carlita

So, one of us is a liar, and I suspect it's me. Anyway, after several more hours of work, I came to the bewildering conclusion that Chapter Nine of ALS is done in the done sense of the word, as in ready for public consumption done. I know, I, too, am shocked.

First, though, I want to apologize at great length for -- well, the great length of time between this update and my last one. But I want you to understand that I don't write linearly, and that in completing these last few chapters, I've written several hundred pages of text . . . so it's not like it took me all this time for this one chapter. Not that I couldn't have stepped it up, because I could have, but my point is: there's more, and it's all coming together pretty quickly, and as soon as I sew up ten -- it should take less than ten pages -- and get everything beta read, there are going to be more updates. And some of these chapters I am super excited about . . . I mean, to the point of giddiness. And anyone that knows me knows that I don't get giddy.

Secondly, I want to thank gia6seconds and chrisleeoctaves for beta reading this chapter. You guys were wonderful, and I really and truly mean it when I say that no one would be reading this if you hadn't donated your time and expertise to the project. A thousand thank you's.

Finally, thank all of you who have listened to my constant bitching about this project. I'm very, very sorry, but whining is -- apparently -- a natural part of my writing process, and I'm just fortunate enough that you guys put up with me and don't tell me to shut the fuck up . . . or, you know, toss me to the curb. I'm grateful that you stick with me even though I can be petulant and ornery and all sorts of other lame things. You're all wonderful, and I am so, so thankful for you.

I know this all came out like I'm accepting an Oscar, but I didn't mean it like that; they're just things that needed to be said.

Now, the really important thing: