To: All Guest Reviewers.

Asking questions will not actually get you answers unless I know who you are to privately IM you.

I am shortly going to be posting a bunch of "starts" to stories.

Read and review, or the story gets it.

Seriously, this is a way to gauge interest (and my skill at telling different types of stories).

Results So Far: People really seem to like sadism, oddly enough.

I tend to start stories with "Draco Malfoy is bored" a lot. This is variously code for "Draco wants to do something inventive/brilliant/malicious... but mostly just plain devious" ... because that's Draco Malfoy.

Surprisingly enough, I like Snape a lot better than I like a lot of portrayals of Draco. (Might just be I don't like blonds).

Prior Pet Peeve: How is it that no fanfiction authors understand that Harry is a normal nickname for Henry? Seriously, Harold, Harrison, Heroditus... but not Henry?! "Every tom dick and harry" -- yes, like King Henry.

Current Pet Peeve: Lucius Malfoy was NOT trying to bring Voldie back in second year. He was trying to get Gin, and by extension Arthur in trouble. What sort of conniving Slytherin would willingly allow someone larger than himself to resurface? Particularly when Lucius was at the top of the heap of "Ex Death Eaters and Movers and Shakers to boot"?

Please Note: Ask if you want to add a story to your Draco/Hermione community, particularly if no other Draco/Hermione communities are attached to the story. Chances are there's a reason.

Today's Fun Fact: I managed to get Snape to use the word Sweetheart in a story! I am proud. (Yes, he was being sarcastic. Wasn't it obvious?)

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

--Langston Hughes, my all time favorite poet.

Today's "This is too sensible NOT to be canon": Bellatrix Lestrange, dragged off to Azkaban, loudly proclaiming that her Dark Lord will return -- but also, very deliberately, confessing to Imperiusing Lucius Malfoy and any other family members. Family doesn't come first for her, but there's no sense in not taking the blame right.

Today, 3/23, someone asked if they could translate one of my fanfics to Russian.

I'd like to answer with a tentative yes. Provided they're willing to answer some questions, first.

1) What is your stance on creative control? Do you translate literally, or figuratively?

2) Do you understand English well enough to grasp wordplay and literary humor?

3) If I use a reference to an English work, will you use it ad verbatum, or substitute an equivalent?

4) Also, can said translator please provide a link when it's translated?

4/2: Oh, the AUTISM! Everyone, if you're reading this, Nobody Ever Asked My Birthday is a creative work of fiction. I do NOT want to hear about how "There were only two kids marked." (Yes, I do know, shocking!). Because, you know, the prophecy doesn't specify an age. And that puts rather a lot more people under the heading Marked, doesn't it?

Today's Fun Idea -- Severus Snape has always hated his name. He gets on the Hogwarts Express, and introduces himself to the boys on there... as Sue.

Today's annoyance: Most people, on presentation of someone bleeding to death, will vomit. If you're presenting someone in your story with dead bodies -- rotting bodies, they're GOING to vomit. Particularly if it's the first time. If it's not? Well, there's a reason Bunk (from The Wire) smokes cigars. It's to cut the smell.