The real news today is coming out via my newsletter, but in the meantime, I want to highlight an awesome Instagram challenge I’ve been participating in. The gist of it is, my characters have been playing truth or dare!

The challenge runs from April 1-April 7 on Instagram and Facebook. I’ve had a lot of fun being super informal with these prompts, even speaking directly to my characters. At this point, we’re more than halfway through, so here’s a recap of the previous posts:

Day 1: William Opts For Truth?

It’s Day One of the new mini-Turvy challenge, and I had everything planned out. For each one of the seven days, one of my characters was lined up to pick a truth or a dare.

I think my mistake was letting William go first . . .

“Sure, I’ll play along,” he says. “I won’t do any stupid dares, but I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

“Really? Because some people have been asking about your backstory–“

“No. *Not* really.”

“But you said–“

“Check the calendar,” he says, and gets up to walk away with a swish of his tail.

So . . . yeah, I don’t have anything to give you all today, except for a reminder to beware of tricksters on April 1st. 😅

Day 2: The Witch Steps In

On Day One, it was William’s turn to choose; Day Two goes to Belville’s resident Witch, Trent, a recent witch-school graduate known for shirts with goofy slogans and a bacon addiction. Oh, and magic. 💫

Trent comes in from the street corner, twirling a sparkly “free hugs” sign in one palm and grinning widely.

“You missed it,” he says by way of greeting. “Wasn’t playing this game your idea?”

“I know, I know. I’m running behind this week. So, how did it go? I’m guessing you chose ‘dare.'”

“Yup.” Trent tosses the sign high above his head and catches it in one hand, which would be a lot more impressive if he hadn’t had to resort to magic to actually keep the sign off the ground. “Easiest dare ever. Except for being hugged by Officer Thorn. Have you ever been hugged by Officer Thorn? I think she might have dislocated one of my shoulders.”

“Given the sign-throwing, I think you’re fine.”

“Eh. You’re probably right. Hey, want me to make you a spell to keep you on time for the rest of the Turvy?”

“No thanks. After all the drama of #rocktheturvy, maybe we shouldn’t mix magic and Instagram.”

“Your call. Welp, time to go,” Trent announces, tucking his sign under one arm.

“You know, you don’t have to take that with you. The dare was only for ten minutes.”

“Yeah, I know.” Trent grins one last time. “But Lavender promised that as long as I wear it at the bar, I get free food and drinks!”

Day 3: The Officer Sticks to the Truth

Day Three of the #turvytruthordare challenge, and I’m getting the hang of it!

To be honest though, that’s because I *had* to. While Day One was sly William’s, and Day Two was laid-back Trent’s, today belongs to . . .

🥁

Officer Thorn!

“Time to get this show on the road,” says Belville’s resident police officer. She runs the tiny station by herself–mostly; she’s renowned for a *lack* of shyness when it comes to recruiting help. “What’s the tune?”

“Well, you can either do cartwheels, or–“

“Negative. Neither carting nor wheeling.”

“Okay, so, you have to tell us your Achilles heel.”

Officer Thorn scratches her chin. She is always perfectly turned out in gleaming uniform, with shampoo-ad-worthy black hair, muscles for days, and confidence by the barrel. In short, she’s not the first person to come to mind when thinking of weakness.

“Croissants,” she says finally.

“Ye-es, you like those. But is that *really* your greatest weakness?”

“Puns, then.” She crosses her arms.

“I think that’s more *my* Achilles heel, because I have to give you lines where you can make them. Try again.”

“Alright, but this stays between us.”

“. . . Us and the internet.”

The officer leans in. “I have a soft spot for people who just want to fit in. You know, like Trent. Or that poor boy at the bookstore.”

“Most people would call him Luca. How is this an Achilles heel?”

“Gets in the way. Trips me up, you might say.” Thorn grins. “Like that business with the dwarves–“

“–which the internet hasn’t heard yet, so mum’s the word–“

“–or when I suspected Luca of–“

“–also a spoiler, please go back to just making puns–“

“–well, anyway,” says the Officer, with a precisely executed hair toss, “I see ’em just trying to make friends and I feel sorry. And then I come down even harder on ’em. Can’t have any weakness when you’re a professional. But I end up being *too* hard and then they need *more* friends–“

“Yes, thanks, I think we see where that’s going.”

“Anyway,” she says again, “that’s how it is. Keep that in mind when it’s that boy’s turn, eh?”

Day 4: The Main Event (A Dare)

Day 4 of the #turvytruthordare game, and we’re going strong!

Today’s the day we finally hear from our main character, alchemist and amateur sleuth extraordinaire, Red. Why is she fourth in the lineup? Because it’s a special day! Read on for details . . .

“So, Red, are you going to admit a crush?”

“No, I’m picking ‘dare.'”

“Are you sure? Because just this morning @writertracybrown‘s Tara was saying she thinks Luca is–“

“I’m picking ‘dare,’ and I’m swapping roles with Officer Thorn,” Red insists more loudly than necessary.

Well, I suppose she’s doing a good job at being Officer Thorn already!

Red runs out, presumably to go fight crime (professionally, not as a hobby, this time) or boss people around. In fact, it must have been the latter, because she returns with six friends in tow . . .

“See? I did it,” she exclaims. “And now you have to come over to my potions shop.”

“Why? Is that part of the dare? What did you actually *do*?”

“I delegated,” says Red, with a wry smile. “I put Luca in charge of picking up dinner, and Gloria in charge of bringing wine. Dusty’s got enough serving ware for all of us–turns out he collects antiques. Trent and Thorn worked on the decorations together. And William picked up the cake.”

“The–cake?”

“Yeah. I would have made you one, but I didn’t have time. *Someone* insisted we all play this Instagram game.” Red crosses her arms, still smiling. “So now, acting in my capacity as fake Officer Thorn, I hereby order you to come along to the potions shop–where we have set up your birthday party.”

Day 5: A Watery Dare

Day 5 of the #turvytruthordare game!

In the aftermath of Red’s dare and her party, we have Gloria. Maybe a friend, maybe a villain, Gloria is the only one of the gang who always keeps her distance.

But that’s why we have Instagram challenges, right? 😉

Gloria purses her lips. Like Red, she refuses to even consider ‘truth,’ and instead opts for a dare.

But if she was hoping to out-do her predecessor, she’s in for a nasty surprise . . .

“The dare today is to face your greatest fear.”

“I’m not afraid of anything in this minuscule town,” Gloria declares.

“Uh-huh. And the lake *next* to the town?”

Gloria’s eyes flare as she crosses her arms. “How do you know that?”

“Magic. So, how about a swim?”

“I’m not going swimming.”

“Just a quick dip?”

“Out of the question. I hate water.”

“Would it really be so bad?”

She continues glaring. Her perfectly manicured, shiny black fingernails dig into her sleeves.

“Listen, Gloria, I know you’re afraid of the water, but you did choose dare . . . do you want to change your choice?”

“It isn’t about the water,” she protests. “I’m not going swimming because I know you’re going to invite everyone else along to watch.”

“So . . . them knowing that you’re afraid of water, and are swimming because of the dare, is worse than the swimming itself?”

Gloria’s silence speaks volumes, and the answer is yes.

“Hmm. Sounds like your greatest fear might not be water, after all! Don’t worry, though. You’ve just taken care of your dare.”

“Excuse me?” she says suspiciously.

“Well, if public opinion is your worst fear, didn’t you just face it by admitting another of your fears to me?”

“Oh.” Gloria wrinkles her nose. “I didn’t realize you counted.”

For photos and Days 6 and 7, check out Facebook or Instagram!