Children of the First

Apparently the theme i used to base the site design on is now out-of-date. Nothing works properly. I have to figure this junk out. Dammit. Sorry guys. Hope you can read this.

Hello all,

PLEASE DON'T STAB MY FACE! I'm really sorry it's taken so long to post anything... at all. I suck. I'm trying to suck less. So here's a relatively recent correspondence (that is now outdated in some ways) with CotF reader virulent Goblin. Thanks to vG for agreeing to let me post it!

VG: I still check your site every so often. I see you haven't updated in a while - is everything okay? I use the alias virulent Goblin for my comments, just so you know, and I think your world is interesting, unique, and well written. I hope you haven't stopped for good.

AMcG:

Hi, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Honestly, I think I put off replying right away because I was embarassed that I've been so neglectful for so long. Though, I probably should be.

Ah, virulent Goblin you are. I always enjoy your comments and general web-proximity. It is partially because of you and a couple of other readers and friends who keep poking at me to write CotF that I can honestly say I'm not abandoning it forever. The other part of that is that I really like the world, too. (Thank you, by the way, I'm glad you like it--I have so much fun coming up with it, it feels really good to share it with people who want to read it.) I may wish I'd done certain things differently from time to time, but now I know a little better and overall I like how it's progressed.

With me, in the big picture, I think everything's okay. I just have a lot on my plate right now. I had to buy a new car because my old one died, and I have to have one for work and tutoring. So now I have car payments to worry about, which means I have to work more for money, and both my jobs are fairly demanding (though I have gotten a promotion at one and a raise at the other--the only reason I could buy the car at all--which is nice but also reminds me that I'm putting that energy into something that I don't reall want to be doing.) On top of that, I'm taking the GRE on the 23rd, so I've been studying for that a lot, and my girlfriend just moved away to school, so that's been tough too. Unforunately CotF had to take a back seat, but I'm always hopeful that something will give and I'll get back to it. I have been writing sone poetry, but I have to do that for several reasons.

I don't know if you wanted to know all that or not, but I wanted to give a real answer since I took so long doing it.

Thanks for writing and for keeping hope alive.

Rock on. \m/

-Alex

So I took the GRE and broke up with the girl, which frees me up somewhat. (I did fine on the GRE--not as well as I could, but right on the "acceptable" line.) I have been writing poetry and I've been reading a good bit, but I think CotF still seems a bit daunting. I am trying to get over that. In fact, I'm going to work on it today. I would love to publish a chapter a day--or five chapters a day, for that matter--but it's just not feasible right now.

I can't tell you all how much it means to me and how much I appreciate your continued support and simple fact that you care whether or not chapters are being written and/or published. Thank you all so much. Hugs and Kisses!

Rock On. (do it)
\m/
-Alex

Wow, I struggled to get this one done. I don't know whether it was a string of bad circumstances, this chapter in particular, or just that I was due for a rough patch with writing, but something was off. Oh well, it's written, and hopefully the next thing's easier.
On another note, we're only two dollars away from a bonus story—hopefully soon!

Thanks for reading (with incredible patience) and, as always, Rock On.
\m/
-Alex

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So I know I haven't posted chapter 25 yet... it's still not finished. I've had a really hard time writing lately, mostly because I've been mentally and physically exhausted for the past week or so. I was still trying to get work done every night, but ended up beating my head against the wall and getting nothing done. . . which added frustration and stress to my weary mind and made writing even more difficult. I did make some progress last night, but none today. Today, my girlfriend and I were flying down to New Orleans so i could walk in my graduation ceremony this weekend. Since I am in New Orleans—and since this is kind of an Alex-focused celebration weekend—I won't be writing (much), and will just try to relax and enjoy the trip. I'm sure you all understand, since you've been so understanding in the past. On another note, a new reader (whom I won't mention by name, since I didn't ask first) has recently made a generous donation and brought us to 13 bonus points. That means we're only two points (dollars donated or reviews written) away from a bonus chapter! Once we reach 15 points, I'll either post a bonus or maybe even start a poll to determine what kind of bonus it is. It depends on whether I have an idea I love or not. Thanks for supporting the site! Updates will resume next weekend with chapter 25. Thanks for reading! Rock on. \m/ -Alexc

Damn, this one took as long to edit as it did to write. Anyway, here it is, hot off the presses.
Thanks for reading. Maintain rocking status. \m/
-Alex

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Chapter 23, right on schedule!

This is my second chapter without the benefit of an editor (aside from myself, of course) or even a first reader, so any feedback will be much appreciated. Of course, I can always count on Pan to catch my typos, but I want to hear what you all think—aside from that I'm a pretty crappy speller.

Thanks for reading, guys. You are metal. Continue to rock. \m/
-Alex

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Well, there we go. Finally. Sorry I forgot to post it yesterday. I forgot everything yesterday. This is a long chapter that follows straight from chapter 21, so you might want to start from 21 again... Since it's been so long since it was posted... Sorry about that. Thanks for reading and for being so awesome and patient and awesome.
Rock on. \m/

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Here

Finally. Writing hates me right now, and I've got to say, I'm not too happy with it either.
Rock on. \m/
-Alex

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So if you're reading this, you've probably read "Announcement: The chapter is written, but will not be published." I wanted to let you know that I still stand by that decision but that you've, as virulent_Goblin put it, "been holding [your] ass for a week" and you're all wondering what's taking so long. Lots of things:

1. Because I'm trying to get us into the meat of the story, I'm taking extra care in mapping out the flow of the chapters and their place/impact in/on the story overall.
2. Seamus (my MacBook and dear friend) fell ill and was undergoing repairs, though I'm going to pick him up as soon as I finish writing this. Not having my comp means I can't use my normal writing process of "outline & rough demi-draft on paper, revise, type up rough draft in word & revise, send to Whitney-Editor, revise, format and transfer into wordpress, revise, publish, wait for Pan and others to find things I missed & revise ad infinitum." I tried writing it all longhand, but that was killing about 3 rainforests an hour and my hand and wrist were rebelling. I tried using my iPod Touch but that was killing my thumbs and patience and taking forever. Roommate's computer is a PC, uncomfortable to use, and doesn't have all my stuff on it, so that didn't work for me. (Though I can use it for non-fiction writing, like this post. My muse is an apple user and very picky about work condition, apparently.)
3. I'm moving at the end of the month, so I have cleaning, packing, finding someone to take my room, moving my stuff, and other relocating-related chores that must be done in a timely fashion.
4. 1718 had the January reading with Andy Young, and it was my last reading ever. That got priority. [Shit, I'd forgotten that I still have to update seventeeneighteen.com... but that brings me to the next one:]
5. I have to make sure my chunk of NOLA doesn't implode when I leave, which means training a webmaster, making sure the Tulane Review has a prose editor, et cetera, et cetera.
6. iPod Touches are distracting (even if you're not already prone to distraction. I had no chance.)
7. other stuff I'm sure is perfectly valid but can't remember.

So, all excuses aside, what can you expect for CotF in the next few weeks?

The new chapter is coming along, if slowly. I have a busy weekend ahead of me, but I should have the chap done Monday or Tuesday. It'll be a long, good one, I promise. (Damn well better be, right?)

I'm moving to Maryland around the end of next week, so I won't have time to update during that time.

After the move, I'm going to continue with the fresh start feeling by updating wordpress (and maybe the site), getting my blog and author site situation straightened out and set up, catching up on reviews and other projects I meant to do, and then I'm going to quit smoking cigarettes. I said I would quit when I finished school (My mom says I said "college," I say I said "school"), and even though I'll be going to grad school in a year or so and could wait until after that, that's another 3 years at least and I think it's time to quit. I got the idea in my head, so I should probably act on it while I still want to. Oh boy. So, thanks for being understanding and keeping coming by; I really appreciate it. If you need something to read, check out the Web Fiction Guide, there's tons of great stuff over there, much of it written by people I've met through the WFG community and consider friends. Rock on. \m/ -Alex