Bronchitus

I bet you've been wondering why the silence . . .

Carin McLeoud isn't much good at being the Madam Kistulot when she had Bronchitus. Antibiotics took awhile to kick in. The cough comes and goes. Then my asthma conflicted with the bronchitus and I'm dizzy and feeling feverish. It's fun! Afraid I won't feel good by Monday but knowing it's best I actually get well.

The sexy I can muster is reserved right now for those nearest and dearest to me, so sorry, no MK for a bit till I heal. Then, we start the most epic crossover you've ever seen. Until then? You get this sexy picture drawn by Lola herself.

And then mangled by yours truly.

This!

Enjoy.

~MK

Bloggu, revenge of the blogazor!

Once again, I got the story done . . . a couple days too late! So, here you go . . .

Electrum Volume 12: The Lights at the End of the Tunnel

Tada! A little late, but still in plenty of time for everyone to read. I hope to maybe get Sylvia's next volume done for the weekend too, as they parallel nicely and lead to their crossover event quite beautifully.

Work has been a little stressful, but nothing I can't handle. Next week I get a four day week, but I will be busy on Christmas. I have half-plans with my mother to see sherlock holmes.

I can't wait to see it.

For now, at least you get another volume of electrum, and Nebula is hot on its tails. Wish me luck, comment, fanmail away, you know, the regular :)

~Madam Kistulot

For the first time, I say before Simon!

So my loyal fans, what is it, you ask, that makes the subject line of this post true?

Well, I was sick last week, and therefore was quite a bit behind writing schedule. Instead of making you all wait, and since Simon's new formatting makes it so we can't steal his source code anyway (yeah, we'd been doing that for awhiiiile) I personally took the time to update the site. Val stayed up late marking up Nebula, and I woke up, finished my edits on it, and then coded it up, put it up, added descriptions to fan art . . . voila.

It's not a lot of fun to go through putting

tags and

tags everywhere, but a chickies gotta do what a chickie's gotta do! You, my fans, deserved this on-time update.

Also, last night I found my long lost word count document and brought it up to date. I had to show off the results.

Silververse:
The Adventures of Silver Girl: 86,702
Silver Eclipse: 72,444
Nocturnal Interlude: 4,808
The Memory Remains: 66,797
Wherever I May Roam: 14,784
Dust High: 15,701
Misted Facets: 13,297
Informant: 4,560
The Argentum Project: 100,763
(Arc: 153,913)
Poetic License: 11,068
Ballpoint to the brain: 7,035
Ink Blots: 6,583
Blotted Lace: 5,794
Sealed With A Kiss: 5,512
Ink Bot: 9,176
Prequill: 7,814
Ink Soaked Penumbra: 74,818
(Arc: 127,800)
Obedience Over Matter: 2,299
Silver Gray Starlight: 11,844
Pink Candy: 4,493
To Serve and Obey: 58,605
(Arc: 77,241)
Red Moon Rising: 88,751
Scribe and Shadow: 15,519

Total: 689,167

Electrum:
Volume 1: Electrum Impulses: 19,478
Volume 2: Roadside Justice: 5,432
Volume 3: The Spiral: 3,204
Volume 4: Hope: 3,920
Volume 5: Hope and Family: 7,424
Volume 6: Spiraling Forward: 6,990
Volume 7: Unraveling Transmutation and Hopeful Tethering: 5,898
Volume 8: Company Loyalty: 13,286
Volume 9: Floral Engagement: 12,729
Volume 10: A Magical Evening: 11,979
Volume 11: Out of Time: 14,954

Total: 105,294

Nebula:
Volume I: The Soaring Phoenix: 19,337
Volume II: Free Will's Fermata: 5,452
Volume III: Song and Storm: 4,474
Volume IV: Nebulous Struggle: 3,739
Volume V: Obedience's Refrain: 2,838
Volume VI: Phoenix Coda: 4,313
Volume VII: Ballad of Justice: 7,484
Volume VIII: Galvanized Melody: 7,233
Volume IX: Searing White Siren Song of Glory: 4,773
Volume X: Symphony of Falling Glass: 5,994

Total: 65,637

Rose
Rose Petals: 6,490
Rose Miracles: 11,070
Rose Rejuvination: 5,301

Total: 22,861

Mariana
The Day After: 4,843
The Fourth: 2,979

Total: 7,822

One Shots
Never Far Away: 2,041
Coping Mechanism: 10,434
Landing On Her Feet: 7,182
I've Got a Fever . . .: 2,233
Unit 9: 7,043
Paradise: 3,503
Exvolensation: 1,705

Total: 34,141

Grand Total: 924,922

This of course neglects the latest tale that I have to add in after I'm done with this post, but am too lazy to do now. This means since I've been writing for the archive (Unit 9 and Coping Mechanism by the way only use the rewritten values) I have only 75,078 polished words, not counting Nebula Volume XI, until I break one million.

I don't know what to say.

I want to thank all of you that read the blot, that contributed fanart, that well, tolerated my sometimes sporadic updates. I want to thank everyone who was happy when I created the Argent Garden forum, and then everyone who kept reading my work after I left once, then twice. I know I'm a rather thorny person, attempting to be warm but then storming off and locking doors, but some few of you have tolerated it at least for the sake of my writing - and honestly that's what I care about most.

Events in the Silververse are heating up. Darksong, another contributor to the greater Midasverse as I call it, has another story going up that may lead to an actual Silververse-Omegaverse crossover. New technologies introduced in Electrum Volume 11 lead well to a crossover with Once and Future Kim's Wires.

I only wish Decker were still about for some fun Psyche and Fractal fun.

That said, I admit it would be fun to have a more expanded Midasverse. I've attempted to do that through varying my style between Electrum and Nebula, but that only provides a little bit more. More unique, distinct voices could be fun. Oh well, right?

My lovely erislave and I might work on a webcomic together, and it MIGHT be Midasthemed. Since she'll be doing the hard part, I want her to make the call on that. If it happens, I'll let you all know here.

Hrm, lets see, what else is there to tell . . . Holidays are approaching, and I'll be doing damn near everything I possibly can to get Nebula Volume XII done by the end of the year. The event to follow is one I don't want to push back, even if there's no way in hell I can finish it by the end of the year. Then, I see another set of stories panning before us, finishing out the Sisters' stories by the end of 2010.

I'm tempted to go about commissioning some art of Sarah, Lacie, Jacqui, and Leona all posing together, or all mind fried together. I think I just might.

Good writing does two things. It makes you want to read, or it makes you want to write. I've done both, and while after I finish my tales in Midas I intend to withdraw from posting actively on the archive, I hope my writing is still able to have the same effect.

Again, thank you all, and I hope you're having a lovely holiday season.

~Madam Kistulot

Right on Time

The blog post will be a lot more amusing once the story associated goes up. Trust me.

That's right - Electrum got done in less than a week! How? I have no damn clue. I was simply driven. Like some kind of formula one racer. Awesome, huh?

Some new art will be posted up on the site this weekend. I don't know when I'll get to collecting it all for Val, but more will be going up - including some of the first fanart of everyone's favorite inkblossom, Quillspawn!

Mentioning Quillspawn . . . something occurs to me off and on. Scribe and Shadow still needs to go up on my website.

I guess I could put it directly after red moon on it's page. It does belong there. I'll poke everyone's favorite robot to get to work on that too. Events are in motion that make it a fairly important story to read. That's probably vaguely nearing a spoiler, but it's more of a teaser. Imagine it said with drips of ink slowly splashing on a white piece of paper and spreading out to say something like "December 2009 . . ." drops coalescing oddly, and reforming into the words "Ink drips from the shadows . . ." or something.

It sounded cool in my head. If I could draw worth a damn, I'd probably animate it in flash - if I had flash installed on my computer. Still a program or two I need to get loaded back up . . .

Well, that's pretty much all for now since I don't want to spoilerize anything. Nebula Volume XI doesn't even have a working title yet, but it's going to be a special one, too. The twelves are going to be real turning points, and then . . .

Well, just count up how many pages there will be at that point, pages being volumes plus chapters of initial pieces. I think you'll see a pattern.

Until next time!

~Madam Kistulot

Late Update!

So, I have a lot to say, and frankly, this took me too long to get to. Sorry about that. Life isn't getting in the way, but how much it has been getting in the way I've been a little lazy when I've had the capability.

New Super Mario Bros Wii came out yesterday, and I spent a good long time playing through a majority of it with Val. Was lotsa fun. We'll need to finish it still, but i feel satisfied mariowise. Chucking people you love off of cliffs? its a great stress reliever. Trust me.

A very sweet fan, amusingly named the same as my first glittering heroine (Sarah, not Silver Girl, silly) granted me a legitimate key for Windows 7 Ultimate - so I'm finally off of the XP train. So far really preferring it this way. A thing here or there isn't doing just what I want (Paint Shop Pro 7 isn't very happy with me - maybe because it's not the only 7 anymore?) but overall it runs faster, feels slicker, and is preeeetty. So that's all that matters.

Got Valencia a new laptop, a Toshiba Satellite. You never notice how small a netbook is until you stack it on top of a real laptop. Wow. Sylvia is TINY. Sylvia, incase I haven't said it, is the name of my netbook as my old desktop was named Aurora.

Aurora is getting so very close to some very big plot developments. Its so hard to restrain myself, but this needs to be done right or it'll be pointless. There's so much right on the verge of "popping". Sylvia has some things coming her way, but differently.

Their crossover is getting closer and closer, too. If I focus a little, maybe it'll be a sort of winter-season present? I'm not sure if I'll be able to make that deadline for starting it off/finishing it, but it's what I'm mentally aiming for.

Work has become stressful in a whole new way. People are leaving my contract. A lot. But still, we're "overstaffed." My hours have been cut back to 37 hours a week. To be honest? Any excuse not to be at work that doesn't get me fired or make me look worse. The job has become more exhausting, and I've actually recieved a pay cut for taking a "promotion."

So life is stressful. Val is happy. Mario is fun. Stories are moving forward.

Fanmail more appreciated than ever!

~Madam Kistulot

Four more years! Elect LaSilvas!

Okay, so work has calmed down, so why so slow now eh? Good question. This morning the max broke down, more details on what a max is at the Trimet Website, but previous to that? Exhaustion and writers' block. I've capped 55 stories in four years on the archive. Four years.

Its quality though, not quantity, but I'd like to think I've got that, too. Maybe not every story, and the earlier could use a rewrite . . . but I'd like to think they're worthy additions.

I'd have a mite fewer if I hadn't played with story conventions a little. Lead-ins were fun. After a nearing event, Nebula will revert to a more classic multi chapter story. Electrum seems to work best this way - but feel free to chime in if you dissagree.

Four years . . .

That's highschool. Thats a bachelor's degree. Thats longer than most marriages . . .

Sarah was born in June, so she's been four for awhile. Old enough to go to preschool, and get ready for kindergarden. She'll make an adorable school girl in a year or two.

She still has years before her chronological existence is jailbait, but we know how she'll turnout. Mmm.

Okay verge of creepy There. Sorry! Regardless, more should be coming, but I'm not promising as rigorous a schedule. I just can't keep up with it. I'm not going to purposefully go slow, but I don't know how well these deadlines are working for me or for story quality. So, apologies, but things might come a little slower. Probably not much than as of late, but hey . . . at least I'm posting, and rather regularly.

Gotta have something else in the update besides lisa teez in red, eh?

That's all for now,

~Madam Kistulot

Floral Engagement

Electrum Volume 9 is done and sent in!

It might be a little rough, but well . . . work, sickness, stress . . . I think I'm lucky I didn't have to start this one over from scratch. This one of course dives a little more into Flower Chylde, or Flora as she's known day to day. The next story will have a slightly Psiona based focus.

As for Nebula Volume IX, I've already started it. Some time back, and not very much, but it shouldn't be nearly as hard to write or take nearly as long for any of you to see.

The end of Volume 9 shows a hint of plans that I've had building up since a nightmare/dream I had some time back. It was freaky while having it, but it gave me some great ideas. I'm not sure what to call it, or what to call the new figure seen in brief, but I'll figure it out in enough time. I've known goals, inspirations, aspirations for some time.

I do make a lot up as I go along, but the little things I drop here or there, well, I try to know what my foreshadowing means. I admit a time or two I do lazy "this will be something eventually" like the light in Sarah's head back in tAoSG, but I try to do that less often.

It's also fun when you just write as you go, and yet foreshadowing creeps in anyway.

It's like your mind telling you where you're going.

Being a writer is strange . . .

~Madam Kistulot

Stress, or "This is the job I don't get payed for"

Well, this can't be good, right? Posting but not with a good subject line?

You'd be right.

Work has been hellish, and even though when I'm not fixing everyone else's mistakes (besides my actual right beside me co-workers!) there's plenty of time between calls . . . All this week I've been working overtime. I'll be working even more overtime come next week.

My employers hinted this is intended to run all of the way through christmas.

Ain't that just cute?

So, Electrum 9 is basically done, but needs an ending, and lots of polishing. Next update. Maybe.

I haven't really had a lot of time for MCstories lately. Two stories are currently open in my browser in different tabs, but I've been slow to even start on them. Life's just been a little too hellish.

Hope you're all having a better time.

Sick

Yes, I am immune to many things, but physical ailment? Far from it. I am sick. That's why I missed the update, and why I'll be missing another. It is very hard to write sexy when you're miserably sick. Sorry about that.

~Madam Kistulot

Electrum experiment and nebulous update

So everybody, whaddya think of the experiment? So far the reviews I've gotten have been very, very positive on the new format for Electrum. This means, it'll probably stick. Nebula still works very well first person, but Aurora will at least be getting the occasional 3rd person story. It just works for having a larger cast like she does. Things can happen without her noticing. It's freeing.

Sorry no Nebula this update! :( I tried, but I just couldn't do it justice.

If I can finish it before the update, I'll post a pre edit version just to whet appetites. Or post if I can get it done quick enough. Time will tell! Either way, check back often, and thanks for reading!

~Madam Kistulot

Missed update, missed lover

Well, by now you've noticed that I missed the update. Sorry. I'll be trying to get both Sylvia and Aurora in to this sat/sun's update.

Reason? The lovely eri was visiting us from her lands far across the eastern horizon. Was somewhat occupied. She left portland last night, and I go back to work today. Feeling the smallest touch melancholy, but fine otherwise.

Also tired. Very tired. Couldn't sleep. I'll be awake for at least 26 hours by the time I get off work today.

I'll be sleeping well tonight.

~Madam Kistulot

Champions Online Closed Beta

So, I'm in the closed beta! :)

You can vote for Silver Girl here if you like the way I've captured her. Or not. It's up to you. I think I did pretty good considering my first spin at character creation!

I can't break the NDA, so I can't really talk about it. Sorry.

Still, you'll love it!

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. Nebula has been sent in, even if there's a Friday update it'll be ready. Electrum's latest is taking longer because it's interesting, as previously said.

Simon is an archival god

Beyond the obvious, the fact that he tirelessly slaves over a hot archive . . . remember my little typo? Nebula Volume II? If you check now, you'll see . . .

Tune in in two weeks for the experimental Volume 8, and next week for Nebula Volume VII. Sorry for sparse Blot updates, but expect more in the future, and new art on my website soon, too!

Which while accurate? I didn't do! It was my typo! So either Simon recognized my mistake later, or Mr Green Bastard (100% honestly meant in an endearing way, bar sinister and all) is a bit of a fan.

Of course, there's also a chance someone emailed him, but it wasn't me. If it was you, comment!

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. Nebula Volume VII already has a rough draft on a Sunday. Woo!

Nebula Volume II? What?

Hello there!

Any of you who have read through the latest story will see a typo. Next week, Nebula Volume II? Teh whatz? This is very easily explained as a typo. It should be Volume VII. That is the one big negative against roman numerals, and that I add my authors notes in last as a finishing touch.

Sorry for the confusion, and I hope you're enjoying.

Things next next week are going to take a bit of a different turn with Aurora getting a self contained third-person story. It's going to be a big departure, but I hope you'll all enjoy it.

Next week, Nebula gets a twist thrown in. Apparently the name for Volume VI I've heard is misleading. Phoenix Coda was referring to the Phoenix's Coda. Not Nebula's. Or John Bonham's comeback CD.

So, clarifications, and best wishes I suppose! I ought to do more of these, but the heat in Portland has been MISERABLE as of late. Mostly just trying to stay cool and alive. So, until next time!

~Madam Kistulot

Soooo I'm not good at keeping up with the blot!

Sorry about that!

I've been good at keeping current with updates, and that's what matters. The recent chapter was very hard to get out, and I apologize if it doesn't have the same kick you're used to expecting. It felt like it was missing something, but in the way where I could have spent five years not posting it and had it make no difference. Since the whole point of this writing exercise for me was to attempt more serial work, keeping up is important. Its tricky, but important.

Next week's Nebula is going to be a very interesting one, and I hope I can make it pack as much punch, eroticism, and foreshadowing into it as I possibly can. Both are getting very near the end of their introductory stories. After that, there will be another two extra-big volumes, which may not be posted all at one, may be, we'll see, and then there will be a crossover. Look forward to it, but I refuse to spoil any details.

Work has been a little hectic. People getting fired left and right due to being dumbasses. A guy at my job - a supervisor no less - was actually found in the bathroom with a needle full of heroin. Well, once full. Fired. One guy was hanging up on customers. Fired. My supervisor likes to joke in our team meetings that there's a bulletten to keep in track of every week: the new way to get yourself fired.

If you do your job, you will get paid and remain employed. Mayhaps, you will even be promoted as I might be - more news on that soon. Its pretty much a given, but I want to be sure before I blog it anywhere.

Regardless, things have been a little bit stressful, and after some less than fun people were met on the snappville site, I felt a little bit less like being public for awhile. Its just hard to believe the nerve of some people. If you want them to leave you alone, you block them, that doesnt mean try another account . . . but I digress.

More writing next week, a big one. I'm taking a vacation from work in august, but I think that I'll still get up stories on time. Anything more, well, you'll hear about it another time!

I leave you with pictures of my new computer, Atma Genji. Why Atma Genji? She glows blue like the atma weapon, and she has a dual core proccessor.

If you don't understand that, play more Final Fantasy Six.

*Atma
*Glowing Atma
*Atma breaking the Warp Speed Barrier

Until next time!

~Madam Kistulot

Still not dead!

You know how you remember to do things right after you save them/send them? There's no "next week!" Teaser. Bah. Oh well! Electrum Volume 5 will be out next week even if I'm a space case.

Speaking of space casery, the first two stories of my comeback have no editing but my own. Honestly. Stresses caused me to want to do it on my own, and Valencia along with several others lead me to well . . . take that thought under advisement, and I ended up deciding I could use an editor after all, even if just type editing, which honestly is very very important.

Very.

So, I have my new computer. Atma. Pictures will surface soon. she's dual core, and has a very double theme to her case design, so I am calling her Atma, with the last name genji. If you know why you're awesome.

So, more will come. Realize it. Accept it. Embrace it. Eventually it may become something you don't want, but I hope not. Their stories are honestly going differently than I intended, though the moment of reentwinement remains the same. I figure somewhere around their collective volume 12s is where I'll bring them back together agfter a single story from neither of their perspectives.

It all depends on how things go, I guess!

Thank you everyone who has shown your support. I'm exhausted, and still setting up my new computer, so I'm going to leave you all now to your own ends, and wish you a wonderful week!

Not dead. Yet.

So, if you're reading this, you probably saw the update to mcstories.

If you're seeing this before the update, sorry to ruin it. Nebula Volume III should be at least vaguely worth the wait. I have heard some criticism that its panning out too much like Silver Girl - but that's not where its headed. I know, a writer needing to explain their work is the first sign that something isn't going well, but I hope you'll disagree.

Anyway, as posted before, work has been exhausting. What with over 75% of the people I used to work with quitting or being fired, and then being slapped with customer surveys that were meant for other agents . . . work has been a lovely hell. Tech support isn't very fun when you work for companies that care one hundred and fifty ten percent more about their customers than their employees.

On top of that, I have tuberculosis. Don't worry, apparently I've had it for . . . two years? I'm on pills for months. They aren't bad, but it is very third world level frustrating. So yes, I'm a carrier for a very deadly disease. The state of Oregon is paying for my treatment.

Early January, well before my medical kicked in, I was on a bus that sped off before I could finish sitting down and my knee popped out of place. Wound up on crutches. Once I was down to one, ready to ditch it... something popped, literally, out of the other knee. So back to two. Down to one again, we'll see how that goes, but being mobility impaired is very difficult. Nothing makes stairs better than ramps, but there are no fucking ramps into my apartment building, or complex. Damn Oregon for being at a forty-five degree angle.

So, sans a lovely visit from Erika back in March, this year has been a difficult one so far. Good thing is that suffering leads to good writing. A calm in the storm often helps this granted, and I admit that I don't really see any especially close, but I'm not doing anything like giving up.

Just realistically expecting next week to more or less mirror this one, sans next week I get paid.

Lastnight my desktop computer died. The harddrive should be fine, and everything from it should be rather well backed up, but even a generous donation from the Raine foundation it'll still be a month or two before I can afford a new computer... So I'm a little depresssed over that. Aurora, the computer, was named before the character. She was the first major purchase I made with my first job. When I turned on her screen, it was the rising of the sun.

I'm a little dumbly emotional, I'll admit, but she has a lot of value and meaning and now she's dead. It happens.

The good news, is that I have up to volume 5 and V written. They need a little more editing, but I should be able to keep up the pace neccessary for frequent updates. Stress from work, home, health, and honestly a little worry in living up to my own name exhausted my ability to reliably write. I took a hiatus, and I should be back at least until I can finish their stories unless life intervenes again.

After Sylvia and Aurora finish off, I plan on trying to find a sellable premise and fight tooth and nail to finally achieve my dream. Odds are against me, but I've never been big on trusting the odds, anyway.

So, for now, keep checking the updates. Check here via RSS. More to come, in time.

~Madam Kistulot

P.S. - Rather recently to try and aid my writing I decided to actually indulge the genre I've been dancing in further, and have been a regular visitor of the local comic shop Things From Another World, which you can also find online. Thanks to a friend's reccomendation I've been tearing through TPB of Ultimate Spiderman, and have been enjoying it sans some of issue five. Was going to get back into the x-men, but guess who on my third issue is comming back to life again. I'm going to sidestep that, and enjoy pieces of Batman's "Death", pieces of Dark Reign, and miscellanious TPB, though for now thats on hold until I get my new box. More on that as more surfaces.

Closing off Tabico week!

Honestly, did you chose your pen name just to ruin this for me? So not fair! I kid of course, but if I didn't, I'd be old!

Please, imagine that you clicked here after I said that.

There are still a lot of good Tabico stories, so to end this week I'll look through the list and grab out a few more to point out as must reads. Tabico is another author whose work deserves to be devoured completely, so don't think less of stories I don't recommend.

Community

This is a story I've read several times, and enjoyed each time. A cop finds herself a part of a very special new community, and is shown the ropes by the lovely "D" as she is converted for it's use. There's just something I always loved about the way her clothes were removed by scalpel and the back and forth as she loses her mind to her new life. Hot, sizzling, read it.

In the Back of my Mind

This is a story that like Sweet Oil comes off with a young, innocent and adorable feeling. Two girls stumble upon something best left alone, and wind up servants to its whims. Their reactions to finding it, and as they begin to tread closer and closer to the end of their independence, is so delicious to savor.

Kaleidoscope Mind

I like to think of this tale as an MC story mixed with a good ol' slasher flick the likes of Friday the 13th. I choose that one due to it's setting. Camp councilors, pre-camp, wind up receiving a lovely little gift that has so much fun with helpless minds. The way they're taken down one by one until all of them are helplessly lost has such a hot, fun feeling to it, and I find myself coming back to this story often hoping one day to write something in a similar vein.

Lord May

I only happened upon this story rather recently, and it was an unexpected pleasure. A chance encounter leads a couple to meet their paralyzed next door neighbor who has mastered an exquisite process allowing one to control another's pleasure or pain via remote control. There's so much more to that premise, but there's where it all begins. The protagonist this time is male, and not who Lord May is after. A twist, huh? A most unusually happy ending, and hilarious outtakes frost this hot yummy cake of a story. Dig in!

Rewired

This is a yet another delicious story. Without going too far, or even saying much at all, I will recommend this story for its line of "fucking home appliance" if nothing else. Honestly. I think that's all I need to say. Read it.

Wrach

Another story that takes place like a horror story - only this time there is more gruesome attached to the sexy side of things. something long since buried is unearthed, and one by one . . . well . . . it gets just what it wants. Another one I read more recently than the rest of her work, and it definitely deserves a read. Very yummy.

This closes off Tabico week then, and I hope you're all looking forward to Iago week! Othello sure isn't.

~Madam Kistulot

Tabico Week Part Deux

Hello everyone! This time around to make sure every entry get's up on the right day I've decided to write them all ahead of time. If this starts a trend, hey, you'll be able to rely on me like a webcomic.

As I mentioned in Monday's post, Tabico doesn't pull back from raw, squicky, powerful stories. While Monday also showed she doesn't need to, today will show that not only can she, but she can - amazingly.


Adaptation

Let me start my praise of this story with a simple fact: I am deathly afraid of wasps. The cutest non cartoon bee comes anywhere near me, and I scream. I will hide from bees, or sit/stand incredibly still. It's not going to far to say they scare me to my very core. Even with that said, this story is hot. Her slow response to the fate that befalls her is amazing, and it's defense for her resistance makes it all the more delicious. This story hasn't made me less afraid of wasps, but it is still so amazingly hot. Does have a squick warning, but I think it's worth it.

Allegiance

Another story set on a distant world like Adaptation (in fact, due to a similar curse used I believe them to be in the same universe, more similarities to follow) this one with a more romantic tone to it. Old lovers meet anew to talk about what happened between the last time they've seen each other. One of them has a very hot yummy evil mc insect filled story to tell, that leads to a sweet happy reunion. Sounds unbelievable? Read it. Maybe not as squicktastic, but it fits to mention after Adaptation.

Bitch

This is probably a story you've heard mentioned before. It's the classic "I don't find bestiality even vaguely hot, but . . ." story. I have another, but that's going to have to wait until after Iago when I get to arclight. Anyway, this story really is fairly legendary amongst the EMCSA. MC device owes a nod to Eye of Serpent, and from there Tabico hits the ground running and doesn't stop. Twisted, messed up, and yet somehow very hot. Definitely, give this one a read.

Herd Instinct

A story that unknown to me at the time helped inspire part of "Silver Eclipse", Herd Instinct is another story you've probably heard of. If you haven't read this yet, you're missing out. It is extreme, with a business woman - the owner of a paper plant if I remember correctly, being more or less turned into a cow. Not to a level one would associate with the story above (no grafting horns for instance), but still extreme. Even better is when she has one more use after you think she's finally been made into just what they want her. An awesome story.

Riders

Tabico describes that this makes her "Mind Worms" story seem like "Horton Hears a Who" and recommends you read Sweet Oil if it doesn't appeal. This story is definitely unashamed, raw squick. Slime, ugly slug parasites, but yummy betrayal and re purposing of humans. Not including this on this list would be remiss. There are other stories of hers involving parasites, but this one works best for an extreme, and is a yummy read none the less!

Yellow

I've had this up as a pick on my site during the first listing of picks, so this one shouldn't come as a particular surprise. Definitely a rather extreme story, and even based on something from D&D lore! A powerful wizard buys slaves, but just what does she use them for? I wouldn't want to ruin it, nor the delicious epilogue scene. Its all just so delicious. There are a few details that are less than overflowingly sexy, but make it more real and intense for me. Not for the faint of heart, but otherwise, this is one everyone should read.

It feels good to have this post done early, as I'm sick of feeling like I'm scrambling to give good authors the feedback they deserve - even if they never actually read the blot. After I cover enough authors, I am tempted to email links, but that sounds so silly to actually do.

So, another full list of stories to read if you haven't gotten to them already! Enjoying my reviews? I hope so! Nebula Volume 3 is going slowly, but I'm excited for November! Are you?

Happy Reading!

~Madam Kistulot

Tabico Week Part 1

Damn you Tabico. You write awesome stories, you know that? Why did you have to chose a pen name I can't riff on? I can play with it, say tabsico amongst friends when being silly (I don't know why I started saying that) and tabi could be a cute thing to riff on, like tabby cat, but I can't really get away with that in good conscience.

So, ignoring my little tirade, welcome to Tabico week! The last, but by no means least, of the t-trio! Tabico's specialty is the rawness in everything she writes. She has no limits - or few and far between - and you can feel it in her writing. If something is going to happen, it happens. She doesn't pull away from the squick, diving in head first to stories most authors wouldn't even touch.

Tabico has written a wide variety of stories, including color codes for an author most well-known for her "red" or f/f contributions to the archive. She's collaborated with thrall and the next on my list Iago, and has an impressive series of interrelated stories that have never gotten a name, but I lovingly refer to as the Snowdonverse. She's not exactly the main character, but she is a recurring character that I enjoy quite a bit. Plus, I can never spell Arundsen's name without looking at how it's spelled.

So, for Tabico week, I'm going to start there. This will be a long post - making up for it's lateness - and giving you plenty to read if you haven't gotten to these lovely gems already! Warning, scrolling past where you've read may give spoilers - but not horrific ones.

New Tunez

The first story starts innocently enough. Lissa, a college student, gets an email for a new site that offers music downloads. Deciding to give it a try, she downloads some music that has a delicious affect on her mental state. Losing time is such a yummy way to show someone is being programmed. The fun doesn't stop there, and soon her friend is giving these new tunes a try. A yummy story, full of heat, and delicious mind control.

Cross My Heart

Nicole, Lissa's friend, has worried parents. She's been acting a little differently... and so she winds up being sent to see a shrink. The title comes from an adorable piece of hardware she wears, and I won't spoil that at all. The web of mind control grows further as yet another mind is drawn in deeper, and escape is so rarely an option.

Sweet Oil

Most of Tabico's stories are raw, evil, perhaps even cruel in a way. It would be hard to call most of them sweet, even when everyone is euphoric by the end. Sweet Oil is a sweeter, more lighthearted story as the title would suggest. A few girls get their hands on some special massage oil that has some yummy side effects, and get caught up experimenting, enjoying . . . savoring. No enslavement, nothing lasting, just hot fun. No less worth a read.

Hot Oil

But of course, the oil doesn't need to be used for sweeter purposes, as shown in this sequel. The woman supplying the oil returns to collect, and a sorority is turned into a pack of pets one after the other. Tabico writes a lot of serial recruitment, and perhaps this story is one of the best examples. A yummy story, sizzling really. Read it!

Fitness

A woman's gym changes ownership, and things start to change, dramatically. The changes happen so sweetly subtly to those involved, and for those of us with the luck to watch, you can see the options for anything but enslavement melting away more and more as the story progresses. Also a yummy dehumanization piece, though I don't want to ruin much more. Lots of women being taken all at once - yummy!

Temp to Perm

Snowdon herself pays a visit to collect a new girl, and winds up with another. A delicious short story with a fun protagonist - a temp who enjoys being a temp fluttering from job to job, doing good enough work to get away with surfing for porn on her work computer. I love the title, and this story.

Ronin

Another story where we get a more direct glance at Snowdon, though admittedly the first that I had any problems with. It is a very hot story, with a woman being caught between the games of two powerful mind controllers . . . but the way some characters act, and are allowed to act, strikes me as a little out of character for what we've seen in the past. Its a yummy story, with yummy bikes, but the latter half just doesn't sit right with me.

Arundsen's Device

This story feels to me almost like another half to the 'verse, even if there are only three stories with Andrea, and only two where she is given a more central role. Andrea, a grad student, stumbles upon a mind control made by Professor Arundsen, and indulges in it. She even uses it on herself - a detail that has always made this story stand out in my mind. But things are turned on her, and then once she manages to recover, things are turned again . . . a very fun protagonist, and supporting cast. Yummy.

Socket

Sort of a side story, a colleague of Arundsen tests his own device ant takes himself a yummy new slave. It is m/f md, but its still a yummy story for it's mind control if nothing else. Andrea makes a cameo. I'm feeling at a loss for what else to say for this one, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

Summit

This story is a direct sequel to Arundsen's Device (I finally spelled it without looking! holy crap!) as well as continuation of the earlier stories with Nicole. A 'natural' has been found, and several mind controllers are brought together, made aware of the situation . . . some manage to pull through, while some are taken apart. This story alternates between our more familiar characters and the natural, a man who has the ability to instantly conquer a mind with almost no effort. Arudsen is made a much more interesting character here (as he's actually present for one), Snowdon is developed deliciously, and the Andrea/Nicole interactions are some of my favorite scenes in MC. If you enjoyed the previous stories, you need to read this one. It's delicious.


Wow, that was a lot, but really, these stories deserve to be read as all one big lump - maybe not all at once, but as a continuing growing world with so much to delight in. I enjoy rereading parts of them, or stories in their entirety quite often, and never find myself regretting it.

Until Wednesday!

~Madam Kistulot

p.s. - I need to update the updates page and the front page of my site, but my story picks have been updated again! Give them a look if you still want more to read!

thralling others

This post is a little late, but I'm still getting to it - and it's the thought that counts! After this post I'm going to get to writing Nebula Volume 3 in earnest. I know, well behind where I intended to be, but I still have several updates ready, and that's what matters.

Anyway, enough about me. Today is about perhaps one of the most impressive things thrall has accomplished on the EMCSA - her collaborative efforts. Obviously I like her solo writing, but to fuse one's writing with anothers? That is even more impressive as far as I'm concerned.

So, a quick reviewcomendation™ for three wonderful stories.

Goldilocks

Co-written with trilby else, this story is absolutely delicious. The synopsis, an interstellar thief seeks refuge, does not begin to touch on this masterpiece. Just like Goldilocks and the three bears (obviously the inspiration for the title) our protaganist hidoes away in a long abandoned installation, and tries everything out, until she finds the new role that is just right for her. Her struggle, and her eventual surrender, are dripping with pure "mmm". Really, I can't think of a better way to describe it. Check it out if you haven't, it's amazing.

Arachne, or the Icky-Squicky Spider

Alien invasions are in themselves awesome - combine it with thrall and Tabico and you have something even more amazing. When Cassandra goes missing her old flame/friend Randy goes looking and stumbles upon something beyond anything she'd beeen afraid to find. Body modification, mental enslavement, and bringing old friends closer together... this is another yummy story you really need to give a glance.

Salvation

Ending alphabetically last, but by no means the least yummy, is another thrall-Tabico fusion. A group of trained commandos - one of them a former slave herself - raid a mistress's compound to attempt freeing the slaves, but one of the slaves has other ideas, and the tables turn so deliciously as they themselves are freed from their free will. The slave's actions are so yummy, and the ending is one of my favorite endings for either of their stories. If you enjoy Tabico or thrall, or just mc, you do need to read this too.


My reviews are feeling a little more energy-draining and hard to come up with. I love these stories, really, but my descriptions of that enjoyment are feeling lackluster . . . so I may or may not post Tabico week next week. Either way, I will be taking a break before I move on to Iago.

For now, read these excellent stories, and who knows, maybe we'll get some yummy surprizes on the EMCSA tomorrow!

~Madam Kistulot

And thus begins the week of en-thrall-ment!

Hello everyone, and welcome to thrall week on the Kistublot!

The timing couldn't be more fitting, as according to her own blog, she's been reworking some of her classics. In fact, she's already reworked my personal favorite! I haven't yet read over her new version - but I intend to soon as I can find some time with my head not swimming in sicky dizzyness.

If you didn't already look, the main page has an update under my reading suggestions. Give those a look! Here, I think I'll give them all three a deeper delving. Wednesday I will go into some other stories, and I think I'll end the week with her collaborative efforts. Only fitting, no?

So, first up . . .

Willing Subject

I remember finding this story when I was first getting into the archive. I had yet to develop a discerning taste, but I knew what I liked and I loved this story. I read through this one quick as I can and savored each and every hot little detail, but now I prefer to reread it slowly and savor each and every little scene.

Missy's transformation from kinky college girl to helpless little toy is so savoring. There's no jarring moments, only a slow sweet spiral. In fact, the use of spiral imagery in this story is something I always remember. The use of a classic black and white spiral changing from one solid color slowly to the other is one of the strongest images I've read in any MC story, and I savor it.

Not only is her transformation sizzling, but it shows perfectly the way that thrall does dehumanization. The loss of self, of self concern, of self control, of everything but obedience, becomes so sizzlingly erotic. Her pure desire to lose everything so completely is so overwhelming, strong enough to flow out and over the reader.

Even when she realizes things are illusions, she savors them for that, and their strength over her. Every time that I read the story, I press my teeth together and indulge in a little fantasy of them being trapped like that. Read the story to know just what I mean.

It even uses the location from the trilby else story Dark Forest to aid in our heroine's transformation... so deliciously, too. If you haven't read this, read it now, then read the revision!

A Tenpack of Trixies

Another absolutely sizzling story, Tenpack gives us a glance into a not-so-distant future where criminals are remade into slaves, dolls, for the use of others. There's other details (and honestly, I need a reread to do this story justice but I want to get this post out tonight) about their world, but that's all you need. A woman went missing, and now ten dolls have shown up, and one of them might be her . . . and hell hath no twisted sense of humor like a Domme scorned.

The dehumanization here also happens in reverse. Objects becomming more human - though they were rather human to begin with, and theres a hot yummy dose of tables turning.

The real delightful edge of this story is when it changes into a struggle between those who've kept their minds, and those compromised into pure obedience. I won't ruin anything more, but you really ought to give it a glance over!

Mirrored in Your Eyes

thrall surprizes all of us - or at least me - by writing one of the most romantic mc stories on the site. Another alternate world is shown here, one where it is the norm to decide to become either a dominant, or a completely helpless submissive. There are packs of "norms" but they're the exception and by no means the rule.

In this world, you don't ever need to be dominant . . . but everyone must take a run as a helpless obedient thrall - body and mind altered, to be used by anyone and everyone.

Some are forever changed by this proccess, and become submissive when before they were so dominant - now that they see the perks in an obedient lifestyle. That fact weighs heavily on our protaganist after her time ends...

Read this. You don't know what you're missing if you don't.

thrall is a wonderful writer, giving us hot erotic heat, yummy mind control heat, and never writing a story that feels supurfulous or pointless. She writes stories that are gripping stories as well as wrist-ruining reads. Every time her name appears in the update, I squeal.

I imagine I'm not alone. More on wednesday.

~Madam Kistulot

Overdue, APU

It should be no surprise to anyone when I'm a little, or a lot late on a post.

So, what is this post late for?

Last week, one of the best MC stories on the whole site popped up. Maybe I'm a little more mature in saying this, but well . . . enthusiasm never hurts, does it?

I've been reading mc stories for a good . . . six years now? seven . . . I know I already knew the site freshman year in high school . . . I was one of those latch-key kids, so I had plenty of time to get away with things I wasn't supposed to. I actually remember times when I would stay up extra late to catch the update to uhm . . . peruse before my mom woke up, then crash and sleep in late.

Anyway, I've been reading for a long time, and I've developed strong preferences and a strong knowledge of the site. At least I think so. There are a lot f stories that I enjoy - something I need to update on the main site - but honestly thrall's Mirrored in Your Eyes hit on everything that makes a good story, and good mc story. There was hot yummy mindlessness, sweet sizzling romance. . . doubt that whets ones curiosity, conflict, twists that make you doubt what you've been thinking all along about the characters . . .

I might not go into long diatribes, but perhaps I should? I don't think it would particularly hurt, but honestly I enjoy just giving little blurbs of how these things affect me and what I reflect on most. I don't do my best long winded descriptions as myself. Need character voices for things like that!

But yes,read Mirrored in Your Eyes. Its everything you could ask for, and more! once again showing that thrall is one of the finest names in mc fiction! Really need to add her and my favorite of her works to my recommended reading section.

Right off the top of my mind, Tenpack of Trixies, Willing Subject, Solitare, Softbots, Inc., and Love in a Silver Socket would rate very highly and should be required reading if you enjoy f/f. Really. Salvation too no doubt, which is a co-op... and the other co-op, Goldilocks.

All amazing stories, those.

Speaking of character voices, I decided that time to time I would write movie reviews. . . but that doesn't fit this blog, does it? Nope! But I thought it up when I saw Dark Knight the first time, last week, and it occurred to me... what would Olivia and Sarah think of these movies, all cuddled up on a movie night? Written in scrip format, it could be pretty fun.

Sarah: I give it five and a half sparks!

Olivia: I think its only supposed to go up to five . . and what am I suppsed to give it, golden thumbs up?

Sarah: Well lots of you is golden, I'm sure we can think of something . . .

A-hem, appears we've interrupted a private moment . . .

Still, would that be something people would like? Work on the continuing Midasverse and rewrite of tAoSG continues, just so you all know!

Happy reading!
~Madam Kistulot

Future for the Kistublot

Well, hello again everyone.

Writing has finally been progresssing again. Gimme a gold star, because I havent been doing nearly enough to deserve a silver.

I wrote out a long blog post basically detailing my feelings on the issues (cowardly anonymous posters, politicing for no real reason, people who can't stand differences in opinion, so forth) but I just don't see any use in actually posting it.

I chose not to participate in the commenting snafu because while I don't think Valencia's comments were all great (and was upset myself) I didn't exactly find the other side guiltless either, and nor did I see the point in posting just to say that.

Differences in opinion are the whole reason for blogs, for forums, for conversation . . . fuck, for about anything. If it didn't exist, focus groups could consist of one person.

Shortly, we will be creating a section specifically to throw comments that we believe are simply to "call us out." Call that what you will. I don't care. While I do not find Jo's (Flibinite's) comment outrageous for the reason that Valencia did/does, I'm still going to say this: this blog is for voicing our thoughts and opinions. Posting just to specifically bitch is getting seriously annoying, especially when it's done by the same old people, aka our lovely friend anonymous, and Jo.

I don't know if the 'blot will be around forever. But I know this: if you can't stand opinions that are the antithesis of yours so much? Do not read this blog. Do not read any blogs. Do not have human contact. Shoot yourself now. Please. Because I will always be disagreeing with you.

It's one thing to post a comment with a suggestion or a constructive criticism, but smirking, acting like your opinions simply must be represented in a place not at all yours, and generally antagonizing behavior is just not polite. Treating my girlfriend as lesser because she is my slave, is not right. She is her own person who has given me the gift of her submission. Outside of fun, I do not control what she does. Her thoughts, and her actions, belong to her. Tempting as it is, I've never controlled her or sternly told her not to post something. I have suggested it wasn't the best idea in the world, but it was still, and will always be, her choice.

Just felt the need to cover that.

So, let me end with this. Sara, if something I have said has truly hurt you, I apologise. That was never, and has never been my intent. Nothing either of us has done here was meant to attack or "destroy" you. Though our opinions are not glowing, I do not find you subhuman, and I truly wish you the best. I enjoyed "Tock" and almost nominated it. If I'd had four slots, I would have. I recently read through "Mindfield" for a taste of CB, and while I took issue with some of the ways you did things, I was pulled long well enough to get through the end of what was posted.

I hold no ill will towards you, and if anything admit that my strong opinion is no doubt partially a result of a feeling of rivalry. We share at least a few of the same fans, and having the same things said about both of our works when I view parts of yours as lacking makes a part of me cringe. This does not mean the necessarily are, that is just my opinion. It makes it no less how I feel, but it specifies that I can see why people would feel otherwise.

My writing has plenty of problems. tAoSG was rushed out the gate, same with Silver Eclipse. It took me way too long to get serious about polishing, and the tense issue I've had with you is in many of my pieces because I was simply too lazy to fix it. There was a reason Mike coined the term "A Madam Kistulot" and I think that shows I have my own purple side.

The things you hate about other people are the things you hate about yourself, so I guess I'm saying that while this doesn't change how I feel about your writing, it is only due to my own insecurity in my work that I react in such strong ways that make people think I don't know what an opinion is.

So, I can't promise you'll never be mentioned again. I can't promise I won't bitch or reference or who knows what, but I promise that you as a person have my respect, and I respect that you are able to draw in the readers that you do.

Well, I guess that sums up what I wanted to say.

I haven't read this version yet, but I heavily recommend Undertow by 8-bit. I still hope to win that Spiral, but if The Happily wins over me I admittedly won't be shocked.

I'd also like to give out another shout out to Melted Music by Frustrated. It was a great story, and you should all vote for it, because it was awesome. Maybe I'll give it a full review soon. Suffice it to say, Fru has a talent with poetic prose that I envy greatly.

That's all for now folks, and don't forget to vote for the Spirals!

~Madam Kistulot

Been Awhile!

Hey, all!

I know, it's been awhile. Not even months and this blog is underposted in, huh?

Problem is, I kinda don't wanna talk about this writing project too much! It's going very good, but as I have like 50 ideas of where to take it, I don't want to start having Vaporstories. How do you make vaporware refer to storytelling? I don't know. I don't want to get hopes up or confuse people, because thats just a shit thing to do.

So, I've been kinda quiet. Updates have just been meh overall, so I haven't commented on them. I decided to take the stance of "unless this is so painfully bad I need to say something, I'll only comment if its good" if only because I'm sick of being told I'm only negative just because I'm responding to things that I react to negatively. If I were writing about politics after the 2004 US Presidential election? It would be even worse.

Legacy was a good trilby story, but it left me feeling disappointed. I enjoy a lot of trilby's stories, and it hurts to see a good writer become so predictable. I know some people really like formulas, but this felt like it was being spiced up. It made me a little depressed and doubt my own writing that it failed to deliver.

Taken has so far held my interest, but failed to really feel all that full of life. Maybe I'm bored with the genre? It doesn't feel like that's the case at all. I'm full of ideas and I've been enjoying some older stories I didn't get a chance to read when they were new . . . sigh.

I know it makes me sound awful, but I'd love a thrall or Tabico story for 2008 so badly. I know there are other good authors - and I'd love to see something from them too - but sometimes you just need to see writing from the people that inspired you to write in the first place that doesn't resonate as being hollow and oddly unfulfilling.

Sigh. I'm getting snarky in a melancholy way. That can't be any better than angry.

So I'll close this by saying that posts by me are likely to be somewhat infrequent.

The Spiral Awards also failed to meet their deadline. One thing I've been looking forward to in the MC Community was the chance to see if even with the animosity I've inspired if my writing is worth even being nominated.

Them dropping the ball like this really disappoints me. The Spirals have done very little to establish themselves as a valid MC Story award. They can't happen every year, keep to their own time tables . . . and their site shows no changes for two years, nor is it quick loading or efficient. Most people I've sent there get confused.

I screamed in support of them before. I wanted to do so again as a sign that I do believe parts of the community have good to them that can even get me involved.

Also, the website does not indicate this, and as far as I know, the only place you can see voting is extended is if you're a member of the forums. So, instead of being able to . . . oh . . . I dunno . . . actually look at the HQ for this thing, I have to reload this page to know what's going on. This feels to me like a train wreck so far.

Way to drop the ball.

Well... If ten people, different people, comment on this post... I might post the rough rough draft of the intro to the story I'm working on. Tell your friends!


~Madam K

The lighter side of the Kistulot

Hey all!

There was an update, but nothing really in it for me, which is too bad. I was really wanting to know more about OG's plot, want some Tabico in '08, some Thrall... Le sigh, eh?

But, that is not what this post is about! This post is about something much different.

A comment on my last blog - which has already recieved a reply - showed me one thing that drastically needs to change: I only tend to show my frustrated side as of late. As people who know me know, I am a very passionate person. This means that I rant a lot about things I love, and a lot about things I hate. More about the latter, because I also have a self righteous craving for justice. This means I don't like tolerating things that I feel are injustices. Not clarifying becuase you're stupuid clarifying that its things I feel are injustices, not things that are.

Often my oppinions appear as though I believe they are divinely true - I do not. But since they are opinions, and none are more valid, I don't feel the need to remind people that I know this.

While I think many things are of sub par quality, a lot of people like them. In a non MC example, I hate Macs. I grew up using them, but I still passionately loathe them. I think using them is stupid, a waste of money, and it just shows you're afraid to use a real computer. In my opinion. A lot of people feel PCs are shoddy. Well, not as many who feel the other way, but popularity of an opinion does not make it fact.

Wikiality is a lie, much like the cake.

So, if my opinion is just as valid as yours, and you think I'm wrong? You're not just allowed to have it, I encourage it. I will not do this when we disagree - encourage - but I do it now during a neutral moment. Know if we ever disagree? If you enjoy the original Master PC story for instance? You are entitled to it, even if I may think you're insane/a nut job/have bad taste.

Just like I'm sure a lot of people think I have horrific taste because I really enjoyed the live action Super Mario Brothers movie. I am told this a lot if it's brought up. So, it's only fair if I get to say JR Parz writing sucks.

Say otherwise, and you're just not being fair.

Things don't need literary perfection for me to love them. There are stories on the archive that I remember quite fondly that even break the cup size rule - and I don't dislike them now. My tastes are not some evolved super creature to the point where I belong in a place of chosing what is right or wrong.

Awhile back, when I left the MCG, I said that I considered instituting review policies - to stop seeing glowing reviews of shit. People clung to that.

People did not realize I never did it. I never even truly considered enacting it. All I did? Was bring it up as I was leaving. I was showing that while I find the current administration haphazardly bad at their jobs, I left because in time I would have been too.

But this is the lighter side, and I've just so far tried to show that I understand I'm not an angel. That's not exactly honest advertising.

There are a lot of things the MC community has produced that I enjoyed.

The Spiral Awards were a great concept. They were executed well. My only disappointment is that they were so quickly abandoned.

While I can't enjoy most stories without a certain level of writing to them, back when I frequented the forum(s) I loved hot flashes. They were quick little doses of mc heat. They didn't need to be masterpieces, very long, or even have context. They were concepts quickly given flesh, if not bones.

Though i harp sometimes on the collective's lack of originality, I do love a lot of the manipulations there. When people take the time to make something new and don't just ad a pendant or white eyes, or even if they do and the story on the side is good in a hot flash like way . . . it can be really good! I'm a hard audience when it comes to getting off, but I love something that can.

And really... one ting I love most, is talking to other MC enthusiasts. I dislike that so many don't see eye to eye with me on it, and that so few seem to really enjoy it as the be all end all (mcstories don't need sex to be hot -pout) or that so many really do like insta trance insta fuck, connecting with someone with similar feelings rocks.

Talking with fans? Goddess. Its an orgasm in a messenger/inbox.

So, right now, I'd just like to thank everyone who has ever complimented something I did, or took the time to see if they would like it. Everyone whose put up with my shit, and can believe that I'm not the ranty-doesn't-always-think-before-she-acts person that I can come off as - because I know, I've earned that. When someone does something I feel is wrong, especially if others don't agree, I feel cornered and vicious. It's something I need to improve on.

I won't go into if any of those moments have been valid, because that's not what this post is about. Its about humility, not about winning.

I disagree with a lot of people...

I dislike few people.

But for decent reasons, not just because of matters of taste.

Unless you like AFI. Then you're dead to me.

~Madam Kistulot

Wellness, Update

Well now I'm almost well - mostly. I just have a nasty cough. Sadly, so does Val, which means there's been a lot of coughing. An annoyingly high amount of coughing. Not that I blame her or myself, its just a little meh.

Most of my writing has been things no one will see for quite some time. The commissioned piece is coming along, but my steam was stunted by my sickness. That can really, really suck when you're the kind of one-go writer I am. Get sick in the middle and it can be increasingly difficult to finish.

As for the update?

Omega Girl continues to be interesting, though I admit I wish there'd been more hea tin the latest update and less fighting, but its bound to happen.

As for the rest?

I'm not touching the "doctor", or that music box. Just not something I'd like to waste my time reading. I've been told Ru'etha's encouragement of more people to write is why we've had so many new names lately.

I've made fun of her before, but fuck you Lady Ru. It's not as if the archive wasn't already full of so much shit as is.

I'm feeling somewhat cynical about the archive lately, but thats another thing. Read all of Eye's stories in the Ancient-verse. Enjoyed. Some lame writing devices here and there, but it had me reading it in two days. That means something.

May write more tomorrow.

Mesmerr, and Lady Ru'etha, and Lisa Teez - OH MY!

To the tune of lions and tigers and bears oh my.

Red only by Sara Castle and Jukebox. Sigh.

It's like the update is mocking me. MOCKING ME! With it's moxy. Oh well.

I finally gave the Eye of Serpent ancient series another try. It previously scared me off with a lovely story wherein our protag avoids assassination by smelling urine. A very faint spot of it at that. It was more than enough to turn me off from the whole damned thing for months. The later stories, especially... well I would say especially the Petal series... but really, the whole damned thing rules.

I recommend it during this drought of quality and avalanche of shit.

My own writing is coming back and I'm nearly well. Tomorrow is my b-day - rejoice!

~Madam Kistulot

Procrastatron must be stopped, no matter the cost...

The title of this post by the way is borrowed from the 1980's Transformers: The Movie line about Megatron. I've been procrastinating like crazy whilst sick, and guess what, I'm finally just barely well enough to stop catering to it! Haha! I will rise above! Sort of.

I had to be bribed to make this post with ice cream, after all . . .

Well, there are many things I've been meaning to say, so this post may be long. You'll just have to deal with that if you know what's good for you.

Why do I sound mean? I'm making this post so you can read it. Longer means more. If its too much, you can put it down and come back later without having to wait for something truly new. I'm doing you a service. My sickness has made me spiteful. More Kistulotican kindness is in order. So, I apologize for some of the snark MC MK is about to lay down along with some mad beatz. For real, yo.

Ow.

So first, last week's update: I know, nothing from me, but hey, live with it. I'm going to be posting less often now, but with more quality I believe. I'm not Lisa Teez, and thats hopefully one of the reasons you like my work.

I know, I need to not mention authors that make me roll my eyes so much, but come on, that begged it.

So anyway! Updates and such. In my writing, I've been working on something special for a commission - a fan fic story in fact. Not really something I write very much, but on commission I bend my limits a little. It got really far, then I got miserably sick. I plan to be done with it in short order.

Future works include: The Secret Origin series, volumes 1 and 2 at the very least, staring Dust and Pink accordingly. Many people wonder how these two supers got their powers. You'll find out in short order within these stories!

There are two stand alone pieces, a fantasy and a sci fi I also have relatively well plotted . . . but if either of these will ever be written is anyone's guess.

After these projects I plan to draw somewhat into seclusion and publish a lot less often while working on the obvious "sequel" project that will allow a lot of time for me to not worry so much about deadlines and push quality up high as it goes. For a little idea of just what that could be . . . this link should say it all.

If it doesn't, well . . . reread everything I've ever written.

Oh, a new Rose story may be churned out somewhat soon, purposefully being delayed until after V-day.

Right.

We all know thats sickness talking . . .

So, looking back at the last update I see one thing I enjoyed reading. Omega Girl 4! It puts Lacie into another lovely sticky situation. I'm loving the latest developments. OG is a series that to me proves I'm not a total snot/snob. There are many niggling little things inside of it, but overall I enjoy it for its fun, its story, and its ideas if not always its execution. The OG series is actually getting a crossover with the SG series, though using 2nd tier characters I suppose. I need to get on my part for that- though no one will be seeing any of it until it's posted, and that won't happen till it's done.

Still, Omega Girl 4 continues to keep me drawn in, which is no simple task!

Also in this week's red update, we have Sara Castle with her lovely elfen surprise nudity. Despite the hours I could spend groaning about how if she's going to rip off shadow run so much she could at least spell elven as such . . . I won't go into that.

Why?

Because I tried reading Touch of Frost, chapter 1.

I know I've hammered on about how I dislike her work before, but when told this was "a hint more toward what her writing was like before it was Jo-ified" I thought I would read one last SC tale to finale just to see what I could get from it.

What did I get from it?

A headache.

So here, I will finally be saying reasons why I think that Sara Castle is the doctor without clothes (due to her profession, a twist on the emperor and the like). Using big words does not make you an intelligent writer. Adding suspense by not going just from scene to scene, but saying "Things were not what they seemed AND PEOPLE KNEW AND OH MY GOD SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN" is not building suspense.

Looking back over much of my older work as I have as of late, I see her constant tense problem reflects some of my own work in an embarrassing way. Perhaps part of why this bothers me so much is I didn't even realize I was doing it. Harsher self editing will be fixing this to the point where I hope one day to count the caliber of my work among well... the best.

Taking a cliche plot and twisting it in a new way isn't a bad thing. However, taking a plot everyone knows and adapting it into a slightly different fetish genre is not the same. Making your cliche cyberpunk into cyber porn is not translation, or transition, it's the same thing people do when they just add sex to established fandoms - crap.

Lately I've been reading a lot of Iago - a writer who is I believe a master of the no-induction induction story - so I can enjoy a story that doesn't take a kacknotically long time to do a subtle sensual induction. I love such inductions done well, but I don't need them and they can often be a crutch. One part of a story cannot make up for the rest. However, if you're going to go through the trouble of pretending to have such scenes - the actual how and why and such - don't make them suck. Maybe one reason I hate the kind of cyberpunk she writes, is because she may as well be writing high fantasy with how ridiculous some of that tech is.

But in the end, I find that sadly a lot of the problem with her work now is what it was back when I wanted it to be good. I'm always left with at least some kind of half-full feeling. This done well, will make the average person (IE: undiscerning reader) believe that something went over their head. This however, does not mean the writer was too intelligent for you to follow. If you have to reread things over and over to fully understand a twisted induction and its yummy and such, thats one thing. If you're left rolling your eyes feeling as if the writer didn't even know part of the plot and found it clever?

That's not brilliance.

Thats a lack thereof.

I apologize in a way for this rant, as it was planned about two weeks ago so some of this isn't really coming to fruition due to me only remembering bits and pieces.

So, in this post, I make a new promise to you my readers: I will work harder with each piece I write that nothing that I bitch about or snark about will hit you in the face the way it hits me when I read it. I will work harder and harder to make sure no plot twist is convoluted. I will work harder to make sure if anything is over anyone's head, it is only above the character's head and if you miss it, well, you get to find out when the character does or upon a reread. I will make sure that I show my understanding of the English language without making you question my high school diploma.

There's more of course, but there's also a reason I haven't been writing whilst sick. I haven't been capable of that. Sadly this makes me worry my coming out of rust will still take more time, but well . . . such happens! We all just have to do our bests, right?

So, heres hoping theres something worth me reading tomorrow.

I'd rather not just go "oh great, men writing themselves into lesbian fantasies and sara castle pretending she can."

Also I would like to note that recently, the Jo herself, Valencia and I engaged in a conversation of SC's writing, to which Jo said that it should partially be excused due to her extenuating circumstances.

She can be forgiven for such, to an extent.

Her writing must stand on it's own.

If you are in a state where you have to make excuses for your writing, or those defending you need to, maybe you should work on honing your craft more instead of posting stories. A writer can always "clarify" after the fact, but a piece must stand alone. There are some of my own pieces that are weaker perhaps without someone pointing out facts, but I won't say you should ignore that. Perhaps I suggest reading through them to get to my better works, but never at the cost of pretending a story can be "supplemented" as such.

That's just cheapening your time, and mine.

Well, I think that finishes this up. Nothing more occurs to me.

Oh, one thing does: I've been rereading backlogs of writers since well . . . new stuff ain't doing it for me so much. I've gotten through most of my favorite writer's entire lists. Are there any writers I should glance through? Red stories only please, I'm not as forgiving as I was when I was a forum personality.

Also any Trilby stories I haven't read: would be nice to know which were less heavy on the repetition and more on the required reading list! So your blogger is begging for things to read during her recovery so she can give you more to read. Indulge her.

Well, thats a wrap. Love all of you my fans, and wish me a happy 21st birthday on Tuesday :)

~Madam Kistulot

Reduced Editorial Staffing

So, this week, Madam finished chapter 3 and the epilogue for S&S pretty early, so i had my draft to edit Monday evening. I sorta figured hey, i've got plenty of time to edit. This can wait till Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. So i kinda procrastinate until then. That, and it was very tempting to just read! After all, it's best to read over the material a couple times so you can better look at the structure rather than just the content.

Lo and behold, Wednesday evening rolls around and i have a 101.5 degree fever. By Thursday afternoon, it's not down very far. Given the circumstances, Madam recused me from this week's duties. x.x

Soooo, the gist of this is, if you've read the ending to S&S, it lacks my usual touch to it. Which very probably doesn't hurt the final result. Given that Madam is now doing her own proofreading pass before Val sees the story, most of the easy to find technical errors that i love so much are already fixed. *pout*

Sooo, if Madam's prose is particularly beautiful this week, that's because i didn't get my opportunity to screw it up. If you haven't read it, by the way, read it now, especially any Q.S. fans out there.

~eri

Slacking already? Record time!

Hello there everyone! If you've read the subject line, you already know my grave admission: slacking on blog updates. The reason for this mostly comes from this: I was going to write a review post.

The archive lately has felt like . . . well . . . sort of depressing! I can't think of a good enough simile.

That's saying something. I like using the words like or as about as much as I enjoy divine ambrosia! So, yeah . . . sadness here. Since I'm finally gathering up the strength to make this post I suppose I may as well give weak, short reviews of this week's offerings that I've read. I intend to go back and read Touch of Frost, for the hope of seeing a glimmer of light in an otherwise depressingly barren landscape, but well . . . I'm expecting disappointment.

In no particular order:

Company Dress Code by Tamed Shrew
This is a first time effort, and as such, I was unencumbered by preconceived notions of quality. Okay, that's a lie. I was fully expecting suckitude. Does this surprise anyone? So I delved in and . . . well, at least it's not stroke. It reads like an outline, unsure where it should actually give details and what it wants to accomplish as a story. The author's note makes the unimpressive story following it seem all the more bland and glossable. It isn't good - but I admittedly have to say this about it: there was good intent and a good concept in there. Somewhere. It was just never even halfway developed. In a year, this writer may be worth reading if they decide to spend a little more time writing.

Meghan's Story by mike z.
mike is a friend of mine, so I'll admit that I'm more likely to go easy on a story of his . . . but nothing begs for me to go easy on it. It's lack of a humor tag makes me want to believe we set a precedent with our work "Go Team Porn". This piece is not quite so blatantly ridiculous, and is definitely better written. It seems to make fun of itself, it's reader, and it's surrounding stories in such a devil may care flippant . . . expressive way. It's a whimsical delight that shines as a beautiful example of parody, showing us that there are new things worth reading - even if they don't get you off.

Sweet Georgia Rule by NanoSlaver
NanoSlaver's "Bunny Tales" story struck me as very funny. It was a glimpse into MC from a different angle, and very cute. I don't recall any of the rest of his stories well besides Mistress - a story that's use of the name disappoints me. This story didn't disappoint me. It aggravated and annoyed me. I've lost a loved one before - and I've wanted revenge before, but this story didn't taste of it's plot at all. Motivation felt misused, the characters were one dimensional, and the device was pitiful. The heat was lacking. I hate it when a story disappoints me, because I WANT to enjoy stories. I sadly have standards that made this story send shudders of revulsion down my spine. Sigh. If NanoSlaver is not a male by the way, I apologize, but I would be very surprised.

So far that's all I've read. I gave a glazed pass over Mesmerr's new incestuous tale to see what a few friends mentioned as horrendous metaphor. Goddess. And I feel bad about my early work when I was fifteen . . . -sigh-

Will read Touch of Frost tomorrow. Hoping to like it. Temptation to write like Rorshack talks. Resiting. Failing. Deciding to end post. Hmm.

Also: Scribe and Shadow is finished sans editing. Look forward to it this weekend.

Best wishes,
~Madam K

p.s. I realize this review is overly snarky and very dispassionately nrk. I am kinda sick, and I am growing sick of dreck next to my porn. Sometime soon I plan to add something somewhere - here in this blog or on the main site - to showcase good MC stories everyone should read in this time of drought. Goddess 2008 needs some Trilby, Tabico, Thrall, Arclight, new writers with charming talent, J Darksong, Decker, and so many others . . . -sigh-

Another unimpressive update, sigh

Hullo everyone!

Hope you all enjoyed Paradise, along with Scribe and Shadow! They're two different stories, showing just how different my style can be I think. Looking back stylistically Paradise feels like Rose Miracles minus the Marianna-like introduction with a dose heavier of purple - as in prose not EMCSA color codes. Big difference.

Scribe and Shadow is a fun one to write because I always love going into the head of different characters. Admittedly Yana feels a lot like Sarah which makes it feel safe, but I hope she doesn't sound too similar. They're quite different characters for flaws, passions, and what drives them.

That is one thing I worry a lot - I try to stress different vocabulary, uses of phrase, and just different voices for my characters . . . but in the end they all do have MY voice. I'm channeling them after all, and while I try to sound like different people sometimes it's hard. I need to start using a thesaurus more.

I know using a thesaurus just to force a character to use different words is strange - but learning new ones so that your characters talk different is a trick that I personally enjoy. Plus it broadens the vocab! But then you need to keep notes if you ever go back . . .

Some day I'll write a noncynical first person POV. That'll be new.

Well, I probably should explain the title. I don't really read colors beside Red unless the concept, author, and tags at least vaguely appeal. I also have many red authors I avoid.

Some of these red authors are avoided for being men writing lesbian fantasies. In some of those, you can practically tell which one of the women should have a dick.

Some of these red authors are avoided for having the literary skill of a mongoose. If I'm going to get off to a story, it needs to be a story, not just poorly written sex.

Some of them are avoided because they are only halfway there. That might sound rude, but allow me to explain: Make a peanut butter and banana sandwhich. Now remove the peanut butter. Tell someone you're making them the former sandwhich, then offer it to them. They will be very unhappy. Some writers simply can't follow through on their promises, and still don't realize they're missing ingredients. Some just can't understand tense, originality, or character voice.

Sara Castle does not hit on all of these flaws, but she is a name I dread to see on the update. When she was a new writer, I read her because she had promise. She wrote stories. She wrote FF, which was also a plus.

Then she got an editor, and joined a clique. Her work went so massively downhill, and lost all of the feeling of "this could/is improve(ing)" and became "wow, this is dreck*"

There is nothing worse than a good concept, almost good quality writing, and just... no follow through. A feeling of supreme disappointment. I know that even with editors - I still make mistakes, but I can get tense right. If someone's fault comes from editors, shouldn't she be able to do that? Maybe use commas appropriately?

So, suffice it to say, you will never see me reviewing a Sara Castle story unless something in the world massively changes.

Fuck do we need some Tabico in 2008.

Going back to writing on Scribe and Shadow chapter 2. Hope to get it done before Friday, start on Secret Origins Vol.1: Dust. Probably give it a better subtitle.

Suggestions welcome!

Till Wednesday, best wishes!
~Madam K

*=haha, valbot. Feel good. I used your favorite word.