Oh. My. God.
As Luke would say.
I just checked this morning, and though I know the numbers are a bit iffy in the way first chapters of a story can be cached in advance, today The Wilhelm Scream just passed 100,000 chapter downloads.
That is utterly incredible and deeply humbling.
This is no false modesty, but when I started this story I knew I'd get a few readers, but nothing like this.
Wilhelm was all born out of a frustration that I couldn't find the kind of incest story I like, where the author focuses deeply on the characters so we get to see why they cross that boundary. Of course, SOL being what it is, that might have been a little optimistic of me, but over the years I've read a deal of well written character pieces, so it's not beyond the reals of possibility to imagine somewhere in the archives there is such a story. Maybe there is, and I just never stumbled upon it.
Be that as it may, Wilhelm began as nothing more as a way to create two interesting characters, and explore how they would feel and respond as they drew closer and closer. Not wanting to write any kind of a heavy drama on the often abusive and tragic reality of such relationships, I worked hard to keep the story light and fun, with bad jokes and puns and wordplay aplenty.
Once I'd got the first chapter done, I posted it up here as I got to work on the rest of the story, never expecting to get much of a response.
I was wrong.
The Wilhelm Scream has generated more feedback, been read by more people, and scored higher than anything else I've ever posted here, and as someone who rather works from an ivory tower, it is heartening to me to learn that these characters and their story is enjoyed by so many and resonates so much.
So, to everyone who has read Wilhelm, enjoyed it, scored it, and wrote to me about it, my deepest and sincerest thanks.
CH