Ho hum,

let me start by telling you the news that will probably make some of you giggle but I would ask you to try not to!

As you may be aware, I have been in my 'new' house in the UK for nearly three weeks of this month. The intention was to do very little but get Julina through the rains.

Best laid plans etc etc etc

I have been thinking about how much I dislike certain weaknesses of MS Word. The last time that I had a word processor that I really liked, it was Word Perfect and had a blue screen with white type. I started to look at the cost, and a version that I might like is around $100. Then I began to wonder what sort of passive aggressive hijinks that Microsoft might get up to in retaliation if I jumped ship?

I just received this at 10:43AM this morning.

Hello,

Thank you for the e-mail concerning the status of your account.

After reviewing your response, we have reinstated your account, but we are upholding our previous decision to remove the following books from Amazon:

Missing Without A Trace: A Kelly Mitchell Mystery (ASIN:B07BBW4T2X)
Missing Without A Trace: A Kelly Mitchell Mystery (ASIN:B07BF9FKJ4)

Please note that you are ineligible to receive any KU and KOLL royalties related to these books.

Well, I am probably going to be at the hospital all day today, as my daughter Samantha is going in for surgery.

Wish us all good luck.

Somebody has just entered a Patreon pledge at "UNOBTAINIUM level" for $500/month.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

All those people who claim not to have a life have seen fit to give them to me!!! I began this latest offering in early December hoping to have my annual seasonal fluff ready. At this point (tonight) I am sick of looking at it. I'm not quite sure I even like it. But dealing with three little men and one really huge child, as well as a minor medical issue, I decided to simply toss it to the wind...so to speak. I must admit it is somewhat of a provincial tale but then again so am I.

As some of you are aware, I don't have my own internet connection, I have a bit of a time share thing at my parents - hence only uploading stuff on Sunday and Wednesday. (i'm writing this on my phone if you were wondering) it really is my lifeline through which I publish and indeed some sites I can't access fully through the phone (ebay, Amazon etc)

Okay, I give up. I guess I be consulting with a lawyer now.
I wish all you other self-publishers good luck.
Hopefully it won't happen to you.

Just received an email from Kindle Direct Publishing, which deleted itself when I closed the email.

They have completed their review and the cancellation of my account and termination of my contract with KDP is now permanent. I will receive no royalties, and I am permanently banned from opening another account with them or publishing any more books with them. No further correspondence or discussion of this matter will occur.

I contacted Amazon and they said they'll look into it, but I am not hopeful.

Every month Erin has to BEG on bended knee, for money to help keep Top Shelf functioning and with the exception of a few who regularly go far past what might be expected, the contributions trickle in with no real solution that could eliminate the problem.

Well, here's my solution. It seems painfully obvious to me, but I understand if it doesn't to everyone else.

There are in excess of TEN THOUSAND members on this site. If each of them would just contribute ONE DOLLAR, each month, it would eliminate any need for Erin to have to BEG for any monetary help.

So, the full 40 chapter edition of the 22nd Gaby book, Avoidance, is just about ready to go - it should find its way onto Kindle and Lulu on Sunday.

There are a few corrections from the 10 chapter editions but nothing that changes the story. I have once again included the cast of characters - not just for this book but for the whole series - it's not exhaustive but does at least give some solidarity to the cast.

There is also a new cover illustration from Mizutamari which I think fits the book better overall.

Everyone should be aware no matter how progressive the world seems, there is still hate of all kinds. Name a race, religion, color, gender, man, boy, woman, girl, etc. there is someone who hates another for one unexplainable reason or another. Men need to be careful, they aren't normally the targets of opportunity because of size and strength. Women need to be careful, cautious, always alert, and defensive. The predator mind seems to think women are the easiest prey because smaller, physically weaker gender.

I'm running a bit behind on reading/commenting on entries (what can I say, I'm terrible at time management,) but if the number of other comments and kudos is anything to judge by then the contest will be fierce.

If you're not sure on the details, just click that story tag over this blog here, and it will take you to a list of all the entries so far, as well as the rules for new stories.

Bonus: if we can get at least 20 entries in total, I'll donate a dollar to the hatbox for every entry written.

Melanie E.

I was looking at my account info here, and discovered that my 9th anniversary of being on this site had come and gone without me noticing.

Ah, well, belated happy anniversary to me.

You guys are still the best bunch of crazies I've found yet ...

That Rebecca Jane person has pulled me into another one of her stories. I've only read the first installment (ch 1-3) of Robbie's Revelation so far, but at least this one is finished.

Looks like it's going to be an all-nighter. :-D

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book-page/64682/robbies-revel...

So who's ready for another not-in-any-way-sanctioned-by-management story contest?

Melanie E.'s Fairy Kiss-and-Tale Contest

Dates: May 1st 2018 - May 31st 2018

Everyone loves a little romance, and everyone loves a good fairy tale, right? Well, here's your chance to write your own mash-up of the two!

Well it was a bit hectic and I've been sweating on the line but I'm pleased to say that the concluding segment of Gaby - Avoidance is finished. It should be live via the usual suppliers this evening - links below.

Lulu dead tree
Lulu digital
Kindle ASIN: B07D23BSN3

April was a busy month, busy doing mostly nothing.

okay, so anyone following this blog knows the last while has not been very good for me.

Today kinda made up for it.

First, it was a hot day, so I decided to break out a skirt for the first time this year, and while I was out walking the dog, an elderly lady complimented me on my outfit, making me blush.

Then, tonight, I took Sharon and Samantha to a pizza place for supper, and as I got out of the car, Samantha remarked on the skirt, suggesting that I might want shorts under it in case a breeze blew it up, and Sharon agreed.

It's been 5 months since I posted? How times flies when you're NOT having fun. This flood repair stuff is getting VERY old. To get a quality contractor means getting your name on a wait list and then trying to be patient. Add in that the mold and dust and normal allergens have my sinuses messed up, and it gets even more un-fun. I'm on my sixth or seventh course of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections. But today we got cabinets! It is making progress slowly, so that's a bit encouraging.

I thought I was doing well, but I started bleeding, which triggered me, and now I feel like I'm trying to just stay afloat in an ocean of bad memories.

Hugs appreciated.

Denise Anesidora Trask, wrote the story, The Last of the Fey. It's titled Book One. I wish I had met this amazing woman. Sadly the best I can do is to make a donation in her name. Erin, I've tossed a few coins into the collection pot. Already headed to the pot.

Okay. I know that Top Shelf and it's owners etc have nothing to do with it anymore, but I am having a problem with the sign-in process at The Crystal Hall.

I've tried changing my sign in name and password but the site won't allow it and I can't get signed in.

Anyone got a clue about this? Email me at cathy_t_99 At yahoo.com or message me here at Top Shelf.

Thanks in advance.

Catherine Linda Michel

What story was the precursor to Prudence Walker's Identikit? I remember the story, about a guy traveling cross country to find a job. He discovers a crashed spacecraft and finds some items on the ship that he takes with him. One is a laptop that changes his appearance and body. He runs into a woman named Prudence Walker and towards the end Bob Arnold. He spends a lot of time as a woman.

Paula

Being educated means that you know WHERE to go for the information you need. Take away for your own use a few of the writing tips offered here. I've quoted Victoria Waddle before and she continues to have useful resources and tips.

Just a short missive from Yorkshire today. Well on one of the best May BH Sundays ever (sunshine, blue skies, no wind or clouds - unheard of for a UK BH!) i'm pleased to relate that I completed the 2000+m of climbing squeezed into 129 Pennine kilometres in a time of 5hrs 30mins. Not too shabby for an old git and I didn't resort to walking anywhere despite grades in the high teens and low twenties (1 in 4 ish if you are old skool on these things.)

Hello all again, it's been a busy month but things are falling into a routine and I'm writing more again.

Bad news: the Twin Tails game is ending a bit abruptly thanks to difficulties the GM is having with the campaign structure. I'll try to tie off the story to give everyone closure but that'll be it for Amaya and Akiko for a while. I'm a bit saddened I'm not going to get to play them for a while, but I'll probably re-make them for a new game later on.

Well as i'll be out 'enjoying' a ride through the Yorkshire Dales tomorrow and I've scragged a bit of web time tonight you benefit by getting a Gaby chapter!

Yep, Science Mädchen is up now for your delectation and delight!

see you all soon and don't forget to let me know what you think about the Gaby Cyclefest.

toodlepip
Mads

well, I think I spoke too soon about my depression lifting. I'm in a bad place where the only relief I seem to get from sadness is just being numb.

Worse, my writing has dried up, leaving me without one of my major outlets for dealing with crap.

I'm sorry to have to ask, but all hugs, prayers, or positives about me are appreciated.

I saw your comment on Amazon about the “book” that I wrote. “Swifter, Higher, Stronger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CV4HFYJ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=...

You stated, “This is an excellent story by Angela that wastes a lot of potential by not giving us even more. We get vignettes of the protagonist's life when we could have had stories. What's here is very good. What's missing would have made this book gold medal quality.”

Good news and bad news:

Tried to upload a jpg file 1,013 kb with story. Receiving message file is too large to upload, need less than 2 MB
Okay, I'm less than the upload limit and the problem exists where?

So after missing most of April I've caught May early!

It's not easy to Awaken. It's even harder when Awakening as fey brings about miraculous, amazing, and frightening changes that alter your life forever. Where do you go? Whom can you trust? What kind of life is possible when you're so different from everyone else?

“Now you have four hours to decide if you want to join the Pretty Soldiers, Ensign Crawford,” Col. Chick Sanders went on, ignoring the giggles.

I will freely admit that I am one of those people for whom misspelled words can take me out of a story.

Having said that, I KNOW that no one is perfect, myself included. LOL.

So... I AM willing to help authors by proofreading their work, with the understanding that I do NOT edit. I only proofread for spelling and usage errors. I can and will even proof stories that have already been posted here at Top Shelf.

Good morning all -- Happy Sunday.

Those of you who follow my tales of Julina know now that she is about to interact heavily with characters created by Penny. My next chapter or two are in the final stages; they are outlined, the next one all but written completely, but not yet finalised and proofed, and so on. They will take us through another mad dash as the rains loom ever closer. A new Anthology (an increasingly obvious misnomer hanging over from the early chapters) shall cover events in the rains, and possibly after.

Christine Myr had written fourteen chapters of "Caught in Slips."
Her last chapter was five or six weeks ago.
I've PM'd her, but received no answer
Does anyone know her? Is she OK?

After a few months of not publishing anything new and now settled, (almost) in my new palatial residence I have posted a new book on Kindle. This is a collection of 2 novellas and a short story entitled Pennies, Charcoal and Latex and is available now at the kindle EBook store the link to which is on this page, right hand side.
In the near future I will also be publishing volume five of Footprints in the Sea, probably late May or June and in the Autumn I will have Vol 5 of Vesta’s Hearth and if there’s still time, a second trilogy before Christmas.

I just completed my draft of my latest story, The Return of Dragons. Now I’m editing it and hope to post it by the end of the week.

This is a story about a young man that discovers his ancestor was Maeve the Dragon Slayer and that her blood still runs through his veins. When dragons suddenly appear, magic is restored to earth and he finds himself transformed.

Will he, now a she, become a dragon slayer, or will she take a new path?

I'm retired on a fixed income and even a small donation runs the risk of stretching my budget. I'd like to do something for BCTS; so here's my idea.

Trying to remember a story, m2f gets job as nanny in Italy. Has multiple homes in UK and ends up marrying the man after he buys her home in UK. 2 kids and the ex wife is nuts and burns the house down

"Writers must recognize the stop signs in their…"

I recently read a blog by a writer on our site that was looking for help with their story... which caused me to take note of this in today's paper.

I found this article on the importance of knowing WHEN to end your story; the importance of knowing when to say 'when'. The first half of this article is insightful. Towards the end of this article famous authors opening words are compared to their ending words; both are equally important.

Just a quick note or two.

Well my best laid plans have fallen by the way side as my internet access so far this trip has been sketchy at best and non existent most of the time.

Anyhow, we've had a great trip so far, a mostly mill pond North Sea crossing and wall to wall blue skies and sunshine ever since. Gab has. Been enjoying herself with visits to Hameln of rat fame and the windmill museum up at Luneberg Heide. Maybe the other windmill visits were a bit more 'if we must' but we've some great stuff planned for the way back.

Many years ago, yes we were publishers then, the NYT listed a book title as a NYT Best Seller. It hadn't even been written yet. I believe everyone in the publishing business knew the NYT was a Wine and Dine list. Those publishers who could wine and dine the owner, editors, and writers of the NYT were assured of selling hundreds of thousands more books if they made the list. It was a very exclusive club bought and paid for with lots of free food, women, lavish trips, and exotic holidays.

Just when I thought my muse had decided to go find a more fun host, she brought me a new story to share with you all ...

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/74072/pathfinder-trio...

If you are on a Windows 10 machine, follow these instructions.

Go to: https://www.skype.com/en/

Click on Downloads

Click the down arrow to the right of Get Skype from Store

Click Get classic Skype from the drop down menu.

Run the installer after it finishes downloading.

Make sure you UNCHECK optional features such as make BING your default search.

Login using your Skype name or Microsoft Account.