Happy Friday everyone! Don’t forget to visit me at the Scribes today and meet guest author Donna Shields!

In case you haven’t noticed before, I have a thing for owls. When I updated my blog, the first image I reached for was an owl. I found the owl to the left at a shop in Mystic, CT called Whyevernot. The only reason this guy isn’t in my collection is because he cost $149.00.

I’m pretty sure my owl obsession began with my youngest son and his first stuffed owl – Oogles. We found Oogles sitting alone on a shelf at Old Sturbridge Village. He (yes, he’s a boy), was already looking a bit man-handled. My son reached out from his stroller and latched on.

Over the years, Oogles has had many adventures. He even has his own Christmas hat.

Oogles is still with us and he still looks a bit care-worn, but he is well loved all the same.

From there we (younger son and me) steadily began acquiring more and more stuffed owls. But we didn’t stop there.

We moved onto to glass ones, owl mugs, owl lawn ornaments. Owl Christmas ornaments. You name it – we probably have one with an owl on it.

Lest you think I’m totally crazy and need a hoarders intervention, I don’t have a zillion of them. Not yet anyway.  Although if you did come to my house, you wouldn’t have to look far to find an owl.

I’ve often wondered what makes us gravitate towards certain animals. When I was growing up I had a thing for unicorns (what teenage girl doesn’t have a brief fling with the lovely unicorn?) and a later I really liked penguins.

I know, I know. I’m strange!

But admit it. We all like some things more than others. And for me, it’s the owl and their soulful eyes and quiet presence. They are silent predators in the wild. But in my house, they are my constant watchers.

And they’ll be my companions as I begin my next adventure.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing my next book. Since the release of Mystic Ink and the positive reception, I’ve decided to write the next book in the series – Mystic Storm (one of these days I will complete Devil’s Advocate!). This is Zephyr’s book. God of the West Wind. I won’t say more than that. If you read Mystic Ink, then you know why he’s up next.

Until next time, remember – Owl love you forever!

Time to share. What’s your favorite obsession? Anything you like to collect? Any owl lovers out there??