"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" --Dr. Seuss
Writing:
@Archive of our own / @Eternal Tiet / @Ashbear & Wayward / @Ashbear LJ Master List
Journals:
@Twitter / @Facebook / @LiveJournal / @Dreamwidth
Other:
@ffnet (forum) / @DeviantART / @DeviantART group / icon @Minoris-ff

Story and Update Information:

October 15th, 2014

I'm currently finishing up chapter 90 of After the Fall. It's midnight here on the Eastern side of the States, so hoping to have it up in about six hours - give or take. I ended up getting distracted by teenage-drama. Thankfully, not mine, but my daughter...so guess that sorta, kinda makes it mine through the property of transference. Oh joy! : )

Today's update marks another milestone, although not necessarily a good one, but a milestone nonetheless. October 10th, 2014 marked the ten year anniversary of "After the Fall." Seriously, that's an entire decade of...falling. You'd think someone would've hit the bottom by now. Kidding, kidding. In all seriousness, the end is finally in sight...although fairly certain that I said the exact same thing around the fifty chapter mark. Honestly, I never imagined that After the Fall would reach 95 chapters, encompass a decade of time, or reach over 600,000 words, but it has and without having Sherman, Peabody, and the Wayback Machine sitting around, there's no going back. Just know that I've truly enjoyed telling the story and, if even one person has enjoyed it too, then I've accomplished far more than I'd ever hoped.

-o-o-o-

For those who want information, updates on stories, or want to get a hold of me, the best way is to send a message/post on the Ashbear Facebook community. Alessia Heartilly, who translates my works into Italian set it up, but I do all the posts. Please feel free to stop by - Ashbear Facebook.

Story Related Links

..To my other Works.

where silence has lease- @ffnet, T, drama, romance, complete. Squall & Rinoa. Facing the silence; living in darkness; accepting their fears. WiB Challenge piece.
Until I Fall Away - @ffnet, Mature , Standalone, one-shot, Squall & Rinoa. Retelling of the rain scene in After the Fall. (Explicit version / NC-17 @AO3)
Waking Moments - @ffnet, K, romance, fluff, one-shot, standalone, Squall & Rinoa. 10th year anniversary piece written in the Dancing in Time/Endless Waltz universe.
The Selphie Letters - @AO3, Teen, humor, photographs. I have way too much fun with Squall/Rinoa action figures. (Disney World, Chicago, and many random things!)
Balamb Garden v3.0 - @AO3,Teen, humor, Wayward Tempest. It's a chatroom. Run. Formally @ffnet written back when we were young and impressionable. Maybe not. :p
Things that Make You Go Hmmm - @AO3, Teen, humor, list-type fic, observations, random. Formally @ffnet when I was young and wild. Okay, maybe I was 29. *hides*
Somewhere in Between - @ffnet, M, romance, drama, Squall & Rinoa. (WiP) Wayward Tempest. The hero fails and Rinoa is sealed away for seven years. Alternate Timeline.

...To Share.

Calling the Wind - A custom CD created by a truly amazing author and friend, Summoner Luna.
Ashbear Facebook - Community by Alessia Heartilly. Latest on update information [English & Italian] Fan Art, Cover Art, videos, and general life updates.
Live Journal - Master fic list, with clickable and working links! Woo hoo! For reference my user name on both LJ and DeviantART is Ashes_and_wings.
Eternal Tiet - @ffnet. Account for one-shots and multi-fandom. Please note all my works for the "Where I Belong" challenge will be posted to this account.
Ashbear and Wayward - @ffnet. Home of Somewhere-in-Between a story co-written with the amazing Wayward Tempest. (WiP - 36 chapters)

Other Links...

...Inspired by my works.

Crimson Lies: Robert Dogwood [Leave Tomorrow for Tomorrow - Story] * Wayward Tempest [Ad Infinum - Poem] * MizukoMidori [A Moment - Poem]

Somewhere In Between: DreamScene [Insistence] * Noacat [The Time In Between]

where silence has lease: Psychological reviews/drabbles per chapter [ one, two, three, and four.] * by Kuchiki Jeanne

...Where I Belong, August 2012.

Information: During August of 2012, several fans of Rinoa and Squall came together for the "Where I Belong" challenge. We reached out to people across the internet for an all-inclusive family reunion of fans past and present. After 31 days, we had a total of 129 submissions - these were spread out over many sites. Even though the challenge is over, please support these members of the community. The master list can be found at LiveJournal, Dreamwidth, and here at FFnet.

@ WiB - Fanfiction.net C2 / @ WiB - A03 Collection / @ WiB - YouTube / @ WiB - DeviantART Group / @WiB - FFVIII-II

...Of other interest.

Miscellaneous links: An Ashbear fanlisting site [by Alessia Heartilly] * An interview [in Italian] * Facebook Community [by Alessia Heartilly] * Rebelling Princess [RinoaKnight]

A huge thank you to my betas, my friends: Wayward Tempest, Emerald-Latias, Carie Valentine, Robert Dogwood, Jill, Moyjayy, Lisa, Niqsta, and Vick330.

Art: SummonerLuna [After the Fall] * DarkPalace [Dancing in Time] * Noacat [Endless Waltz] * PuftPrin/Stardust Ray [ Bio/Meaning of Resistance ]

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII and its characters, locations, ideas, and in-game dialog belong to Square Enix, formally SquareSoft.

Personal (and very useless) Information

I'm basically a (semi) normal married, mother of two, who writes fanfiction as a hobby. I'm currently residing (and/or hiding) in Northern Indiana - somewhere between the cornfields and the cows. My son is now a freshman in college and my daughter a freshman in high school. This is an extremely horrifying thought as my oldest was in first grade when decided 'hey, why don't I try to write something?' I also have my 'four legged' babies. First, my three cats - Indianapolis (aka Indy), Arizona (aka Ari), and Jazz (aka Jazz...original, no?) and not only do they believe they own the house, but they believe they own my very soul...it's currently under joint ownership between Indy and Ari. Jazz is the 'Garfield' of catdom; he's too lazy to care about trivial things like soul ownership and world domination. The newest addition is a rescue beagle named Skyla. She’s an amazingly loveable dork and also the cat's minion.

As far as my writing, my stories mainly revolve around Squall and Rinoa as they have always been close to my heart. I was drawn to them originally, I believe, because of my own experiences - I met my husband when we were sixteen, engaged at eighteen, and married at twenty. To me, Squall, Rinoa, and their relationship have evolved into something so much deeper. While it's easy for some people to dismiss their differences, I believe the importance is their similarities and what they draw out in each other.

Twelve years ago, I wrote because I thought it would be fun. That's why I write to this day, although the process can get exhausting, but writing is a hobby that makes you think. Sometimes, a plot is like a puzzle that needs to be solved; the process itself can be frustrating. However, when you're finished and look back at what you've created, it's every bit as rewarding as any other hobby. What means the most are the small things - like the letters and comments I've received. Most importantly, it's the friends I’ve made over the years; these friendships extend well beyond fandom. I know that if I hadn’t been doing this, I would have missed out on so many experiences. So, I thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to read this or any of my stories. Oh yes, I was twenty-nine when I started writing back in 2001 – let’s all just pretend I’m still that age. Please? (Begs) - Revised on August 15th, 2013