Okay, so last night I had a pretty strange dream. In the the dream, I was at a house with a bunch of other people, when a man came in with a huge trunk. He opened the trunk, and furniture popped out - and creatures I can only describe as shadow-spiders, basically a ball of darkness with little tendrils that it used like legs.

I backed up, and said, "I'm afraid of those shadow-things."

As if attracted by the sound of my voice, one of the shadow-spiders leaped towards me, with shadow fangs ready to strike.

It's a bit controversional because of some comites / groups that are just a bit on the nationalist / right wing / phobic side but tomorrow, April 25th, is ANZAC day.2020.

It's a day I try to keep in mind each year.

The war from 14-18 also known as World War 1 or the War to end all wars wasn't just a 'thing' for Europe. Gallipoli is one of the most infamous especially in the ANZAC coutries. But soldiers of all over the commonwealth, the colonies served in 'Flanders' fields. Almost every skin collor know to man served 'next' to each other down in those trenches.

I got something almost done, but its not a "story" per se.

Its a brief recounting of the background and history of one of my favorite fictional universes.

I have no idea how its gonna be received.

(Hides in blanket fort)

my apologies

My Muse issued another 4 hour challenge

A four hour challenge is a form of improvisation. The goal sometimes is to work through a writer's block and overcome one's distraction.

Anyone can do it. Like getting into shape, you can't start off by running a four minute mile.

A four hour challenge is like a wind sprint. I not expecting Coleridge or Dickens to issue forth out of me. What I am trying to achieve is to flex my brain into brainstorming and letting the creative juices flow more freely.

I am not sure who reads my blogs or whether people go back to read my replies, so I am starting a new conversation on this topic.
In a recent blog I received these comments:
Alys9 said: One category of story I find unsatisfying ... where the new girl suddenly and thoroughly becomes nicer, cleverer, and often better looking and more skilled than the better-practised real-girls who have become her friends. It just exaggerates and makes the story unlikely.

Yep new chapter up and how does this happen?

"Go with it, we are getting kidnapped...OH this is going to be SO much fun!" Rehanna giggled like mad mentally and nearly cackled with increasing glee!

Rohanna happily went with it, she let her body go completely limp and pretended along with her twin to be out cold!

and what will come next time?

have fun all!

The other day I was feeling pretty good about myself. Admittedly that is a common occurrence as I'm almost as self-confident as our Fearless Leader, who has plenary power according to Mike Pence. Being a former altar boy myself I know that when Pence uses the word "plenary" he's calling on his Baltimore Catechism education to define "plenary" as absolute and unqualified.

What caused me to trip the light narcissistic was the ever growing number of hits on my old stories.

Then an disturbing thought crossed my mind.

How many of those hits are actually bots?

Here we go!

I just finished a novel about a family with a transgender child that I don't recall seeing mentioned here. THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS by Laurie Frankel is well written and realistic. I enjoyed it and I think many of you would too.

I got a new story up. Hope you guys like it: https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/84436/coven-encounter

Other than the obvious benefit of the quarantine, there is a side affect. I do not have to worry about people dropping in unexpectedly and catching me in mutually awkward attire.

Well, the next chapter of Tommy - The Trials and Tribulations of a Girl? is out. It took a kick in the butt to my muse and a couple of early mornings with a lot of coffee to put the finishing touches on it. So, I hope that you enjoy it.

Hugs,

Teddie

I had a relatively ok start to today but then something happened, which I'm not going to go into, which left me feeling off and unsettled that lead to the coup de grace as it were and now I feel like the world is coming down on me and I feel like I'm not worth it.

I normally wouldn't bring this up but right now, I really need to hear a friendly word or two.

Well, it appears the ssd in my Mac mini is failing. Good news is, most of my files are backed up (including all my stories... phew). Mainly the files I stand to loose are master images related to my website, and, while I would be rather bummed to loose them, they're nothing I can't recreate. I am attempting to recover them, but we'll see how that turns out.

Hey everyone,

Due to a power outage yesterday that cost me a lot of progress, and some issues getting the chapter to feel right,the new chapter of Twice Removed won't be finished today. I will try for tomorrow, but depending on how well it goes, it may be delayed to next week. Sorry about this, but the power outage really threw off my writing groove. :(

*big hugs to all*

Amethyst

So last night, I got to thinking about a conversation I had a few days ago, where I mentioned I always found kissing someone on the lips upsetting. And in fact I used to say I'd rather kiss or be kissed anywhere but the lips. As I was mulling this over, it occurred to me that this sense of panic reminded me of the panic I got going into a shower, and I wondered if it has a similar cause - that at some point, a kiss on the lips got associated with something terrible, something I couldnt recall consciously recall but my body responded to.

Every morning I listen to the Bob And Tom Show on Iheart radio. For the past couple of weeks they've also been streaming the show on you tube with a chat option and I've become a regular in the chat. Many of the folks in the chat even remembered to wish me a happy Birthday.

Its the 6.05 special!

I just finished "Emily", and before that "Boy's School" by Sarah Lynn Morgan. I'm saving "The Gift of The Unicorn" until last. I love sweet, romantic stories, perhaps because there so little of that in lives. I've been pleased to sigh with longing, to giggle with mirth, and to nearly swoon at sweet moments.

The last I heard from Sarah is that she'd missed out on a job with NASA, and was heartbroken. I wish her well and hope that she is pleased with life and that there were bright spots.

For the first time I was able to wear a dress for Easter service. One benefit of shelter in place, online church service.

not far from here!

I love so many stories on this site, but I tend to concentrate on the older stories because they are complete.

In a recent blog someone mentioned how many good new stories there were... So I'm asking for some recommendations from the newer stories (which probably encompasses anything in the past few years) .

I prefer longer or complete stories. If it's incomplete, hopefully it has a regularish update.

I read pretty much anything, but I'd prefer no forced sissification or humiliation.

Thanks in advance!

Just read the latest AuPreviner story and it kind of struck a nerve with me that is neither good or bad. Abortion was mentioned and I'm Pro-Choice in regards to the fact that it should be up to the individual whether they should Have one or Not have one. It should not be political. But it is here in the USA anyways.

Happy Easter!

I hope it doesn’t need to be said, but it can’t hurt. I’m not defending the character that I sketched in “The Monster”.

I think most scientists, accept that there is a finite amount of matter in the university.

Given that; where were you one year before you were born?

I never thought I'd be saying this

This afternoon (actually just a few minutes ago), when I tried to get to Big Closet Top Shelf, my Malwarebytes gave the following warning and blocked the site:

Website blocked due to reputation

Website blocked: bigclosetr.us
Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocked this website because it may contain malware activity.
We strongly recommend you do not continue.

In spite of this warning, I have connected daily for about a decade without problems (except occasionally having to reenter my password), so I told Malwarebytes not to block it in the future.

One of my most profound joys is seeing other Authors find success in the real world.

Some of you may remember a story called "Legacy of the Anari" on this site. It was pure Sci Fi and expertly written. The Author showed amazing imagination.

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/promoLanding?promoCode=7ca...

Not much more needs to be said!

There are some great books TG books (from this site and elsewhere) that are free to read with KU.

This last year or two has been really trying and I haven't really been here much, for that and anyone that might have been reading my story... I truly am sorry. I know most, if not all of us, have their own personal demons that they constantly have to deal with, I know that I'm not special in that regard. For a long time I had thought that I had finally gotten them beaten into submission, while not truly gone they for the most part were pretty quiet for a few years after I started my transition. I had gotten a bit too care free I guess.

For the last many months there has been a running total for a "debt kitty" on the right of the home page.

It would appear that the goal will soon be reached, if it hasn't already.

Maybe you should then start amassing a strategic reserve of $30,000.

It's time for you to create a perpetuation plan. The first step in such a plan would be adequate liquidity.

You could keep your "kitty" theme by calling it a "cat" fund (catastrophe).

Jill

Woman in the Corner Office. It takes too long to type it all the time. In any case I just wanted to say I will post Friday mornings and Monday afternoons, two chapters at a time. I know they are short. They are first person 'in the moment' so will not have all the details a narrator might impart. I could have posted four chapters at once but then I would have posted once a week instead of twice.

Playing with Alien Toys is now available on Amazon.

Please find below the link for the Amazon page.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086QRZ43H

The fabulous artwork for the cover was done by Mantori.

Hugs

Savannah

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times" Never have Dickens' words been more apposite. Crises like this bring out the best and the worst in people. I would like to express my thanks to the other authors on this site. A small silver lining in this big black cloud is that I have more free time to read some of the magnificent stories which continue to be posted and provide a welcome distraction from the continual bad news as the virus spreads around the globe, and so many of us are confined to our homes. We all appreciate your work.

For all of you who read today's chapter of I Wish, thank you so much for reading my work, I love you all.

That being said I pulled a small April Fools joke, by omitting the last paragraph of the chapter. It's there now though if anyone wants to see how it really ends and read the April fools comment I posted at the end.

Here's hoping you can all take a joke, but I'm going to hide from rotten foodstuffs, just in case.

*big hugs to you all*

Amethyst

You are caught in a snow blizzard and take refuge in a Coaching Inn.
The landlord shows you to a table for the evening meal and you find you are sharing a table with…

Well for me it would be the late Sir Terry Pratchett. Author of my favourite book, ‘Night Watch’. I will regret all my life I never had the chance to meet him.

But who would you choose to share that meal with, be they dead or alive?

Filled with the Milk of Human Kindness is now available on Amazon.

Please find below the link for the Amazon page.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086KZVMLT

The fabulous artwork for the cover was done by Mantori.

Also, just letting you know that I am intending to publish Playing with Alien Toys, Sad Smiles, My Unexplained Entity Intervention and possibly Campfire Songs at some point fairly soon.

Hugs

Savannah

Well, luckily, I don’t really have a fever - just a case of cabin fever, so to speak.

So both of my sons have been through a two or three day cycle of low grade fever - around 100.3F for both of them. But both are back to normal now, and feeling better. The youngest, who started first is doing really well. His brother, my oldest, is about two days behind him and says he is still feeling a little run down.

I’m a prisoner in my home with time on my hands.

Over the years, I’ve made the statement many times that there is very little correlation between the quality of writing and the number of hits, quotes, and kudos.

To test this -- I took the last ten stories I’ve posted on BC. . .that still are posted as free stories and listed them in order of the best to worst. They’re my stories, I can do that. Unlike kids, having a favorite story is allowed.

It may be my birthday but sure doesnt seem happy. With everything going on right now its like ...stressful.

I am pretty much over my cold, no fever at all during cold, but throat is still very raw. Talking is a little hard, who knows I may end up needing antibotics.

yep, it may look nice outside but that wind is cruel and cold!

I went searching for Whateley and came up empty.. Is it still in existence? Where has it moved to?
Help!!

Thanks
Jo

An author I follow elsewhere is offering some of his books for free. His books are usually based around the main char having some sort of super power either in this world or an alternate universe. The author is PS Power. You can find details of his books on Amazon.

To go on a list to get the books:
email me at [email protected] and I will manually add you to the list. That will get you a copy of new books, short stories, pen name books as they come out, and any back list book that I fix with a new edit.

Eat all the garlic and onions you want! ;-)

Hey, it might even be good for your immune system.

As Emma released in theaters around my area a week or two before CV lockdown it hit VOD almost immediately. This was a wonderful Romantic Comedy which I enjoyed thoroughly with Anya Taylor Joy as the title character being a delight. Every other character fell into place almost perfectly, especially Mr.Knightly with a look of scruffy hansomeness which endears one to him. An incredible set design displays a melange of pastels with impeccable colonial houses that are surely aged but look brand new. The costumes present a sumptuous feast for the eyes.