Well, I've been gone for 4 years. Since 2012 I've gotten married (to the guy who was once 9 time zones away!) adopted several furry friends, and dedicated most of my writing focus to my original novels. Plus, you know, gotten a full-time job and had to start "adulting". Buuuuut, I've recently gotten hooked on The X-Files, which is is doing an excellent job of filling the void now that Castle is over. Time for some more fanfiction? I think yes.

I've also gotten a little braver, so I am going to publicly explain "THE TRAIN."

If you've read many of my stories, you've probably picked up on a theme. People are sick all the bloody time. Yep. I write about that all the time, and here's why.

When I was a little, I had an intense fear of other people vomiting. Like, hide under the table with my fingers in my ears rocking in the fetal position level fear. Yet, for reasons I still don't really understand, I also found myself fascinated by the same, at least in theory. Want to play house? One of us had better be sick. Someone threw up in the story my parents read me before bed? I'd squirm in embarrassment and hide under the blankets while they read aloud, but secretly take the book and read the scene over and over again later, maybe memorizing the page numbers.

When I got older and started writing, I found this to be the perfect outlet for my simultaneous fear/fascination. Unfortunately, I was still totally ashamed of it. How can someone be so terrified of something in real life, yet obsessed with it in fiction? I still don't really know. It's not like a horror-movie type thing where I like being scared. I'm definitely fascinated by The Dark, but no, I don't like being scared. I just like facing the things that otherwise scare me in a fictional setting.

My dad once suggested that this was because it was comforting to face my fears in an environment where I can control them. I think that's part of it. There's still something more, and I still don't know entirely what it is, but for better or worse I spend a great deal of time writing about situations that, were I to experience in real life, would be deeply unsettling. Yet, in the writing of The Dark, I find solace and release.

It's also a comfort to read similar stories others have written. It makes me feel a little less alone to know I'm not just a freak (or at least not the ONLY freak) that enjoys this theme.

Along the way, many have tried to reassure me that I'm not crazy. "Steven King ALWAYS writes about trains." Man, if I had a dollar for every time I'd heard that, I could probably quit my day job. I started jokingly referring to any of my sickfics as "trains" for the heck of it.

As I've grown up and made a point to accept myself - freaky sides and all - I've decided it's time to OWN The Train. Yes, it's a repetitive theme. Maybe I'm even a little crazy. So what? Aren't most of the great writers? Sure, I still get a little embarrassed sometimes, but I'm usually still proud of my work when all is said and done. So enough pretending I don't write these all the time, enough hiding in shame when admitting I do. If these stories aren't your cup of tea, no problem. But I've gotten enough positive responses from close friends and family that I might as well make the stories available, so...

All aboard The Train. Don't forget to pack some Dramamine.