As you all know, today is the day the title of Book 9 is announced.
Except it isn't.
Nope, now that day will be Monday, because there's something else that I want to talk about instead, something a little more important than a book title.
I've been working hard these past few months. I write the occasional blog entry, I've barely been on twitter, I've barely glanced at the Forums or the Facebook page. I'm writing, and I know you understand that, and I appreciate your patience. It's not going to be for very much longer, either. I'm planning on finishing the book next week. I have a lot to do, but I reckon I can do it.
But something has happened in my absence. Something troubling. Not on the twitter page — everyone there is funny and enthusiastic. Not on the Facebook page — everyone there is supportive and astonishingly excitable. Not on the Forums, either — they argue, debate, discuss, and at no time do they ever let these arguments spill over into anything else.
Nope, the trouble is here, in the Comments section of this blog.
Most of the Minions who comment here are my kind of people. They're weird. And I mean, unashamedly odd. I've always been so, so proud of you guys, because I look around at other fandoms and I see everyone sniping at each other and divisions forming and I'm comforted by the fact that none of that happens here.
But I've been away. I've taken my eye off the game. And now I'm seeing behaviour that could be classed as bullying.
You all know my stance on bullying. I will not abide it. The blog, twitter, Facebook, Forums... ANYTHING associated with me must have zero tolerance for bullying. I just won't have it.
The Minions who comment here, I want you to think about the comments you leave. If you never say anything negative about anyone, step over here beside me. I like you. You can be my friend. But if you think about the things you say and you're frowning to yourself? Then I'm probably talking to you.
Harsh words are one thing. We all argue. We all have harsh words. But if all you have, for one particular person, are harsh words? If you CONSISTENTLY say negative things about one PARTICULAR person? Then that's bullying. And that has to stop.
I'm not naming any names. I don't want the bullies to be, in turned, bullied by people who are annoyed they won't get the title until Monday. I don't want recriminations. But what I do want is for you to realise that we're all here because, to some degree, we're all the same. We each have enough in common, as people, as individuals, to love the same things. Do you realise how wonderful that is? To KNOW you have something in common with all these other people?
I have never called Minions "my fans". I will call them fans of the books, fans of the characters, but they're never MY fans. They're never fans of ME. Because we're all the same. I'm not better than you, just because I'm the writer and you're the reader. I have enough in common with each of you to know that, if we met, we'd get along. We'd find SOME common ground.
You're on a train. You see someone in another seat reading a book you LOVE. And you instantly smile, because you have connected with that person. So look around. See all the people who comment and the people who tweet and blog and post... there are your people. These are your friends. Let the harsh words fade away. Wipe the slate clean. Start fresh.
Where I train, in the most brutal form of fighting there is, we have a rule, and it's quite simple. We're training to fight and hurt and break and smash. On the street, we're animals. We're horrible. We're violent. We're nasty. But in the club, when we train, the rule is: Be nice or go home.
So be nice. Being nice is so much NICER than not being nice. Try it and see, and then you can come over here and stand beside me, and you can be my friend too.
But don't make me angry. You wouldn't like what I do to your favourite characters when I'm angry.
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Aubrey: *blushes*
*returns to the dining room*
*shakes head bitterly*
No, he was gone by the time I got out there. Why?
Hmm I dedicate this page to spring- new life grows, new beginnings.
*sits swinging her legs*
*wonders where she'll sleep tonight*
*gets bored of thinking*
*lays back in the tree*
Hey Silente.
Aro: Hello Silente
@Dragona: Okay. :)
#ChaseForBookNine
If anyone needs me to roleplay with, I'm distantly here.
If you don't, I am still distantly here.
. . .
So I'm distantly here, I guess. XD
#ChaseForBookNine
If anyone needs me to roleplay with, I'm distantly here.
If you don't, I am still distantly here.
. . .
So I'm distantly here, I guess. XD
#ChaseForBookNine
*looks down at Aro and Zaf*
Hey you two! Sorry didn't see you there.
*smiles at them*
How are you both?
(STUPID COMMENT!!)
It's beautiful in Venice, got some glass and got some masks. It's perfect weather here too!!
Hrm...
*sighs*
Well, he stole one of my handkerchiefs. Certainly, I have several hundred more, but this is about the principle of the thing.
*shrugs*
Oh well.
*sighs dreamily*
I would love to go to Venice.
I would love to go anywhere, really.
Except Hell.
@Death: Yay! :)
It's rather like England, here. XD As England is, you know.
#ChaseForBookNine
Aro: Exhausted. I tracked Alastair mentally last night. We really need to find a way to subdue him
@Annika: Hunter would say he didn't know, but he would think Hell might be quite interesting.
#ChaseForBookNine
*laughs*
A handkerchief? Who would steal something like that?
. . . It's very strange, isn't it. Hm.
Do you need one?
*offers navy blue handkerchief*
I'll have you know hell is a very nice place! Its like a giant sauna/rave where the wine and drinks never stop!
@Aro: Agreed. O_O
#ChaseForBookNine
Yes we do. Although he hasn't hurt anyone recently. He could be calming down...
*smiles distantly*
The lunatic might be becoming more loving.
I really, really do not think so.
*remembered what happened to her earlier* *winces*
I don't think he ever can calm down.
#ChaseForBookNine
Aro: He's hurt Niccolò emotionaly, I'm afraid he'll target us next. Niccolò is fond of us, to a degree. I'm not willing to find the names, Alastair was making it too easy last night and I was not willing to find out what he did. I can track him when he's in this reality
*frowns*
He /might/ be calming down. Maybe he's changing to a degree. I mean, its like mass and weight. Mass never changes just as who you are never changes however weight does just like which part of you is strongest does. Maybe some things changing the strongest emotion in him. He could be turning nicer, you never know.
*shakes his head*
That is a very kind offer, but I have plenty more.
*reaches into his pocket, and withdraws a handkerchief*
That is one advantage to being able to access all realities at once, including the more unlikely ones, such as those entirely populated by handkerchiefs or towels, I suppose.
Aro: He'll do something you watch. Mark my words he'll attack Blogland.
I have an idea. We could try using that room we used over the summer.
*eyes widen*
There's an . . . an alternate reality entirely populated by towels?
Perhaps . . . perhaps THAT is the problem. Perhaps they're crawling into my hotel via some sort of inter dimensional portal.
*scribbles in log book*
*CONSULT R. LUTECE*
@Aro: That's useful . . .
Uh . . .
Is tracking him the wisest idea?
Wouldn't it be better to, you know, run away?
@Death: Who?
*sorry if I missed something, I'm pathetic and unobservant XD*
#ChaseForBookNine
@Silente: Yeah
right.
Let's not take that chance.
#ChaseForBookNine
...
Well. Perhaps. Or perhaps guests are merely bringing their own pet towels, and releasing them in the Hotel.
That is a rather large problems in some parts of the world. People take on towels as pets, not something simple and small like a tea towel but an entire beach towel, and then act surprised when the towel grows to its maximum size. Sadly, they get rid of these creatures by releasing them into their local hotels.
Yes, I've heard about this. They buy little washcloths or tea towels and release them once they're too big to be fun to play with. Poor things. I think it all comes from under-funded towel shelters; if more people adopted ownerless towels, I feel we wouldn't have this problem.
*nods wisely*
But doesn't he deserve the benefit of doubt? Just this once? I mean, people change! He could have changed. Is it so hard to believe he has?
((Sir and Annika have the most amazing discussions, I swear. :)))
#ChaseForBookNine
@Silente: Maybe he deserves the chance, but I'd rather not see people get killed giving him it
#ChaseForBookNine
Aro: Alastair killed a village to hurt Niccolò, believe me, he won't change. He's a cruel and twisted man. He'll do anything to cause pain to others.
Alexis: He took me captive with my mother even though Niccolò blocked the memory from me I was told the story.
*objects* Everyone can change.
Everyone.
But we shouldn't take the chance.
#ChaseForBookNine
*nods in agreement*
Sadly, what with the economy, people can hardly afford to feed a towel in addition to a family. Their constant need for water can be rather expensive.
Still though I'm mean, everyone deserves a second chance right?
Everyone deserves it.
But Alastair is one person.
The people he'll hurt are many.
So the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
#ChaseForBookNine
I guess so.
*sighs*
It's very sad. And don't even get me started on towel abuse. Sometimes, when a family takes a road trip, they'll just leave their towel hanging on a towel rod, or send it to a linen closet with a bunch of other unwanted towels. Towels deserve to be treated better.
*slaps the check-in desk*
I say we put a stop to towel abuse and illegal towel-fighting rings. It's just cruel. We should call PETT. People for the Ethical Treatment of Towels.
Thank you for quoting that Star marry me
Well. Perhaps. Sadly, many people still view towels as they view snakes, as either disgusting or merely pests.
((@Adra: WHAT DID I QUOTE
*struggles against short attention span*))
((*hugs Annika and Sir* *laughs XD*))
#ChaseForBookNine
Well, if they pose an active harm to the population, they need to either be put in proper towel shelters, or, if the need arises, killed swiftly and painlessly.
*sighs sadly*
*stares down at the desk*
I wish it didn't have to be that way, but it does.
I had a towel, once. He was a beach towel, with blue and white stripes on him, but he got so old and in pain (he was unraveling) that we eventually had to . . . well . . .
*sniffs*
He died painlessly, in his sleep. And we gave him a nice burial, with his favorite towel rod and lint roller.
Adra! I know we may have our differences, but I think its time we just both put them aside and start over. Agreed?
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one"
It's from Star Trek III- the wrath of Khan. Classic version, Spock said it.
I think that would be great for everyone, Zaf! *hugs* :) :)
*watches Adra*
*not in a creepy way*
#ChaseForBookNine
Yeah, Zaf. I'm done here, though.
See you all
. . .
#ChaseForBookNine
*sighs*
Well, that is a shame. It is rather sad that they age so fast. Still, I have heard of a few ways of prolonging their lifespan. Apparently not wringing them helps, though I am a tad doubtful of that.
Good bye, Ms. Dark.
Bye Adra!
Zaf! I'm happy for you! Well done! :-) We must celebrate!
*jumps from the tree*
*runs off*
YAY! ZAFIRA AND ADRA MADE UP!
*hugs them both*
*runs back ignoring the distant and faint sound of alarms*
Cake!
*holds up two cakes*
*one a chocolate fudge cake* (yum!)
*the other a vanilla sponge with white icing*
Tadaaa! Hey Chi!
I believe it depends on the breed of towel. For instance, bath towels need to be wrung a bit more often than other towels, to keep them fluffy and try, for towel shows. Beach towels need to be fluffed periodically to remove sand, and so on. I think the only universal rules are that one should never pull on loose threads, and when there's a tear or stain, a towel must be brought to the nearest veterinarian or dry-cleaner.
*dry
Absolutely. I owned a rag once, you know. A mixed breed, I could hardly tell if it was supposed to be a tea towel, a handkerchief, or something else entirely. Regardless, it helped quite a bit, until one day it was stained.
Unfortunately, an associate suggested I attempt to bleach the stain out, for some reason. I listened, as I was new to towel ownership, but a large amount of the poor thing's skin was stained even worse, and I doubt that it trusted me ever again.
Yeah...I was waiting for her to come on long enough for me to say that. I feel a bit lighter....I don't know if she believes me but its a step...
Well a step is a step. Now, have some cake.
@Zaf: And every step is another step up the staircase. :)
*hugs*
*frowns, correcting metaphor* The staircase to the top of the tower, of course.
Where you get a cool view.
#ChaseForBookNine
*eats cake* thanks
Right. Does this look ok?
Oh yes, a friend of mine had an experience with that, only his was a pure-bred shower curtain. A yellow one. Now, some people are afraid of that particular breed, but he swears up and dow that they're really friendly if you raise them right. Anyway, he was going to bring it to a towel show, but at the last moment he bleached it in an effort to give its fibers more luster, and . . . well . . .
Anyway, I've never had a rag myself. I have a bath towel that might have a little beach towel in him, so he can get a little rough and temperamental if I don't feed him on time, but for the most part he's a dear.
I've always wanted a rag, though. You never quite know what you're going to get.
*down
DON'T EVEN MENTION YELLOW SHOWER CURTAINS.
Hunter says that it isn't even funny and that you'll spend all this time laughing at him but one day, you'll be dead, and who'll be laughing then? Not him, he isn't mean. The yellow shower curtains will be. Because they're evil.
He also says bleaching was the best thing you could do to it, although the damage done to its owner's mind was irreparable and it's little wonder he was stupid enough to try bleaching it, the state his intelligence would be in by that point.
#ChaseForBookNine
*gestures to Star's comment*
You see? Some people are afraid of yellow shower curtains. To be fair, they were bred for fighting.
Ah, I have heard that beach towels can be rather rough like that. Still, they are a rather rewarding breed, if you can manage to tame them, as they are great for children.
I think towels in general are very good for children, handkerchiefs and shower curtains less so. I generally prefer towels, myself. I've also heard they can be very therapeutic; there are some services that will bring you a towel when you're in the hospital, so you can interact with it and pet it and maybe feed it. Towel therapy has been known to have miraculous results.
*nods*
Sadly, however, seeing-eye towels have had less successful results.
True. They're very difficult to train, and don't get me started on how difficult it is to put them in a leash and harness.
Right...this is kind of hard to read without laughing
Indeed. And, as it was tragically discovered after many incidents at traffic lights, they are colorblind.
An odd trait, for a species of such vibrant and diverse coloration.
@Zaf: I know. XD It's wonderful.
@Annika: Hunter would tell you - "Stop.
Just -
STOP.
Stop thinking about your lovely little towel game and think about a world in which yellow shower curtains actually rule.
Maybe they wouldn't do such a bad job, but would we be more than servants or pets or food? No, we wouldn't.
If you like being alive, then you'll take me seriously.
And if you don't, then just go and commit suicide and stop numbing the minds of others to the horror out there."
Star: Sorry. :/
Hunter says that if I was less pathetic I wouldn't be sorry, because I would realise that he was being cruel to be kind.
#ChaseForBookNine
Indeed. Some suggest they gained those traits so that they were not eaten by predators.
*nods at Sir* That would be a logical explanation.
#ChaseForBookNine
*nods solemnly*
Washing machines.
*nods*
*nods*
The natural predator of Aqua Textilis.
*nods*
Without question.
*nods*
I think we ought to stop nodding now.
*nods*
Indubitably.
I will take the moral high ground and refuse to nod.
*nods superciliously*
. . . blast.
...
*does not nod*
Ah, there we go.
*sighs in relief*
Thank goodness. The chain has been broken.
You and Sir do seem to get into a large amount of duels. :P
#ChaseForBookNine
. . . That's true. I wonder why that is.
Indeed, Ms. Inkbright. It is a recurring problem.
By-the-by, Sir, what happened to your gentleman shark profile picture?
It might be because . . .
Or not.
I have nothing. :P
#ChaseForBookNine
[Whizzes in]
/||\\/|||//|/|||/\\/\\\/||||/|/\|///||\||/\||/||
[Whizzes out]
Quite frankly, Ms. Barnosky, I have absolutely no clue.
. . .
*shrugs*
That's a lovely field of bamboo you've commented, Fabi.
@Annika: She likes talking in code . . .
*waves to Lantern* :)
#ChaseForBookNine
*looks around at the silent comment thread with some concern*
I have no idea either.
I'm distant, sorry. D: Writing.
#ChaseForBookNine
That's quite alright, Star, I understand.
Actually, it's half left, but - :)
#ChaseForBookNine
Well, I simply do not have much to say.
Neither do I. I suppose we've exhausted our barrel of banter.
All that nodding probably shook it up and it all exploded everywhere like a can of shaken fizzy, leaving not much left to actually drink.
#ChaseForBookNine
. . .
. . . Star, I believe you are in need of psychiatric help.
*hums a sad love song to fill the silence*
*isn't silent*
*pops back on*
*ends my humming solo*
*spots the midnight hotel*
*remembers the slide from earlier*
*walks into the lobby*
*pokes annika*
I suppose you're welcome to think of it as such. It would seem to be more meaningful to the rest of you as bamboo than an encrypted message in a language Fabi invented when she was five.
Its a very confusing language....
*pokes annika again*
*defeated voice* Do you want a room,
or not?
Wb, Silente. :)
@Annika: I believe I probably am. :P Hunter needs it more than me, though.
#ChaseForBookNine
Star, do you have time to read my ME story?
Languages one doesn't natively speak often are.
*happy voice*
I'm not sure. I want your help deciding! I don't just poke people for no reason. There's always a reason...although sometimes I don't know it...anyway help me decide?
*cute 12 yr old face*
Please..
That's a good point Fabi.
*sighs*
Perhaps it's because you enjoy annoying me?
*nods at Lantern*
Well, the ones you natively speak are as well, but you just don't realise it as much . . . or you do, but you can speak it anyway . . .
Not really, Dragona.
I'm, um - *points to writing*
#ChaseForBookNine
*checks watch*
I'm afraid I must depart. Goodbye Star, Silente, Dragona, Fabi, Zafira, and Sir.
*departs*
That would be mean annika. There's probably a better reason than that.
*smiles at her*
Can I ask you something? What's it like, running a well known hotel? Is it scary? Especially with the Remnants.
Oh bye then
*waves at annika*
Fours, Anni! :(
#ChaseForBookNine
Goodbye Annika.
ENYA. :')
*wanders around kicking a pebble*
FROZEN! FROZEN! FROZEN!
Sorry, I poofed . . . D:
#ChaseForBookNine
Well apparently Chi is too far away and/or has her frozen senses turned off. Yey.
Its fine Star. Its not your fault if your busy :-)
*wanders around*
@Silente: If you say so. :)
Hey James! :)
#ChaseForBookNine
aw man derek i'm so sorry you had to make a post like this :( but thank you for being so kind to address it. you didn't have to, but you did, and it's great and you're great.
i'm really saddened to see that this happened. i know something like this went down a few years ago when i was really active on the blogs (although i wasn't active during that time, so even to this day i do not know the specifics of what happened). things seemed to be going well in the past few years but i guess not. hopefully now all this arguing and bullying can be put behind the blogging community!! sp has brought so many people together because the fandom is so kind and welcoming. i'd like to see it go back to that, even if i'm not super active in it anymore!!
can't wait to see the new title + read the new book derek (though i still have to read the tanith novella and lsodm (shh)). you've always been a great and positive web presence. you rock dude!! <3
Ignore the James Venomous thing, character I'm thinking of using at some point maybe, he's in my stories that are set in the SP world. My tablet decided he was going to pop on.
*glares at tablet*
@Silente: :) :)
I don't write stories set in the SP world . . .
I don't like writing fanfiction.
Too much pressure to be accurate. :P
#ChaseForBookNine
Well I say its set in that world...what I mean is it follow pretty much the same principals. You don't meet any SP characters in it. Just my made up one :-)
*ones
@Silente: That's better. :) :) Less confining.
I just write about Hunter and Ez now though, really. XD I don't write very often, so when I do it's about them, for I am on a Mission.
A not-very-well-fulfilled one.
#ChaseForBookNine
A mission? What is your mission young star?
Agreed, Derek, this is far more important.
I cast a deathly stare to anyone bullying others on any website or face to face.
... I've really not been here in a while. I should stay for a bit.
- Sarthacus
Hey there Sarth?
i'm not really hanging around rn but sarth it is good to hear from you :) not sure if you remember me but it's nice to see old faces popping up here and there
If I upgrade to a limited bloggger will it get rid of my current blogs?
Hey Thalia!
@Silente: I'm not sure. :/ I don't know.
And - my mission is just to write out the whole story. :P I'll probably finish when I'm about sixty. Aha. XD
*waves to Sarthacus and Thalia :)*
#ChaseForBookNine
Okay imma just do it. Hopefully this'll work!
Good luck, Silente! :)
#ChaseForBookNine
Anddd I'm back! It worked!
Hey, Silente! :)
YAAAAAAY! :)
#ChaseForBookNine
It didn't delete my blogs! Sooo happy! Anyway how are you?
@Silente: Good, thanks. :)
IT'S EASTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. :)
Plus I can roleplay again, after my extended break. :)
You? :)
#ChaseForBookNine
Why would it delete your blogs?
I'm great to! Sleepy, but great!
Idk Fabi but my tablet despises me so you never know,,,
@Silente: Well, it's probably the way you treat it.
It just wants some love and trust. :(
#ChaseForBookNine
Maybe...
*pats tablet*
Good tablet. Nice tablet.
*strokes it*
Well, you don't never know. At the very least, you know after it's happened or not happened. Although if it's not happened, it still might happen. Hm.
Your picture seems to have shifted slightly. Was that intentional?
I was about tp remark on that, Lantern . . . :P
You just reupload it to correct it, Silente, from my experience. :)
#ChaseForBookNine
No it wasn't. But I could find my original image so I had to screen shot and crop.
Wait why is it deteriorating?
Is it fixed?
I had a lot of freedom today I was told I'm 16 I can walk around my community, I did.
Yey for zaffy! Night guys!
Yes, it's fixed, Silente.
Maybe I accidentally read your mind, Star. O.O
Congratulations, Zaf. Also, hi!
@Silente: Yay! :)
@Zaf: ACE. :)
#ChaseForBookNine
Night, Silente.
Msd...
Maybe I accidentally read YOUR mind, Lantern. :)
#ChaseForBookNine
Is Zaf around, I have a few things I need to say.
@Trip: I don't know.
#ChaseForBookNine
I'm here for a little while.
*Poofs onto the scene in a small storm of darkness*
Hullo all
Hi, Dragona.
I have been online for about ten hours straight now or something. :O
I AM NOT USED TO THIS. O_O
#ChaseForBookNine
No, because it sounds more like something you'd be likely to say than something I'd be likely to say. But maybe?
Hey Blake! :)
#ChaseForBookNine
*uses Hecate to come out of Blake's shadow and stands next to him*
Hey guys.
@Lantern: Maybe. :) *hugs*
#ChaseForBookNine
Hi Blake.
What's that supposed to mean?
Hey Chi. :)
#ChaseForBookNine
Hey Chione. How are you?
Ah Trip it's a good thing you're here, I have something to ask you
I'm going to start a new series of SP stories about a guild of mages called the Order of the Basilisk who like are information brokers. They collect information, store it, sell it sometimes, give it out when it's necessary, etc. They kind of secretly control everything, and nobody knows about them because they can all control minds and make them forget about the order.
@Dragona: That sounds ace. O_O
#ChaseForBookNine
Fire away.
Just don't ask me to kill a man.
People ask me that WAY too much.
Going to sleep now, fours!
#ChaseForBookNine
Those people sound very helpful to me.
Very helpful...
Trip, the people in the order are useful?
I'm here....why? I'm not in trouble?
I'd like you to be my best man Trip.
I dedicate to ending things. To paraphrase my grandmother, it's much better to end things in a quick exchange of fists than to bitch for months. You can always end things if you want to, you just have to be willing enough.
Wonderful ded there Trip...
Jesus, um.
Yes Dragona, people who know everything could be very helpful to a spotter. Although, they probably hijack spotter databases. :/
Um Blake... Sure!
Not at all Zaf, I have something to say, one second.
Okay *scared*
Yes, they would hijack databases. And if you got information from them, they'd make you forget they ever existed. So you'd be there, with a lot less money but the information you want... Even though you have no idea where it came from.
So, it's great to bury hatchets,worms love them. Really good for the garden.
But seriously, I'm sorry for what I did, and what I have done. It was entirely wrong of me to ignore you, as it achieved nothing and would merely extend the period in which we had issues.
We've fallen out, sure, but what was it about? Can you remember the specifics? Because I can't. I just want to leave it all behind, you know? So, what do you say? Ready to ditch this whole thing?
Sure Trip. I don't want anymore arguments. I'm just done.
hello everyone.
I want to roleplay, I have itchy fingers.
Who's up for it?
Well yes, but just because they steal from us, that doesn't mean we can't steal from them. A source of information that large is just waiting to be tapped, and they can't get EVERYONE who knows about them.
Sure, Em.
Good. I'm done too. Here. *gives a bottle of Blogland 2023 and a bottle of Tumblesoz*
Trip, how would you steal from something you don't know exists?
I'd like to as well Em.
*grins and hugs the bottles* LOOPY STUFF
Emmy I have Lorexis feels
Oh, we have ways.
*cackles madly* WE HAVE WAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK!
*hums a jolly tune*
*happy drinks Tumblesoz* Loopy loopy loopy
Javier: Trip please tell me she won't go insane...
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