Get To Know Me Life-long animal lover Hiking enthusiast Passionate cook Grow vegetables/herbs in the backyard Favorite authors: JRR Tolkien/ Agatha Christie/Stephen King/HP Lovecraft/ Edgar Allen PoeI have been an animal lover all my life. My first love was my uncle’s dog, a...Get To Know Me Life-long animal lover Hiking enthusiast Passionate cook Grow vegetables/herbs in the backyard Favorite authors: JRR Tolkien/ Agatha Christie/Stephen King/HP Lovecraft/ Edgar Allen PoeI have been an animal lover all my life. My first love was my uncle’s dog, a female mixed breed named Pokey. She was the main reason I slept over at my aunt and uncle’s home. My parents, sister, and I lived in a NYC housing project, and no pets were allowed. When I was eighteen, I purchased my first dog for $15.00 at a local pet shop in Brooklyn, NY. He was a six-month-old “mutt” whom I named Bagel while working at a bagel bakery. He was, by far, the most intelligent dog I have ever owned (despite his habit of pulling garbage out of the kitchen pails!). He was 14 1/2 years old when he passed, and I still have fond memories of him to this day. I have owned several dogs over the following 54 years and adored every one of them. Currently, we have a rescue dog named Buster, a Shih Tzu/Poodle/Pekingese mix, who is both a treasure and a clown!*I love cats and would have been happy to own one, but a bad allergy to them makes ownership a non-starter!*Among my many passions, of which writing and reading are number one, I deeply love cooking. I enjoy it even more than eating my recipes. There is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when I see friends and family empty their plates and return for seconds. I suppose that feeling is equal to or the same feeling I get when someone reads one of my stories and leaves a positive review.My husband and I have been hiking in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states for many years. We rent pet-friendly cabins on short vacations and spend our days hiking on trails with the dog. Being out in the quiet of the woods and forests, without the noise of traffic or construction, is a remarkable way to center yourself. It also lets my mind wander as we walk, and I have developed several story outlines mid-hike.In our backyard, a section is set aside for growing vegetables and herbs for personal use. Some staples each year include tomatoes, oregano, basil, jalapeños, lettuce, and string beans.Reading has been my strongest passion since I was four years old. I am a voracious reader and never without a book. I guess my need to write was born from my love of books. Creating stories for others to read is now a legacy I carry.Here’s hoping you will enjoy what I’ve written as much as I’ve enjoyed their creation.Warm wishesJay
A horror novel that blends historical events with Seminole folklore, telling the story of a medicine man who summons the serpent spirit of an ancient witch to transform his people into Stikini—winged shapeshifters who devour hearts, blood, and brains—to seek vengeance against the U.S. government for land theft during the forced removal of the Seminole people. The book combines historical facts, fiction, and dark folklore, exploring themes of race hatred and vengeance through the lens of supernatural horror. "You will be the instruments if you help me regain physical form and honor me,...
