This is something new at this site and if Erin doesn't veto it, well someone has to break new ground at times, right?

For those of you following 'The Price of Betrayal'...

The clues are all there in the story, okay maybe there is one thing I haven't given out yet, but that doesn't matter here.

But all the important stuff has a solution and I've told you all what they are in the story up to this point.

Now...

If you find them.

The first person to PM me with the whole shebang, who has actually figured this one out, gets a custom made story from me made to what you want.

For those of you who have read Djinn Games, thank you for the comments and kudos.

But I changed my mind about something. The title just hadn't felt right to me, so the story is now 'The Price of Betrayal', so don't jump on it thinking it's another new one and get disappointed, please.

Why did I change it after posting the first chapter?

I dunno, it just felt right?

Maggie

Well, Singing to the Moon is finally finished. Mainly because I kind of ran out of things to do to -- umm, do with Cindy just now. I'm sure my muse will find other interesting things in that nature as time goes on, though.

Now, Carmilla has been waiting patiently, or at least as patiently as she can, for her turn again, and Dahlia has been beating me about the head and shoulders with chaos to get attention. So I'll get back to those two for the time being just to keep the peace.

Comments.

They can be a good thing, and a bad thing, you know.

And no, not the ones I get.

I recently commented on a story that hurt someone I regard quite highly, though it wasn't meant to do that. I regret that. A lot.

You know who you are. I don't expect you to come and tell me it's okay, because it isn't.

All I ask is the you find it in your heart to forgive me in time. Not right now, or in the next few weeks or months. Just in time.

The upshot here is to let all of you know to consider what you say in comments very carefully before you post them.

Maggie

Just that. I hope you have a good one.

Hugs.

Maggie

Bob,

I have no idea where to send this, but I have to write it anyway.

You did so much, for so many people. You took care of so many things and yet you forgot one thing. Dammit, why couldn't spare a bit of that for yourself?

But that wouldn't have been you, would it? You always were one of the most giving, unselfish people I'd ever known. You helped people you barely knew and asked for nothing in return.

Dammit again, why, why couldn't you just spend a little of that to take care of yourself?

But don't want the job?

That is the dilemma that Dahlia faces in the next set of chapters of A Walk in the Dark.

Feel free to give suggestions or just make fun of it here.

Maggie

For those of you who have followed Shades of Grey, thank you. Thanks for the comments, the speculation, the arguments about justice vs vengeance, and mostly just for staying with me through the whole, largely uncomfortable story.

It has been noted that I never did say what my idea of justice is through the whole thing. No, I didn't and I won't do that here. I don't do politics, since in my experience, discussions like that tend to result in lots of arguments and bad feelings. Everyone has their own sense of justice, and nothing anyone else says is going to change that, right?

We just had another new addition to our family. I never thought I'd have children, let alone grandchildren, and now I have great grandchildren. Go figure. Though the father of my great grandchildren got started a bit early (I won't be sixty till later this year) I discover that in spite of the difficulties in my life I have been truly blessed.

I watch a lot of movies, okay it's one thing I do to just relax.

But the thing here is, why, why do the women in those always keep their high heels on?

A real woman (and me when I was going through RLT) would get rid of them in a heartbeat if they had to move quickly, quietly, or were in the wilderness.

Sorry, was just watching a movie where both female leads kept wearing their heels in a damned jungle.

And I know, I know, it's sexy and all that. But come on here.

Maggie

First off, to all of you have stuck with me through this dark and rather disturbing story, thank you. I know it isn't always easy to read, and trust me at times it isn't easy to write. I do appreciate all of you who have even at least looked at the story so far, and to those of you who have commented, do keep them coming. Comments give me ideas, and show me what I should do to clear things up storywise so what's happening is understandable to the readers.

I just want all my readers to know that I do appreciate all the comments. Some of those are as entertaining to me as the story seems to be to all of you.

So don't worry, there is more coming and Dahlia's intemperant mouth won't stop. She can't help the smart assed comments, it's just in her and she can't fight it all that well.

Thanks to all of you following this story.

Maggie

Hi all. Just a note here. I added a bit to the story so you all would know that it wasn't an identity death story.

Maggie

Hi all. More of A Walk in the Dark has been kind of slowed down for several reasons. I recently bought a new computer, with a new OS (for me) so am playing with that to figure out how to get it to do what I want when I want instead of what it thinks I should do. I spent a month doing that with XP, by the way. But I'll get there. I actually like Windows 7, which is one up on when I first got XP.

There is fine story by Danielle J titled Duty,Honor, Country, Family that isn't getting any comments. I can tell from the votes that people are reading it. I know it's complex and difficult to comment on, but is it that hard to just leave an "I like it." for Danielle on this one?

The story is well worth the time to read.

Maggie

Merry Christmas to all of you, and please accept my well wishes for any other holiday you prefer.

I was raised to honor Christmas, and I still do it, though I do know there are other holidays and beliefs that are important at this time of year.

May all of you, have the best holiday possible and maybe some will get a miracle. You don't know how much I wish everyone could have one. But please, be well, share the holiday with someone, and let all the other problems go for at least a day.

All my best to all of you.

My love.

Maggie

You know, this story started out as an exercise in just seeing what if? I thought it would be fun to give the evil side of things it's turn instead of doing all that nicey, nicey good guy stuff.

It turns out that I have two good, decent people (Sam and Dylan/Dahlia) stuck with being creatures who are inherently evil in spite of their own personal inclinations. And everyone who sees them in this new world are going to just assume that they are evil because of what they are.

On this story... I started it weeks ago and got stalled for awhile. Thanks to Lillith's help I got past that and now the chapters just seem to tell me what is happening. I know it's kind of tedious just now, by the way, but Dylan/Dahlia has to get used to being what she is. These first chapters are about her learning that.

I promise that once that is done things are really going to be fun.

I know some of you are going to ask why I didn't enter this in the contest for Christmas stories. I didn't want this one to be in a contest. It's just my gift to all of you.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may someone love you as much as that little boy loved his sister.

Be well, all of you.

My turn to send out birthday greetings. And to one of the most helpful, encouraging people at this site.

Many happy returns, my friend, and may you have many more to come.

We all would be so much poorer without you here.

Hugs,

Maggie

Yes, everyone it is another one of those for me. (Armond, it may not be today, or tomorrow, but remember -- revenge is a dish best served cold. Blabbermouth. :) )

A lot has happened this past year for and to me. As with everyone else, some of it good some of it bad. My health took a downward turn, but that is balanced by my learning to not only cope but to use other skills I've learned to not let that slow me down any more than necessary.

Right now I'm feeling a mix of elation and sadness. A story I've lived with, thought about and sweated over for years is finished. It's never easy to let your children go, I know this because my youngest is moving out on her own tomorrow, both instances are bittersweet but tell me that I've managed to do something right even with all the mistakes made along the way.

Hi, apologies for the wait on this next chapter of Maiden by Decree. Real Life has once again conspired to keep me from the keyboard and I know this one is short. I wanted to make sure all you believed me when I was telling you I hadn't dropped the story and it will be completed.

I can tell you that the chapter after this one is going to get really exciting and will be longer.

Just a few words about the story Hope and I are working on for all you inquiring minds out there. First, I looked and unlike the Bikini Beach stories found nothing about MAU being closed. If I missed something there I profusely apologize to both Elrod and everyone else.

We are sticking with the canon, in that the machines work for about four days before shutting down. The grad students have just been having way too much fun experimenting in a few days time, which Hope and I will address in the next few chapters as the story unfolds.

Many of you likely already know these things, but I thought I'd post a few definitions for those who don't.

First, I patterned the ship Princess Deirdre after the USS Constitution, with thanks to both the original designer and the sites that gave me the information I needed. The Constitution did have a stern post as I've described, able to create drag and pull the ship around on her stern. It was quite a surprise for more than a few British warships fighting her.

Just been thinking and a lot of us of had a really 'interesting' 2009. Here's hoping that 2010 is much better for all of us.

May the sun always be at your back, and may you be dead fifteen minutes before the devil finds out. Thanks to all of you for the comments, and enjoying my efforts at story telling. And to Erin, Sephrenia, Edeyn (sp) and all the rest of you out there, you're a wonderful bunch and don't let anyone tell you differently.

Happy New Year!

Maggie

Hi all. I know I've been absent for some time here. Health issues, you know. I won't go into those here, just tell you all that I've got the next chapter of Maiden up and do profusely apologize for the delay in getting it to those of you who have waiting so patiently.

Or not so patiently. lol.

The bad news is that I can't guarantee that I'll be able to keep up with posting a new chapter each week, the good news is that I'm writing again at last.

So that's the news from here.

Hi everyone. Just a quick note to assure those of you interested that I haven't given up on Maiden by Decree. Far from it, actually. I have the next chapter plotted out, just need to rouse my sleeping muse (I think Phoebe is nursing a monumental hangover after visiting Bek Corvin's muse for a month) and get the energy to actually sit at the keyboard and write.

I have been slow with finishing this up, I know. But I've been fighting pneumonia over the past few weeks, to the point of spending a week in the hospital then spending the next week going nuts because I couldn't go anywhere or do anything in spite of being home then. I'm still recovering, getting stronger as the days go by, and not sleeping quite as much, plus I can breathe without oxygen now (a big plus, trust me.) So I will get to the finale of Maiden, just as soon as I feel up to actually writing again.

The shaping is a long story, and be warned, it is a horror story. I had intended to post it in chapters but no access to the internet for a week more or less finished that idea if I wanted the whole thing posted under the deadline for the contest. Since I had no access to a computer, either, I apologize in advance for typos I may have missed while going back over it today.

On a historical note, just to head off questions or arguments, the facts regarding the Osage are true and documented elsewhere. The Spanish explorers I made up to suit my requirements for the story.