Regan hears a cthunk- chtunk coming up some other stairwell. She draws her gun.....

It was a fun night of gaming. It was different playing Regan's character around other people again, instead of just between me and the page. I think we'll do it again. 

Do you want to hear more about our gaming adventures? Leave a comment to let us know.

Thankful for Springtime Plus Kindle Promo

It's been another crazy week and the weather has been just as nutty with 70s one day and snow the next. Here's a picture of our little Christmas tree that is waiting on the porch to be replanted. I think it enjoyed getting flocked one more time last Sunday. I know it looked very festive -- presents were the only thing missing.















The snow didn't last long. By Tuesday it was gone, except for a few shady spots. The crocus are in full bloom and the grass is starting to turn green. I think spring might really be here.

The animals are all liking this warmer weather. Here's Joshua flashing his big smile. Of course, what he's really saying is "Toss me that camera. I want to play catch."




We have also been busy with book writing and promotions. John is trying to wrap up Striking Angels, the sequel to Angels in Hell's Kitchen. The Dime Store Novel characters are participating in the Leaping Leprechauns and Frolicking Fairies All Things Irish blog hop.

And we are running a countdown promo for High Rollers. You can get in for 99 cents until 6:00 CDT on Thursday 3/20. After that, the price goes up to $1.99. The promo ends on Sunday.

What are you thankful for this week?

High Rollers - Released for Kindle

To celebrate Halloween, we are releasing High Rollers, the first book in the Dime Store Novel series to feature Regan Worth, the daughter of Jazz pianist and bootlegger, Blazing Fingers Worth.

Regan Worth

Halloween is an apt time to release a book about Regan because she has the ability to see and talk to ghosts. Regan is a wild party girl, so some people think the ghosts she sees are drug-induced. But Regan knows better -- she's been seeing ghosts since she was 5.

When High Rollers begins, Regan is an adult -- still living with Daddy, but then he pays the bills. He also lays down the rules and he tells her she can only attend the christening of a new riverboat casino if Hanover Fist accompanies her. Regan is not happy, but she pays Hanover to accompany. On the riverboat, strange events occur and Regan runs into a gangster who has a keen romantic interest in her. When a jazz singer is murdered, Regan finds herself in need of Hanover's help once again.

Although High Rollers is the 6th Dime Store Novel, it is a story in its own right. Therefore, you can pick up the series here and go back and read about the rest of the characters. We hope you will. In fact, if you review High Rollers, we will send you a coupon for one of the earlier Dime Store Novel ebooks.

To celebrate the release of High Rollers, Regan will be leading a ghostly tour through some haunted areas during Coffin Hop. Coffin Hop runs from 10/24 through 10/31. During this time, we will be giving away all sorts of goodies. We'll also have a drawing for a trick-or-treat bag filled with fun prizes.

 

And don't forget -- you can still read and vote for The Big Hill in America's Next Author contest.