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

   "He should be home tomorrow." She fretted over her toast while Rose stood, silent and watchful, next to the sink. Alice avoided the woman's eyes, feeling her suspicion. Did she know Alice used the doll? "He has a concussion." Betty wrung her hands. "They said he won't be able to play football any more this season."


   Alice rejoiced inwardly but slumped, grumbling silently to herself. Hadn't Betty already grounded him? Just more proof her mother never intended to hold to her word. But Alice's irritation with her mother faded when she forced herself to remember what she'd done. With the doll's help, Alice had damaged him enough. And yet, Evan's ticket to a good school had just been punched. Not like they could afford to send him to anything but city college now.


Rose's gaze burned through Alice as she shifted in her seat.


Chapter 33: Judgment