Siena can heal wounds with a touch of her hands. A captive since birth, she is used as a tool of war by a Plainsmen tribe. A chance escape into the forest proves successful... and deadly. Rescued by the Forestfolk--a group of people she always thought were nothing more than bedtime stories--Siena remains on edge. Trust does not come easily when persecution is all she's ever known. Keeping her abilities a secret seems like the right thing to do, until a tragic accident renders two Forestfolk spiraling toward death. If she chooses to reveal her abilities, she risks being subjugated again. Treated as no longer human. Maybe even sent back to the Plainsmen. But keeping her talent to herself means ignoring the injured around her, even allowing them to die. The choice seems obvious to Siena, but living with the repercussions of that choice is another matter altogether. A journey of self-discovery, a bit of adventure, and a splash of romance. On the Wattys 2017 Shortlist!

Before he ever met Siena, before he knew Foresthome even existed, Remi was an Aberration living under the iron-fisted rules of his tribe. Learn how a spirited and resourceful 12-year-old boy ousted his Plainsman oppressors in this prequel to the Forestfolk series. A little shoutout to maniacgirl for inspiring the title of this story. Though the events in this short story take place before Book 1 in the series, I recommend reading it AFTER you finish "Siena." I think it will be more satisfying that way, because then you'll understand the little Book 1 references I've planted here and there. Finally, the format of the title and cover for this story is different from the rest of the series. That's because I consider this to be bonus material rather than a continuation of the series. It's only 12 chapters long. I may change the cover at some point, but in the meantime, this is what I have. :)

When your girlfriend gives you a gym membership for your birthday, your relationship is probably doomed. Too bad Jenny didn't realize this before proposing. Rejection stings, but it's the catalyst Jenny needs to move her stagnant life forward. For Juliana, well-padded women frequenting the gym she works at are potential clients. But she can't help noticing how cute this one is. And determined. And a number of other things she shouldn't notice. She doesn't, however, want to be attracted to gym clients, so she does her best to keep it professional. If only her attraction to the woman would do the same. Open Novella Contest (ONC) entry - Prompt #61: After being jilted, you move to the city to hide your embarrassment, lick your wounds, and start afresh.

Fleeing a man who steals memories with a touch, Aveline Arden finds an unlikely respite in the home of a cursed vampire trying to survive in a world that wants to see his kind destroyed _______________________ Without a home to return to, Aveline Arden seeks to start a new existence in the unassuming Maine town of Greyridge, but the presence of the local vampire, Cain Elding, derails her plans for the simple life. Threads of secrecy intertwine their paths as the monster haunting Aveline's past draws nearer and Elding battles a legacy he never wished to inherit. Strange traditions clash with modern sensibilities, loyalties are tested, and both mortal girl and cursed vampire struggle to survive together. A covert war spills into human society. Adversaries move unseen in the dark, the board is set, and the game must be played. Aveline's about to learn how scary the world can get.

[ORIGINAL DRAFT SAMPLE] She is twenty-nine when the FBI comes for her, but Catherine Themis was only seventeen, grieving and naive and angry, the first time she wiped someone else's blood from her fingers and felt the snake rise in her chest. She was seventeen when she stepped into the dark and never looked back. ***** By day, Catherine Themis is an unassuming civilian administrator for the Dedwich Police Department, but by night, she is a notorious vigilante known as The Hangman. Struggling with her violent urges and the psychological cost of her actions, Catherine becomes the target of an obsessive serial killer and a relentless FBI agent, and as the hunt for the Hangman intensifies, Catherine must decide which life she wishes to live and what she values more: vengeance or her fading humanity? A psychological thriller in the vein of MINDHUNTER and HANNIBAL, SERPENT HEART is a deep-dive into the life and history of a conflicted vigilante forced to confront her inner demons and evade a national manhunt. Catherine questions the efficacy of her own convictions as the FBI closes in and a vindictive murderer puts her family, love, and identity in jeopardy. With everything on the line and time running out, who will Catherine Themis become? --- [[AVAILABLE ON AMAZON]] [[REMOVED 24 DEC 2021]] [[2019 Watty Winner - Mystery & Thriller]]