Significant News

[Kogarashi]

I'd probably be willing to do a Patreon-style donation too, if it helps things.

I comment on Retail too, but under the name Luna. Used to use my real first name, then someone else with the same name who joined later called me a "name thief".

Isn't that always the way? Reminds me of when I was looking at reviews for a young adult novel I have and like, and at least one review accused the book of "ripping off Harry Potter." The book in question? Published in the early 1980's.

[HawaiianShirts]

...whether with a trim of the posts for the sake of the DB...

Question: Is it possible to download a static copy of the entire forum? Or the database that contains all the posts? I'm fairly sure I don't have time to manually copy all of my posts and my favorite stories before the six-week deadline hits, but I have a passing familiarity with SQL, so if given access, I could probably extract what I would like to keep...

[Rapscallion]

Just so everyone knows, I'm currently in discussion with someone who is interested in taking the place on as it is (no trimming) and capable of doing so. As long as this comes off, and I'm not interested in making promises here, things wouldn't change once the transfer takes place.

I have had several expressions of interest, and given the time scale so far that's quite pleasing, but this is currently my preferred option.

Holding your breath is not advised, but things are looking optimistic.

Rapscallion

[ParkingWitch]

Crossing fingers and toes and whatever else I can.

[Canarr]

Sorry to hear that; I've been mostly lurking here, but this site has provided me with years of entertainment.

Thanks, Raps, for your work here over the years.

[XCashier]

Reminds me of when I was looking at reviews for a young adult novel I have and like, and at least one review accused the book of "ripping off Harry Potter." The book in question? Published in the early 1980's.

Two writers may have similar ideas, but that does not mean that one ripped off the other. There are so many books and so little time, it would be impossible to read everything ever published and make sure you're not copying someone else. It's certainly not possible to travel in time and copy something that will be published long after your book is!

Back on topic, would hosting small advertising banners be helpful, or would that be more trouble than it's worth? Just an idea.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Isn't that always the way? Reminds me of when I was looking at reviews for a young adult novel I have and like, and at least one review accused the book of "ripping off Harry Potter." The book in question? Published in the early 1980's.

[OT] Do you recall the title of that book? Was it per chance the Crestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones? [/OT]

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Just so everyone knows, I'm currently in discussion with someone who is interested in taking the place on as it is (no trimming) and capable of doing so. As long as this comes off, and I'm not interested in making promises here, things wouldn't change once the transfer takes place.

I have had several expressions of interest, and given the time scale so far that's quite pleasing, but this is currently my preferred option.

Holding your breath is not advised, but things are looking optimistic.

Rapscallion

Thanks for the update. Fingers crossed.

[morgana]

Thanks for the update, Raps. Got a whole box of candles lit . . .

[Mental_Mouse]

Two writers may have similar ideas, but that does not mean that one ripped off the other. There are so many books and so little time, it would be impossible to read everything ever published and make sure you're not copying someone else.

Indeed, it's a commonplace "proverb" within SF/F that "there are no new ideas, what matters is what you do with them". Of course, that's not literally true... once in a great while, a truly new idea comes along, but it's really not common. Surprisingly often, that idea that seems so unique to the latest bestseller, turns out to have made a prior appearance in Jules Verne or H.G. Wells, if not some medieval romance or even ancient mythology. In that vein, Ken McLeod has quipped that “History is the trade secret of science fiction”.

[Kogarashi]

So glad to hear things are looking up.

[OT] Do you recall the title of that book? Was it per chance the Crestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones? [/OT]

The book is actually Which Witch by Eva Ibbotson (and I was mistaken on the date, it's 1979, not early 80's, so I was off by a couple years). I'm not even sure how it was supposed to have ripped off Harry Potter in the first place, but it was clearly a case of "young reviewer has no clue what they're talking about and doesn't know how to pay attention to publication dates" rather than similar ideas.

[peach2play]

We wish you well! Thanks for all the good times!

[pudddykat]

I wish you the best Raps and have everything crossed things work out. "Don't hold your breath..." made me think of one of my favorite of my Grandmas sayings "Don't hold your hand on your ass/butt it my grow there" my other favorite is "Don't get a burr up your butt."

[Slave to the Phone]

If I had the money, I would offer to take over the site. I have the skills, but not the immediate cash. I can only afford maybe a third of that.

I love this site, and have made so many wonderful friends. I hope someone also takes the time to save everything Plaidman posted.

Here's hoping whoever takes over will continue the forums.

I also can't afford to take the site over but I can pledge 10 bucks a month to help keep it going. How could we do this?

PS, I don't want to be a mod. I'm crazy, but I'm not insane!

[MadMike]

PS, I don't want to be a mod. I'm crazy, but I'm not insane!

You don't have to be crazy to be a mod, but it helps.