Bad Decisions Make Good Stories

There’s a podcast I’m a little obsessed with. It’s all about scammers who somehow convince the rest of us to fork over our hard-earned money in exchange for… well… dreams, delusions, and in some cases, dubious investments in psychic dolphin therapy. (Okay, I made that last one up. But tell me it doesn’t sound real.)

Every time I listen, I shake my head and go, “How could they fall for that?!” And then I remember.

Oh yes. I too have walked the path of the gullible.

Let’s rewind time to a much, much, much younger version of me. Younger Me, bless her heart, had a weakness for mystery, magic, and online auctions. This is the tale of The Haunted Ring With a Genie In It™. I swear I’m not making this up.

I stumbled across this listing: a haunted ring. With a genie. Real, ancient, probably cursed. But with powers. Powers I could unleash if I performed a SEVENTEEN STEP RITUAL. (Yes. Seventeen. Because eight steps would’ve been too easy and eighteen just felt needy.)

Naturally, I bought it.

Now, I won’t go into all the steps, because (a) I forgot them, and (b) I’ve blocked the trauma. But there were candles. Incense. Incantations. Possibly some chanting in the backyard while the neighbors reconsidered their property value.

Did the genie ever show up?

Well, no. Unless the genie was invisible, very lazy, or had a long list of people to haunt before me. But one thing’s for sure—I got a story out of it. And not just any story. A terrific one. One I now offer as a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks they’re too smart to fall for something ridiculous. (You’re not. Trust me.)

And that, dear reader, is exactly why I let my characters make bad decisions.

In fact, I encourage it.

If you ever read one of my books and find yourself yelling “Nooooo! Don’t do it!” at the page… please know: I’m grinning as I write. Because that’s where the magic happens. The tension. The drama. The “Oh, girl, you in danger” moments. That's what gives life to cozy mysteries and paranormal twists.

Let’s be honest: good decisions are boring. No one wants to read about a character who responsibly budgets, always wears sunscreen, and reads the terms and conditions before clicking “I agree.” Snooze.

But a character who follows a ghost dog into a haunted greenhouse? Or agrees to hold a séance in a cupcake bakery? Or trusts a charming stranger who might be a time-traveling jewel thief?

Chef’s kiss. That’s the good stuff.

So the next time one of my characters does something ridiculous, slightly dangerous, or wildly impulsive… just know that it probably came from real life. (Yes, I did once believe a cat could tell fortunes. That’s a story for another day.)

Bad decisions make good stories. And those stories make unforgettable characters.

Even if the genie never shows up.

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