Hello everyone, and welcome to my first foray into posting my original fiction online. These stories have been lurking in the back of my brain for years, waiting to get out, and the pressure just got too high to take anymore. Maybe someday you'll find these tales on a bookshelf near you.

I call this little world of mine Dark Rising, and have since my art-school friends and I started dreaming it up in 1994. My genre is urban fantasy – where the things that go bump in the night exist in a world that’s recognizable as our own real, contemporary one. I call it "witches, werewolves, and vampires, oh my" because those are the supernatural creatures that interest me the most.

My werewolves and vampires aren't based on anything in popular culture right now; I only know about Twilight from the massive media phenomenon it's become. Never read the books or seen the movies. So if you're looking for something similar to that - or Underworld, or True Blood, or Vampire Diaries, or any of those variations on the supernatural theme - you may be disappointed. Just warning you.

As for me, I'm a fairly average person. I just happen to be a writer. It means I make stories and characters much the same way other people daydream about their own futures. Instead of wondering what it would be like to win the lottery, I'm wondering how Allyson would react to that.

Lastly, for family and friends who may read this, don't be surprised to find yourself in my stories. All writers mine our own experience of the world for our work: a gesture copied from an acquaintance onto a character, a setting lifted in its entirety, a random occurence translated into a plot point. I know that every good mother I write has a piece of my mom in her soul. Even the bad moms owe their existence to my mom; I just imagine what it would be like if some of her best traits were reversed, or exaggerated into flaws. You see how it goes.

One more thing. Even though most of the stories that will be posted here won't feature her characters in starring roles, I need to give credit to my coauthor, Lois. She's been integral to the creation of Dark Rising, and it wouldn't exist without her inspiration and encouragement.

Update 8/28/10: As some of you have noticed, I like to reply to reviews. I can only do this if you have an account and are signed in, though. I enjoy talking to you all and occasionally dropping hints. :D Also, the next few chapters ought to have plenty of surprises and be lots of fun. If I can keep writing at the rate I am right now, I can go back to posting weekly!

Update 12/8/10: I finally got my internet connection straightened out, so there shouldn't be any more delays in updating. Look for plenty of plot twists and cliffhangers in the coming chapters of In the Shadow of the Wolf!

Update 07/13/11: I have had a very interesting life lately, and didn't update anything. But I'm back to work on In the Shadow of the Wolf at last, and hope to keep to a regular schedule until it's finished.