UPDATE JULY 26, 2014

Cross Posted on the Main Story/Side Stories

So, some of you may be wondering, where is she?

Answer? Recuperating at home.

-oOo-

Ever since my attack of pneumonia eight weeks ago, I've been on the road once, to Boston. I haven't been on the road since, mainly because of my health. For someone who has spent the past FIVE years on the road constantly, it's both a blessing and a curse. If any of you have seen Up in the Air (Excellent movie, BTW), remember the way George Clooney's character reacted to the possibility of being grounded? That's both my life and my feelings toward my job. I miss being on the road. I met so many interesting people and did so many interesting things and I miss being on the road. I need to concentrate on getting healthy again so my company feels OK putting me back on the road. I love my job and what I do and my experiences have informed my writing.

So being at home these past few weeks has been somewhat depressing, to the point that writing Stephanie in this frame of mind would not do her any favors. Thankfully, I'd written up to Ranger's return before I slipped into this melancholia, but editing has not been fun.

I've long had the story arc for this story planned and plotted, but I'm a first time writer. Storylines get away from me sometimes. Things I should excise I leave in. Things I excise I take out. Hey, I'm new to this and I begged everyone's indulgence from the beginning. I'm still playing at this, but I read reviews and your comments.

You think the story is too long? Stop reading. Some of my all-time favorite fics clock in at the 150-250 chapter range, both here on fanfic and on other websites. My favs, especially Harry Potter, Bones, or Sookie Stackhouse, routinely get into the 150 chapter range, so my clocking near there didn't seem odd to me. I have one story, at 281 chapters, that I'm still following because it's just that good (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, if you're curious).

You hate how I write Stephanie? Stop reading.

You hate how I write every character? Stop reading.

You don't think there will be an HEA for Steph and Ranger? Stop reading [but I'd like to point out that at one point, most of you (just about all of you) hated Mark with a passion. I turned him around, after beating him up brutally, but … (author shrugs). Oh well.]

You like how this is going? Thank you. Someone once wrote that this story was like their soap opera and I like that kind of description. It's become my soap opera too. I feel like Shonda Rimes or Jenji Kohan some days, wondering what to do to the RangeMen next!

So my plan right now? I'm finishing the main story out. Definitely before Christmas, probably before Thanksgiving. The side stories? After RSTL's Christmas, Part II, I'm marking it complete. All side stories, from now on, will be on my site. One shots also. After that, I'll probably never write another fanfic. I've had a nearly two year run. Over a million words. I think I'm good.

Why am I doing this? Because … I'm writing original fic! I'm taking workshops and attending writer's conferences online. My plan is to publish as a professional in 2015, but I promised I wouldn't leave this unfinished so I won't. I'm keeping my promise, but the fun extras will be on my site from now on.

Les meets a woman.

Bobby's takes him through the wringer.

Hector and Manolo try to navigate being in a relationship with so many eyes on them.

The Miami men get a lesson in humility.

All on my site from now on.

'Conscious uncoupling' from the Plum world? Possibly. I read Takedown Twenty and Top Secret 21. If you haven't, you aren't missing much. 21? Two words: feral Chihuahuas.

veiland