I am writing this to explain my actions of the last months. The reason for the delay was to let my feelings settle so I have a reasonable expectation that I would not be saying anything rash and hurting feelings.

It seems clear now that I am finished writing as Gwen Brown. In the unlikely event that someone would want to use any of my ideas or story devices, just contact me at [email protected].

My stories were from my heart and certain individuals felt entitled to be bluntly critical of the theological and historical ideas expressed in them. Frankly I don't need that. For me, it has become completely clear that my transition and subsequent SRS were a devastating mistake, um "for me". There is no implied criticism of anyone else's actions in that regard. Please spare me any defensive replies. I love living as a woman, but the losses ...

It hurt me a lot to have some things I said here in stories, blogs, and comments be unplugged and otherwise dissed. This last incident broke me here.

I still write and may seek to publish some of that here, but it is unlikely that much of it will be TS, though where it fits in the story I might. My new pen name has a vastly different voice, completely devoid of the things that got me in trouble in the past. I won't reveal it.

When the old master wordsmiths were here, I felt challenged to improve my own vocabulary and sentence structure so I could somehow stand in their shadows. Most of us know who I am referring to, and it was pleasant to see them put the T element in its proper place within a story. There is just so much more to the experiences in life than the first bra. Some of you still carry the flag of true storytellers, and I hope that those of you who are new will read their work and use it as inspiration to improve your own skills, as I tried to do.

In light of this present world, those who can should keep writing stories if it helps their sanity, and people like me should get out of the kitchen.

No drama, this is not a suicide note.

Gwen Brown