I’m an international, multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in my head. As a singer, songwriter, independent filmmaker and improv teacher and performer, my life has always been about creating and sharing what I create with others. Now that my dream to write for a living is a reality, with over a hundred titles in happy publication and no end in sight, I live in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, with my giant cats, pug overlord and overlady and my Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

Début

The world struggles around It, a back and forth seesaw of demand and denial. It flops inside its box as the world spins, turned upside down. One of the shining, pearl-topped pins jabs Its leg. The pain is a shock. But It is unable to do anything about the agony. Gravity lets go and It floats for what seems an eternity before crashing into something hard.

The box remains intact, at least. Its home, Its safe haven.

Still, It has no fear, only confusion and need. Where is the girl in whose image It was created?

Silence. Darkness. Waiting.

All the while, the pin. And the pain. On and on forever.

Alice isn't popular. Alice isn't pretty. Alice isn't likable--at least, that's what she's been told most of her life. Moving to a new town hasn't helped any, not with her nasty brother torturing her almost daily and her too-cool, uber-popular cousin making her life miserable. When Alice finds an old doll in her grandmother's attic, she feels an unusual connection to it. She just can't bring herself to feel bad when horrible things start happening to the people who are cruel to her...

Pins and Needles

Rose didn't flinch. "Hello, Grace," she said, kindness in her voice before looking down at Alice. "Juliette was Grace's maid."


   "Juliette." Grace leaned forward, reaching for Rose's hand, which she took between her strong, dark ones. "I'm afraid. Please, don't leave me alone again. Not until we've made it safely away."


   Alice looked back and forth between the women as Rose's face crumpled, tears rising in her eyes. Curiosity warred with empathy as Rose gently squeezed Grace's hands.


"Why?" Alice turned her full attention to Grace. "Why are you afraid?"


   "Papa," Grace wailed barely above a whisper, voice sounding more like a girl's than an old woman's. "He'll kill him if he catches us together."   Alice glanced at Rose who freed one of her hands to wipe the tears tracking down her cheeks. She shook her head at Alice who tsked in frustration and went back to her broken grandmother.


Chapter 26: Grandmother