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End of Month crunch

We have mondy coming in Friday but money going out today and tomorrow.

Personal reserves are rockbottom so we have to hope we don't need them.

Ad revenue is way down, expenses are up. We need more revenue. We're stepping up book production, which will help, and thanks to everyone buying our books!

But we depend a great deal on contributions from our community to meet the expenses of the site, phone and internet access for each of us.

In the past year, Melanie and I have put more than $5,000 dollars of our own money into keeping BC operating. We can't keep doing this.

If you can help, please do. It's greatly appreciated.

Hugs,
Erin


Many thanks!

Hugs,
Erin, Piper, Cat, Rasufelle and the rest of the crew

Below are versions of the PayPal links.

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Computer Crash

My computer crashed. I was using it as usual and I was interrupted by a popup informing me that my device encountered a problem and needed to restart. I had three windows open at the time. It proceeded to restart and never came back. I'm currently on a backup computer and have no access to word processor or the files produced by it..

So I'm reduced to lurking and the occasional comment or blog entry.

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Fell

Fell in the kitchen and gashed my right arm on the oven door. I'm okay, just knocked a big flap of skin loose over my elbow. Got it taped and bandaged at urgent care. I'll be fine in six or ten days, and it shouldn't affect anything here.

Hugs,
Joyce

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Under The Rainbow: Why the Perm Matters | QueerDispatch

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People sometimes joke about the perm.

Or ask why it matters so much.

The truth is… it’s not really about the hairstyle itself.

Over time, I realized something:
A lot of trans people don’t just mourn being denied acceptance.

We mourn versions of ourselves we never got to openly become.

I can still picture the girl I thought I would have been growing up:
floofy dresses, pigtails, bangs, braids, curly hair bouncing everywhere.

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the marks on my skin from my hospital stay are fading

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The human body has a remarkable ability to repair damage - at least sometimes.

For example, if you looked at my skin, you would hardly tell I had recently been in a hospital fighting for my life.

Even the place where they attached a hose to my chest to drain the fluid out of my lungs has been reduced to a small scab.

There is one exception. On my wrist is a long mark where they had to put tape on to secure an IV line that wouldn't stay in place because I was sweating so much

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I posted a 10 508 word story. Slightly longer than usual

I usually don't post long stories. The only other story longer than 10 000 words was a special experiment.

I occasionally post sequels but those are conceived separately.

The cereal was just my way of having fun with you. All 8 parts together was shorter than most stand-alone stories here.

Now I wrote a 10 508 word story. I posted in two partes.

Part 1 uou can finde here: Just an Ordinary Boy part 1

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Don't say Trans Bill

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I just read about the "Don't Say Trans Bill". I am not particularly sensitive to that issue because, where I dwell the folks are quite kind.

I have been Dead Named at the Portland VA Hospital a couple of times, but no big deal.

Just wanted to know what Yall thought of it.

Gwen

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I'm doing a poll, and I want you guy's opinion

I'm doing a poll, and hope I get lots of opinions

I wanted to figure out what stories of mine are people's favorites, so here is the poll. I decided that only multiple part stories that are not fanfiction could qualify, so pick one (or more!):

Between One Step and the Next: https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/28016/between-one-step-a...

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I Liked This


Little Johnny meets Trump

Donald Trump was visiting a primary school in Orlando and visited a grade four class.
They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.

The teacher asked Mr. Trump if he would like to lead the discussion on the word 'tragedy.'
So our illustrious Republican candidate asked the class for an example of a 'tragedy'.

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Barney

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I know for good reason we steer clear of politics here, but I’ll state my opinion anyway: Barney Frank was one of the best of men—something too rare in his chosen field. May he rest in peace. I have to think that he reached a friendly place.

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The Magician's Daughter - Chapter 17

A thousand apologies, my dear readers!

Due to the effects of old age starting to manifest, a brain fart on my part caused me to post The Magician's Daughter out of sequence. Thanks to samquick and Lindsay who alerted me of my dreadful error!

I have just put up Chapter 17 so, if you're interested, you can read that at your leisure. It's rather annoying to me that I skipped over Chapter 17 since it does have some important elements that move the story toward its denouement.

Chapter 19 will be posted next Monday as pro forma. I promise!

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Under The Rainbow: The Time I Didn’t Run

Hi everyone,

I wanted to apologize for taking Mother’s Day weekend off from Under The Rainbow. I had every intention of posting on schedule, but between family, the emotional weight of the weekend, and just being exhausted, I didn’t have the energy to finish the story the way it deserved.

These stories are deeply personal, and sometimes revisiting these moments takes more out of me than I expect.

But the series is continuing.

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Victoria Peltior's Appearance

I've been doing research (never a guarantee of safety) and think I have found a good reference for Vic's facial appearance. It's the Circassian in the bottom row, second from the left: https://tinyurl.com/pjpp6wu5

Vic is a bit darker and a bit more Asian looking, but that's pretty close.

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America's first 'detransition clinic' for children

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I was dismayed to read that Huston's Children's Hospital, the largest pediatric hospital in the country has been 'persuaded' by the Texas Attorney General to set up a free 'detransition clinic' for children as well as stopping treatment such as puberty blockers. Apparently it is seen as a triumph for your President who of course has nothing more important on his mind.

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The shape of things.

Two things to announce:

1) Postings of Webs We Weave will become more infrequent. They'll get done when they get done.

2) Once Webs We Weave is finished, I won't be posting any more chapters or books in the Starforged Sagas unless there is vested interest.

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found myself thinking about my stepfather today

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For some reason, I found myself thinking about my stepfather today.

I think I have moved past hating him, and now I see him is just a pathetic bully and liar.

Still have PTSD because of him, though, so I guess I just have to live with that.

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Next story idea Help

Hey peeps.

I'm almost finished with Mud Creek. I'm planning out my next story.

I want to write something more "down and dirty" but also something a bit more "supernatural"

I want to use 1994 Mud Creek as the setting. So same old Southern Illinois town.

I'm inspired by the White Wolf games I dabbled with in high school, Especially Mage The Ascension

It's about two college buddies getting into the world of Occult and biting off more then they can chew. One thing I can't decide. Is the magic real or is it all a ruse?

short bit.

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Trump finds a new target to attack……

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His Department of Education, a misnomer if ever there was one (especially in light of who he chose as his Secretary of Education), has apparently opened an investigation into whether or not Smith College has violated Title IX by admitting transgender women.

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the woman who lived as a man for a year

This is the story of a woman who lived as a man for a year (caution, suicide referenced);

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXHYV_H7owI&rco=1

But as bad as it went for her, it goes worse for trans women forced to live as men ...

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On this day, while people are walking around saying, “May the fourth be with you,”…….

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Perhaps we should rather be reminding people that on this day in 1970, some 56 years ago, 4 college students were killed and nine wounded at Kent State University in Ohio while protesting the US involvement in the Vietnam War. Members of the Ohio State National Guard discharged 67 rounds over 13 seconds into a crowd of unarmed protestors. Eight of the shooters were charged with depriving the students of their civil rights, but were later acquitted in a bench trial.

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I, Author

Over the last few days, I've used three different AI programs to help me produce a 30,000-word novel in a second draft, so far. Anyone who would like to participate by beta-reading this revision before I complete a final revision this week, please PM me here on BC, and I will send a copy.

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Is anyone else having a problem with a shrunken screen……

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When I got online today, suddenly this site is displaying a shrunken version of the screen. It is roughly one third the size of the normal screen.

Any clue as to why this is happening? Is anyone else seeing the same thing? Any ideas on how to resolve the problem?

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Just for fun, Dot's list of most memorable albums

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Just for fun, I thought I would share a list of albums that rocked my world:

Klaatu: 3:57 EST -any band willing to make a song about the sad love life of a theoretical particle ("Little Neutrino" ) is worth listening to.

Supertramp: Crime of the Century - my first exposure to the idea you could listen to songs about the worst feelings you have ever had - and feel better afterward.

The Police: Synchronicity - as someone who has tried to write songs, this to me is one of the best examples of taking really high concepts and turning them into banger tunes.

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UNDER THE RAINBOW: The Times I Got Caught...

Something a bit personal from QueerDispatch this week.

The latest Under the Rainbow story is called
The Times I Got Caught.

Before I talk about the time I didn’t run, I needed to talk about the times I got caught.
This story goes back to high school, to hidden pieces of myself, to a painful moment with my family,
and to the kind of words that stay with you long after they are said.

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Payment Due

RE: Unfinished Projects:

Several years back, I started writing a story about a beautiful young transgirl who moves in with her wealthy "uncle" while attending art school. At first they get along fine, but then he begins demanding unusual "favors" in return for food and board:

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Kind of Ironic...

As noted elsewhere, some of my fiction seems to generate a considerable degree of negative backlash. This is kind of ironic, since according to the stats, they're amongst the more popular of my stories (if views and kudos are anything to go by).

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overriding my manic mind

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So today we realized there were a bunch of stuff that hadn't been done around here since I went into the hospital, and since i was in manic mode, I decided to try and reduce the list a little.

I did pretty well, but at some point the manic fog lifted enough for me to realize i had pushed myself as much as I could, and for once I actually listened to my body and called it a day.

It probably doesn't seem like much, but I'm a little proud I could override the manic and realize when I needed to stop.

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For those in Utah

For those of you in Utah, I’ll be at my first in-person author event tomorrow at Davis County Pride. If you’re around, feel free to stop by my booth and say hi.

In the spirit of that, I’ve put the ebook for Fractured Rune on sale for $4.99 for a bit. No pressure, just thought I’d share.

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Full Moon Sneak Peak


 Harmonic Distortion

Something I'm working on sporadically. A little blurb about the book I've got sitting on the back burner:

Jason "Jace" McCormick has spent four years building something real — a band, a bus, a life that runs on music and loyalty and the quiet acceptance that punk and emo don't make stadium acts anymore. He's made peace with his ceiling. Mostly.
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A New Story Is Coming Soon… Help Me Pick the Cover

Hi everyone,

I have a new story coming soon, and before I post it, I need your help with something important.

The cover.

I’ve put together a few possible cover images, and now I’m stuck trying to choose the right one. Since you’re the ones who will hopefully be reading the story when it goes live, I thought it would be fun to let you guys help me decide.

For the moment, I’d love to know which cover catches your eye first, which one feels the most intriguing, or feels like the strongest first impression.

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I have to wish more carefully in the future

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You know, I feel sure that at some point as a teen I wished to be surrounded by beautiful women who want to take care of me.

Now that I am home from the hospital, I guess I can scratch that one off the list, but man, I gotta wish more carefully!

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Under the Rainbow: I Didn't Run From The Pink

Something a Bit Different From QueerDispatch: Introducing Under the Rainbow

A little while ago, I shared a QueerDispatch piece about twirling in a sundress at Disney World, and how one small moment of joy can say something much larger about who gets to feel safe being themselves.

That story helped clarify something for me.

QueerDispatch needs room not only for sharp political commentary, but also for quieter, more personal stories about memory, identity, survival, and the moments that shape us long before we have the language to explain them.

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Buying Hormones in the UK without a Prescription

Author: 

Can anyone tell me how I can order hormones (progesterone) online without a prescription and have them delivered to me in the UK? I was able to get a prescription in the US but when I went to see an NHS doctor, he just kept telling me that he heard me but he didn't want to lose his medical license. He told me that doctors can't prescribe progesterone to "men" in the UK.

I did some searching but I can't find anything.

Thanks.

-- Terry

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Love Your Outfit

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Yesterday was truly nice despite the Oklahoma "gentle breeze twenty nine mph" and several doctor's visits. People, I'm nothing special. IF you, guys and gals rise above the clothes hamper and the Debby Downer attitude, you may receive the positive attention and comments. Dark chocolate, long sleeve, satin smooth polished polyester blouse, soft pink, polyester, knee length, swing skirt were the basics. The extras were a thin gold necklace, multi rings silver earrings, Rodeo Queen jeweled belt, black felt cowgirl hat.

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Light At End Of Tunnel Isn't A Train

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A federal judge just handed Trump and virtually everyone who has been trying to kill and bury any transgender support a resounding defeat. He also closed off any loopholes Trump and others might try to rename and obfuscate to get around the judge's order.

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Something a Little Different from QueerDispatch

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Recently, I’ve been developing QueerDispatch.

It’s a WordPress blog running on the same infrastructure as BigCloset TopShelf, focused on queer and LGBTQIA2S+ news, trans-focused coverage, and sometimes a bit of local New Jersey news too.

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New character concept for a novella part 1 - Taylor Harrington

 

my brain has been rotting with a story idea for a while now and its been difficult to sort of visualise one of the main leads but I think i've probably got it....

 

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Being out in public

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I met up with Mike (my angel) who takes Leeanna out into the big bad world. We first went out on short walks after dark only. Last year this progressed to being out in the day in quite out of the way locations. Then late last year going to places where the were a small number of people.

Last weekend, we visited a small WW2 Museum and a very busy castle.

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PRIDE FLAG TO BE RETURNED TO STONEWALL NATIONAL MONUMENT

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Just what the title says. The Trump Administration has decided to settle the current lawsuit, and the Pride Flag will be restored at the Stonewall National Monument

https://queerdispatch.org/2026/04/13/trump-admin-backs-down-pride-flag-will-return-to-stonewall/

Click the Links for my article @ QueerDispatch!

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Trump administration loses again……..

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The Trump administration has settled out of court after being sued by multiple organization over the removal of the Pride flag from Stonewall. The flag has been restored, and under the agreement it cannot be removed by any administration going forward for any reason other than maintenance.

Now all we need is to get the “T” and the “Q” restored to the historical references. They were also removed by the Trump administration due to the Orange Asshat’s executive order declaring that his administration recognizes only two genders, which are defined at birth.

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Riftbound Flesh — Releasing Saturday

Hey,

I’ve got something new coming this Saturday, April 18.

Riftbound Flesh is a prequel set in the same universe as The Aeldstorm Saga. It sits at the beginning, the event that sets everything into motion.

This one leans more heavily into the science fiction side of the story.

It’ll be available first as a short early-access release on my site, before I open it up more broadly.

If you’ve read Fractured Rune, this builds toward some of what comes later. If you haven’t, it still stands on its own.

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I managed to hurt myself - again

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So a couple of nights ago, while I was sleeping, I managed to pull my shoulder and my side so hard I was in intense pain afterward. I saw a doc, and get an scan done later this month, but in the meantime not much I can do but try and not strain the area again and take painkillers when needed.

Sighs . . .

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Dropped my sister off at Concinnity 26

A bit off our usual subject but if you live near Milwaukee WI, here goes

It's a gamer, sci-fi, anime one day convention run by the students of MSOE, a major private engineering school.

Runs until 10PM, 25 bucks for non-students.

Parking is problematic

They have a webpage.

I hope everyone here has a fun and safe weekend.

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall
1025 North Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

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2 very different dreams

Author: 

o last night I had two very different dreams.

In the first, I was a performer at some award ceremony. I started at the back of the audience and came down the stairs toward the stage, singing what seemed to be the choruses of a group of songs. And even in the dream I was amazed at beautiful my voice was, how amazing I looked in a dress and heels.

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TACO Donny did it again……..

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Once again, Trump managed to find an excuse to not follow through with his ultimatum in Iran.

He stupidly starts an illegal war, with no real justification and absolutely no plan or goal, and he has no plan for ending it and no way to get out of it without looking like the moron that he is. So he keeps making demands, threatening to commit war crimes, and lying about how he is talking to the right people in Iran and is “this close” to peace.

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New Shadowsblade is up.

I posted a new chapter over the weekend and I just had to add this little tid bit

I police shooting and weapon jam I described in my story, it really happens about 2 years back in Chicago, it was captured on 2 body cams and 2 cameras watching the street and my depiction of it is tamer than the "Keystone cops" real world version that happened....yes the female cop was that incompetent!

but have fun reading and PLEASE leave comments and questions as some of them make me thing and add to stories!

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My spouse recorded The Today Show this morning…….

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She wanted to watch it as it was Savannah Guthrie’s first day back. Apropos of nothing, I was sitting and reading as she watched the show, and a segment with Terry Crews and his wife, Rebecca King-Crews, came on; she suffers from Parkinson’s and underwent a new procedure to treat her illness.

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