Quiet evening at the pony club

Dubai

Dubai! 

I had such a great time in this city. I loved the architecture, the sea, the people, the shopping, and the singing fountain. The food was wonderful, in short, I had a fantastic trip.

Here I am, in front of the man-made lake where the singing fountains are played at night.

Fairies in the wood

It's bluebell season in France. The woods are full of sky.

 My daughter dressed up in a thrift shop ballgown and posed with her horse, Kalin for some pictures. I added some wings and shifted the color a bit and voila! Fairies in the spring forest!

I's Alive!

Jack the Stripper is out - let's make him a star!

Click here to buy the book!

Here's a little excerpt:

As he walked down the street with Mama Hoya, Jack couldn’t help thinking about Brianna. He’d remembered her, but nothing specific, like, had they made love? She’d invited him to stay at her apartment, but maybe she was counting on him sleeping in the guest room. He could recall her apartment, but for some reason, only the living room. Had he even been in her bedroom?

By the time they got to the bus station, several ways of casually asking her if they’d slept together had crossed his mind. “Did the earth move for you when we made love?” No, that sucked. How about, “Do you feel the same about me as when we first made love?” Even worse. The only way to ask was straight out: “Did we ever make love?” and it would be embarrassing to both of them no matter how he phrased it.

When they got their tickets and climbed on board the uptown bus he’d decided that the less he said, the better off he’d be. He’d let Brianna take the initiative. Another, more sobering thought crossed his mind. If he really was dead, would Brianna ever want to sleep with him? Would anyone? Would it be …What was that word described to making love to dead people? Necro-something-other? Necro-romance?

His stomach lurched at the thought. No. It wouldn’t be the same at all. He might be technically dead— but he felt alive. All right. He didn’t have a heartbeat. But his skin was warm. According to the journal, his body burned food as fuel. Most everything functioned as it used to. But with a strong spell, not with … his thoughts were interrupted by Mamie Hoya’s words. She leaned forward and took his hands in hers.

“What you got to know, child, is that the man who made you is your master. You will feel an irresistible urge to obey him. But you have to fight it. If you don’t, you’ll become his slave. My guess is he was waiting for you to be born so he could intercept you at the graveyard. Something must have gone wrong, and you were left on your own. He’ll be looking for you. It’s lucky you came to see me. I can help you resist him.”

“Is all this in the journal?” Jack asked.

“Oh no. That book was written by a zombie still very much under the control of his master. They don’t want their slaves to be free. He’ll be tearing his hair out right now, mark my words, Jack. When you see him, he’ll try his best to bend you to his will. And you’ll see—you’ll feel as if you won’t be able to withstand him. But you have to stand up to him. The fight won’t last long. Once a zombie defies his master, he’s free. Remember that. You must not let your spirit be cowed.”

Phosphorescence

When I lived in Saint Thomas, one of the most magical things I experienced was the phosphorescent plankton that would appear in the secluded bay where we lived. On nights when the waves would crest with pale green light, we would go to the beach and swim surrounded by beads of green-blue light.
It happened on the hottest nights of the year, and when the sea was calm. The plankton gives off light when it's agitated, so it glows just at the edge of the ocean where the waves wash onto the beach. Walk along the wet sand, and your footprints glow. When you swim, the plankton lights up all around you. You can smear the plankton on your body, and leave luminescent tribal tattoos. Once, on a boat at night, the plankton lit up in the boats wake. We leaned over the railing, the starry sky above, the dark water below, and it seemed we were floating along the milky way.
Of course, that's when my glasses dropped off into the ocean, and we couldn't afford to buy new ones. I didn't get another pair of glasses until I'd lived in Paris for a year.

Jack the Stripper

Jack the Stripper *

Welcome to The Purple Dee. Pull up a chair and get settled in, the show will start soon! Our featured performer tonight is Jack the Stripper. He's Jack Severn, newly back from the dead. He's magical, he's hot, but evil he's not!
Jim Ling-Li, Necromancer extraordinaire, brought him back to life, gave him some extra features, and, as you'll see, made him irresistible --Especially to Jack's ex-girlfriend Brianna. Jack's sexier than ever, and they're better together. But she doesn't want to risk her heart, not again, and definitely not with a zombie.Jack also has a mission. He's back to catch the Heart Taker, the mutant that's been terrifying human and undead alike. His current obsession's none other than Jack's Brianna.So give a big hand for Jack...he's going to need all the support he can get to catch his own murderer.

"...The story is really enjoyable as Ms Winston deliciously brings on the zany dark humor in a manner that really appeals to the fan of the macabre in me. The humor is not too overpowering or too farcical - just enough to keep me laughing. There is already a beautiful kind of poetry in the premise, what with a hero who lacks a heart, but is in love, and who is supposed to be dead but ends up a hero instead. The story doesn't disappoint in delivering a fun Tim Burton kind of romantic adventure where I am concerned."

~ Mrs Giggles eBook review

* Jack the Stripper was originally published by Loose Id as "Zombie Jack". It has been re-edited and re-issued by Evernight Publishing.