Illuminating
through fiction is something wonderful when you can pull it off. It's that place
you reach when the reader knows they've read something significant, something
with meaning beyond entertainment, enlightenment beyond the story. That's art,
or it may be magic...whatever it is, that's what I want to do
Creepin'
Welcome to a world of werewolves, vampires, demons and mere mortals, where, in the name of revenge, five women are about to live out their wildest fantasies—even if it means crossing over to that other side…
In the works, a mystery, tentatively titled, Dead Man's Hand.
Yep, I'm talking poker. Vegas, money, fun, high stakes . . . and of course, murder. Featuring what I think is my best heroine, ever. Get ready, folks! Written under my mystery pseudonym, MJ King.
Props
Quotes on my paranormal books and stories
My Soapbox
Events
...coming sooner or later. I'm planning to show at the Romance Slam Jam 2008
Newsletters
I don't have the heart to spam folks with a newsletter, beloved author tradition that it is. When I write one, I'll just post it on the site and list them here.
Facing A
Familiar Place
The familiar place
is what's happening at home. Abuse follows a familiar pattern that is sometimes
hard to recognize because of the shame it causes. This is the way it goes
(he is used for convenience, but the pronouns are interchangeable):
Your spouse abuses you emotionally
| He puts you down. |
| He makes you feel bad
about yourself. |
| He calls you names |
| He says you're crazy. |
| He plays mind games |
| He humiliates you |
| He makes you
feel guilty |
Your spouse treats you like a servant
| Makes all the big decisions |
| Demands to be the "King/Queen of the
castle" |
| Defines male and female roles |
Your spouse abuses you economically
| He prevents you from getting
or keeping a job |
| He makes you ask for money |
| He gives you an allowance |
| He takes your money |
| He doesn't let you know
or have access to family income |
Your spouse uses isolation
| He makes or carries out threats to do something
to hurt you |
| He threatens to leave you, to commit suicide,
to report you to authorities |
| He makes you drop charges |
| He makes you do illegal things |
Your spouse uses coercion and threats
| He makes you afraid by using looks, gestures,
or actions |
| He smashes things |
| He abuses pets |
| He displays weapons to you |
Your spouse uses the children
| He
makes you feel guilty about the children |
| He
uses the children to relay messages |
| He
uses visitation to harass you |
| He
threatening to take your children away from you |
Your spouse uses isolation
| He controls what you do, who you see and
talk to, what you read and where you go |
| He limits your outside the home involvement
in anything |
| He uses jealousy to justify his actions |
Your spouse minimizes,
denies and blames
| He
makes light of the abuse and doesn't take your concerns about it seriously |
| He
says the abuse didn't happen |
| He
shifts responsibility for abusive behavior |
| He
says it's your fault |
In a home where abuse
is taking place, often the children have predictable symptoms.
| Has
serious problems with temper tantrums |
| Continual
fighting at school or between siblings |
| Lashes
out at objects, inside or outside of the home |
| Treats
pets cruelly or abusively |
| Threatens
younger sister or brother with violence For instance, "You get over here
with my teddy bear or I'll kill you. I'll slice you into little pieces
with a knife" |
| Attempts
to get attention through hitting, kicking or choking |
| Models
after dad--"Monkey see, monkey do" |
| Show signs of withdrawal, signs not
so obvious |
| Occasional cringing or ducking if you
raise your arm |
RWA PR Release
Facing
A Familiar Place
Domestic
violence: What Happens
The
Terrible Danger of Leaving . . . or Staying
What
To Do: The Safety Plan