(banner by AnIllicitWriter)

My one shot, Succubus, has been posted on Southern Fanfiction Review.  I hope you'll stop by and take a look.  I'll be posting the story on my ffnet profile on Halloween.

Emerging Swan awards

I was just notified that I was nominated for an Emerging Swan award for best Edward/Bella for my one shot DART.  The Emerging Swan Awards’ mission is to bring recognition and acclaim to all those little stories that could.  A huge thank you to the person who nominated me. I really appreciate your support and encouragement

Voting for the award opens August 22 and runs through August 29.  Please check out the stories nominated and vote for your favorites!

Tsunami Outtake Posted

I just posted my Tsunami outtake.  It's Chapter 52 of The Harder they Fall from EPOV.  It's posted in the companion story, The Bigger they Are.  I hope you enjoy it.

I'm still here!

Contrary to what you may have heard...I'm still here.

I apologize for the epic delay in posting THTF.  I was lucky enough to be prescheduled for work everyday this month.  Since my job has been outsourced starting next September, I have to work as much as I can now, while I'm still being paid what I'm worth.  In September I'll only be receiving 75% of my current pay.

Yeah, yeah, I know...quit complaining.  At least I have a job.

THTF has been my baby for nearly two years.  It deserves my full attention when I complete it.  The good news is that the story is almost over.  The bad news is I can't imagine you'll see an update before early July. 

Other THTF news...the one shot I wrote of EPOV of their night together will be posting on June 29.  I will post it in the outtake story, "The Bigger they Are."  Check it out if you haven't already!

Anyone following me on twitter knows I'm also writing a new story.  I'm taking what I learned while writing THTF and putting it to the test.  It's faster paced with short chapters.  I won't post one word of it until it's complete. 

I recently completed a one shot for the Fandom for Sexual Assault Awareness.  I hope you'll read it if you supported the cause.  It's called DART.  The banner below gives you a good idea of the premise.

Thank you for your patience and continued support. 

Need You Now

My one shot, Need You Now, written for FandomFightstheFloods is now posted on Fanfiction.net.  Enjoy!!

Chapter 55 teaser

I have never been an overly religious man.  When I was younger I attended church with my parents for all the major holidays.  However, as an adult, my scientific view of the world has left me with a healthy dose of skepticism.  But now…right now, I knew that God was punishing me for something.

What to do...?

I've been part of the fandom for about two years.  I really enjoy it.  I don't get involved in the drama.  Actually, 99.9% of the time I'm completely unaware of it.  I guess you could say I was even the victim of a witch hunt at one point almost a year ago when one of my stories was pulled from ffnet. 

It didn't matter to me that much.  Was I annoyed?  Sure.  Did it ruin my life, keep me up at night or become an ongoing sore spot?  Nope.

However, for the first time ever, I read a story yesterday that bugged me.  Well, isn't the first time I've read a story that bugged me, but it is the first time I've have trouble letting it go.  It immediately bugged me when I read it, and here it is, 24 hours later, and it is still bugging me.  I've tried, throughout the day, to phrase a review that would address my concerns while still remaining respectful.

I think it have it.  I'm a writer, I can get my point across without being crass, rude, contemptuous, etc.  Then I realized, that there is no way...NO WAY...the author of the story is going to see my point of view.  No.  Way.  So...what to do?  Do I post the review and deal with the inevitable shitstorm?  Do I decide that it's hardly my place to share my thoughts when they are so out of kilter with the author's?  Do I post an anonymous review? 

None of the above?

What would you do?

Tsunami and Sexual Assault Awareness teasers

As I've mentioned before, I'm donating one shots to the Tsunami and Sexual Assault Awareness compilations.  Please click the links to get all the info on how to donate so you receive your copy!

Fandom Fights Tsunami

The Harder they Fall, chapter 52 EPOV

I took my time exploring Bella, cataloging the reactions I got when I touched a particularly sensitive spot.  I sucked on the skin below her ear, and her hips bucked up into mine driving me beyond reason.  She bit the top of my shoulder, near my neck and it took all my restraint not to rip the rest of her clothes off.

Thank you to Le Crepuscule for the banner.

Fandom for Sexual Assault Awareness

DART, a one shot

“What’s up?”

I forced a smile on my face. “Nothing. Just thinking about our last case,” I lied.

Not that our last case wasn’t worth thinking about. Bella and I volunteered together on a Domestic Abuse Response Team or DART. We helped women and their children escape bad home situations. Actually, volunteering for the team was how I met Bella.

Sadly, she was one of the first victims I worked with as Team Member.

Thank you to vbfb1 for the banner.

Chapter 54, teaser

He turned to face me when I opened the bathroom door. I watched as his eyes roamed over me before he met my gaze and smiled.

“You look lovely.”

“Thank you.”

He took a few steps closer to me, eliminating the distance between us. His hand moved to my waist and he pulled me toward him before kissing me lightly.

This, this is what I was telling Riley about. Edward’s defenses were down and it was just us. The energy between us was undeniable when we were alone. Forgetting my decision to think with my head, not my heart, I responded to his kiss by bringing my hand to the side of his face.

Fandom Fights Tsunami

I've mentioned it here before, but since I've completed my donation and have sent it off to beta, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone that I'm submitting an outtake from The Harder they Fall for Fandom Fights Tsunami.  Donation information can be found here.  Please consider a donation.  Over $23,000 has been raised so far and 287 authors have promised contributions.

The lovely Le Crepuscule created the banner for my one shot.

Chapter 53, teaser

“Ungh…. Bella stop,” he begged. His arms seemed to disagree with his mouth as he wrapped them around my waist and pulled me closer.

“Stop what?” I asked him innocently, peppering kisses on the side of his neck.

“Stop…ungh…mmmmm.” He had to pause in his request as his mouth made its way back to mine for another, longer kiss.

He broke away again. This time he was breathing heavily.

“Stop…molesting me.”

Delay

I want to apologize for the delay in posting THTF's chapter 53.  I was supposed to be off all week but got called in every day.  I've already been told to plan on being called in on Thursday and Friday.  I am sorry.  I'm working on the update when I can.

Review: Decoy, by 107yearoldvirgin

This review originally appeared on The Fictionators.  I'm reposting it now because the story's author is leaving the fandom.  Her collected works will still be available as a .pdf, but you'll have to contact her directly.

Can’t Buy Me Love was a 1987 movie about high school popularity and what someone desperate enough for it might do to get it. In Decoy, author 107yearoldvirgin, neatly turns this popular tale on its ear by giving it a Twilight spin.

Bella Swan is a nobody entering her senior year at Forks High. Everyone believes she’s a recent transplant, come to live with her dad now that her parents have reconciled. What they don’t remember is that Isabella lived in Forks when she was younger. She was friends with many of the kids who are popular now—kids who think her name is Brenda.

Edward Cullen is the popular, rich guy. He just got his car back, after it had an unfortunate meeting with a tree. The return to mobility and his continued freedom, as well as his participation in track and baseball, “his entire existence” as far as Edward is concerned, is conditional on Edward not damaging the vehicle again or getting any tickets. True to cocky form, Edward is the proud new owner of a speeding ticket mere hours later.

He heads to the police station to plead his case, but is thwarted. As he’s leaving he bumps into “Brenda” who uses her charms on the desk sergeant, Jacob Black, to get the ticket to disappear. Edward is grateful:

"I feel like I owe you now or something."

"You do," she says simply.

Intrigued, I press her. "And what exactly do I owe you?"

She pulls her wrist from my grasp and sighs. "The way I see it, Edward Cullen, you owe me your entire existence at this moment."

My mouth drops open in surprise.

 She smiles slightly, the happiness not reaching her eyes. "But I'll settle for you letting me hang out with you for the next month at school."

So the stage is set. Edward, reluctantly at first, and then more enthusiastically, holds up his end of the bargain. Bella is instantly popular. Edward purchases her new clothes and plays the attentive boyfriend. It’s not long before Edward starts to feel something more, something real, for this girl who reminds him of someone he once knew.

In a nod to Stephenie Meyer, Edward spends his nights sneaking into Bella’s bedroom where the two begin to explore a sexual relationship. Unlike Stephenie’s Bella, however, this Bella is no blushing virgin. She grew up in a nudist colony and is comfortable with her body and sex.

107yearoldvigin has promised us a departure from the traditional Can’t Buy Me Love storyline in the next chapter. Already we have seen some darker moments, moments 107 took from her personal high school experiences. The overall fun tone of the story has a dark tinge that isn’t angsty (yet), but realistic, as the callous machinations of high school students can have disastrous consequences.

I can heartily recommend Decoy, as well as 107yearoldvirgin’s almost complete Eight Days a Week, as great reads. 107 is a committed author, who updates regularly and has six other completed fics to her name.

Too Much Tragedy

It seems that every time we turn around there's a new disaster or tragedy in the world.  If you're like me, you probably feel helpless in the face of the recent disasters in Australia and Japan and the less recent disasters in Haiti and Louisiana.

There's little I can do.  There's little any one of us can do.  Besides these disasters there are ongoing tragedies near and dear to the fandom as well, like Sexual Assault Awareness, cancer research via Alex's Lemonade Stand, Parkinson's Research and Autism Awareness.

Together this fandom has done some incredible things.  This is why I will be contributing a one shot to Fandom Fights Tsunami.  This one shot will be something that many readers have asked for: THTF's Bella and Edward's first time from EPOV.

Please click the Fandom Fights Tsunami link and make your donation today!

Review: Same Time Next Year, by socact

This review was originally written for the Perv Pack's Smut Shack:

Same Time Next Year is the story that convinced my husband I have an online boyfriend. He was on vacation and couldn’t understand my desire to stay glued to the computer screen when I could be glued to him instead. What can I say? If I find the draw of a good story magical how can I resist the pull of one that leaves good so far behind that the details stick with me through my (shortened) night’s sleep and wake with me in the morning?

Same time Next Year is this kind of story. And, as with many amazing stories, STNY starts with a simple premise with which everyone is familiar –

Boy meets girl.
Boy loses girl.
Boy finds girl again… and again… and again… and – well, you get the picture.

Author, socact, takes the age old paradigm and turns it on its ear in delightful tale that will heat you up, make you laugh and induce enough heartfail to keep you crying through the night.

She begins her story by apologizing to the reader. “The idea isn’t original,” she tells us. She worries that we’ll find the concept “dumb.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Even readers who are familiar with the stage or screen version of Same Time Next Year will delight in this adaptation which starts at the end and ends in a way that will have you immediately wanting to reread.

Current day (and I don’t mean this in a metaphorical sense, the first day of the story is August 13, 2009) Edward Cullen is your typical high school senior: angsty, bored, itching to escape the “doormats” of high school. He doesn’t see how his life can begin until he escapes the “shitty, claustrophobic hell hole” that is Forks. He’s too aware of the relationships between his friends, the already paired up Emmett and Rosalie and the awkward singles, Jasper and Alice. The freakishly insightful Jasper has a plan for the Senior Class Trip (also known as “the fuckfest”) to Vancouver Island. He’s hoping that a little game of musical bedrooms will allow him the opportunity to finally seal the deal with the willing but undeclared Alice.

Key to this plan, of course, is Bella Swan. Bella is the new girl and Alice’s assigned roommate for the weekend. From the moment Bella steps onto the bus, tripping on the top step to faceplant in the aisle, Edward is captivated, “…this girl was fucking magnetic. She had some kind of freaky power over me and it was starting to piss me off.” Ever the rebel, Edward wants to ignore the new girl and resents her increasing power over this thoughts and feelings.

Similarly, Bella has no interest in Edward. She has him pegged just moments after meeting him. “You’re the doctor’s son. Wealthy, spoiled, bored with life. You’re tired of Forks and you know you can do better. And you will, I’m sure. You’re probably at the top of the class.” Edward rallies but is honest enough with himself to admit that while two can play at this game, Bella is winning.

At this point in my review you’re probably wondering if I’ve forgotten the title of this blog. No, I haven’t. I’m reviewing for the Perv Pack’s Smut Shack. So, where’s the smut? Well, I figured I’d wait you make as long as Bella and Edward do in this story.

STNY is really a short story, when it comes right down to it. The buildup is slow and steady. Establishing the groundwork for the relationship is key to creating the tension and framework for the second half. If you’re looking for fluff or wham, bam, thank ya’ ma’am, there’s plenty to be found in fanficdom. This story is not it.

That’s not to say it is without its many moments! Bella’s first time doesn’t happen until chapter 9, but it is worth the wait. Due to typical teenage nonsense, which socact kindly doesn’t force us to read through, it takes them months to finally decide that they belong together. Once they do we learn that, much like canon Bella and Edward, she’s the sexual aggressor in their relationship. Edward has managed to placate her with his “truly divine talent… for using his tongue in certain places.”

It’s been a year since our protagonists have met and they’ve returned to the resort on Vancouver Island to spend some quality time together. Bella and Edward are heading off to college; he to California, she in Washington. Neither is looking forward to their forced separation. During their time together at the resort they promise to “see [each other] here once a year, every year, this time, this place.”

I find it fairly amazing that socact was able to keep me so invested in these characters with the cards laid out on the table as they are. Basically, Bella and Edward agree to yearly booty calls, “No matter what we’re doing, who we’re with, where we are.” That’s right – this is planned infidelity, folks, plain and simple. Neither is so naïve to believe that their relationship, their love, can survive the 1000 miles between them, but neither is willing to give it up.

Yet there’s beauty in their illicit meetings. Throughout the years each panics that this will be the year the other doesn’t show. According to their agreement, “if one of us doesn’t come some year, then that’ll be it.” However, year after year they both arrive and sexy times ensue. We’re treated to bedroom sex, blow jobs in the shower, sex in the public dining room and up against a tree. Each year they delight us and each other with their abiding passion.

Hints are dropped during these rendezvous; hints that let you know that the outside world is intruding. She’s in a serious relationship. He enters a relationship with someone special. And then it finally happens; Bella knows that something is wrong, “As soon as I saw his face, standing there in the dark, familiar room, I knew something was different… His eyes were anxious, uncertain; was he nervous? Upset?” Finally he utters the words readers will be dreading:

“How long have we been coming here?” he asked me in a low, strained voice.
“Eight years,” I murmured.
“Have you ever regretted coming here?”
“No,” I said, almost in a whisper. “Never.”
“Is there anything that would make you stop coming here?” he asked.
I finally looked up into his emerald eyes, those same ones I had fallen in love with seven years ago. I tried to find an answer there, to understand what he was thinking, why he was torturing me this way. And I knew the answer to his question; it was automatic, and always had been. Nothing could make me stop coming here to see him. Nothing.

“No,” I said.

Again, he ran his hand through his tousled bronze hair, exhaling sharply.

“Nothing?” he asked.

“No,” I said, slightly more loudly. My voice was shaking so hard that I knew just one more word would break it.

“Bella…”

My heart broke into a million pieces. I cried. The knowledge I had of their illicit relationship had been like having a titillating secret, but now I regretted being invested in their HEA. The sex high I had been on for chapters was deflated and I read the rest of the story in tears. I had kept on hoping they’d find a way to be together. I kept going back, looking for hidden meanings, assurances that everything would be alright. I didn’t find them.

Surprisingly, this is not the end of their tête-à-têtes. If possible the following year is more heart rendering as they both discuss their happiness with their respective spouses after making love to one another. Despite the heartfail, or maybe because of it, Same Time Next Year is probably my favorite fanfiction period. I’ve recapped the story for just about anyone who will listen and that is something I never do. I believe that readers familiar with other incarnations of the story will appreciate socact’s treatment. For those, like myself, who were unfamiliar with the play and movie every step will put you through the emotional wringer. Trust me when I tell you that you will be rereading when you reach the end.

PS – socact posted an outtake to this story. DO NOT READ THE OUTTAKE. You’ll regret it. It will still be there when you’ve finished the story. Promise!

Reviews

So, I've read a lot of fanfiction.  A lot.  I find stories I love and want to tell the world about them, but my piece of the fandom is pretty tiny.  Two years ago, I was asked to review a story for the Perv Pack's Smut Shack.  I did so eagerly.  That story was socact's Same Time Next Year and I still love this story today.

Last year, I was approached by the Fictionators to write a small piece about 107yearoldvirgin's story, Decoy.  I was flattered and happily obliged.

More recently, I've been rec'ing stories in my author notes.  I was thrilled when the authors of these stories contacted me to thank me for their bump in readership.  I wondered if writing real recommendations/reviews would bring further attention to the stories I love.  I approached Sandy, Mistress of Southern Fanfiction Review and asked her if she'd be interested in publishing the occasional review.  While Sandy and I are both fans of well-written stories, we tend to read very different ones.  She accepted and I've submitted a review or three to her in recent weeks.

What I've decided to do is to post my reviews here, as well.  They'll post here after they run on whatever site for which I write them.  This is more of an archive of my reviews than anything else.  I do hope you'll be encouraged to read the stories I enjoy.  If possible, let the authors know that I sent you their way.

Best,
IT

Chapter 52 teaser

"I need you..."

Manip by the lovely and talented 107yearoldvirgin.

Chapter 51 teaser

“What did you do, man?” Jasper asked, straining his neck to see where the girls had disappeared to.

“I’m…not exactly sure,” I replied, just as confused as he was by the turn of events. Jasper laughed, knowing that his wife would be back for him at some point.

I shook my head and refilled my glass before settling back. The traffic in this club was insane. It was easy to pick out the different types populating the place. There were gangs of women enjoying their ladies’ night, while groups of guys made me wonder about bachelor parties. There were easily identifiable couples, and business types suited up despite the fact that it was Sunday night. The business part of my mind was trying to calculate the buy-in for a piece of a place like this.

“I’ll be right back,” Jasper yelled. I nodded as he headed towards the brightly lit sign pointing the way to the restrooms.

My eyes continued to wander the area around us. I was starting to wonder if Bella was ever coming back when a familiar voice said my name.

“Edward?”

My head shot up as I took in the small blonde woman who had approached the table. She was dressed in a black suit with a shimmery silver top underneath.

Chapter 50 pictures

Bella's jammies.

Bella's scandalous blue dress.

Orange cover up.

Bella's white bikini.

Fandoms Fight the Floods

Hello!

This is a teaser for the standalone one shot I wrote for Fandoms Fight the Floods. My submission has been sent in and acknowledged. Compilations are being sent out on March 1, but you can donate until March 30. I hope you'll support all the marvelous Aussies who've been ravaged by flooding. All it takes is a $5 donation. Donation information can be found here!

Need You Now

Friday nights weren’t my night. I understood. It wasn’t their fault, so why should they suffer?

But, even though Friday nights weren’t my night, Rose and Alice still stopped by before heading out.

“This is just so stupid,” Rose complained. She said it every week.

Didn’t change a thing.

“You guys don’t have to come here on Fridays, you know,” I told them. I said this every week.

Didn’t change a thing.

“It’s not your fault we’re not together, and there’s no reason for you to suffer.”

“There’s no reason for any of us to be suffering. You’re not seeing anyone. He’s not seeing anyone. Why don’t you just get back together?”

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t know why. None of us know why.”

“We just don’t work, Rose. All we ever did was fight.”

Alice snorted. “That’s not all you did.”

I blushed. Every one of our friends had walked in on us at some point in the past three years. My relationship with Edward had been volatile and passionate. He’d get that look in his eye, or I’d get a whiff of his intoxicating scent and the next thing you knew we were christening the closest horizontal surface.

“Where are you going tonight?” I asked, not thinking that I might not want to hear the answer.

Alice and Rose exchanged looks.

“Oh.”

Not one to beat around the bush, Rose said, “The guys thought that Edward might have some luck there.” She made reference to our usual watering hole with a challenging arch of her brow.

“I get it, Rose. No need to paint a picture.”

"Well, paint this; if you don’t do something soon, he will find someone else.”

Chapter 50 teaser

“It’s pretty,” I commented, since he seemed completely lost in thought. He nodded without turning to face me.

“I’m done,” I told him, hoping to drag him out of his reverie before hanging up my dress and throwing the rest of my stuff in my bag.

When he turned to gather his things, he caught my eye. I watched as his gaze flitted over me, from ponytail to bare feet before coming back up to meet my eyes. He dropped his stuff back on the bed before reaching his hand out to me.

“Can we talk now?” he asked.

Ramblings

I’ve been getting more than the usual amount of interest in the many unfinished stories on my profile. Thank you for that. Here’s the plan. My FFTF fic, Need You Now, is complete and will be published with the compilation available here. I will finish THTF (See that light? It’s the end of the tunnel.), finish Gives You Hell, which is one chapter from completion, and complete Rejection, my AU New Moon story. I am committed to a Halloween one shot for 2011 as well. No, I’m not kidding. If you want something from me, you need to ask at least 10 months in advance to have a prayer of me getting it to you on time.

U + UR Hand, Lips of an Angel, Resubmit, Christmas Wrapping, and Be There are complete. (I’d love some reviews on those, friends! Just saying.) Nice Guys Finish First might be turned into a fluffy short story. Might. Metamorphosis and Gotta’ Be Someone are my earliest attempts at fanfiction. They’ll never be more than fluff and they might not ever be completed. I was writing off the cuff and that doesn’t work. Then again, I’m ridiculously OCD and having them unfinished bothers the hell out of me. So who knows!

Then I have two insistent plot bunnies. One is an AH E&B which will be fully written, beta’d and preread before it is posted. The other is a Darkward fic, which some of you may have heard me talk about on Twitter. I refer to it as my Priestward fic. The Darkward fic may or may not happen. Not sure I’m up to the challenge. And I know I’m not willing to put up with bullshit from religious zealots who will want to try to save my soul. This is a bad, bad fic. It also requires some research, which I don’t have time for. Right now all I have is a handwritten prologue in a purple spiral notebook that I keep losing.

More news: The Bargain has a new home. Well, it will have a new home. Sandy at Southern Fanfiction Review has agreed to host the story when I’m ready to put it back up. She and I have talked about the issues that got it pulled from ffnet and have, what we believe, is a workable solution. I’ll let you know when I have a date for it to go live. It won’t be soon, but at least it is off life support and breathing on its own again.

Chapter 49 pictures

Bella's dress

Bella's Vegas makeup.

Chapter 49 teaser

She was wrapped in fluffy white robe and had her hair wrapped in a towel. She was just so tempting as she padded barefoot over to where I was sitting.

“Your turn.”

I smiled. “What are you insinuating?”

“Nothing. I’m telling you flat out, you’re filthy and need a shower.”

I laughed loudly and stood up, taking a menacing step towards her. Her grin vanished replaced by what I could only laughingly refer to as “bitch brow.”

“Don’t you dare,” she warned me.

shabu shabu

Chapter 48, pictures

ATV adventure!

Bella's green argyle tank.

Chapter 47, pictures

Bella's dress for the airplane.

Shoes for the airplane.

Edward's seatmate.

Backless top Bella wears to dinner.

Chapter 47 teaser

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Bella, please, you’ve got to help me out here.”

“Help you with what?”

“Those girls,” he hissed.

I chuckled. “What do you want me to do? Beat them up?”

“Could you, I mean, would you…?” Edward let out an aggravated sound. “Please, just…I can’t take them anymore. Their voices are so grating and the one sitting next to me keeps touching me!”

“Oh no, not touching you,” I deadpanned with mock horror. Edward got a desperate look on his face.

“Bella, please. Could you just pretend that we’re together?”

Yeah, cause that’s worked out so well for us in the past.

Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV