Countdown to Valentine's Day

I'm participating in the Countdown to Valentine's Day. Unlike Christmas, this Countdown in anonymous. I'll post my entry on my fanfiction account on Valentine's Day. Until then, subscribe to the Countdown and enjoy the entries.

Countdown to Christmas 2012

Breath of Twilight asked me to participate in the 2012 Countdown to Christmas. I just sent in my submission, Red and the Choir Boy. If you'd like to get all the one shots delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to the Countdown now.

 

Many thanks to An Illicit Writer for the banner!!

Summary: Edward has spent the days leading up to Christmas courting the biggest clients of his career. Just when it seems that his efforts are for naught, a little holiday magic happens. In his pants. Not a crackfic! AH, Complete

THTF on The Lemonade Stand

Just found out that THTF is up on this week's poll at The Lemonade Stand. Please go vote!!

The Beginning of the End

It's the beginning of the end for THTF. More crossed wires plague our couple as they try to figure out how to be a couple, without either being open and up front. Will they succeed?

My contribution to the Fandom for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been sent in. Many, many thanks to An Illicit Writer for the fantabulous banner. A $5 donation gets you the first chapter of my new fic, Stroke of Luck, as well as contributions from many wonderful fandom authors.

 

Bella: smart, strong and successful. Edward: intelligent, intense, and independent. Both have what they need; neither has what they want. Can a fortuitous reunion help them get it? "Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." -Dalai Lama

I'm contributing a piece to The Fandom for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society charitable cause. The contribution is Chapter 1 of the fic I will be posting once The Harder they Fall is complete. I hope you'll consider donating to this worthy cause. Please, let me know if you enjoy my contribution.

~k/IT

PS - this in no way effects my writing for THTF! Promise!!

The delay

Hello there. Long time no chat. I'm getting a bunch of new reviews and wish to thank whoever is pimping THTF. I cannot express my sadness over the fact that the story hasn't updated.

Just a little about my life in the last year. I went from a full time stay-at-home mom to a full time employee who's taking two classes per semester at a local university. At the same time, my husband started college while working full time as well. My older son started high school, my younger son is finishing elementary school. Both my kids are active in sports and extra-curriculars that keep us hopping.

Ultimately, however, it is the 40-hours a week I'm working that used to be dedicated to writing, researching, editing, and so on that has put the breaks on the story.

THTF is not dead. It will be finished. I do work on it when I have time. Even worse, I have plot bunnies that bang on my brain and demand attention.  I've written a few one shots (Succubus and DART) for various causes and events which have been posted. I've written a series of drabbles I'm afraid to post because I know people will be pissed that I've written those and not THTF.  I also have five chapters of another story written.  (THAT story will never post as a WiP, I will never post a WiP again. Anything I post from now on will be complete before the first word goes public.)

So, I beg your forbearance and ask for your forgiveness. I understand that THTF has lost most of its audience due to the delay. I just hope that those that find it in the future will be able to enjoy the whole story as it will be finished.

(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.