New Orleans thrived on chaos. Voodoo queens, jazz funerals, and the occasional werewolf attack were all-day affairs. Lila, at 23, had become the city’s last resort for the impossible. Her agency, Only Hard Problems , was a punchline in the gossip columns— Local Woman Helps Exorcist Untangle Possession... Again —but business was booming.
Lila looked at the shadow. It was wrong—too fluid, too smiling . She knew a monster when she saw one.
It wasn’t a choice. It was a curse. Literally.
“Your strength is tied to struggle ,” it hissed. “You cannot beat me.” Only Hard Problems by Jennifer Estep -ePub-
“Then how do I fix this?”
Lila’s power surged—the kind she’d only used once before. Her skin glowed with electric blue, and the ground cracked as her strength activated. But this time, the power fizzled.
Lila’s mentor, Felix, a voodoo priest with a penchant for sarcasm and too many tattoos, leaned over her desk. “What’s wrong, sugar? Losin’ your touch?” New Orleans thrived on chaos
The shadow sneered. “Only hard problems, yes? You see, your curse is a gift. And this problem is… easy.”
“Only hard problems,” she muttered, a little wistful. But as Mama Sorel’s shadows retreated and the boy’s smile reached her face, she realized something.
Incorporate elements like humor, action, and character development, which are trademarks of Estep's writing. Maybe include a twist where the real challenge isn't what it seems. Also, considering the ePub format, the story should be concise but engaging, suitable for a short eBook. Her agency, Only Hard Problems , was a
“Ms. Thorne, there’s a woman in your lobby,” her secretary, Mica, called. “She’s… arguing with a shadow.”
The shadow roared. Lila grinned. “What, no epic monologue?” She yanked the lighter back and struck it, the flame blue—straight from her power. The shadow recoiled.
“I’ll take the job,” she said. “But you’ll need to double the deposit.”
The entity slithered forward, voice hissing like steam from a kettle. “We eat those who resist us. You, little problem-solver, are the only one strong enough to defy us. But defying isn’t helping, is it?”
The title "Only Hard Problems" could be a play on words. "Only Hard Problems" might relate to solving difficult issues, which aligns with the problem-solving in Estep's stories where characters face challenges. Maybe the protagonist is someone who can only tackle tough problems, or perhaps there's a twist where "hard" has a dual meaning, like something physically hard or emotionally.