Dependency

In a tale of addiction, we explore one young woman's journey toward recovery. Through the slatted blinds I could feel the persistent slivers of sun, reminding me that I hadn’t croaked after all. On a scale of one to ten, I’d surely racked up a “fourteen” in my efforts to achieve Nirvana. But, as always, in my quest for the ultimate high, I’d gone too far, earning points instead for “most idiotic” or, at the very least, “self-destructive ass of the century.” Groaning at the nagging reminders of the night before, I thanked the gods for the blessed miracle of the blackout, thus relegating ... Read Full Story

In this excerpt, our character Merrilee Hennessey has given birth, abandoned and alone...only to find that a Fairy Godmother, of sorts, has arranged for a beautiful cottage. As she awoke to the pleasant sounds of the gardener working on the perfectly coiffed grounds, she slipped out of bed. She curled up on the tiny window seat that overlooked the yard and watched. And then, as if she’d sprung gossamer wings, she moved through the space, first discovering the teakettle, and then on the white tiled counter, the generous selection of herbal teas arranged in a pretty wicker basket tied with a gingham bow. She ... Read Full Story

An excerpt from "Miles to Go," in which our character Karen attempts to obliterate her current reality in favor of fantasies and illusions. After leaving the mall, Karen drove dispiritedly around, not sure of her destination. Finally she spotted a cheery sign, Promises , and decided to go in. Maybe it was a “sign” of another type…It twinkled on and off in the early twilight and seemed to symbolize warmth and comfort. After she parked her car, she tentatively approached the large wooden door with its oversized hardware. When she pushed it in, it required all of her strength. Taken aback by the heaviness ... Read Full Story

Her grandmother’s face was damp with tears, but otherwise she looked the same. A little grayer, perhaps. She still wore her hair in that French twist and her dark eyes glowed with love. Her eyeglasses, something new, hung from a chain around her neck. Sabrina slid the eyeglasses up and peered through them, scrutinizing her granddaughter. She felt a pang of sadness and pride as she realized that Amber had somehow turned into a beautiful grown woman! And she had missed all those years because of the horrible quarrel between her and Hilary. She examined her granddaughter’s features more closely. She has our cheekbones, ... Read Full Story

An excerpt from "Chasing Stardust." Our main character reflects on her stardust dreams... Her baby chose to arrive on an autumn night, October 4, 1961, after a long, arduous labor. Surprised to find Julie Wells Ames at her bedside when she woke up, Merrilee almost forgot the hollow feeling of emptiness that normally plagued her, the fear and betrayal that had become her steady companions all these months. Somehow, Julie’s presence almost made up for the fact that nobody else had bothered to come, especially the father of her baby. But Julie, who had married her romantic hero Kirk Ames just a few short ... Read Full Story