Some women just aren’t cut out to be mothers, and unfortunately it had taken Susanna three kids to realize she was one of them.

Picture a place called the Karma Kafe and it’ll save me the bother of describing it. There was nothing in it you wouldn’t expect, from the Buddha flowerpots to the wallpaper decorated with symbols that...

Yes you’re getting your tattoo.” I threw my arms around Dad’s neck. “Thank you!” “Hey,” Mom said. “I’m the one who had to persuade him it wasn’t turning his little girl into a streetwalker.” “I...

What’s next? If there are vampires in there, they probably drink artificial blood plasma substitute.

I’m suprised he doesn’t send Christmas cards,” Antonio said. “I can see them now. Tasteful, embossed veilum cards, the best he can steal. Little notes in perfect penmanship,”Happy holidays. Hope everyone is well. I sliced...

Whatever it is,” I said, “the point is moot because as long as I’m on these pills, I can’t make contact to ask.”Derek … snapped, “Then you need to stop taking the pills.”Love to. If...

Storytelling is my passion, and it rises from a love of reading.

Urban survival rule 22: Never annoy an armed man.

That’s what we all want, isn’t it? Power without price.

Philip wooed me with all the patience of someone trying to coax a half-wild animal into the house and, like many a stray, I found myself domesticated before I thought to resist.

This is so cool,” I said loudly as Dad walked away. “Have you met the tattoo artist? Is he hot?” “He’s a she,” Mom said. “Is she hot? Cause I’m still young, you know. My...

Common courtesy dictates that we never drain the lifeblood of anyone to whom we’ve been formally introduced.

If I was crazy, would I know it? That’s what being crazy was, wasn’t it? You thought you were fine. Everyone else knew better.

He said “cool” like I say a Spanish word when I’m not sure of the pronunciation.

It wasn’t until I was in my teens that I started admiring writers as inspirations for my own work, and my earliest influences there were Stephen King, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Richard Adams.

It’s New York, people. It’s winter. We get snow. If you aren’t preparedto deal with it, move to Miami.

Mmm, yeah. It’s that thing people do to make money.

Why is it that every time a girl says a guy is bothering her, it’s fluffed off with oh, he just likes you, as if that makes it okay?

We scarified a mosquito. I bet that’s what did it. It was probably a virgin too.

I have to.I’ve been fighting it all night. I’m going to lose. My battle is as futile as a woman feeling the first pangs of labor and deciding it’s an inconvenient time to give birth....

My nephew is a manipulative, scheming, unscrupulous son of a bitch. And those are his good qualities.

It’s probably around here somewhere, but I suppose you want the parts attached, too.

It took many years to accept that fantasy is the fuel for my storytelling passion, and without that, I really am a hack, writing for money or approval rather than for the pure delight of...

When fifty percent of drivers should have their licenses temporarily suspended.

Stray cats are like two-timing men. He got tired of you and took off. He doesn’t find anyone new? He’ll come slinking back. By then, if you’re smart, you’ll have decided you’re better without him.

Also, the killing of small animals is the entrance ramp onto the serial killer superhighway. Damn. I bet the cat knows that. He picked me because I can’t hurt him, or I’d be fulfilling my...

Another night then,’ Mom said. ‘Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.’ ‘Or,’ I said turning to Rafe, ‘if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event...

No, I might. To sue everyone responsible—from the person who lit the match to those who made my clothes. But I’d wait until the fire was out. Otherwise, he’d just stand there until I was...

Demon possession strains the boundaries of credulity, given the sheer number of times it seems to happen. One would really hope demons had better things to do with their time.

You guys are weird,” Tori said.Simon sat on the crate beside me. “That’s right. We are totally weird and completely uncool. Your popularity is plummeting just by being near us.

The first piece of ‘long’ fiction I wrote was a novella parody of Stephen King’s ‘Christine.’ I was in high school, and my version was about a kid with a possessed locker instead of a...

Remembering. Forgetting. I’m not sure which is worse.

‎”If you want that kind of thing, call Nick. His advice is shit, but he really likes to give it.

You’re not shooting the cat. It would leave a mess.

I want you to have big dreams, big goals. I want you to strive to achieve them. But I don’t want to see you beating yourself up every time you make a mistake.

Gabriel discourages emotional attachments the way most of us discourage door-to-door salesmen. They’re inconvenient, intrusive, and liable to end up saddling you with something you never wanted in the first place, at a cost far...

Her niece had the parenting skills of a … Rose didn’t even know how to finish that sentence. Any creature in nature so incapable of caring for its young would have died out centuries ago.

brained” anyone in my life, but with Tori’s mom, I was willing to try.

Young writers need to be encouraged to write – just write – with no restrictions on form, style or content.

You forget, darling.I am the local psychopath.

I might be half Derek’s size, but I was the one who sounded like a two-hundred-pound beast plowing through the woods.

Then his sixth sense is broken.

You were just worried about me.” An exhale, relieved that I had understood. “Yeah”I turned. “Because you think I’m worth it”He put his fingers under my chin. “I absolutely think your worth it.””But you don’t...

This is what I wanted. This guy. This life. This me. I was never getting my old life back, and I didn’t care. I was happy. I was safe. I was right where I wanted...

Yep, Gin and Brandi. Call me crazy, but naming your daughters after alcoholic beverages is just asking for trouble.

So consider your options, make your choice and call me home.

Especially in the world of fantasy and superheroes, it’s great to have role models that aren’t in skimpy little outfits, in impossible poses. That’s so important for young women.

If you say ‘we’re in this together,’ I’m going to hurl.

He was trying to tell me something.”Derek snorted. “Aren’t they all? Must be a rule in the ghost handbook—if in danger of evaporating, make sure you’re in the middle of a dire pronouncement.

I’d seriously contemplated a real collar – a sparkly green one – if only because I was sure it would offend his dignity.