Hi guys:

I'm not currently working on any fanfiction stories. My health still has not recovered from the severe illness I had last year, and I have to budget my energy extremely conservatively. I was faced with a choice: write fanfiction, or finish my novel. I chose the novel, because otherwise it was going to take me years to finish it, since I'd have to finish all the fanfic first.

I'm really, really sorry. I feel terrible for letting all my readers down. I do still intend to finish the stories someday, but I cannot in good conscience ask you to stick around hoping for more when I don't have any idea how long it will be. Please forgive me. I never wanted to be one of those writers who strings people along and then gives up, but... well, sh*t happened.

If you're curious about what I am working on, you can read sample chapters here: http:///lazarus/index.html

Thank you so much for years of joy and support. I would never have even started writing without this amazing community.

--Melanie

UPDATE March 6, 2013: I'm not dead! I feel fine! *ahem* All Holy Grail related silliness aside, I actually am doing great. I'm feeling much better and getting a lot of writing one.

I'm aiming to have a beta version of my book done in the spring. If you like my stories here, you'll probably like Lazarus, particularly if you enjoy my werewolf character Firetooth. If you want to read it, feel free to drop me a line. You don't necessarily have to beta it.

If you're wondering when I'll finish my fanfiction: After I finish the current book I need to get started on the sequel because (so I hear) publishers like to see that. I want to come back here and finish these stories after that. So... yeah, we're looking at 2014. That's why I didn't want you to hang around waiting for me... it's gonna be a while.

I love you all and thank you so much for your incredible kindness and generosity.

Love,
--Melanie

Great Escape is the first story I ever wrote. I love Latitia and miss her. Someday I'll come back for her.

Wolf Whistles begins during chapter 33 of the Great Escape. They go well together, but can be read independently, too. It tells my version of what the Brecilian Forest werewolves did after the Warden freed them of their curse.

Lost and Found: Adventures in the Deep Roads takes place before The Great Escape begins, and explores a little of what Latitia was doing before Duncan took her away from it all. Includes backstory relevant to the Orzammar portion of the "The Great Escape" but is not required to follow the plot.

Special Delivery is a one-shot parody of the side-quest system in Dragon Age 2.

Wow, you didn't actually hope to read about ME, here, did you? Fine, if you did, here you go.

I got degrees in medieval history and ancient Greek language and literature. So, now I make websites. Makes perfect sense, right?

Dragon Age captured my imagination in a way that nothing has since Baldur's Gate (I heart you, Anomen!) and Latitia compelled me to start writing things down instead of letting her story rattle around in my head. It was like getting mugged by a butterfly.

Sincerest thanks to everyone who has read and commented on my story. I respect that your time is valuable; I am deeply honored that you chose to spend it reading my work, and I'm not being sarcastic, here. Someone once said to me, "There's no greater thief than a bad book," and it's true. I take my responsibility to you seriously and do my best to ensure that you enjoy your time with my stories and leave them feeling better than you did before. Not necessarily happier, Dragon Age is not a happy place, but better.

With that in mind, please, please feel free to tell me if you aren't enjoying something I'm doing. You know, things like "I'm sick of hearing about the horses" or "If you write one more zombie battle scene I'm going to puke" or "How many different kinds of demons are you going to describe?! Enough already!" I WILL listen. Although, I certainly don't mind if you tell me nice things, too ;)

Recently, a couple people have asked me about my writing process, so I thought I'd describe it here. These are the usual steps involved in my writing a chapter:

1. Walk dogs. Think about chapter while throwing disgusting, slobbery tennis ball.

2. Write chapter, ignoring gunshots, explosions, and the screams of the dying and moaning of the undead as husband "helps" by playing video games in the same room with me.

3. Read chapter. Cringe.

4. Throw half of chapter away and write those bits over again.

5. Read chapter again, this time wearing my Editor's Fedora and matching patented Grammar Goggles.

6. Either return to step 4 or submit chapter to the inestimable mille libri for beta-ing.

7. Respond to her suggestions, often necessitating a return to step 4.

8. Polish chapter with soft, damp cloth. Round up stray commas using 15' bull-whip. Apply linseed oil to really bring out the grain. (Maybe that's why my keyboard is so slippery.)

9. If mired in the Stinking Tar Pits of Existential Despair, struggling to keep head afloat despite the Cement Overshoes of Self-Doubt, proceed to step 10. If flying high on the vanilla-scented Winds of Joyous Accomplishment, proceed to step 11.

10. Attach author's note. Cringe at how stupid it sounds. Add horrible pun, as if that helps. Post to ff dot net. Play video games and try not to think about it.

11. Attach author's note. Insert clever witticism. Laugh at own jokes. Post to ff dot net. Congratulate self for being so awesome. Celebratory mug of chocolate milk.

12. Suffer attack of self-doubt and wish I had done something totally different in that third scene, the one that was giving me so much trouble. Oh my god, what have I done. This is the dumbest chapter ever. Oh god, oh god, oh god.

13. Well, at least my mom likes it.

14. Walk dogs. Think about next chapter.