I don't get many hits on my Blogs but read other blogs sometimes and comments that are posted. Hits and Kudos scores and writers concerns cropped up a few times.
I read historical stories aren't interesting to most readers and also noticed a lot of new writers and members yet a general decline in hits of all stories. There was some good advice.

As I will be having my daughter this weekend, I don't expect to be online much.

So I am gonna ask you guys for a favor.

Will you be extra nice to each other this weekend?

For me?

Thanks!

For those that do not know who she is.

Kristen Beck is a Retired US Navy Senior Chief and US Navy SEAL. After retiring in 2011 she came out as transgender and has transitioned. She co-wrote a book Warrior Princess and had a CNN documentary( here is the link= http://www.ladyvalorfilm.com/ )done on her, along with writing a new book now. She is an all around advocate for transgender changes and works and lives in DC.

First off, how's everyone doing? Good? Okay, great!

Secondly, it seems my muse has taken an extended vacation and I can't really seem to get back on track. My mind seems to be running with a lot of ideas, just can't seem to pin them down.
Anyone have some good advice?

Thanks,

Drakira

All is well other than a large amount of bleeding overnight and a trip to Doctors office for a clean wrap . Next week when the stitches come out I get a cast almost up to my knee "whoopee joy" for 4 or 5 weeks . Sponge baths at the sink again . Thank to all for the kind words and thoughts . HUGS AND KISSES :-) RICHIE

I've run across a particular error in a number of stories here recently.

People are writing about having been "put through the ringer".

That's wrong. It's "put through the *wringer*". A wringer was a gizmo on early washing machines where you used a crank to turn a pair of rollers which you fed wet clothing between. They'd squeeze out the water.

Getting a finger caught in one was rather painful for obvious reasons.

These days you find wringers on some industrial type mop buckets.

Related words phrases:

So, I've just posted the first chapter of Bellona which is a Hyperverse story. Since Bellona occurs chronologically before the rest of the stories, I'm focusing on it first before all my other writing. At least that's what I've decided now. This all may change.

On a side note, my deviated septum surgery has been a success and things are better. I had a medication change up which seems to be working better than what I was on before for some of my issues.

Good things it seems... for now...

*knocks on wood....

Be awesome everyone.

One of the very best IMHO acappella groupps around, Straight No Chaser. Please give it a listen. A version of The 12 Days Of Christmas that ISN'T boring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtLytp95gw The live versions are even better, although less in the sound quality, but superior, owing to the fact that you can see their visual hijinks as they perform.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Catherine Linda Michel

Wonder if that works on flesh?

Seven years... That's about 1/8th of my life I've been a registered member of this community. Wow. (Though, I started reading hear a few months previous, I was one of many "guest readers"...)

I started writing, registered and posted my first attempts at writing here when so encouraged by Karen Page and Angharad. And, wonder of wonders, I discovered I actually enjoyed writing. This was quite a surprise to me as I'd not voluntarily written ANYTHING since '71 when some classmates destroyed a play I wrote. (So, I assumed I couldn't do it... Write that is.)

Hey everyone, a good friend of mine and an author here is in the hospital with an infected heel on her foot. Please keep shalimar in your thoughts and prayers. I will keep people updated as I get more updates. She said it is okay to post about it here.

She has diabetes and has lost toes before, and this time she had a shoe that was bad and she didn't know it, so it has the heel on one food pink and smelling bad. Let's hope they can get her taken care of with antibiotics, because we don't want anything worse for her.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/teen-get...

Joey Alison Sayers stopped doing Thingpart years ago, but I just stumbled across this 5 year old strip. Her quirky sense of humor ages well.

December 9th, I see my surgeon about Orchidectomy, Clitoroplasty and possible breast augumentation but this might not be necessary, my breasts are doing okay.

Ah well, wish me luck girls and boys and 'inbetweenies'.

Well; I’m here. I’m not sure why, but I’ll start by pointing out I have a sissy fetish. Getting in touch with my feminine side through gender-swapping my clothing, altering my figure with removable prosthetic breast/hips (Thanks TheBreastFormStore!!!), applying makeup, and wigs sexually “does it for me”. Honestly, just as much as heterosexual sex.

This past April I had a accident at home (yes with a ladder) and broke my ankle almost ripping my foot off (it was close) now this Wednesday I will have the third surgery to repair my foot . The Doctor is breaking my foot to construct a new arch . I will need 1 more surgery to complete the repairs, but they can't do all the work as it is too much trauma to the body . The broken bones from April still have not healed completely OUCH
This at least will be out patient and only 8 to 10 weeks in a cast double OUCH.

I thought you might like an extra chapter as I'm away for a bit so, Bobsyerunkel! new chapter today.

If you have a Lulu account now is a good time to catch up with stuff! until December 25th you get a one off chance to save a whopping 25% off of a single order, yup make a saving, do some reading! Just use code KTP4 when you check out.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/scaramouch

ttfn

Mads

Pentatonix are a 5-person a capella group from Arlington, Texas in the USA, featuring 4 men and 1 woman.

Well, Sharon has told us that its confirmed that she will be going in for surgery, and so we will be hosting my daughter for at least four days - Friday through Monday.

This is going to be the most time I've spent with my daughter since we separated, and her mother is super against my transition and no doubt has pushed that view on Samantha, so I am kinda nervous ...

Hi Everyone. There have been a few times when I was in a jam and the wonderful users here @ BigCloset have helped me out immensely. Whether it was helping me buy a new mattress/boxspring for Bill and I when we were stuck in a motel during the mold cleanup, or helping me setup a fund to get a vehicle and get my life back on track, and even helping us come up with the security deposit for the apartment we are in.

So it's now that I come to you with my hat in my hand, and my heart in my throat, asking for help once again.

Finally, I get to post here again!

I'm still working on my novel for traditional publication, but my stories for BigCloset keep pulling at me. I've finally gotten to the end of chapter 5 of No Rules, and I present it for you, hoping I haven't been totally forgotten. *grin*

Bon Apettit!

Black Friday.

Almost unheard of in the UK two years ago. Now it's everywhere you look.

Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans and our friends everywhere.

And many thanks,
Erin, Piper, Cat and the gang

To all my friends online, to all the people who make this site such a welcoming REAL home to many, to all the readers, commenters, authors and to a very special group of people who I love dearly, you know who you are, HAPPY THANKSGIVING and I wish you all a very happy holiday season as well.

Be careful out there and be safe. You are all very important to me. "God Bless us, every one."

Holiday huggles,
Catherine Linda Michel

It would have been Huw's 34th birthday today. Didn't feel much like writing, sorry.

Angharad

On facebook I belong to a group that revolves around playing the game Real Racing 3 (awesome game by the way) and I am quite active in it. I was talking to one of the people who play the game and we got to talking about my books and that led me to revealing that I am transgender.

Their response:

You want to be a guy, I don't see it.

Priceless. With all the dark and dreary, I needed that.

Sorry about the slow recent progress but I've been having a hectic time preparing for a period to come away from internet. I hope to be able to get back to the adventures of Venus in a couple of weeks.

Thank you all for your support with the story so far and your patience

Rhona

When I was in junior high I skipped a lot of school, and one of the shows that was still going around on basic cable was the dreadful Mission Impossible. I never saw this particular episode until a friend mentioned it over dinner last night. Barry Williams (Greg Brady!) in drag with Leonard Nimoy, with both of them doing unforgiveable latin accents.

But some authors are putting up several stories/episodes at once. This is a bit unfair as the front page is somewhat taken over with these stories and gives other authors less time on the front page and listing on the shortcuts.

Once a story goes off the front page, read counts go down considerably, so the longer a story is visible, the better chance an author gets for her work to be read.

Please think of others when posting several things at once.

Hugs
Sue

I was read this story on Huffington Post, about a trans-woman that died and her family had her put in the casket dressed and made up as man. Not only was I disgusted at what the family did, but the comments were equally disturbing. I could actually hear the banjos playing in my head from reading what some people said.
I may never transition, but if I do, I would like to be buried as I was presenting myself to the world.

I promise, NO Drama.

Since 2005, I have been determined to forge a place in society for myself and those like me. I've stubbornly insisted and fought for a place in society as a woman, and to an amazing extent, that dream has been realized. It has been a long time since anyone has challenged me on the street or off it.

In spite of my total lack of understanding, the Mormon members around me have been kind and healing and supportive. That the upper management of the church has issues with those like me, actually arouses the ire of the members.

I posted my very first novel "The Frozen Balance" here on BCTS, starting in 2009.

Recently Erin has been immensely kind and added the updated version that I submitted for the Amazon annual competition to the Hatbox. It's exclusively available there for the next six months (at least) as I wanted to offer something back to the site that started me on my journey and for the many friends, including the sister of my heart, who have so generously helped me along the way.

Persephone

Hah./Grrrr....

Just burned off a chapter for 'Summer of Love' that I'm really happy with, but it's too far into the story.... I haven't gotten nearly close to the plot/character development to use this... but, wow.... I wrote it, slept on it and revisited it a couple of days later, and it still has the emotional ...punch... I felt when I wrote it. Or maybe transcribed it is a better word, because I only half-joke about the muse. Sometimes I read stuff and think. 'I was only the typist. I'm not capable of stuff like this.'

I've a really sad story to tell. A young woman named Jennifer Gable, transitioned from a man years ago. That's the last time I will mention her as trans.

So, she was apparently a customer service rep for Wells Fargo, in Idaho. Wells Fargo hires anyone they wish as long as they can do the job. She attended Boise State, studying Art and Drama.

She unexpectedly dropped dead at work with an aneurism. Doubly sad is that her father had her hair cut and had her buried as a male.

I had to go to a colleague's leaving do so haven't had time to write Bike for tonight. Hopefully will be back to my usual boring self tomorrow to describe in tedious detail another few minutes in the life of Cathy and her family. Bonzi had offered to do it for me but the daft old bugger got shut out and was soaking wet when I returned from the restaurant. Why couldn't Whizz do it for me, I hear you ask, but her spelling and punctuation is worse than mine.

Not too long ago I was contacted by someone from Poland about doing an interview. Can you imagine? Poland? Didn't know I made it there, guess I should put another thumbtack in the big map I have. Anyway, they run a pretty big blog and have interviewed a lot of notable people and decided to include me. I guess to some I'm a heroine. I hope I'm not too addictive.

If anyone cares, and I can't imagine anyone not caring, here is the interview link. Share a comment here and there.
.

Wonderful news.

After my first consultation with my psychiatrist on October 22nd I have been classed DM 5 and he has agreed I am suitable for GRS. Letter has been sent to my GP and she has prescribed Oestrogen plus Spiro.

We have agreed to suspend any breast augumentation because my breasts are growing nicely and it is better to wait and see where they end up before deciding what augumentation (if any) they need. So far they are close to 36/38 B to C; they still appear to be growing and very noticeable..

I spend a lot of time on Facebook talking about things that matter to me. Oddly, I have yet to be confronted on TG issues, and this is surprising to me because I have pictures and everything right there.

A couple different people including the TED group put up things about Transgender folk and gratifyingly they were supportive and not snide at all. Perhaps things are turning around for us?

Sure, there were those who demonstrated their hate and ignorance. I think the anger was mostly manifested by the profoundly ignorant.

Khadijah

I am a Co-Facilitator of a 'Vet 2 Vet' Peer Support Group at two of the VA Hospitals in the Boston area for Transgender Veterans and other LGBT Veterans that wish to join us also. I have not super active with the group for a while, because I was in school for 9 months and had to miss meeting due to classes. Then I became homeless and entered a program myself at the VA to deal with some of my own personal issues. Now I am missing the groups, because I am taking a Certification Program, offered by the state.

Below is a picture showing the first page of JG Ballard's Crash. The marks all over it are the author's edits. When I'm doing my own edits, I do this. I print out my work to edit in a different font (and font size) so that it doesn't look the same as it does on the screen. I've read and can testify from experience that changing how the text looks can help see it fresh. It can help you see those things that you gloss over from familiarity and such.

I also thought it was just neat as hell.

Ashleigh Blayze:

So, in trying to find her, it seems that the last time she visited this site was in June of 2012. Has anyone here had contact with her? I am not thinking of badgering her for more of her science fiction, but would like to know how she is doing and to wish her the best.

Khadijah

PS: I have a strong suspicion that Ashleigh Blayze is one of the authors here who chose to write in a different voice. All I can say is bravo!

Just in time for the holiday rush. All 4 books of the God Bless the Child saga are on sale for $.99 each. While your out shopping and fighting the madness, an awesome collection of books can await you on your kindle, tablet, or android phone.

This may be one of the best transgender series ever written, and that's not just me talking. Maybe others would like to chime in. Be sure to have a box of kleenex, you'll need them

Today's my birthday, So this is my shameless plug. Sorry :(. To be honest if it wasn't for this site and my friends here I wouldn't be here. Thank You Erin, Piper and the rest off the girls here at Big Closet Topshelf.

Indeed, after several quite hectic weeks this current seven day has been very quiet, no trips, no deadlines, work has been exceptionally quiet too. The weather has been quite poor, fog, rain and otherwise overcast which hasn't helped my chesty cold one iota! in short its typical November weather.

It does mean that I've got five Gaby chapters written so the next run is well on schedule for its end of month release.

Of course its only two weeks before my Rheinland Weinachtsmarkt trip and just five weeks until the day itself - where did the year go?

So I'm back again at home and there's much to do.

The trip over was fine and we had a reasonable time, but since returning I've struggled to do much at all.

Three months ago I wound up stepping on something and cutting the bottom of my foot. It might have been a nail since that was about the time I was having work done on the house to open up the living room and remove a bedroom. Long story short, foot got infected.

Is anyone else having probs getting the home page to load completely? On my machine right now, I only get the story lists, but none of all the other stuff. Blogs, comments, ads, the In Memoriam list, who's online right now,a ll that stuff just won't load. I'm using the same MacBook that I've always used and havein't done anything that I could think of to cause this prob.

Catherine Linda Michel

So this is interesting, or at least I think so.

Today I got a certified letter in the mail. It is an invitation for me to try out for a reality television show. It appears that one of the networks wants to put on something to rival "The Biggest Loser" and because of my sports background they think I'm a good candidate.