So, what the heck's going on here??

Welcome!  You’re probably wondering “Gee, Becky, it’s great that you have a Patreon now, but what the hell are you planning to do with it?”

Well, for right now, nothing!  This is more than to let you all know things are about to get going very shortly!  But I know that isn’t a particularly good answer, so the rest of this post will be...well, the actual game plan.

To begin, I wanted to get this page going now because next week, I’ll be going to Vegas to see my sister get married!  I’m really excited to see her begin the next step in her life’s journey, but that also means I’ll be away from the computer and enjoying  a proper vacation, so trying to set up a Patreon page then would not only be kind of irresponsible, but also impossible to actually do.  But I also want to avoid just dumping it in everyone’s lap without a heads-up so...here we are.

As for what I plan to share first?  Well, for some of you that follow me on Twitter, you may have heard me talking about a new story I’ve been working on, one that delves into some darker themes.  My first planned Patreon project will be that very story -- something a bit different from my usual fare, but a tale that I’m quite proud of, and I hope a lot of you will enjoy too.

Quick synopsis: The story is titled Monsters Don’t Cry, featuring a she-wolf named K (just K.  Not short for anything, nope), an enforcer for a crime syndicate in Denver.  She’s good at what she does -- and what she does is smash things and hurt people, something that’s much easier to do when you can make yourself over fifty feet tall.  She’s convinced herself that she’s a cold, calculated monster -- and what she does is an act of necessity over a desire to be one (at least, that’s what she tells herself).  K’s been through a lot -- and a job that goes horribly is about to put her through a lot worse.  But she may just find what she believes she’s lost in the arms of someone else...assuming she can keep them safe.

What was originally designed to be an exploration of a “meaner” macro while reviving an old character of mine became a full-blown crime drama, filled with emotional ups and downs, high stakes, lots of thrills and tension, and even a bit of romance (because this is me we’re talking about here).  I’m also dabbling into the exploration of being a size-shifter in a world that doesn’t know how to deal with them, and that not every giant finds being one enjoyable, although it does have its advantages, power notwithstanding.  

So, yeah...a little bit different from me, but hopefully no less enjoyable to read.  Fair warning, though, this story does go to some pretty dark places, and explores themes I haven’t explored or just glossed over in earlier works.  I won’t say this isn’t for the faint of heart, but here’s your warning -- bad things happen to people in this story, and some of them will have some bad ends.  Of course, it won’t be dour all the time, because that would be a horrible story to read.  Just...don’t go in expecting Late Bloomer, is all I’m saying.

This also takes place in the same universe as my other stories (which I really need to find a proper title for.  The Pinewood Chronicles sounds really cheesy).  However, this will also be a standalone story, so you won’t be lost if Monsters Don’t Cry is your first foray into my little world.  Although -- and without spoiling details -- fans of my other works may catch a reference or two that might make them smile.

I’ve also been poking at a long-awaited serial on the side, featuring Camelia (of Fields of Gold fame), and Irene (from Jazz At Night), which explores their relationship from the very beginning, along with the trials and tribulations they go through to understand one another.  The goal originally was to try and alternate between posting the serial and the new story, but obligations outside of my control kept that from happening.  Still, it’s something I’ll chip away at and share more details on once I have something to say about it.  But do know, it IS happening. :)

Which leads us sorta neatly into what to expect going forward schedule-wise.  The game plan for now is to post a chapter of Monsters Don’t Cry every Saturday, starting October 5th.  The first two chapters will be free for everyone -- you do not need to be a patron to read it!  However, going forward, future chapters will be available to supporters at the $3 tier and above.  Right now, the story is planned for 14 chapters total, finishing off just after the new year starts.

For those of you who decide to pick the $5 tier, though, you’re in luck!  I plan to make this an Early Access tier, allowing you to read the next chapter a week before anyone else, which means you’ll get not one, but two chapters to enjoy on October 12th (and the story hits the ground running pretty early, so you may not want to wait a week to find out what happens next.  At least, I hope you’ll feel that way)!

Fear not if you’re a bit wary on Patreon.  I’ve given this a lot of thought, and although I hope I see a lot of support through this endeavor, I also love sharing my work, and I’d feel awful if someone missed out on a project I worked on because of financial obligations, not wanting to invest in Patreon, or not being able to pay at all.  So, for the time being, all stories posted here will also be posted on my FurAffinity account one month after being posted on Patreon.  So Chapter 3 will be free starting November 9th, with a new chapter going free to read every Saturday afterward.  You’ll have to wait a bit longer to read it for free, but hopefully that wait will be worth it.

That’s not to say my supporters won’t be rewarded for sticking around; I have other plans that I’d like to share as I move forward, and maybe even share some exclusive content in the coming weeks.  So stay tuned. :)

So...yeah, I think that’s about it for now.  We’re about to hit the ground running pretty soon.  I’m really excited to introduce you to the Monsters Don’t Cry cast in the coming weeks.  I’ll have more to share as we get closer to the first chapter posting!  See ya soon!