In all fairness, I don't seem to either. Care to go exploring? |
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Through windows closed and shuttered you can see where fun was had, Where tales were served by a young barkeep, a story-tellin' lad. The barmaids teased and plied their trade twixt the tables, dark and light, And the patrons there gave not a thought to the lurking veil of night. But night did come, as it always must, and the lamps went dark at last, And the barmaids left, and the patrons, too, and the barkeep's grief was vast. It's said if you pass on the lonely road where the tavern stands abandoned, You can still hear, if you strain your ear, the barkeep's pen a'scratchin'. Some call him a phantom, some call him a fool, but call him what you will, He'll never give up on the stories he told 'til they're back, his tavern to fill. So give him a thought on your busy road, and stop for a while as you pass, 'Cause you just never know when the stories will flow, and the thrill will return at last! Hello and welcome. My name is Jack, and for around a decade, my "muse," whatever you conceive that to be, has been lying in a coma. I refuse to give up on her, and am currently focused on bringing an old endeavor, "The Orphan Princess" Thanks for your support. You guys are the best! Jack...
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| A very good morning to all my wonderful friends, and I hope it finds you full of hope for the new year. I'm back from my customary Thursday hiatus and hopeful for a few things, but it finds me full of honesty as regards my WdC membership, and that's what I'm here to address. The first thing you will have noticed is the new cover. That is a photograph of the design on a jacket that doesn't fit me anymore, but the photograph does. The skull represents my love of the horror genre, and the gears inside and scattered around, my enjoyment of steampunk, the genre where I first achieved some minor recognition. This replaces the plaque I was awarded by "The WDC Angel Army" Second, I feel the need to fess up: I'm not here to participate in the same way that all of you are. It's been years since I've produced anything original, and it's long past time that I stop pretending that the "muse" is going to come back refreshed from her ten-year vacation. I'm familiar with WdC from previous memberships, and I came here because it seemed a stable site to store all the things I wrote years ago when I was active. That's what you see in my portfolio now. This includes the supposedly "new" work, "The Orphan Princess" Finally, once I returned, I found a vast universe of your fantastic stories, poems, and even novels to read, and I initiated an award, "Jack's Diamonds" So that's the new course I've set to navigate 2026. I once was a writer. I may be again, but I'm going to stop pretending that I currently am. Peruse the port and enjoy the stories. Encouragement and even suggestions for possible ways to take The Orphan Princess wouldn't go amiss, but don't expect to see a lot of new material going up. There's a vanishingly small store of that in the warehouse. But I wish you all the best, and look forward to discovering more and more of your fine writing. You guys are the best! Stay inspired, Jack ![]() "Best Reviewer" Category |