Zelda, known to her friends as Zell, is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Secrets and Scallywags, the latest novel in the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Welcome, Zell. Let’s get started, shall we?

Hello! Thanks for having me. I’m Zelda, known to my friends by the classy nickname Zell. I’m an octogenarian, do you know what that means? It means I’m like a fine wine – been around for a while and super valuable.

Nice to meet you, Zell. Can you tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Good job coming up with a perfect opening question. Now pay attention, cuz this is kinda complicated. I star in a series about a book club who are characters in a cozy mystery series about a book club who travel into cozy mysteries. Got all that?

Maybe . . .

No matter. Most important thing to know is that me and my other clubbies pick a new book every month or so to have a book journey. We read the first page and then whoosh! We are inside the book. It’s fun and scary and dangerous, sometimes. But were a gutsy bunch. We’re up for the adventure. And we’d better be! We have to solve the mystery and get to The End to exit the book.

Wow, that sounds exciting. Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

Ha! The writer thinks she makes up the story, but all she really does is type it out. I mean, we live it! We’re the ones who decide what to do and when.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Honey, I’ve been evolving for eight-one years! I just get smarter, cleverer, and more adorable as the years go on. Cleverer is a word, right?

I think so. Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them?

I love ‘em all! Our book club has some of the best folks alive. Or dead. See there’s this one character … oh never mind. You’ll have to read the series. Must be honest and say I’m partial to my buddy Frank. He and I have been in the club the longest.

He’s a nice guy?

Oh, he’s not a guy. He’s a Siamese cat. But he’s witty and snarky and a whole lotta fun to hang out with.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?

Right where I find myself in all the Magical Mystery Book Club stories. At the center of the mystery figurin’ things out.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?

This was a super fun adventure! We got to hang out with ghost pirates. Now, before you get all afraid, they are really nice guys! We were in the book to help them find a lost treasure that contains something very special. I don’t want to give it away. But we always solve the mystery. Otherwise, I’d still be stuck in the book instead of talkin’ to you!

I better go. We’re picking a new book to travel into today! Gotta get to my book club meeting.

Thank you for having me. Hope you’ll read all about the pirates. My favorite pirate is Bucko! You’ll love him, too, I bet.  

You’re welcome, Zell, and good luck to you and your author, Elizabeth Pantley, with Secrets and Scallywags, the latest book in the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Readers can learn more about Zell and her author, Elizabeth Pantley by visiting the author’s website and her newsletter, as well as her Facebook, Bookbub, and Instagram pages.

The novel is available online at Amazon:

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About Elizabeth Pantley: Elizabeth is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents, published in over twenty languages. She simultaneously writes well-loved cozy mysteries: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series. Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest, the gorgeous inspiration for the setting in many of her books.