If anyone told notorious thief Megan that she'd one day live in a royal palace with endless servants catering to her every need, she'd say he was crazy. But when this clever expert thief tries to liberate an expensive watch from a certain gentleman, she gets more than she bargained for.

As a child I desperately wanted to be an internationally renowned jockey, dashing across the open heath on Ireland's best pony, soaring over double oxers as if on wings. It was my greatest desire . . . except when I wanted to be a princess or a soldier or the world's first time-traveler.

The bad news is that I've never been a jockey or a princess or a soldier, but I am a time-traveler of sorts. With every book I write I get to spend a little bit of time in another world.

I get to experience the joys and terrors of a counter-reality; in a way I guess I have become those other people, and through the magic of literature, I get to take my readers with me.

So strap on your hunt caps, mates‹we're going for a ride.

Lois Greiman's books have been published in half a dozen foreign countries, won numerous awards, and continue to delight readers everywhere. You may contact her at:

PO Box 16, Rogers, MN 55374-0016 or lgreiman@earthlink.net.