I am looking to have Doppler Press publish yet another anthology of my short stories on Amazon / Kindle.
Firstly a word about Doppler - Profits from this enterprise are applied to keeping BCTS going, so please support this publishing house and their authors, many of whom are part of this community.
But what I am looking for is somebody to help with my next book as my latest foreword writer.
Just to let people know that Fictionmania has successfully changed servers and is back and running, albeit with my recent postings there, gone.
It was interesting that when WebDeb advised us it was down there was a couple of comments about FM like - "nothing but soft core porn, most of the time" and "more sexually oriented material, for they who prefer more erotic fare". There was also the chilling statement - "PROJECT 2025 won't see any difference - if it's transgender, it's PORN; and a danger to the Fatherland".
Here is my comment in response:
Yesterday I posted a story from my Amazon anthology of historical stories - Amazon link below.
I have always been interested in Alexander the Great, and his early death frustrated and puzzled me. His love affair with Hephaestion was well known, and losing him affected Alexander greatly (no pun intended). I simply thought that there was a story to tell.
I would interested in hearing about other TG alternative history stories out there.
I am just letting people know that I have lodged my entry and I think it is the first one.
Being not content with my last adventure doing the silk road by road and rail east to west, I am off again soon and my not be back until late October, so I am getting in now, although Christmas still seems a long way off!
Maryanne
What with all the recent talk about writer's block, I have posted a story about a helpful publisher sending around the solution. https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/103557/unblocked
Perhaps Doppler needs to consider recruiting this kind of helper?
Maryanne
People may know me as that tiresome contributor who writes way too much and often produces stuff full of errors.
Which is why I need an editor when it comes to passing on my serious material to be turned into published works on Amazon through Doppler Press. Readers will know that Doppler revenues contribute to Big Closet Top Shelf so we all win if people buy my stories.
I have lost touch with Gabi and Bronwen is busy with other things. Eric is on standby for my more specialized collections but I am in need of an editor for the rest.
Because we need you ...
And I need you in particular, because there are books to be published and story ideas to be run up your flagpole ...
And Eric has almost finished my second book of western micro-novellas and it contains some of my best material that you and all the closeteers out there are going to just adore!
Hugs
Maryanne
I am in desperate need of an editor to help me with my anthologies to be published on Amazon.
My current fantastic editor is over-burdened but I do have some interesting books lined up to be published by Doppler Press (with a benefit coming back to Big Closet) once they have been properly proofread and checked for internal inconsistencies. Can any body help.
Today I looked at reviews on a story I posted on Fictionmania and found this one, from a reviewer calling themselves "King" - "I would ask you to reflect on whether the stories and work you're doing is a force of good or one of wrong. What's the legacy being left behind and is it one of moral good. We all have the capability to do good,and you should reflect on the values and ideas being normalized and propagated by yourself. Please do better".
I have to say that these words did give me pause, and perhaps we should all reflect on whether our fiction has a greater purpose.
I tried to post a story today and this is what came up!
I just wanted to post a vignette today, but I suppose that it could go in a book (I have found one called "Maryanne Peters")
How is this supposed to work?
Maryanne
Doppler Press has recently published my 20th book on Amazon "Heroes of Romance" - link below https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C37KVDGD
I always invite fans to write the forewords but in the case of "Heroes" I did invite Joyce Melton herself (my publisher and sometime collaborator) to write it, because the whole concept was her idea. Her touching note reveals that she too, is a fan.
Erin and I have been shooting the breeze with Erin about the potential of AI generated images.
Forget ChatGPT! Besides, we are writers and we don't need some robot to tell us what words to use - right?
But images ... now, imagine what we could do with images, especially if we don't have the talent or the time.
At last I have my nineteenth anthology of short stories up on Amazon. This is another collection on the theme of crime and criminals and has 19 stories including many that have not been published here. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BY5B83SZ
I had thought to announce that last month was marked by my 300th story on Big Closet Top Shelf but it appears that I may have already passed that mark long ago. I will explain the confusion later.
I received a nice message from Dot before the year turned commending me on the variety of my stories, and that is what I am trying to achieve. This is despite the fact that I confine myself to stories that are real (no magic or fantastical sex change) and in the main involve a change where the subject is (at least at first) unwilling.
People may know that I also post on another site, where I get a lot of reads but they have nothing like "kudos" to assess how people receive what I write. I only have comments to go on, and those are usually positive but sometimes not. Comments are no real guide.
I was recently drawn to look at "hits" and to try to understand why there is a variation. I would seem that kudos depends on hits so as a general rule I tell myself that over 5% kudos by hits is a pass mark. Significantly more than 5% shows true appreciation.
I am pleased to see that BCTS readers accepted my story “Discharged – Female” for what it was – A harrowing work of fiction firmly based on researched fact bringing to light appalling injustices done to gay people during South Africa’s apartheid regime. Some on Fictionmania saw it as something very different.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
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