I've not been able to say something like that in what seems like (and could well be) years. I guess since my last story for Yuletide. A few months ago it was suggested to me that I go look at ron_draco_fest and I did, and I thought, "Well, perhaps a brand new spin on a pairing that I thought I'd written all I could about is the way to kick-start my Muse and writing creativity." And, it's worked! I'm a week late, and embarrassed, especially since it's not even 8000 words and I used to blow those out in no time back in the day. But I like the story, and for the first time I enlisted evannichols as a second beta. My loyal friend emansil_12 (who guided me to this fest) served as the first. In some ways this is an unexpected dream come true; when I was married, especially when I was first in the throes of writing, I'd really wanted my wasband to edit and say how great I was and want to delve into my writing as much as I was. That didn't happen. It got pretty ugly.

But now I'm in a relationship that is different from that one on an amazing number of profound levels, and one of them is that we honestly do enjoy reading each other's works, and editing for one another.

The reveal and posting for the Ron/Draco fest isn't until March, so now that that's off my plate, I figure I'll focus on reading and knitting for a few weeks. Though I think I'll jump on Evan's bandwagon of 'closure' for this year and I'll finish that fun, long Gimli-centric fic, as well as a Finduilas/Denethor fic that's languished for 2 years now. ::headdesk::

~ I'm taking a sabbatical for a time from beta'ing. I'm working with a couple of newer authors, and I'm also engaged in two HP-oriented events that I'll be writing for with deadlines, plus I'm going full bore on my Wraeththu sequel. I won't say no necessarily right off the bat, but please ask first, even if you're somebody I've had an open door policy for. And if I say no, please don't get mad!! I'm feeling rather overwhelmed.

~ I have a lot of yarn. I'm a knitter, and my yarn stash has gotten a bit out of control. I don't have a digital camera and taking pictures of yarn seems silly. I'd like to give some of it away if there are some people on my flist who might be interested in some, let me know. Reply here or drop me a line via email and I can describe some of what I have, how many skeins (admittedly, much is a skein here and a skein there), fiber content, stuff like that. If you're looking for something in particular you can let me know that too.

This post brought to you by the word whimper.

I'm actively engaging in the privilege of beta'ing a really well done WIP by auntee_mame, The Darkest Recesses of the Heart. I really do enjoy beta'ing for the most part, but I may perhaps be somewhat unintentionally frustrating in that while I definitely squee to the authors in person, especially when beta'ing, often I don't revisit their fics once they're out in public to voice my pleasure there. This story is a WIP, but I have no doubt that she'll finish it over time, if only to prevent me coming up there and demanding to know how it ends!! auntee_mame (formerly known as Kerryblaze) is a very solid writer, and this fic is no exception; it's plotty, has enough angst and realism to really appeal to me (not to mention the pairing), but one of my favorite aspects of it is the original characters she's crafted. I've been a sucker for original characters and them fitting seamlessly into canon fic since my very first fanfic story, ever, Boar and Steward, a Tolkien fic about a fictitious eight year old girl of Rohan. I wrote it not knowing that OCs were nearly always immediately regarded with apprehension, especially female ones. I suppose since mine was a young girl, it escaped the knee-jerk Mary Sue label. At any rate, in The Dark Recesses of the Heart there's a bevy of original characters and they're three-dimensional, as is the town in which nearly all of the story has taken place, a real town in the U.S.

So if you're a Harry/Ron fan, go off and read The Darkest Recesses of the Heart, currently at eleven chapters. It's been primarily gen so far, but she's starting to get into nearly-adult territory, which promises to be delicious and quite satisfying for the characters once it occurs. If it does! I don't know how it'll all pan out— another bonus to beta'ing something like this as she's writing it. I've never beta'ed a WIP before, it now occurs to me. Anyway, I recommend this story without reservation. If you enjoy it too, let her know!

... you discover a post like this.

::is proud and boggled by the amount of fun and work that the admins at The Quidditch Pitch engage in::

And yes, I beta'ed the 100 page story pretty quickly. I know what it's like to want to see your work up for the public. But also- I'm being fangirled! And fanboied!! Perhaps this means I've come into my own in HP fandom. :D