Update: April 26, 2011

Wow, how time flies. Anybody who's been watching knows that I now have eight chapters of 'Faint Premonition' up, and the final chapter goes up tomorrow. Yes, it's gotten a re-rewrite since GenCon a year and a half ago. 'A Matter of Instinct' is completely typed - another seven chapters there - and will start posting next Wednesday, on a weekly basis. Instead of the long, boring ending that I had last time I updated, I've chosen to write four 'interim' fics that take place after the Dark Fury segment of the canon universe. As long as I can keep motivated to type - I normally hate typing, but it's a lot better with my new keyboard - I plan on posting those at one-week intervals as well. And 'Sight Unseen' is completely written on paper, at nine chapters and 104 college-ruled pages. Seven more than 'Faint Premonition', in fact.

I did wear my Serra Ti costume at this year's GenCon, though I slept through my alarm and thus didn't make it to Costume Contest registration on time. So I wandered around the Exhibition Floor all day, getting pictures taken and all. In fact, I ran into a Darth Maul within fifteen minutes of getting into the building, and that turned into an impromptu photo shoot for too many people for me to keep track of. There's one, at least, of those on my Facebook page... which I will be putting on my profile soon for those who'd like to keep up with my rare posts there. I discovered, though, that my headpiece was extremely heavy and had a tendency to slide around, so I've got a new version in my head... just need to get around to getting that cast of my head finished so I can start building it. So it probably won't show this year. It's based on a bald cap, which is why I need a cast of my own head to build it on.

Sadly, not long after my last update to the profile here, my original characters stopped talking to me, and they haven't started again. Hence the attention to the Seer fics. I do plan on picking it back up again after I've got 'Sight Unseen' completely typed up, and hopefully the break from it will help start the juices flowing again.

As usual, happy reading until the next time!

Update as of February 10, 2010

Well, it's sure been a busy ten and a half months since I updated this. My rewrite of 'Premonition' is complete on paper, and has one and a bit chapters left to be typed up. The 'Instincts' rewrite is being stubborn, and I'm trying to figure out how to wrap things up without boring people out of their minds. I've figured some things out with the 'Sight' rewrite, but won't start on it until I get done with 'Instincts.' But I have plans, so that's a start.

I haven't been doing that much fanfiction writing lately, as I've started work on what will be my first publishable novel. I had a very vague picture of the central character last time I updated my profile, but now she's very well-defined in my head, and the two other main characters are coming along well. Most of this progress, as well as the far superior quality of the "Seer" rewrites, is due to my attending GenCon Indianapolis in mid-August. I spent approximately 24 hours in four days attending seminars and workshops in the 'Writer's Symposium' track, which is intended to get budding authors into the paying side of the business. What really thrilled me was the featured presenter: Michael Stackpole, who created my favorite Star Wars character who never appears on film, Corran Horn. Granted, Mr. Stackpole has many, many other works, but that's where I know his writing best. He was incredibly approachable, and even autographed my copy of 'I, Jedi' right on the spot when I worked up the nerve to ask. I only hope that I can be as good as he is in time.

So now I have three big projects, one of which I refuse to share until I can say that it's on bookshelves or coming soon to bookshelves. The new "Seer" fics are my primary fanfiction priority right now; Lynx Klaw has been kind enough to proofread the chapters for me as I get them typed, and I've been doing the same for his fic, 'Chronicle of Darkness.' (Go read it - he's barely a third of the way through a really huge, nine-arc plot!) However, I'd appreciate another beta reader, in case stuff has slipped past both me and him. Think of it this way... beta-read, and you'll get the chapters before anyone else on FF Net. I'll also be posting it on the forums over at riddickstyle dot com, which has a couple pretty good stories already.

My Serra-verse Star Wars fics will likely be a long time in coming... but I've reached the home stretch on the costume. I didn't have it done in time for GenCon last year, but I will this year, and unless there's something much more interesting going on during the Costume Contest, I'll be in it. I should stand out no matter what. If you're there, keep an eye out Saturday for blue-and-white horns, and you'll probably find me. I also have everything I need for an Eileen costume except the daggers, and I have my eye on a pair that I may order to complete the get-up. I'll probably wear that on Friday.

Ooh, and definitely doing some serious shopping while I'm in a civilized part of the country.

Until then, happy reading and have fun!

Update as of March 23, 2009

I'm currently involved in two fairly important (to me, at least) projects here on FF Net. The first is a major overhaul of my "The Seer" series. I watched the movies again and decided that 'Instincts' has to be completely rewritten, as does 'Premonition' (which is almost complete on paper as of today), while 'Sight' requires considerably less, though its events will follow the movie a bit better. I'll be posting the new versions under slightly different titles so that those who prefer the original versions can still read them, but they will still contain the word used originally, just with a bit of context. The other project is a series of AU fics corresponding to the Star Wars movies. The first one, 'Whispers of Menace,' has been fully written out on paper, which is always my first step. It may take a while to get it all typed up, though, and I won't be posting it until after I've taken care of the Riddick fics. That series will focus a great deal on a character that I've cooked up to go with a costume I'm working on. Once the costume is done, I'll be sure to put up a pic as my avatar, especially since the character is non-human and not of one of the usual species that people dress up as.

I have started a Star Wars alternate universe fic called 'The Hero Strikes Back,' but it has gotten rather stalled in the last year and a half, partly due to medical issues and partly from me not being able to put words to what's in my head. (sigh) I managed to finish typing and posting the 'No Angel' series of Harry Potter songfics near the beginning of 2007, and they are all labeled as to the correct order for reading them... I think. There is also now a Riddick series that I have dubbed "The Seer." This set of stories is the first time I have introduced a character that came from my own head! (cheers) And, wonder of wonders, I also have a character that I'm building my own original fiction around-- tentatively for now, but it's a big start.

I seriously have to ration my Phish Food... No more than a few spoonfuls at a sitting! Otherwise, I'd be bouncing off the walls all the time. o.O'

I would like to ask everyone to send their prayers/good wishes/etc. to all the people affected by the events at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. My home area was hit very hard, as we are about 100 miles from the Blacksburg campus, and a good third of the college students from the area attend Tech. My best friend is a graduate student in engineering there, but fortunately he was nowhere near either shooting. I appreciate the support that has already been shown nationwide for the school. The young man who was the center of the events is only one of the 35,000+ students that attend Tech, many of them of Asian descent. He was an anomaly, and NO ONE should judge others based on the actions of a single person.

If anyone was watching NBC Nightly News on July 4, 2007, the last segment included a brief story on a woman who works for my local NBC station and her book saluting America's soldiers. It makes me proud to know that there are people out there who do support the military, even if the government is being stupid about where they send the soldiers.

Fic Progress Reports and Extended Summaries

Bonds of Pain- This fic has gotten stalled beyond all recognition. I would greatly appreciate it if someone who is interested in helping me get unstuck and who understands what's going on up to the point where I got stuck would please get in touch with me, either through a review or by email. Three wizards give their perspectives in each chapter- it's the same three throughout- as the war against Voldemort begins with some (maybe) surprising players on each side.

Bring Me To Life- I have quite a bit of this written out, but I have gotten very frustrated with the rating system here and how unclear it is. I don't know how far is too far for the administrators, so, again, assistance would be appreciated.

No Angel series- This set of six songfics details moments in an alternate universe where, even though Voldemort was defeated, very little about the wizarding world has remained the same. Chronological order is a bit complicated, as a couple of the stories involve long sections where the narrator remembers something that happened before. However, I'll try a good order and then my recommended reading order here.

Chronologic- Hunter - Dark; Don't Think of Me; Hunter - Light; Thank You - Sun; All Coming Back - An Interlude; Thank You - Moon

Recommended- Hunter - Light; Hunter - Dark; Don't Think of Me; Thank You - Sun; All Coming Back - An Interlude; Thank You - Moon

All of the songs except 'All Coming Back' are (c) Dido. 'All Coming Back' is (c) Celine Dion. This series is complete and will not be changed unless someone finds a technical error (i.e. spelling or grammar) that my computer missed.

Blessing- A oneshot Sevitus fic, though I was completely in denial of Half-Blood Prince when I wrote it. I still don't like the sixth book. The last section of the fic is meant to imply most of what happened with the war against Voldemort, though some have said it is vague. I meant it to be that way, and I will not be updating this story unless I am told about a technical error.

A Painful Change- Some background explaining Draco's change of heart in Bonds of Pain. Covers most of fourth year, with a few flashbacks. Story is as complete as necessary, considering it is something of a prologue, and will not be changed unless I am told about a technical error.

The Hero Strikes Back- I've been a Star Wars fan as long as I can remember, and ever since Attack of the Clones came out, I've wondered why someone like Anakin, whose emotions practically rule his world whether he wants them to or not, reacted so mildly when he found out that he'd been lied to for almost twenty years. In this fic, the discovery of Luke, rather than giving Vader a mere nudge towards the Light Side of the Force, produces a rather violent reaction in the Dark Lord of the Sith. I'm trying to be true to the Anakin we see in the prequel trilogy, the passionate man who can't help but want to protect what he holds dear. Captain Firmus Piett (best known as the man who replaces Admiral Ozzel just before the Battle of Hoth in ESB) plays a major part in this saga. Most of his background is based on official information that has been approved by George Lucas, though the available information is rather scarce and I made up his youthful exploits on my own. Force only knows when I'll get the next chapter up; I have to write it before I can post it!

"The Seer" series- Premonition, Instinct, and Sight- These three fics are an alternate 'Verse from the movies (Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick) and animated short (Dark Fury), all of which we owe to Vin Diesel and David Twohy. The changes revolve around my first(!) original character, Eileen Bergenhaus, who is, in part, based upon yours truly. Just prior to Premonition, she lost her adoptive parents in a skimmer accident. I know I don't come right out and say it in the fics, but that, on top of never knowing so much as the names of her real parents, shook her world up. During the course of the series, she meets and gets to know Riddick (rather well, in fact...), averts disaster more than once, and learns more about where she came from. I am working on one short story set in this 'Verse already; anyone with thoughts about things they'd like to see, have better explained, etc., is more than welcome to give me a shout. I'm actually incredibly surprised by how quickly these went from idea to paper to screen, which is a good thing... I think.

"The Seer Chronicles" series - Faint Premonition, A Matter of Instinct, Heart-to-Heart Discussions, Departures, Homes, New Beginnings, and Sight Unseen - Massive rewrites of the original "Seer" stories, sparked by my learning process as a writer and a realization of how much better the originals could be. Faint Premonition's ninth and final chapter will be posted April 27, 2011, and I plan on continuing with weekly updates until the series is all posted. The four new titles are for single-installation stories to help me transition from A Matter of Instinct to the conditions that prevail at the beginning of Sight Unseen. If you liked the original versions and haven't checked the new stuff out yet, please do and let me know how I'm doing!

I just want to thank everyone who reviews my stories, puts me on Author Alert, Story Alert, or their favorites. This feedback is why I enjoy posting my fanfiction. I only have one request: If you put me on Alert or Favorite, please leave a review and tell me what you like so much so I know what to build on! Enjoy!