We just payed our $1572 hosting bill and will have another smaller one next month (or maybe it is in November). Anyway, these things go on my credit cards and then I pay down the balance with the money that comes in from the Hatbox gifts. We made our goal for August over the weekend and now need to think about September.
Anything you can send will be good and if you can't do anymore than hit the kudos button on your favorite story, we all understand.
Here's the link for the Amazon Hatbox Gifts
Money can be sent via Paypal to joyce @ qnez.com but I can't put a Paypal button here because of their rules on what is adults only content.
Remember that gifts to us are not tax deductible but are very appreciated.
Hugs to all,
Erin
Comments
Keep the boat afloat
In a round about manner of speaking, donations are deductable. Stress deductable, for Erin. When she doesn't have to worry about funding BC out of her own pockets then she can concentrate on the important stuff like keeping BC running and still being able to to put food, etc. on the table.
I've often wondered how many meals and things Erin has skipped to keep BC running. I doubt she'd ever say or even admit to doing so, but I'm still sure she has.
One of the meds I take for my heart is just over $200/month. Last month I skipped it and sent the money to BC. How many of you are willing to do the same? We are all used to being able to simply click and open BC whenever we wish, and fuss & whine when we can't. Well it's time to put your money where your mouth is, folks.
If you want to keep BC online as a free source for quality fiction without Erin having to carry the load on her own - shell out! Put yourself in an uncomfortable position, give up a creature comfort you just have to have and support BC. If I can quit a medical necessity for a month, the rest of you can find something to give up for a short period.
The time is now!
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Contributions???
Hi Everyone,
Back some time ago I used to be one who read stories but didn't contribute. I looked at it all and said to myself, I can't afford to give what they really need and deserve in order to keep the site going. It took me a year of that to realise that I COULD contribute. It wasn't much but it was something. I've been contributing that small monthly amount now for over a year and intend to continue doing it.
Going back and looking at the number of hits my story has culled and how rapidly most of those hits landed on each chapter as it arrived at BCTS I wonder how many are out there thinking the very same thing I did. OH, I can't make a difference so why try? My little it won't be appreciated - so why do it?
I think the question is... do YOU appreciate this site? If you do, what does it hurt to give, oh... say two dollars a month?
That's only twenty-four dollars a year. Or to take this to a daily outlook, twenty-four divided by three sixty-five gives us just six point six cents a day.
If one of the chapters for a story you like to read isn't worth six point six cents a day then I guess losing this site will have to happen. Just remember, of all the sites like this out there this one has been the most "decent" one I've ever seen and the people here are friendly, not antagonistic... well... most of the time anyway... we still get into small brou-hah-hahs once in a while (as Erin gently reminds us).
I went to the hat-box and set up a monthly payment and you know something... I haven't missed it. Occassionally I've tried giving slightly larger gifts and they have 'hurt' at the time but a month later... I'm still living and still surviving and still a feisty old... well, let's not go there.
Anyway, If you have an e-mail account somewhere, then hop on pay-pal and set up an account linked to it. From then on it's easy. If you don't have a checking account - and many can't afford one, and you have to deal in small amounts of cash then there are other ways, although I admit they are more difficult.
For those of you sharing that boat, I sympathise. For those who really can give, please do so. If every one of those readers of my story(s) as the chapters appear gave just two dollars a month then more than half of the monthly needs of this site would be met with the arrival of EACH CHAPTER - not even the whole story. It certainly beats the cost of paying for a paperback. I know, the cost of reading from a public library is pretty low but then too, so is the selection. As they always say, "you get what you pay for".
Paperback novel (40 chapters) $6.99 (to 14.99).... that's seventeen point four cents a chapter; or nearly three time the amount of each of my chapters in my hypothetical example. Of course, my chapters are 'free' aren't they? What would you read if all the authors here went on strike until the site was supported?
What would you read if the site couldn't meet it's bills and Erin gave up trying to pay for most of it?
Just something to think about.
Anesidora
Well spoken
I am one of those who can afford to give, and as such I do. Without a doubt, I can give more, and your well thought argument has reminded me of that.
I may not always be in the position that I am now - especially as I will very soon be going public with my transition with the potential impact to my life and my employment that may follow. But so long as I can afford it, I will continue to support this site, and through it your work and that of the other wonderful friends that I have made here.
Thank you for reminding me of my commitment to do so.
Dallas
D. Eden
“Hier stehe ich; ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir.”
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus