We used to have a Help Desk campfire every week or so, but I haven't seen one in a few weeks.

But, I am desperate for help, so I'm starting one up!!!

edit: thank you v. much to SouthernCharm for starting the Help Desk.

things have been crazy for mods, apologies for any inconveniences.

so this .. just happened .. kind of a must see

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxt93q_fp-ksataa13rc_people#from=embediframe

I'm not sure if anyone is interested but if you are Cassandra Clare's last book of the Infernal Devices, Clockwork princess which releases March 19 is revealing the first chapter right now in a very cool way base on ppl tweets right now you can tweet and just add #ClockworkPrincess and the chapter will be revealed one word at a time on this website http://shadowhunters.com/clockworkprincess/

to make this more interactive what books are you looking forward to being released

i hope this is okay you guys if not feel free to track me down and throw me in the fire

I just reread Everlasting Why, and, omg, it really, really is good. Some of you may remember me pimping it out a lot because I was so captivated by those first chapters. However, I'd soon stopped being so obsessed over it. I'm not into any action/suspense whatever plot developments, and, honestly, nothing could top those amazing first chapters, their first encounters. Now that I reread it though, I'm appreciating it more. The writing, the references to past events/lines, even the plot development and the ending which were not what I was hoping for when I first fell in love with the story.

Has this happened to others as well? In a recent cf on The Office we were saying that reading all that smut all at once, chapter after chapter would probably be even more over the top compared to when we were reading it as a WIP. However, are there stories you appreciated more when you reread them as completed fics? And of course feel free to discuss the wonderful yet underappreciated EW :)

The book description rings a distant bell, but I can't quite remember the title of the fic it reminds me of...

Between Seasons by Aida Brassington (free download from Amazon)

"There are things Patrick Boyle will never forget: the sound of his own neck breaking at the moment of his death in the fall of 1970, the sweet taste of his mother's chocolate cake, and the awful day his parents abandoned him in his childhood house-turned prison.

Nineteen-year-old Patrick wonders for decades if God has forgotten all about him or if he's being punished for some terrible crime or sin over a lovely forty years trapped in an empty home. But when Sara Oswald, a strange woman with a mysterious past, buys his house, old feelings reawaken, and a new optimism convinces him that she's the answer to his prayers.

Things are never simple, though, especially when she begins channeling the memories of his life and death in her writing."

~*~

An old favourite: Blood Lines by windchymes

With just weeks to go before the wedding, Edward reveals a secret from his human life which leaves Bella shocked and wondering just how well she knows the man she is about to marry.

1. Featured Author - Dos and Don'ts for Aspiring Writers by Sydney Logan has posted on the PTB Blog! Learn a thing or two from a previous fan fiction author now a published author!

2. February Giveaway - Want a copy of Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan? Here's your chance! Enter the raffle on the PTB site everyday through February 28! Fill out the rafflecopter below or go to: http://bit.ly/ptbgiveaway

3. Mayhem Erotica - ME is a new indie erotica publisher that launched on February 23. PTB Mod, Twimarti, did an interview of all of their authors. Check it out at: http://projectteambeta.com/category/mayhem-erotica/

4. Writing Challenge 2013 - Can you believe it?! We're already two months down and eight challenges in! That's only ten more months and forty-four more challenges to go! It's never too late to join! Just get all your entries posted by December 31, 2013 in order to be entered into the Grand Prize Raffle. 

5. Weekly WC - If you need that bit of extra help to get your writing started, consider joining PTB's WC hosted by EveryDayBella every Thursday at 7pm PST.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted with permission by LJ Summers

Welcome to the Monday Morning Hot Guy Campfire. What better way to start your week than a hot guy?

Every Monday, I'm going to dedicate a CF to the Hot Guy of the Week. The catch? The CF can ONLY be about the current nominated guy.

We all have different tastes in men, so please don't yuck anyone's yum. If you have a man you'd like to see crowned for the week, PM or hit me up on twitter (@ffcherry) with his name.

Do you write fan fiction?

Give us a little peek!

excerpt / pictease / music / poem / banners

~ Don't forget to include a link to your story! ~

Is there a story you hope to see teased in this campfire?

Why don't you add it to the ADF Master Fic List?!?

Oh baby, oh baby. 

Sorry, I'm currently watching 10 Things I Hate About You and I can't stop quoting...

Anyway, so I hope I'm doing this right since it's my first time posting, but I need your help! Pretty please! I'm looking for a fic that I know was pulled because she rewrote it and posted it on a blog without the Twilight-ness. I read the one that was edited so I'm not sure if a lot of stuff was changed from the Twilight fanfic, but I'll put what I remember from the new one.

Bella became Katie. She has a son and moves to a new town and starts to work at an aquarium. "Edward" is a doctor and has a daughter and a son and lost his wife in a car accident a few years ago. The daughter is still really distraught about it, rebelling against her dad and everything. I'm pretty sure "Bella" and "Edward" meet because both of their sons play on the same team of some sport which I'm guessing is baseball. Aaaaand... that's it. The rest is a blank! I know I loved this story and I'm so dissapointed in myself for not bookmarking it, but I would totally appreciate any help at all!

And for my rec, probably my favorite Alice and Jasper story ever:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4647032/1/To-Love-Again

When 23 year old Alice loses her husband, she thinks her life too has come to an end. So when the mysterious and sometimes infuriating Jasper Hale enters her life, will she push him away like she has so many others or will she be able to love again? OOC/A
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 26 - Words: 86,697 - Reviews: 1281 - Updated: 11-24-12 - Published: 11-10-08 - Alice & Jasper - Complete

Regardless of your views on it since we all know some either love it and don't mind or hate it severely and make it known, I think readers still should know whether or not there's a free version of something floating around.

It's free now but it could and probably will have a price later.

I'm watching the Oscars and scrolling all over Amazon as usual and I spot this Marital Bitch (Men with Badges) and go hmm. The title sparked a memory and author name without a doubt. Same title Jillian Landers.

What have you found or heard about new on the P2P front. Just curious on what's now published. So much has been pulled over the years for a variety of reasons to where now it's...interesting just what pops back up as an actual book.

I kind of think everything newly published is probably a P2P anyway these days.

Love it, hate it, whatever if you know of a friend or whatever who P2P share it. I'm always on the lookout because I have or can found copies of everything so I'm one who's rather know because with P2P I'd rather read them as Edward and Bella and will Google the free version.

Hi everyone...

Today in Italy is election day....we're voting to elect the man who will represent us all over the world...

I'm perfectly aware of the not so good reputation of our politicians, but I wanted to know your opinions...

So I'm asking you campers from all over the world what do you think of Italy and italians? I want to know how the rest of the world see us...

So please share the perception you have of us, not only in matter of politics, any random though you have...I want to know the good and the bad! :D

Tonight's the night of glam dresses, speeches, and that little, golden man. It's Oscar Night! Come here and share your predictions! A list of nominees can be found here. 

 Ranger Edit: Imma gonna tag sticky this to leave up for all-day discussions AND watch-along commentary.  This is the OFFICIAL OSCARS® CAMPFIRE OF 2013. So bring pics AND YOUR OPINIONS And popcorn.

I'm the dummy and need your help. 

When my son was born 7 years ago via emerg c-section, I didn't get to see or hold him for 5 hours afterwards. I had a T incision (6 inches across and 8 up) and spent a lot of time in recovery. My son was breech (they didn't know) and because I have a family history of hip dysplasia he was sent for ultrasound and x-rays to check. In any case, when it came to nursing, I was sore, he was cranky and though I tried hard, he got a failure to thrive and my doctor pushed formula and being naive, I did it.

When my daughter was born, I had a planned c-section. I had plans to nurse her right away etc. She arrived 4 weeks early, breech and was sent for x-rays and ultrasounds as well. I was so proud of all round the clock breast feeding I did with her but she also got a failure to thrive :(  I supplemented with formula. Then I got a massive infection, was hospitalized and she refused to nurse after that.

This time, I am determined to make it work. I want it to work. But I honestly have no idea how it works. I wasn't educated enough both previous times - I thought it would just be easy.

Can you tell me the basics? Do I nurse both sides? how long per side? I don't even know if I burp in between? Help wanted please!!!!!

Thank you so much!

PS Just for fun: this is what a breech baby looks like after birth and for my kids, almost a week later LOL

 

Hey, guys. Some of you may have already seen this, but I thought I'd put it here anyway.

Basically, I'm in the middle of writing my dissertation, the topic of which is "Online Communication in YA Fiction Fandoms." For the research-part of my dissertation, I've designed an experiment that shows how people in fandoms communicate with each other online.

It's really simple: using tumblr, fandom-members spread my short survey through their fandoms in a pass-it-along type of model. The survey is short, and asks only what fandoms the participant feels they belong to, and for the title and author of a book recently recommended to them by a fandom member. Completely anonymous, and won't take more than a minute to complete.

The tumblr where I have the whole thing set up is called Dear Fandoms. It's open to all fandoms, not just books, and definitely not just YA.

If you have a minute to spare, I hope you'll check it out. I've been getting some amazing responses (close to 6,000 now, which is blowing my mind), and I'm really excited about how it's all turning out.

If you want to help spread the word, there are several things you can do:

• You can just reblog the post, as many others have done.
• You can tweet about it.
• If you happen to be apart of other fandoms, don't hesitate to spread it there - that's the whole point of the thing.
• If you frequent a book blog or forum, or something similar, feel free to make a post about it there, if you can and want to.

Honestly, you can put the link to this wherever you want. The further it spreads, the better. As long as there are fandom-members there, it's all good.

At the end of this whole thing, I'll be posting the results on the project-tumblr. Since I also ask where participants came across the survey, I'll be posting links (to the best of my abilities) to the places mentioned. It could be a great way to get some new readers to a site.

If you have any questions, just ask in the comments. I hope you'll check it out.

Thanks for your time, guys.

I'll Post Pics.

You Guess Who.

Posting A New Pic For Them.

Simple.

Let's start with this:
 

Who Is That?

Come Inside And Play.

Share You Young Celebrities Pics, And Let Us Guess.
 

You guys – guess what?

I'm finalizing my application for the Erasmus program. That's a european program to promote student mobility – so basically I'm applying to study a semester abroad.

The main goal for me in this is to improve my French.
I studied French for four years in school but forgot most of it again. I realised just how awful my language skills are when I was in Africa last summer. It came back though – little by little but it's still not that great :(

I applied to Marseille/Aix en Provence, Bordeaux, Paris and (in case my French isn't good enough to attend a uni in France) Copenhagen. (I meant to apply to St. Denis on La Reunion (because, come on – how cool would that be?) but tbh – I'm still living at home, and while I've traveled on my own before, I have never actually fully lived on my own, so I guess I don't need to make it harder on myself than absolutely necessary ;) )
So for now it's actually a waiting game to see which uni takes me/where my superviser puts me. It's all very confusing.

So the main reason I'm posting this is: how do I improve my language skills?

I know all the basics in theory, so I don't really have to study about verbs etc – I guess I just need a lot of practice.
I know from experience that watching a movie in a different language or reading a book helps lots (it's how I improved my English – and now I'm at a point where I rarely even watch German movies anymore!). So I thought: oh well, just pick a dvd and watch it in French – but my main problem is that most of my dvd's don't offer French as an alternative language (there's bulgarian, turkish, italian... french? No -.-)
Are there any websites where I could maybe watch some movies or series online?
How about audio books? Any recommendations on there? Websites where I could download, or order them?

Does anyone have experience with Erasmus? Anyone from those cities? Any tips on how to pick up a language?
Is there anyone on here who's fluent and would/could look through my letter of application once I have to write that?
Or: have you had a similar experience? Moved to a different country? Was it hard for you to adapt?
Or (since I'm already procrastinating) come share some funny language barrier stories :)

(I tried to tag this, really I did, but it wouldn't let me :( ) ETA: apparently it worked after all oO