So I received an alert in my inbox yesterday for a story I've been following and waiting till it's completed to read.  I always skim the author's notes to see if a story is finished or if there's an estimate of how many more chapters are left.  But this note left me wondering.  

"This week I was contacted by an editor from a real live publishing company, asking me if I would be interested in submitting an original story for possible publication as a book and e-book for international marketing and distribution. To say that I was gob-smacked is a considerable understatement! They like my stories, and they think that I could potentially do well in the mainstream market writing historical and/or paranormal romantic erotica– which freaked me out a little bit. I didn't realise that's what I was writing, and I don't think I'll mention that part to hubby!

The down side to their exciting offer is that they would prefer I didn't post the story as a fan-fiction first. Apparently it takes a lot to 'de-Twilight' a story, and there are legal implications. Plus, I am aware that some readers get very upset when a story is 'pulled for publication'. Their suggestion is that I write both FF and for potential submission until I see how I go."

My first reaction was, "Oh girl.  Be careful.  You're getting taken."  And yeah, she does need to be careful.  But then again, I don't know her.  Perhaps she is being very careful.  But then I thought... Does this happen?  In the past, I would have said no way, no how.  But in this new world of publishing, post-that story that shall not be named, are publishers looking for their next cash cow in the world of fanfiction?  It doesn't seem likely to me because I'm sure they've got piles and piles of manuscripts that authors send them to go through.

But...  I feel like so much is changing and what I want to know is - does this really happen???  

And if so, my question for those of you in the know is, how do authors protect themselves against psycho scammers?  Obviously, you have to be skeptical.  You have to ask a lot of questions.  But am I the only one scratching my head and going.... "Wha-huh?"

Even if you don't know the answer, come on in and postulate and make stuff up or whatever.  Come scratch your heads with me just so I don't feel alone in this.

Hey campers!

I'm going through some super fun stuff (read: not fun at all). I need advice on fundraising.

My dad is going to need open heart surgery. My mom will have to take off a lot of time from work, unpaid to help him with his post-surgery care. My dad isn't working because he works a physical job and his doctor wouldn't clear him for work.

He also has no inusurance.

SO

I want to do some fundraisers. I was assured by a couple of friends that it wouldn't be considered tacky to try to help raise some money.  I know I can't possibly raise enough to pay for the surgery and all of that outright, but it would be great if I could get them help to cover household expenses that might be difficult to cover because of lost pay and hopefully some of his doctor's visits, etc. 

I have no idea how to do this.  I need advice and suggestions and ideas.  Benefit dinners? Poker Run? Plain old soliciting donations? Where do I start? How do I go about it without just looking like I'm begging. I've had a few suggestions from trusted friends, but i'm sure there are things I'm not thinking about.

If you have ideas, I have an ear!

Edited: to cut the size down so it won't take up so much room. Details are inside.

 so whats good to read

So campers, what are the last few songs you looked up using Sound Hound or what ever app you use to find music? 

I found this one while semi ignoring the movie my husband was watching this afternoon. There was a rendition of this cover in the movie Scream but it didn't seem as cool as the one I heard today. It was a version of Don't Fear the Reaper By Gus Black. I searched high and low for the version that seemed to be in the Howling (2011) but could not find it anywhere. Here is the Scream version of it.

Have you ever found those videos that change your life? Those videos that make you laugh so hard, you feel 5 years younger? A couple days ago, my fiancee found this video on Reddit, and I've been watching it continously! It's hilarious... and creepy!

Summer is not my favorite time of year, because I'm not really a fan of the heat.  BUT, I do love the farmer's markets and being able to get fresh produce.  This morning, I SCORED!

I am back on a (never-ending, oft-repeated) quest to get healthier.  In addition to cutting out most processed foods, I also bought a bike (a nice cruising bike with a comfy seat that doesn't make me walk like Paul Giamotti in Saving Private Ryan).  I'm amazed at how much I'm enjoying the daggone thing (which happens to be hot pink)!   For "fitspiration," I've been haunting a lot of health-related tumblrs (or fitblrs, as I guess they're called).  Healthy Pinterest boards have also been a godsend.

Soooooo....

• What do you like best (or least) about summer?
• Do you have any healthy website recommendations?
• I'm relatively new to Tumblr -- can you suggest a fave (it can be about any topic)?

And, since this post is entitled "A Little Bit of Everything," I leave you with eye-candy and thank you for your time!

Do any of you have stories of a missed connection that wasn't missed, but then you got F'd over by something out of your control?

Please tell me about your sorrows, it might make me feel better :)

My story's inside

I just got home from the stables, where I died a thousand deaths today.

I'll tell you my story in the comments, but what about you?

Have you had situations that scared the crap out of you? That really shook you up?
Like an accident or something similar -how did it end? Were you ok? And what did you do to calm down again?

(I hope my question is clear... and maybe my story will explain better what I mean ;) )

OMG. I couldn't wait for the daily What the Fic?! post to discuss this.

Chapter 14: Ruined

Holy shit this chapter!! This story owns me right now.
me when I've received the notification and then while/after reading the chapter:

My thoughts on the chapter are inside.

So I happened to catch a "Force of July" Marathon this week, and even though in the past I've merely liked the series...

Uhm, yeah... This time I was into it.

Really into it...

And now I want more! So... does anyone have any Star Wars fanfic recs for newcomer? I want classic Han/Leia, canon missing moments or canon-y AU, and really well written, not just mindless smut. No victim Leias either!

Or, at the very least, post your hottest Han Solo pictures!

So, I have this strange thing about getting distracted when there is bad hair in a movie or television show. If the offending hair is on a sidekick, or the comic relief, I can look past it, but when the romantic male role is sporting a head of hair that's just wrong, it kills the movie for me.

I'm not sure who is making these bad hair decisions but seems like there is someone out there who is spreading bad hair like a desease. And it seems to be getting worse as time goes on. For an example, Juan Borgia from Showtime's The Borigas (David Oakes). He started season one looking like this:

  Only to move on to this atrocity >>> 

Sadly, neither of these pics, or anything else I could find, do any sort of justice to the sad state of this character's hair issues. Cesare Borgia (Juan's brother on the show) isn't far behind. The new AC Slader style mullet he is sporting this season...WTF! They made this pile of hotness:

 Look like this >>>  

And leaving the set doesn't aways help the people of Hollywood.

So campers, what are your Hollywood hair don'ts. Come on in and spam us with something to laugh at.

I'm looking for a story Bella is a vampire and she teaches at the high school. She comes in on the first day of school with her prop thermos of coffee. Edward and his siblings (also vampires) are new to the high school and Edward and Bella instanly fall in love. Bella's gift is that she can make people believe in whatever she is showing them. Bella and Edward get caught going at it in the school parking lot by Mike Newton. Mike was going to make Bella sleep with him to keep his mouth shut, but Bella uses her gift on Mike to make him think that she has a penis and sleeps with her

they were in a classroom when she showed mike a vivid images of them having sex and edward is hiding somewhere or in a closet to see what will happen anyone knows the title? 

I think bella's gift is like dream illusions?

and this is my reco

Better Than Pie - savannavansmutsmut
Bella decides marriage will solve her financial problems and auctions herself off as a wife, only to be bought unknowingly by an unsuspecting Edward who cares for his meddling but well-meaning Down Syndrome brother, Emmett. All human

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7793773/1/Better_Than_Pie

Nobody's Little Girl - HelloElla

A billionaire couple searches for their long lost daughter. A lonely, troubled young man finds and gives refuge to a homeless girl with no name. Paths are crossed and hearts are given, but you can't keep what was never yours.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8022179/1/Nobodys_Little_Girl

Taken - underestateofsorrow

When Bella's father gets remarried, an older stepbrother, Edward, comes into the equation, who has been staring at Bella since day one & likes to control her life, right down to who she dates. When death hits the family, he'll use it to his advantage to get what he wants. Bella, of course. Mature themes/obsessed Edward. AH.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7842149/1/Taken 

Jackson Rathbone is a Daddy!

"There's a new "Twilight" baby in town! On Thursday, Jackson Rathbone and girlfriend Sheila Hafsadi welcomed their first child, a baby boy, Monroe Jackson Rathbone VI.

"Thank you ALL for the love & support! Sheila & I couldn't be happier to have such a beautiful, healthy baby boy, Monroe Jackson Rathbone VI," the "Twilight" star tweeted. "Feeling so blessed! What an amazing day! Love and respect, Bone Daddy." (more at the source)

Awwww.  Good for them.  And I'm so glad the baby was named after Rathbone because, frankly, I was terrified they'd name it something like Rainbow Saffron Impatience Juniper Rathbone.  

I was at a loss as to how to make this interactive.  Then, I decided to ask ADF-ers to SHARE THEIR BABY PHOTOS WITH US!

So, post your baby mug in the comments, if you dare :-) 

I'm looking for a fic I read a long time ago but can't remember which one it was. It's a B/E AH fic. The only part I really remember was the whole group was in a club in the VIP room. Edward and Bella weren't together but maybe trying to make each other jealous. I do remember Victoria or Tanya was sitting on Edward's lap and making out with him. Bella was there and got upset. That's about all I remember for sure.

My rec is a sequel that just started last week:

Claddagh and Chaos by mathisson

Sequel to Shamrocks and Shenanigans. "The Shamrock was a promise, the Claddagh holds so much more." Will Bella and Edward have their Happy ever after or does love come with a shelf life?
Twilight - Fiction Rated: M - English - Romance/Suspense - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,916 - Reviews: 223 - Updated: 6-30-12 - Published: 6-30-12 - - Edward/Bella

This is a male bonding appreciation campfire.

 

If you are like me, you a love a good Hollywood bromance--you know, with male bonding and stuff. My heart cannot get enough.

 

One of my favorite examples is from the show White Collar. One of these days, these two will just kiss already:

 

Another favorite is Breaking Bad. (so excited for this one to start next week!) My heart breaks everytime Jesse says "yo, Mr. White".

 

Or these two from Burn Notice: They are just buddies and I flove them.

 

 

So everyone please picspam me with pictures of buddy, bromance or male bonding porn. 

 

 

I saw a tweet that mentioned FFA... so here goes...

So, I went to see Magic Mike this weekend and an interesting TV show preview come on.  It is for a show called Elementary which should be airing this Fall in the US.  It is inspired by Sherlock Holmes, and I was kind of interested in the show since it is a twisted version.  (I have yet to watch the UK version, but I plan to do so when I have time.)

Here is a trailer for it:

This is an interesting article I got off my twitter feed.

We've discussed this before but not since the raging success a former fanfiction has become in the commercial world.

http://jamigold.com/2012/05/an-author’s-guide-to-fan-fiction/

I'd love to hear what you think about this.

I was especially interested in the point that a cut of the profits of P2P fics should go to the original author; i.e., Icy should be paying Meyer for using Twilight to write MOTU.  Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Still, I have to say Stephenie is a sweetheart in her reaction to Icy.  I'm not sure I'd be as kind. 

PS:  I posted this using Chrome so I could put tags on it and I think I got carried away--along with Zombies.  

PSS  Then I edited it ME and all the tags went away.  Daggone.  Going to fix.  

And NO I am not going to give up ME OR my fricken AOL email.  I don't care how often you laugh and point.