A Timely Bit of the Best Bad Luck: A Misfortune and Magic Story: Misfortune and Magic

By Kari Kilgore

When Weakness Becomes Power
Arch Knight tries to hide his dreadful curse of causing bad luck wherever he goes.
Wishing his problem out of his life forever.
He never imagines his affliction helping others.
But horrible holiday visitors give him a chance to shine.
Will Arch rise to the occasion and rescue his family?

Also available in the collection A Tapestry of Holiday Tales: Winter Adventures from the Odds and Endings Bookstore

 

An excerpt from A Timely Bit of the Best Bad Luck:

A Misunderstanding Too Vast to Repair

 

"That's a remarkably sensible design, Dreyen," Tessa said. "I expect our farmers might want to consider some of those changes before the next harvest season. I'll pass it along to them, and we certainly appreciate you for sharing."
Dreyen shook her head, and Arch saw a mildly disapproving expression cross her face.
"Well of course you wouldn't pass it along to them, Tessa. That would certainly be left to the next holder of Castle Knight. Rick would be more interested in handling modifications to what you do here. You would be best suited to helping improve the habits and procedures in your new home. Wherever that turns out to be, I'm quite certain you'll bless them with new joy and life."
This time Arch covered his mouth with one hand, wondering how both of his strong-willed siblings would respond.
Their mother raised her eyebrows, and their father didn't quite manage to conceal his amused smile.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spiral Publishing, Ltd
• Release date: Dec 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201410216

Kari Kilgore

Kari Kilgore started her first published novel Until Death in Transylvania, Romania, and finished it in Room 217 at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, where Stephen King got the idea for The Shining. That’s just one example of how real world inspiration drives her fiction. Kari’s first published novel Until Death was included on the Preliminary Ballot for the Bram Stoker Award for Outstanding Achievement in a First Novel in 2016. It was also a finalist for the Golden Stake Award at the Vampire Arts Festival in 2018. Recent professional short story sales include three to Fiction River anthology magazine, with the first due out in the September issue. Kari also has two stories in a holiday-themed anthology project with Kristine Kathryn Rusch due out over the holidays in 2019. Kari writes fantasy, science fiction, horror, and contemporary fiction, and she’s happiest when she surprises herself. She lives at the end of a long dirt road in the middle of the woods with her husband Jason Adams, various house critters, and wildlife they’re better off not knowing more about. Kari’s novels, novellas, and short stories are available at www.spiralpublishing.net, which also publishes books by Frank Kilgore and Jason Adams. For more information about Kari, upcoming publications, her travels and adventures, and random cool things that catch her attention, visit www.karikilgore.com.

Book preview

A Timely Bit of the Best Bad Luck

For everybody who learns to turn a disadvantage

into their superpower

A TIMELY BIT OF THE BEST BAD LUCK

A MISFORTUNE AND MAGIC STORY

KARI KILGORE

SPIRAL PUBLISHING, LTD.

A TIMELY BIT OF THE BEST BAD LUCK

During all the days and nights and weeks and months of the year, the secluded reading room was Arch Knight’s favorite place inside all of Castle Knight.

Long and narrow, and tucked up against the side of the castle closest to the shelter of the massive peaks of the Gorowan Mountains, the room was bright and cozy during the day. Light streamed in through several tall windows, but not direct sunlight.

Arch’s parents and the stern but kind overseers of the Knight family library never tired of reminding him and his brothers and sisters how direct sunlight damaged books, especially the rare and ancient tomes tucked away on the highest shelves.

Arch wasn’t sure why they used those books as examples so often, since even with fourteen years and finally starting to grow taller, he was nowhere near able to reach them. The special, valuable volumes sat higher than even his father—Lord Moabar Knight—could reach without a ladder.

So those treasures remained safely displayed in all their thick, leather-bound