Collars and Curses

A story of urban fantasy, growing up and making sense of a world that does not often present itself as normal from fantasy writer Sharon Skinner (The Healer's Legacy, Mirabella and the Faded Phantom).

Think being a High School sophomore is hard? Try doing it when your messed up genetic code turns you into a wolf every full moon. Not only does Merissa have to deal with high school divas, bullies and pop quizzes, she also has to hide the awkward truth that once a month she really does get bitchy.

And just when she thinks she's found someone she to whom she can actually relate, her new classmate Bree turns out to be an arrogant witch. Literally.

If they weren’t the only non-Norms in the entire town of Fair Glen—aside from the annoying half-Elf, Jeryd, who shows up and complicates things—Merissa might not give Bree the time of day.

But when Bree is drawn into a curse that causes chaos at school and threatens the town, Merissa must find a way to vanquish the dark power behind the curse and keep her parents from finding out about it.

All without failing biology.


Accolades/Reviews

"I liked Marissa, the non-human werewolf freshman in a town full of norms. Not only has she to fight with a bully in school, but the new girl in town - a witch with her own secret plan for Marissa's home town. Interesting and funny, Collars & Curses, was a good read."- Alex K


Excerpt

"I’m sitting on Kandi’s chest, my hands wrapped around her neck. My teeth are bared and an angry growl tears from my throat. Her eyes are wide and a look of fear-coated surprise has replaced her former sneer.


Panic rises and I stare at my hands. It takes me a moment to realize they’re still human. Then relief flutters over me like flapping crows’ wings. “I said, I won’t fight you,” I tell her through gritted teeth. “Understand?”


She tries to nod her head and I loosen my grip. I draw in a raspy breath and stand, trembling with the adrenaline rocketing in my blood. I step back to give her room. She crab-crawls backward to the pool table, hits her head with a loud thunk, then leaps to her feet and runs. I watch through the big storefront window as she streaks past outside.


The room is quiet. Not one video game bleeps and every kid in the place seems to have stopped breathing. They’re all watching me, staring at me like I’ve grown fangs. Or ears and a tail.


Not this time. "


About Sharon Skinner

"My ultimate goal for writing has always been to connect with readers, to put something meaningful out into the world and, hopefully, make an emotional connection with others."