The final chapter of Arilee is out at Storiesonline, and in the queue at Lit.  I’ll post it up here soon.

I’ll be adding some cover images to several stories soon, on both the short stories page and on the “my work” page.

The reason I’m waiting to do several updates on the website is because I can’t FTP in.  I can update through my account file manager, but it’s a pain in the ass.  I’ll complete the update once they get that worked out.

I’m working on the new Laresa now.  More later

The final chapter of Take Me Away is half done.  I only paused long enough to complete the final edit on a contest story and get it in the queue.  Winter Holiday stories should go live tonight, and I’ll post up links as soon as they do.  Read and vote on as many as you can!  Get started early, or you won’t even get partway through the list, trust me!  Naturally, I’d appreciate your vote on mine, and the other one I’ll be linking up.

Once I finish Ari, I’ll be working primarily on the new Laresa, but also working on the first transition story from Danica to Sisters of the Mists.  I’m concentrating on Laresa a bit, so it will be ready just in case an author in the schedule ahead of me can’t make their submission date.  Since my story is fully formed in my head, and just waiting for me to type it, it makes sense for me to be ready to slip into an open spot in an emergency, if necessary.

After that, I’m still up in the air about whether I’m going to go ahead and start the sequel to Blackhawk.  I have a second Danica transition story in my head floating around as well.  It will probably depend upon which of the two, Danica and Arilee, are jumping into the front of my mind.

Either way, new Danica should be coming soon.  Those who asked to be put on the mailing list will get an email when the story goes live at Lit.  Those who read this page will know the progress as it happens.

Okay, with three chapters of Take Me Away out, I’m sitting here wondering if I should even bother writing the last one.

The scores range from lackluster to pitiful.  Two has only recently picked up a tenth vote, and Three hasn’t even reached that minimal milestone.

What’s wrong with the story?  Danielle is the only one to comment on it ( thank you! ) and so I have no idea why everyone is so blah about it.

Feedback people!!  I don’t know why you don’t like the story if you don’t tell me.  A 4.62 score just tells me that the story sucks.  It doesn’t tell me *why*.
I know my history tales never perform as well.  I wrote this expecting that.  I just like to put this background out there so when the main storyline comes out, those who choose to read them will have a deeper glimpse into the motivations of the characters than those who don’t.  Is that the problem?  I don’t know, because nobody has said anything.

Is it too “day in the life” for you?  Too much romance?  Too much sex?  Not enough sex?

I’ll probably write the last chapter shortly, having just finished the second of my Winter Holiday contest stories, but I can assure you I won’t be going into it as excited as I was when I began the story.

And it certainly doesn’t motivate me to write that sequel to Blackhawk.  I’ve gotten numerous impatient requests for more Arilee, and here I sit baffled wondering why nobody seems to care now that I’m writing it.

If your answer is “Because I want more Danica/Laresa stories and you’re wasting your time on this” don’t bother telling me.  Sorry, but that really bothers me.  I had one comment on Alicia like that which pretty much delayed the final two Danica chapters by several weeks.  I didn’t feel motivated to write them when I felt as though my other stories were being targeted as blackmail to hurry them along.

Sending me comments like that is a sure way to get whatever you’re waiting on delayed, not out of spite, but because I just lose all ability to get my muse in gear on them.  I open the document, and all I can see is that PC or that email from some other story that got slammed with a low vote because it wasn’t about the character they want to see.  All of my work has equal importance to me, and what I write is determined by what has come into focus in my head.  The characters are writing these tales, not me.  If Danica is off in her trailer pouting, nothing will get written about her.  If Laresa is in her ring blowing raspberries at me, nothing will get written about her.  That’s just the way it is.

Okay, I’m done blowing off steam now.  Back to work.