Hatbox now with Amazon annual and quarterly memberships.
Our newest content, available to all Hatbox members consists of the new HatBox Exclusive Novel "Sky" by Angela Rasch, the sequel to "Peaches" by Amelia R and Angela Rasch! And we've got a nice .pdf/.rtf version of Peaches available, too!
The HatBox contains all the premium stories given by BigCloset authors as incentives to others to join the Hatbox.
Subscriptions through Amazon
Donate $35 USD through Amazon: Hatbox 2007 Member to the annual archive.
You can also use either subscription above to just send a donation if you like. You can rewrite the amount being donated up to $50 on one donation.
If you subscribe, you'll have enough access to download any premiums offered during your subscription period. There will also be a blog and links to keep subscribers up to date with what may have been added to the archives and to tempt any browsers or potential subscribers with the latest offerings. And there will be a clean streamlined way to donate stories for The Hatbox, just as soon as I think of one. :)
If for some reason you can't or choose not to use Amazon, subscriptions will be offered via snail mail with some delay due to the hand processing I'll have to do. Individual premiums and future collections may also be offered through Lulu and/or Amazon soon.
I've tried to make this as attractive as possible, so I hope we get a good response. Thanks to Angela and Donna for donating the first two stories. They're counted as January premiums.
And thanks to Bob and all the people who participated in the chat where this idea took root. And thanks again to Bob for helping me keep the servers running. :)
Hugs and thank you for subscribing or even if you don't,
-- Erin
PS - Oh, everyone got the joke, right? See, the "kitty" is in The Hatbox. :) - Erin
PPS - Donations to BigCloset are NOT tax deductible. Sorry. - Erin
Comments
Review of Sky
Review received from Geoff in email:
When Maple Ridge High School begins to suffer from the attentions of a fire raiser, Peaches, in her role as a reporter on the school newspaper takes a keen interest. Somehow it all becomes entangled with the needs of Sky to follow Peaches example and become the girl he’d always wanted to be. Unfortunately, Sky is six feet tall and a muscular jock; not a perfect subject for SRS.
Angela manages to juggle and intertwine the arson and Sky/Cindy’s identity crisis in her usual thorough and devious way. Lots of little sub plots alternately confuse and enlighten the reader. Through it all each character stands out as imperfect and flawed, and often totally obsessed with clothes, perhaps for obvious reasons.
Everything more or less works out in the end, but not without a few hiccups on the way. A worthy addition to Angela’s thoughtful and ‘different’ TG fiction.
Thanks, Geoff, hope your connection gets better soon.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
where is my link to hatbox donation ?
I requested that you contact me with regard to how I can
get access to the hatbox donations without forking over
2.5 percent of a donation to amazon. It might be convenient
for you guys but you get less money out of the deal out of
it also. I sent Erin my email address along with my donation
and so far she has not emailed me with regard to how I can get access to the hatbox stuff. I have half of mind to stop donating
altogether. And considering how cheap a lot of the readers
of big closet are even my paltry 10 dollars a month donation
is no doubt a lot more than most.
I repeat my comment. I do NOT want to be registered as part
of big closet.
A donor from Maryland.
just a page comment
When trying to follow the donate link on the front page left column; it goes to a page not found link.
Sky
Finally got to it on the weekend. I read Peaches a while back. It's probably Angela's best, if perhaps a little hopeful regarding human nature. Sky is a worthy follow up. It takes the established characters to new places and adds some new ones that take new directions. Reality is not stretched and you believe in the people and for the most part like and feel for them. Teenage angst and adult drama handled with the usual subtlety and skill.
If I have a criticism it's that some of the characters and situations begged for more exploration, at least to me. But there's nuthin' wrong with leaving them wanting more.
So...is there?
Thanks for the story.
Kristina
Thanks!
Thanks to all who donated, subscribed or bought books through DopplerPress/Lulu! It's only April 7 and we're already more than halfway to the goal for April!
Hugs,
- Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I sent that info out
Email me again at joyce @ qnez.com and I'll send it again. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Thanks
It should be fixed now. :)
- Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Interesting!
It's going to be interesting to see how this works out, Erin. It certainly sounds feasible. I'll likely go with the year donation.
And to help the fence-sitters, I had the pleasure of proofreading "Jacks or Better" for Donna, and I enjoyed the tale very much. It's a fun read and well worth the price.
Come on people, pry open your purses and give yourself (and Erin/BC) an early Christmas present!
Hugs to all!
Karen J.
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Currency
I'd be happy to donate to the 'Hatbox', but it seems Bitpass is set up only for US or Australian dollars. I'm sure there are lots of us on £ or Euros who'd like to contribute. It may work on £s, but the sign-up does specify 'home currency' which I assume refers to where we live.
Anyone know any better?
Sorry I missed the chat on Saturday, I simply forgot and I'll be away next Saturday too :(
Geoff
Amazon payments
Geoff, did you try Amazon? Erin says she can do it that way also.
Hugs!
Karen J.
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Payments in other currencies
The BitPass site is set up to give *prices* in either USA or AUS dollars. The question of whether you can pay with Euros or pounds is a question of whether your credit card will work to deposit funds in a BitPass account. The Royal Bank of Scotland is BitPass's European transaction agent and does their currency conversions for them; you may get bit with a discount and I have no idea how much it might be. But it's not going to convert $35 USD to whatever that would be in UKP or EUR today on the display.
I'm surprised that it does it for AUS dollars, I didn't know it did that. As far as I know, it didn't do that two years ago when I signed up.
But yes, I'll have this set up to work, though not as smoothly, with Amazon soon. I'm just not going to promise how soon at the moment. But it still won't automatically convert the prices to other currencies as far as I know.
Sorry I don't have better news or information. About 15% of the "dustbunnies" around here are from outside the USA so this is important. Someone overseas used to send donations through Amazon and they were always odd amounts, like $14.61 USD when I was asking for $10 -- I think whoever was sending it always included extra in their own currency due to the uncertainty of the conversion. Either that or they just picked a round number they were sure was high enough.
BitPass doesn't work that way; instead you buy credit from them, then you can spend the credit on any site that takes BitPass. It's kind of like the early days of PayPal. :)
Not much help am I? Sorry. I'll announce it here when I have HatBox set up to work with Amazon.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Snail Mail Payers ?
So does this mean folks like me who prefer to pay by
mail on a quarterly basis is out of luck ? I've been
sending 40 dollars every 4 months. Is it a burden
on Erin to handle payments in such a fashion ? If so
please let us snail mail contributors know. However
in doing so I do not get any of the premiums even
if I provide a pretty consistent contribution.
A Contributor from Maryland.
Snail mail contributions
There will be access to The Hatbox for snail mail contributors, I just haven't got it set up yet. Most people who send me checks in the mail don't include enough info for me to send them anything online but that's easy enough to take care of. There will be accomadations for Amazon and snail mail payors. No, it's not really a burden to handle such payments and no one charges me 5-15% for doing so. :)
And thanks for your previous contributions. :) I gotta find something I can do for people who give more than just the $35 a year I'm asking for on annual subs. I wanted to keep the annual rates low enough to be reasonable compared to other websites and magazines.
Maybe some custom artwork or stories for people who contribute more? That way, I could do something for someone who didn't even give a minimum of identity.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Nicely done Erin
It was said during chat that you would never be able to please everyone, but your solution here has managed to satisfy the two principle trains of thought on this. I was one who thought the pay per item was the way I would most likely go but I just did the whole year anyway. I started thinking about it, and even with my financial situation the $35 is worth it. Even if I never read any of the stories - which is highly unlikely - it's worth it just to support this site that has become very important to me.
Oh, and I think Dustbunny should become the official term for those of us who frequent BC!
Scott - Proud to be a Dustbunny!
Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of--but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.
Lazarus Long
Robert A. Heinlein's 'Time Enoough for Love'
Bree
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy
http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
http://bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @genomorph
Dustbunnies are hot!
Because they are so cool! :)
And the coolest thing is the nickname fits both BigCloset and Stardust. :)
Also, Dan Shive calls his fans of his online, transformaton-packed, comic strip, bunnies. :)
Thanks, Scott. :0
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Snail Mail Question 2
To whom, do I make the check or Money order out to?
"We" are completley amused!
So, let it be written
So, let it Be Done!!
(Yul Brynner)
Link to Snail Mail Instructions
Here's the link to the snail mail instructions: < a href="http://bigcloset.ateros.com/newstuff/user.php?op=userinfo&un..." target="_blank">here.
Or here they are again:
Send donations to US Mail address:
-- Joyce E. Melton
-- 16478 Beach Blvd. PMB 151
-- Westminster, CA 92683-7860
-- Make checks or money orders payable to Joyce E. Melton.
Thank You
If you want one of the subscriptions, I'll need to know at least your BigCloset login name or email address if you don't have a login so I can send you instructions. Oh, and which subscription. :)
- Erin
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Thanks!
Thanks to all who subscribed and contributed, we've caught up another month on donations. So, now we're only two months behind. Yay!
And thanks to those who commented on Hatbox stories. I realize that commenting isn't something everyone is comfortable doing but these authors aren't getting the usual sort of exposure for their donated stories so comments mean a lot to them.
Speaking of which, anyone else want to donate a story to the Hatbox? You can send them to me at joyce @ qnez.com for editing and such. If you can't afford to subscribe, donating stories can get you access to the archives, too, just ask.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Hatbox Subscriptions via Amazon now available
Annual and quarterly, see the text above for the links. Does anyone want to see monthly Amazon subs?
- Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Hatbox downloads
I have one request, can you put the file sizes with the download links. For those of us with dialup it would be of great help to know that a download is a mega-monster so we can plan accordingly.
Karen J.
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Soon
I'll modify the files to include that info soon, but that's about 16 files to modify, so it may not be today. Sky's files are particularly huge, especially the rtf: 26 Meg.
Maybe I should include zip or tar files?
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Zip not a bad idea
For us still mired in the dialup age, .zip files might be a good option. Knowing the size of the download will be best, so those like me can make a decision on how and when to download. I have a 10 mbps connection at work I normally "borrow" when I have to download a large file, but I'm not at work today (fortunately).
When you can do it is when you can do it. Thanks, Erin.
Hugs!
Karen J.
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
gzip a better idea...
Erin's earlier mention that the site automatically compresses pages if your browser can handle that is apposite here. Regardless of the speed of your connection, if your browser, in requesting a page, informs the server that it can handle a gzip-encoded response, the server will compress the page that's returned using gzip, which gets better compression ratios than zip anyway. This all happens invisibly, without the need to clutter pages up with links to zip files, and as long as you're using anything like a modern browser. (In fact I'd be surprised if any browser that can even render the site would be incapable of this.)
I'll check with Bob
But I think you're right, Rachel. All requests to the server are gzipped automatically if the browser can handle it. And only a handful of old IE and NS browsers can't of the one's likely to be seen here. It is why I've got two gig of RAM in the server. :)
- Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
RTF files and compression
On-the-fly compression of RTF files was not enabled. I've altered the system to turn it on. If someone will try downloading that large file in the premiums area and let me know if you got it okay I'd appreciate it.
Bob Arnold
Sky's the limit...
...when it comes to Angela's talent!
When I heard she was writing a sequel to Peaches I thought it wouldn't have the same appeal as the original. I thought it would be too hard to take the characters further. I thought she wouldn't come up with a storyline to match the first instalment.
I was wrong - boy, was I wrong!
I guess I was prejudiced in rarely finding a sequel as grabbing as a first instalment, but Angela has surpassed herself in developing the characters further, making them even more real than before, concocting complex relationships and then some! She leads the reader ever deeper into her web of emotions, interactions and suspense; and when you think you know where she is going, you realise that you are being toyed with, in the hands of a master (mistress?) author.
Wonderful writing, enthralling entertainment, delightful dialogue with a dose of gripping grittiness at times.
Do you know what you want to do? You want to stop reading my rabid ravings and for goodness sakes give Erin the small bit of cash required to get your hands on this story. Do it - you know you want to! Then come back here and give Angela the kudos.
Jenny
BitPass
BitPass just sent me an email that they're discontinuing service.
BitPass suspending operations 26 Jan 2007
Just got an email that effective next week, BitPass will be refunding any unspent monies in customer accounts. I'm not happy since their system is the easiest to use of any but micropay systems keep coming and going. I'll have to remake the story links to work in Amazon and anyone who has a BitPass account can email me for conversion to a Amazon one.
Sorry about this, they got bought by someone who decided that they wanted to close the operation down (Digital River).
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I'm sorry if this was discussed before but
What about a Paypal account Erin? People could just send the money directly to you via checking account, credit card..etc..?
Huggles!!
Alexis
Paypal and adult content sites
Paypal doesn't want to deal with sites containing any kind of adult only material. While they're one of the easier sites to use they refuse to deal with sites like Erin's and any other site that contains material they don't approve of.
Several other TG sites have run into the same problem with those folks.
Bob Arnold
Like seizure of bank accounts
I do have a Paypal account and because someone else put a Paypal donation link at the bottom of a story here, Paypal once seized my account and froze it till I removed the link. And this even though they do deal with big corporate adult only content, but screw the little people. BitPass, Amazon and Authorize will deal with adult sites, but Bitpass is going, going, gone, Amazon charges 30 cents + 2.9 percent and Authorize charges 15% plus a monthly fee even if you get nothing that month. Banks will do it for about what Amazon does but also want money up front and monthly fees.
- Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Paypal gives me seizures too
I previously used Paypal to send donations to another site - until Paypal refused to process my payments.
As a condition for me to continue sending payments, Paypal demanded that I gave them unfettered access to a checking account in my name, despite the fact that all my contributions had been charged to a credit card. Naturally I could not accept that provision, nor could I see any justification.
The ownership of PayPal had nothing to do with it either. Really.
Although the major loser in my case was the donee, I recently persuaded a small charity that Paypal was not a good option, and I have another similar payee in my sights. That one has a $10M/a turnover, and I think I'm winning...
Don't get mad, get even.
Xi
Then there's Sky
A lot of TG writers do it - their TG character puts on and dress and some make up and *POOF* - they pass convincingly as a girl. And then there's Sky, a boy who couldn't possibly pass as a girl and yet is a girl inside. Thank you, Angela, for presenting a character so many of us can identify with.
Sky's story would be enough for most, but it's only a part of this wonderful tale. Peaches, Mel, Mouse and Zack are all back, along with a host of new characters. There is drama and heartache and suspense and it seems like they'll never get everything fixed. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that Sky remains true to form and sends a message that the most powerful force in the world is a group of true friends.
You got me back for the tears, Angela. This one had me crying more than once, and in the end they were tears of pure joy.
Scott
Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of--but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.
Lazarus Long
Robert A. Heinlein's 'Time Enough for Love'
Bree
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy
http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
http://bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @genomorph
Yah, no sequel jinx on Sky
I have to say that, too. It's a heck of an encore for the cast of Peaches. Amelia and Angela turned out a classic with Peaches and built a solid foundation for Angela's writing in Sky.
In Peaches, there was the dream that might come true and in Sky there is the hope that seems out of reach; they both make you want to cheer.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
So far , damn good, Angela
I am partway through reading Sky and the richness of the characters is invigorating.
The multiple voices/viewpoints is suprisingly easy to follow as usually one character takes over from the previous one in chronological order but with just enought overlap of the stories so you get multiple perspectives on what is happening.
You can all catch your breath now after that sentence.
What I particularly like is Angela does not rely on *stock villians*. Much or most of the troubles the characters suffer thru are the typical consequences of life, not the malicious intent of others. Much of the conflict is due to people doing things for the best of reasons but based on incomplete or faulty info. Bad things do not have to come from bad people. Even the beloved and kind-hearted Peaches blunders bigtime in this story and is all the more real for it.
As to the impending demise of Bitpass, if worse come to worse, snail mail Erin. A resource like this deserves our suport.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
BitPass Closeout Donations
I've been asked to provide a link for people to donate the last of their BitPass funds to BigCloset, so here that is: BitPass Closeout Donation. Bookmark the URL it takes you to and I'll try to put some special content there for you. :)
This note will also be in the body of the Hatbox entry for a week.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Sky, triple good
There's a genre publishers call Young Adult. These are books marketed for the 12 to 16 year old crowd and precocious younger readers. It's a very lucrative slice of the publishing pie and a difficult form to write in because in order to be saleable, the book has to appeal to both it's intended audience and the adults who make the decisions.
Sky is a Young Adult novel with a TG twist and it manages the trick of being written to this exacting standard even better than did its prequel, Peaches. Because it is a triple threat; a storyline that would appeal to "young adults", with an accessible writing style that never obscures or talks down, plus it has enough intricacy to appeal to an adult reader and it has that touch with the transgender aspects that will satisfy the fan of TG fiction while illuminating folk who are not well-acquainted with the subject.
Okay, to get out of my agenting-voice, it's a damn good read and a satisfying story. Donate and read, you won't be sorry. ;)
-- Donna Lamb, Flack
-- Donna Lamb, ex-Flack
Some of my books and stories are sold through DopplerPress to help support BigCloset. -- Donna
The Sky is the Limit
So much for my attempt at being a headline writer.
I completed reading Sky today and was not disapointed. The characters are real. They are flawed, make mistakes, are uncertain of their feelings and wants. This reminded me of my late teens where we are not quite adults but not children amymore. The time of life when anything is possible and nothing is possible.
The complexities of life are presented realistically, with humor, sadness, joy, anger and every other emotion you can name.
These could easily be real people. Peaches even gets to play the great detective straight out of Agatha Christy, so what more can you ask for?
Thanks for writing this. It was a joy.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa