To quote Charlotte the Spider, "Salutations!" : - D

I should start out first by explaining that while I may not be a great writer in terms of skill, it is a passion and something that seems to fall out naturally from me, as natural as breathing. I can't stop. So I am very sorry in advance if it does not please you, or if my ametuer styles become to evident at times. Some of the poems I put up I wrote years ago so it may be obvious that they are younger or more poorly written. My pen name, Twilightmaid, has to do with a game I used to play when I was little, back when I first began to create the world that Kya, the main character in Waking Raina , lives in. My real name is so uninteresting that I shall leave it out completely. ;-)

I am between the ages of 18 and 23...there, now I was not too specific but you get a generel idea. :) I like smilies, as you may have already noticed. :-P Much of my time is spent reading, writing, or painting...these things are my sources of release, the channels for my inspiration, my emotion, and my energy (when I have it). I enjoy many styles of writing, but have a special weakness for fantasy, for mystery, and anything I can relate to. I like writers that range from Lucy Muad Montgomery, Jane Austin, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien to Sherwood Smith and Loyd Alexander. Also Jack London , Shannon Hale, Mary Higgins Clark, Henry David Thorough, Robert Frost, and soooo many others I can't even think of right now...but those are a few. I love the book "Remember the Stars". And of course, we would never want to leave out good ol' Shakespeare! ; )

I am not big on Edgar Allen Poe, BUT I love his poem "Annabelle Lee".

While I do deal with sometimes difficult and complex emotions and depression (like so many people today) I believe most firmly in hope. I try to avoid the thought that there is no way out, that only self mutilation and drugs can drown out pain. When those feelings do come, I often release them through my art and writing. Thus, if some of my work seems to express hopelessness and despair, that is because I literally "write things out". Sadly, I sometimes think it is easier to for us to write about pain and anger then about joy and true peace. Perhaps because it easier to write about what we are most familiar with.

It took me a long time to finally decide (after being referred by a couple friends who write on FanFiction) to join FictioPress. I am still nervous about allowing others to read things that are so close to my heart, but I think that if it can help me to see how others are made to feel by what I write and how it comes across, I will best be able to improve and thus convey more accurately the things I desire to to put into words. So please, it may take me awhile to get the writings out there but once I do, read them and most importantly TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. Naturally I may not always apply all advice with regards to changes but even if I don't the advice will still be there, helping me with my next piece. I am being brave and putting my humble little writings out there, now I need everyone else to help me make them better.