Computer Failure Remedied
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who made donations. I've ordered the board and should be receiving it soon, which means I'll soon be back up and running - and writing.
As an update, I have finished three more chapters and am currently working on another (I'm hand-writing it for the time being - until I can transpose it to the computer). If all goes well with the computer, I should have the rest of the story finished written, edited, and posted some time during the up-coming holidays.
There was such a wonderful response to help take care of my computer woes that I would like to ask if anyone has an old laptop computer they're not using? This isn't for me, but my mother. Not long before my computer died, my mother's computer went down too. My Uncle had a really old desktop computer that he wasn't using, so we brought that home and I reloaded Windows on it. However, the computer started locking up -- A LOT. We were sure that was the reason he had stopped using it too. I looked inside and realized that it didn't have enough airflow to keep it from overheating, and the case wasn't designed to allow the installation of more fans than what it came with (A Compaq that original came with Windows ME!). Unfortunately, the system is so old there's nothing we can do with it. We've talked about what to do to replace it, or to get the first system fixed, but my mom insisted that it would be too much of a hassle and said she'd be happier with a laptop. However, knowing we can't afford that either, we've since let the subject drop. I thought if I could find a laptop for her that no one's using, it would cheer her up (she's been depressed since her computer died). All she really does on a computer is play card games and occasionally print out documents she needs for driving school buses. If anyone has anything like that and would like to donate it, I would be grateful. Simply contact me with the details.
Recent emails:
I received a request for a 'cast of characters' for my Sex Magus series.
To be honest, I'm not sure how to implement this. I've read several stories that had a list of characters and their general relationships with certain main characters at the beginning of the story, but to me that spoils what's going to happen in the story. I've even read books that had a list of characters at the end, as an index. To me, that was a lot better because it didn't spoil anything in the story for me, since it wasn't at the start, and it was there if I needed a reminder of who was who - and that would only happen if there were a lot of characters (like twenty or more main characters).
I like the index idea, but I've also considered making the cast list a separate story, with each character bio as an individual chapter. Each of the Bios could be updated according to what happens to those characters in each story (with spoiler alerts for those worried about that), and I could continue to add new bios as I release new stories. Overall, I think my biggest issue with making the cast list an index at the end of each story is what to EXCLUDE, not to mention the index wouldn't be available until the story was complete. :(
If anyone has any ideas on how I might handle this, feel free to shoot me an email.
Take care, and I hope everyone's Holidays are good.
TD