Five nymphs!

The first review for DREAM WALK has been posted -- and it's wonderful! I'm so thrilled the reviewer enjoyed the book. :)

Title: Dream Walk
Author: Meg Allison
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 1-60504-191-2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Nymph Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymph Reviewer: Mystical Nymph

"It’s always a pleasure when an author manages to grab my attention in the first pages of a book and keeps it until the end. That’s exactly what Ms. Allison did with her latest release, Dream Walk. It’s the first in her new series, The Sentinels and if this intricately plotted and crafted book is any indication, the readers of this new contemporary paranormal romance series are in for an awesome ride."

READ the ENTIRE review ... it really made my week! (GGGG)

Thirteen reasons I love cats

"In the beginning, God created man, but seeing him so feeble, He gave him the cat."
- Warren Eckstein

1. A warm cat on an aching body is better than a heating pad. Unless her claws are extended.

2. Cats are very intelligent creatures. When they want to be.

"A cat is more intelligent than people believe, and can be taught any crime."
-Mark Twain Notebook, 1895

3. Cats can be very entertaining. Offer him a ball of foil or a string and you have a great show in the making.

4. Cats love to pose for photographs and they usually make very good subjects. Unless you use a flash.

5. A cat's face is most expressive. Particularly when they're annoyed.

"Beware of people who dislike cats."
- Irish Proverb

6. Cats always seem to know when their human needs to cuddle.

7. A cat can find the greatest pleasure in a sunbeam.

8. Cats are very clean. Of course this can be rather disconcerting when they immediately bathe the exact spot you just petted. Are they trying to tell you something?

9. Cats are normally very agile and graceful. And when they make a misstep, they seem so human and embarrassed. It rather pacifies us mortals.

10. Cats are wonderful pest-catchers. Now if only they could hold on to the little vermin...

11. A cat's purr is the most soothing music.

12. Cats come in so many colors, patterns and textures...there's sure to be one type to please the pickiest pet owner.

13. My fondest memories are of the many cats we've served over the years. Each had its own unique personality and quirks, and will never be forgotten.

"No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch."
- Leo Dworken

Murder, anyone?

I love a good murder.

Okay, there really isn't such a thing as a "good" murder, even if the victim is hated by one and all. But I find myself enthralled on a daily basis by tales of crime and mayhem on either television or in books. I love the excitement of the chase; the intrigue; the clues. I suppose what I really adore is not the brutal act itself (no need to call the cops) but the puzzle left behind.

I have always loved puzzles. My brains seems to thrive on them. I work out the crossword every day and the cryptiquote. I love jigsaw puzzles, but have a hard time leaving one unfinished once I start. And so I turn to crime shows -- CSI in all its incarnations; Law & Order; Monk; etc -- for entertainment...for a chance to unwind.

As a child I played endless games of CLUE with my mother -- and now play up to three different versions with my own children on those long, snowy weekends. ;) Yes, I often win, but not always. My kids seem to have their mother's aptitude for crime ... they know how to put the pieces together and figure out the 'who, what, when or why'.

So what exactly is the attraction? Why does my brain seem to require the stimulation of putting clues in place? Of ferreting out the red herrings? I'm not sure. But I do know it keeps my mind working. It seems to keep my young.

Maybe I should have been a cop? Nah. I'm much too squeamish and I prefer my 'danger' to be completely vicarious.

2008 CAPA awards

This is the first time any of my stories have been nominated for The Romance Studio's CAPA award. It's a great honor for me -- unfortunately the story that received the honor is no longer in print ... um, or digital. LOL!

But I still wanted to brag a little. That's my right, after all. ;)

TABLE FOR TWO was nominated in the Contemporary Romance category. Someday, somewhere, I just may try to bring this little gem back out of retirement -- it didn't have a very long 'shelf' life since the publisher, By Grace Publishing, had to close it's doors at the end of December.

Congrats to all the other nominees -- especially to Marianne. :) Good luck!

Better late than never?

Good question.

My writing career started somewhat late in life, although I was pleased to have my first published story before the big 4-0 came around. Barely. A few years later and I find myself at an interesting crossroad: one publishing company closed; another booming; and my muse has been thoroughly taken over by things that go bump in the night.

I love the paranormal and have for many years. Ghosts and mysteries have long been my favored form of entertainment -- not to mention a family history of, shall we say unique experiences? But I'm not sure I really ever thought about writing something otherworldly. Not until a story idea took an unexpected turn.

I dare say I'll have a hard time going back. I'm becoming accustomed to thinking outside the box. I enjoy taking each "What if?" question one step further. I revel in the power that allows me to create my own version of reality.

And now as we begin another year of possibilities, I find myself both eager and nervous. Eager to triumph ... Nervous of the journey. But then I'm reminded that getting here wasn't a piece of cake. The road behind is strewn with discarded words, incomplete stories, disappointments, and a pile of rejection letters.

My one regret is that I didn't start this adventure years earlier in a time when publishing stood wide open to new talent. A time when some of the great writers my generation grew up with were just beginning to sell and flourish. Then again, it's likely I wasn't ready. Everything has a season and this is mine.

That's the beauty of writing. You don't have to be young, beautiful and in perfect form to make your mark. You only have to have talent, a bit of luck and a hide as thick as an alligator.

Yeah, I think I have it covered. ;)

Changes...

By Grace Publishing and Moonlit Romance are now both closed. My stories with these publishers are no longer available or are in the process of being removed from the various Internet sites. This included my CAPA nominated novella, TABLE FOR TWO. The nomination is a bitter-sweet conclusion to my association with Unique Enterprises, its owner, editors and writers.

I've made changes accordingly to both this blog and my website. Both have been done with some mixed feelings. A writer puts a little of themself into each and every story they write -- whether it be suspense, comedy or paranormal intrigue. I enjoyed the light, funny stories I wrote for these publishers. Through this, I learned a lot about writing short. I learned about ploting. I also learned a bit about myself.

If you had a chance to read any of my BG or MR short stories or novellas, thank you. If you haven't...

I'm not sure what will happen to these tales. I've made no decisions as far as possibly resubmitting or rewriting any of them. Honestly, with all the current stories and characters I have in my head, it's doubtful these old favorites will see the light of day. Although I am toying with the idea of posting some of briefer stories as free reads.

It's a New Year -- 2009! A new journey with new experiences is laid out before me. It promises to be an entertaining trek and I hope you'll join me for the ride. :)