Allison M. Dickson is the author of dark fiction with a speculative bent. Although horror is one of her biggest influences, she prefers writing stories that chill rather than splatter.

She hasn't yet gained the ubiquity of her esteemed literary heroes (Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Cormac McCarthy to name a few), but she is enjoying the climb up the ladder and the chance to explore as many genres as possible, from urban fantasy satire to mainstream women's fiction to steampunk, to young adult fantasy.

Allison lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband, two children, and a gigantic bobtailed house cat. When she isn't writing, she's often doing freelance editing for her company, Allison Edits.

Several of the stories below have been previously published in other online venues and have been made available here as reprints for your favorite e-reader device.

Website: http://www.allisonmdickson.com
Twitter: msallied

• MsAllieD: RT @ScottTheWriter: #FollowFriday @MsAllieD @22niel @LaeMonie @AReelCoolSummer @C2CWriter @angel_graham @jackdrsm @McVladie @MarilouGeor ...
• MsAllieD: @DanielleRaver Hi there!!
• MsAllieD: @ScottTheWriter I agree about backstory. Info dump just has to go. Keeping that sense of urgency and mystery is more important.
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Ian Thomas Healy
Latest book: The Bulletproof Badge. Published on May 9, 2012.
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Mark Stewart
Latest book: Legendary blue diamond. Published on April 16, 2012.
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• A Fly in Amber on Feb. 25, 2011
  
  Knippling is an incredibly versatile author who seems able to tackle pretty much any genre. I have always been fascinated by the mystique surrounding Scotch, but you don't have to be a drinker to enjoy it. Definitely worth the download.
  
• Graceful Blur on Feb. 25, 2011
  
  No one can capture action quite like Ian Healy, and he's at the top of his game with this short story about a young hero with super speed running a streak across the Bonneville Salt Flats to break the sound barrier. In fact, he does such a good job of putting the reader in Mustang Sally's shoes that you might want to wear goggles to protect your eyes from the flying grit.
  
• The Scent of Rose Petals on Feb. 25, 2011
  
  Healy depicts this historical romance with all the color and passion of its Golden Age time period.
  
• In His Majesty's Postal Service on Feb. 25, 2011
  
  A magical tale, In His Majesty's Postal Service gives us little tastes of Rowling and Gaiman in this wonderful short story that ponders, with just the right touch of humor and whimsy, what it might be like to deliver mail to wizards and witches. This is one of Healy's best.
  
• Troubleshooters: The Longest Joke Ever Told on March 21, 2011
  
  Imagine your favorite action movie, chock full of exhilarating action and tongue-in-cheek humor. Then add in a little Neal Stephenson and Philip K. Dick, and you'll have Troubleshooters: The Longest Joke Ever Told. Angel, Haiwee, and Camaro each have a unique skill and his or her own set of troubles, and a powerful billionaire wants to attain a priceless and mysterious bottle. Of course, it couldn't be a simple grab and go. That wouldn't be fun. Only Healy manages to take the reader all around the world on a adrenaline-filled adventure that makes the story impossible to put down once you start it. The tech is fun and inventive (monowheels, anyone?), the international settings jump off the page in their authenticity, and the action is staged so impeccably you'll wonder if your behind is parked in a movie theater seat. Of course, Healy does teach a workshop on the subject of writing action using cinematic techniques, and anyone who wants a crash course on how it's done should either go to one of his workshops or pick up this book. You won't regret it.
  
• Bulletproof on Aug. 04, 2011
  
  The Harry Blaine short stories are awesome reads, and you can tell he really loves the world this character exists in. I love the concept of a cop hiding his superpower behind a badge. Totally worth a buck. In fact, any artist's good, hard work is worth at least that much.
  
• Pariah's Moon on Aug. 09, 2011
  
  Pariah's Moon gives you all the best things about epic fantasy (elves, magic, wizards bows and arrows) and deftly weaves them with classic western themes (an exiled lone hero seeks redemption among an indigenous people in a faraway land). Fill it all in with Healy's excellent pacing and his gift for action-based writing, and you'll a tight, thrilling tale with a lot of heart.
  
• The Milkman: SuperSekrit Extra Cheesy Edition on Aug. 25, 2011
  
  I could review The Milkman based strictly on its story, which is funny, irreverent, fast-paced, and original as hell (a milkman with a katana battles sentient alien farts with the help of an intrepid young reporter and a group of genius bikers who moonlight as rocket scientists... yeah, really, it's that off the wall), but I'm here to talk about how this is the sort of ebook that I think everybody should buy now, because it gives you a taste of what I think we all can come to expect ebooks to do for us in years to come. With the clever use of hyperlinks, Healy provides the reader with an enormous wealth of "bonus material," similar to what you'd see on a DVD. We have a commentary track. We have a soundtrack. There's even a "gag reel." Hilarious and original, it's the kind of book for people who love to know all the elements that go into writing a novel, the real-life locations or events that inspire settings or characters. The sorts of things that can turn a book into not only a light and fun read, but a total experience. You walk away with a great appreciation for the material. But even if you aren't into those kinds of things, the links aren't intrusive enough to interrupt the flow of the story. Click at will or don't, it's still a great story. I should also say that given the limits of current ebook technology, it had to be a seriously time-consuming feat for Healy to put together. Since this really is the future of electronic reading as we know it, I look forward to the day when doing something like this becomes standard practice, because I would love to write and read all of my books this way. What a fun experience this was. If you love going meta as much as I do, please check this out!
  
• Closing Shift on Aug. 30, 2011
  
  Holy moly. Let me first say, romance is not a genre I typically read, because I find it often laden with shallow schmaltz and the sort of on-the-nose predictability that makes the genre cliched and boring after awhile. This is not the case with Closing Shift. Garriepy uses a very deft hand to weave a tight, believable, dark and sexy tale of loneliness. The way Garriepy captured the awkwardness of Elli, comparing her to a marionette in the arms of the stranger, was so well done, I still have the image running through my head. And by the end, I gave an audible groan, because I didn't want it to be the end. This is the sign of great writing, and I hope to see more from this author.
  
• Mon Petit Ami on Oct. 05, 2011
  
  Mon Petit Ami tells a dark, twisted, funny tale about a desperate housewife spiraling into madness. Or... is she? It's the sort of story that will make you laugh and squirm in all the right ways, and you might never look at your kids' toys the same way again.
  
• Sam, the Strawb Part on Oct. 12, 2011
  
  Super cute and imaginative story that put a smile on my face. Kids and grownups alike would certainly appreciate it. And all proceeds go to a good charity. Would love to see this with accompanying illustrations someday.
  
• Just Cause on Dec. 30, 2011
  
  To the incredibly unfair reviewer below, you will notice that the reason this book is the same as Mustang Sally is because Ian Healy recently got a 4-book deal through New Babel Books to publish his Just Cause series. You might also notice that Mustang Sally is no longer on the market, because a publisher bought it. Instead of giving him a one-star rating that will unfairly drive down his business, and instead of accusing him of ripping you off (which he didn't), you should be congratulating him on his success and perhaps do a little research. There are numerous blogs that have been featuring stories about his book deal. To those who are interested in knowing exactly how good this book is, trust me: it's excellent. And I'm thrilled that Ian Healy is finally getting his work recognized by publishers and readers alike.
  
• The Color of Ash on May 24, 2012
  
  This story reads like one of my worst nightmares. A girl whose very touch brings about true destruction. Like Rogue from the X-Men, but about a hundred times worse. Buildings collapse, oceans dissolve, friends disintegrate into bloody masses and then finally evaporate into dust. The story seems well primed to become a series or even a full-length novel. Murakami is a talented writer, and I look forward to seeing what else she has up her sleeve.