Meaningful Differences first year 2023

On August 4th, I published my first Substack story, “Substitute Teacher.” Since then, I’ve acquired 28 subscribers, from 16 USA states and 5 countries.

I’ve been a computer geek since the late 70’s, had a four-year stint in the USAF, and I’m a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. Been writing fanfic for Harry Potter and Fullmetal Alchemist on and off for over a decade. Then, on February 14th of this year, at the age of 65, I published my first story, for money, in an Anthology called “But not Broken.” I’d like to write for more anthologies, or prompts, but so far that’s the only one that’s worked. I seem to have a lot of trouble writing for prompts.

I have published two new FMA fanfic short stories on my substack that aren’t available anywhere else. And I also posted here what might be my first ever fanfic, “A Decision,” from 3/15/2006, from Harry Potter, for “Throwback Thursday.”

On May 17th, I self published my first novella through Draft2Digital called Cloak and Stola. To date, I’ve sold 176 copies through Amazon, and 25 through all other sources. You can get the e-book version free at Smashwords (see my promo) or the paperback at Amazon and other sources.

“Cloak and Stola” is a story where I tried to work out the implications of Caesar Augustus’ marriage ban on non-officer Roman legion soldiers. It was something I wrote for the back story of some minor characters of my Roman WIP, and then decided to publish. I also have 3 side stories for that as well, although they may or may not make it into my WIP. I’m thinking this WIP will probably be novel length.

Since then, I’ve published another novella, “Down Pad”, which is a near future coming of age story about Space Force enlisted men after the era of woke, including a computer geek and a detrans man. You can read the whole thing on my substack for free in 8 installments, or you can buy it online if you want to give me money. I’ve sold 13 copies on Amazon and 7 copies through all other source. Ratings and reviews would be greatly appreciated. There will be a paperback version available soon.

I also have two “Down Pad” side stories on my substack that aren’t in the novella. And I have a short fantasy story with a detrans woman, called Braids, on my substack. I have bits of another detrans story done, but not posted anywhere, which I may or may not continue.

I tried hosting a prompt based on the artwork of Jean-Francois Millet, and got some interest but no actual participation. The only story for that, Carrington’s Squad, I ended up writing myself.

I also tried an “interactive” short story with a couple of blanks to be filled in by a reader. That was kind of fun. One of my subscribers and most constant readers (thanks, Matt!),

Back Porch Writer

, participated. I used his fill-in and finished the story. I also wrote a story inspired by Eastern Orthodox St. Porphyrios, called “Not Normal” which I really enjoyed writing.

At the beginning of November, I started reading the Aeneid for the first time, and I’ve been posting my paraphrase and my impression of it. I’m reading it in Latin with an interlinear literal translation, and reading commentary afterwards, because I’m just learning Latin. I’m hoping to use what I learn in my Roman WIP – the Roman legion soldiers in my time period are known to have taught themselves to read and write Latin using the Aeneid.

It turns out I really didn’t know much of the story. Apparently, most of what I think of about Troy is from the Iliad and the Odyssey, not the Aeneid. We’ll see if that changes as I continue.

Thanks to the

The Brothers Krynn

, I posted a couple of my poems, reviewed their reconstruction of The Little Mermaid Disney movie in Notes, and read “Hour of the Dragon” by Robert E. Howard, my first ever Conan the Barbarian, and reviewed that in Notes as well. I need to catch up on their writing, but they write so much!

Andrew | Dad Explains

is my favorite “father’s advice to children” substack. One of his pieces inspired me to post my Roman side story “The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Cedar Sanderson

and

Caroline's Newsletter

have great articles and fiction, and have been great encouragement to me as I write.

Josh Slocum

is my favorite “former leftie” (in some respects, I’m what the kids call “gender non-conforming).” Go figure. Other fiction writers I follow and recommend are

JE Tabor

Mostly Fiction,

Noble Cobra Magazine

,

Sam Robb

Perceptions, and

No More than 51 Bad Stories

. And

Chris Bray

has an early American era mystery novel out through Barnes and Noble that you should check out Covenant: An Elihu Coffin Mystery.

I’m also subscribed to

The Tactical Notebook

by Bruce Ivar Gudmundsson, where I am working my way through loads of military information. Working on the North African campaign from WWII at the moment. Might even learn enough to participate in one of his decision forcing cases.

So that’s my wrap for 2023. I’ll see what next year brings.