I am a middle-aged spinster living in a lovely, liberal city in the Midwest with my little dog. I have done and been many interesting things in this world, but I have never been in love. In college, I fell under the spell of a wealthy, angst-ridden teenager much like Edward in Twilight. This guy never touched me during those long, moody tete-a-tetes we had in hauntingly beautiful settings -- but he held the strings to my every thought and action. It was many, many years before I saw any other man's face and thought the word "love" at the same time.

Despite the lack of satisfaction in this "relationship," it was not without its own magic. Once out of college, I moved to the Midwest and visited New York City on a regular basis for work. And there he was, living in an upscale penthouse, dangerously close to the hotel I frequented. Later, I often travelled to Los Angeles, and like magic, there he was again, driving a '62 T-bird and playing Bessie Smith on the radio. Everything brightened when he was around: food tasted better, I felt beautiful, the sound of his voice put me in a trance. So, a little like Bella when she's with her fabulously untouchable Edward.

Even though I eventually parted ways with him, the fantasy of the Great Dark Man is one that both scares and fascinates me. I like to think my Jacob is out there somewhere, the one I missed because I was too busy dreaming of the wealth and glamour that existed just beyond my grasp. And I'm grateful for the stories posted here, especially those that hint that, even in the face of destiny calling, there is always hope that a little common sense and a big dose of genuine love will win out in the end.

Mmmmmm...

Introductions out the way, here's my 25-cent opinion on why it’s cool to review. From a writer’s perspective, we all would like to think that our readers care enough about our efforts to encourage us and offer suggestions. Some of us felt a bit unsettled by the original saga, and are going through an emotional journey to re-imagine and rewrite the bits that bothered us the most -- I would put myself in that category. Others of us genuinely enjoy the interplay between reviewers and author as much as the act of writing the story itself. It’s your choice, whether you eventually become a “writer’s reader,” or, as my friend likes to call it, a “barnacle reader.” ; ))

It can be quite empowering to support a story that really speaks to your interests. For a fic like 1001 Jacobian Nights, which has a highly specialized theme, more people are likely to give it a try if they see that the review counter next to the story title is higher than, say, 75 reviews, for a multi-chapter fic. If you really like a story, and want to see more of the same kind offered, then it’s important to review every chapter to increase the review count. The more popular a story gets, the more writers will be inspired to create similar fics, and thus generate even more content on FF that caters to your particular tastes. So, it’s in your best interest to post a review each chapter, even if it’s just to say: “Yes.”

Thanks in advance, and enjoy...

Oh yeaaahhhhhh...

A shout out to my betas (I think of them as Alphas) for their support, mad critique skills, and early feedback on 1001 Jacobian Nights! Click on any of these links for some truly funny, sexy, well-written and inventive fics:

aowalison: http://www.fanfiction.ws/u/1947149/

little furry cannibals: http://www.fanfiction.ws/u/1945923/

BellaFlan: http://www.fanfiction.ws/u/2092771/

Pavarti: http://www.fanfiction.ws/u/2175642/

Looking for a site that will put you at the center of the Wolf Lovin' Zone? www dot jacobblack-n-pack dot ning dot com

See you there!