Dayle A Dermatis

Touch not the cat bot a glove... The MacPherson family crest above the door gives Rachael de Young, genealogist and psychic, an unexpected chill. She doesn't know that by crossing the threshold, her life will change forever. Because the MacPhersons are a family cursed by jealousy, betrayal, and fire.... Rachael grows closer to the truth even as she grows closer to the ghost of Jordan MacPherson, who died in the tragic fire...and could very well be the person sabotaging her research. But she must trust Jordan's love in order to find the strength to face her own fears, break her one cardinal rule, and stop a madman before he can kill again. What Beck'ning Ghost is a thrilling, atmospheric gothic romance from bestselling author Dayle A. Dermatis.

From the snowy Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York to the magical Glastonbury, England, to small-town America...from dogs and cats to flowers and ghosts...there's something here to warm the cockles of every romance reader's heart. Contains the following romantic stories: - Then & Now- Leave a Candle Burning- Flowers for Marjory- Christmas Eve at Claredon Hall- Giving to the Night- Follow You- This is the World Calling- Taking a Chance- Proof of Devotion- The Best Catch

Five Funny Fantasies is the first collection from prolific writer Dayle A. Dermatis. Prepare to be amused by these five humorous fantasy stories involving dragons and slayers, deals with the Devil, fairytale remixes, and much, much more Includes the following stories: - If the Shoe Fits- Feline Design- Famous Last Words- Hell's Belles- What Dragons PreferFind out why Dayle A. Dermatis's short fantasy has been called "funny (and rather ingenious)," "something new and something fresh," and "really, really good "

From the heat of summertime Italy to the icy winter of upstate New York, the stories in this collection feature one common element: strong woman who stand up and face their fears. Whether to protect themselves or loved ones, to fight injustice and right a wrong, they find ways to prevail. Includes the story "The Scent of Amber and Vanilla," which was called a "nail-biter" by Publisher's Weekly and received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Crime & Mystery 2016.

A coven of witches in suburbia, juggling families and holidays and jealousy, or fighting with the local homeowners' association with both magic and their wits. Magic users in Portland, OR, who have a special and unusual relationship with their familiars. This collection contains three stories from the fan-favorite Desperate Housewitches series and the popular Portland Hedgewitches series. So brew up some potion, settle in with your cat, and lose yourself in these stories of glamour and occasional infighting from a master of urban fantasy "Trust Dayle to write a winter holiday story about the solstice and magic. She manages to combine the claustrophobia of a suburban neighborhood with the competitiveness that women sometimes engage in with holiday ritual. Only the holiday ritual here isn't decorating a Christmas tree or singing carols (although there is a discussion of carolers that made me chuckle). Nope. This one is about pagan rituals. The story's wonderful, funny, and a do-not-miss." Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Hugo-award winning author

Four boys confess to the murder of a woman who died a hundred years ago.... The violent encounter Rowan Everly survived in college jolted awake her psychic power to see past images while holding a related object. At the behest of a friend, she comes to the privileged prep school town of Millburn, New York, to investigate the current crime, and hopefully clear her friend's son's name. Rowan's deeply ingrained mistrust of men makes her question where her loyalties lie. The deeper she investigates, the less anything makes sense. The boys seem truly horrified by what happened-almost as if they hadn't had control over it. Her initial encounter with sheriff Toby Candusco isn't pleasant for either of them. But his calm support of her, and his unwavering desire to see justice done, gives her the strength to not only face her fears, but to reexamine the core beliefs that shape who she is. Only then can she face and destroy the real menace...and save everyone around her.

Is it better to keep quiet or to tell? Is it better to keep your cards to your chest or open up? Keeping a secret can destroy a marriage. Revealing a secret can destroy a country. When it comes down to it, though, secrets forever alter the people involved. Writer and editor Dayle A. Dermatis assembles a compelling mix of stories that run the gamut from crime to fantasy to romance, from happy to sad to thrilling. They all share one thing: the incredible voices of some of today's top fiction writers.

Is it better to keep quiet or to tell? Is it better to keep your cards to your chest or open up? Keeping a secret can destroy a marriage. Revealing a secret can destroy a country. When it comes down to it, though, secrets forever alter the people involved. Writer and editor Dayle A. Dermatis assembles a compelling mix of stories that run the gamut from crime to fantasy to romance, from happy to sad to thrilling. They all share one thing: incredible voices of some of today's top fiction writers.

Accidentally summoning a Solstice deity. Dealing with a magically super-annoying HOA. Visiting a haunted Adirondack inn on Christmas Eve. What, don't things like this happen to everyone during the holidays? If not, experience them vicariously Snuggle before a roaring fire with a beverage of your choice and enjoy these ten tales of winter holiday magic, mystery, and romance." 'Desperate Housewitches- is] wonderful, funny, and a do-not-miss." (Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Hugo-award winning author)

Lovers take chances. History and literature both bubble over with stories of chances and mischances, of love lost as often as love won, and even of wars launched in retaliation for stolen chances and illicit rendezvous. The stories in this volume tug at the heartstrings and tease the brain. In each of them, two fascinating people throw themselves against the whims of fate in order to find a way to live happily ever after.

The passage from real life to an imagined, magical one has fulfilled a childish yearning for many a young person, particularly those who grew up in less than desirable circumstances. Writer and editor Dayle A. Dermatis tapped into that yearning to bring together this collection of stories that take their characters through portals to fantastical worlds-although sometimes the new worlds prove more problematic than the old ones. Still, for anyone who sees herself as the hero of her own story, these stories can't help but tempt the imagination. And this volume itself opens a doorway to enchantment.

Enter the magical, unpredictable, wonderful world of fairy tales What if Cinderella was the wicked one, and manipulated her kind, loving stepmother and stepsisters? Is being a handsome, charming prince really as effortless and trouble-free as it seems? Would you be alarmed if you realized that the beautiful red shoes you're admiring change their appearance to appeal to whoever is looking at them? And speaking of shoes, how did Cinderella manage to dance in glass slippers without them breaking and slicing her feet to shreds? Enjoy the fourteen fairy tales retold, reimagined, and reinvented in Innocence and Deceit, the second volume in the Ever After Fairy Tales anthology series CLAWS AT HAND - Brigid CollinsAfter the fairy king grants him the feline body he's always longed for, Tobi upholds his end of the bargain. But there's one thing that could make Tobi lose his hard-earned cathood... THE FENNIGSAN'S CHALLENGE - Stefon MearsLloxup is robbed and left for dead, and then comes across the Fennigsan, the legendary Dark Lady of the Woods. If he passes her challenge, her power could change his life. But failure means death. INSIDE A FAIRY TALE - Jamie FergusonValentina overhears a strange conversation between another couple. Filled with foreboding, Valentina follows them, and finds herself inside a modern-day fairy tale. THE LIZARD HORSES - Leah CutterIn modern-day Hungary, Jelek loves reading old myths and legends, like the stories of Hungarian wizards, how they only drink milk and always carry around weighty spell books. But what if some myths are true? THE RED STILETTOS - Sharon Kae ReamerCaitlin is backstage at a music competition when one of the performers collapses. The unfortunate woman wears a beautiful pair of red stilettos Caitlin realizes she herself desires so strongly there must be something supernaturally bad about them. TRUE LOVE - Todd Fahnestock and Giles CarwynSome people blame poor Prince Charming for throwing Cinderella into the dungeon, having little Snow White beheaded, and ordering Sleeping Beauty to be burned at the stake. But there is another side of the story... BEAUTY OR BUTTERFACE? - Deb LoganWhen Philip doesn't find a bride fast enough to suit his father, the king writes Philip's marriage into a treaty with the neighboring kingdom. Philip just has to choose between the other king's twin daughters. CHANCE OF BUNNIES AND OCCASIONAL TOAD - Annie ReedA visit to one of her favorite childhood places gives Cecily one last chance to find the magic she lost growing up. IF THE SHOE FITS - Dayle A. DermatisIs Prince Charming really interested in Cinderella...or was it her shoes that captured his attention? CITY OF NOWHERE IN THE WORLD - Diana BenedictKorshan, who was named for the sun, falls and cuts her knee. Her mother sends her to the shaman to ask for salve, and Korshan sets off, not realizing what magical adventures await her. DOCTOR RUDOLFO MEETS HIS MATCH - DeAnna KnipplingConnor and his kid brother are on their way to get ice cream when they come across a strange antique shop...so strange that they find themselves inside of it after turning to walk away. LIKE WIND OVER WATER - Karen L. AbrahamsonRomy left her mermaid form to search for her beloved. Five years later, on a ship heading up the Canadian coast, she finally finds him--and learns his secret. AFTER THE BALL - Pam McCutcheonCinderella's stepmother gets the chance to tell her side of the story and explain what really happened. THE CHARMING WAY - Kristine GraysonMellie blames fairy tales for ruining her life, and wants force booksellers to stop selling fairy tales. And then she runs into a handsome, book-loving man...who also happens to be Prince Charming.

The ten stories in SMALL WONDERS each runs no longer than 1500 words, making each one a perfect little bonbon of speculative fiction. Whether you savor each one or gobble up the whole collection, you'll walk away satisfied. (But unlike a box of chocolate, you can always come back and enjoy this collection again and again.) In SMALL WONDERS you'll find out why Dayle A. Dermatis's short fiction has been called "really, really good" Includes the following stories: - The Power to Change the Shape of the Land - The Pumpkin-Carving Contest - Cycles - Creative Arsenal - The Sultan's Sons - A Matter of Perspective - Accidental Victim - Return - The Devil Went Down to the Sunset Strip - What Dragons Prefer