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I have been receiving a slow trickle of lovely messages and mail about Off The Deep End from first-time readers, off the of Clitorides nominations for Long Erotic Story of The Year (vote here) and Best Romantic Story (vote here). Many of them have been “I can’t believe it doesn’t have a high score on SOL!” - I appreciate that. I suspect it’s the lingering effects of certain categories of reader that didn’t like it took me 7-8 years to finish, or the vocal ones who thought that James should have been more alpha. Sorry. I’m not G Younger (who writes fabulous characters and works of that nature - check them out).
If you have enjoyed it, perhaps consider buying a copy of Off The Deep End at Bookapy? Or if you have bought it, leave a Bookapy review? Or even a SOL review?
Off The Deep End has been nominated in two categories - Long Erotic Story of The Year (vote here) and Best Romantic Story (vote here). Thank you for the nominations. It’s wonderful to know that people enjoy my work that much. I am currently still progressing on three new lengthy stories, but have my quiet writing time curtailed by a return to middle management (which includes a bit of travel) as well as supporting my wife as we try to keep the wheels on with two kids under the age of five. Perhaps consider buying a copy of Off The Deep End at Bookapy? Or checking out my other work. I do love to get a message or review to stoke the motivation flame when everything is bleak and grindy.
Off The Deep End has passed 130 000 downloads! I know that means every individual chapter, but still - at least 100 000 times, someone chose to click on my work and read it. That is honestly amazing and humbling to me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And if you like it, consider purchasing from Bookapy so my wife will let me write more.
I started a new work role in December which has me taking over from someone who was less than diligent or capable, so I am doing a lot of rebuilding and repairing the shop whilst we are at full speed. It also comes with a huge amount of compliance and audit work, so I am easily spending 7-8 hours a day in front of the computer at work writing and revising stuff designed to keep a bunch of folks out of jail (including myself), on top of a lot of stakeholder management. A LOT of organisational relationships to repair and strengthen.
This just means I’ve written nothing of my own for the past month, but my fingers and brain are getting itchy so I will just figure it out. Maybe I can start a meth habit so I don’t need as much sleep…
Thanks to those who have nominated and voted for Off The Deep End for this year’s Clitorides. I am deeply gratified. It has prompted a bit of new activity on the story as, I guess, people are reading works they haven’t read. I have had some lovely messages from folks who are now just finishing OTDE and I can’t say thank you enough to people for sharing how much they enjoy my writing. It motivates me to get on with it.
I have just posted a new short story - an early version of a story from the upcoming “Japanese Internet Confessions”. It’s called “Girl’s Weekend” and it is, I guess, a story of mutual accidental seduction involving two young woman who have recently broken up with their shitty boyfriends. There are two wonderful real life experiences of mine attached to this story and I will share these in a future post. Enjoy!
It was a lovely surprise to go to the Clitorides website to vote and find that Off The Deep End had been nominated. 2023 was a big writing year for me and I have very much appreciated every kind word and constructive suggestion. If you’d like to make my 2024 start beautifully, consider voting for OTDE?
The last few months have been very hectic family and work wise. 2024 is shaping up to be more of the same. I am lucky to live in Australia where some health concerns with our 6 month old are being managed by specialists at the public children’s hospital and the entire cost covered by Medicare (national health). I’ve also been appointed to a new role at work which is both exciting and a little terrifying.
I am plodding along with writing two different lengthier pieces and finishing up an edited, rewritten version of ‘Internet Confessions’ which I hope to publish widely in print and digital - it is a combination of stories from the two volumes available on Bookapy with some additional tales. The main changes are a little more editing and some character/age changes to make it align with content guidelines for those platforms. I went back to work yesterday after the holiday, so once the year really gets going, we’ll see how much work I can get done on everything.
Thank you again for taking the time to read my work. I hope I can keep entertaining you in the new year!
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