Silena appeared out of the woods, her sword drawn. Her Aphrodite armour was pink and red, colour coordinated to match her clothes and makeup. She looked like Guerilla Warfare Barbie.

When I was young, my favorite picture book was 'Fletcher and Zenobia,' written by Edward Gorey and illustrated by Victoria Chess. It's long out of print now, but its mix of macabre humor and 1960s psychedelia made it a perfect children's book for the times.

Even from far away, I could see people being chased by hellhounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus patches or listen to opera music.

Our problems started in Dallas, when the fire-breathing sheep destroyed the King Tut exhibit.

I was glad to be with her, but it also kind of hurt, and it hurt when I wasn't with her, too.

Everybody loves to show up at the party once all the hard work is done.

Look, I never wanted to be a half-blood. most of the time it gets you killed in nasty, dangerous ways.