Originally posted fall 2009. **Update for new readers: If you missed the sitch, essentially last year I was having a tough time financially and asked for a couple of months for donations from the hundreds of regular readers. Only two donated. I was very hurt by the continued lack of support and closed the community with a long explanation.**
Back to the original post:
I'm so glad you asked! (And yes, people are asking a lot, which is why I'm posting this.)
Chapters eight through fifteen of Part Three have been posted, along with some new artwork and the odd exclusive poll, and fabulous conversations among readers.
I'm very sorry to those who are disappointed that I can't do free chapters anymore. If you took time to read the original announcement (I'll send you the link if you missed it), you'll hopefully understand my reasons for scaling the community back. I needed to get back to a place where I was enjoying the work again, or I would have quit completely. If you've paid attention to any of the recent posts, you'll know that I lost my second job and that my dog was facing some health problems. I literally *can't* continue with freebies.
I'd like to point out that there are currently four complete novels for free, as well as other short stories. The Catharsis ebook is totally free, Vol. 1 of Curio Killed the Cat is complete and free, and CotA 1 and 2 are free, as well as several more chapters and some short stories.
Four novels. Free. That's more novels free than I have commercially published books available.
The plan was to go subscription only, with chapters available for $2 each, but that was going to be too much of a pain to implement. So, if someone wants to throw a tip in the jar and read 8-15 and beyond, that's doable. Readers have donate $10 - $50. Everything counts.
If you're a reader and don't feel the work is worth paying for, that's fine. That means you don't get to read new chapters, which is totally okay with me--though I'll certainly miss you, I'm not forcing anything of anyone. I would appreciate it, however, if those who don't want to pay walk away and find something else to read. I can't make exceptions and no, there aren't any Children of the Apocalypse Part Three torrents or files uploaded to 4shared.com (and with a smaller community, trust me, I WILL figure who did it if any such thing happens).
Also, if I can be frank, I think it's quite the Speshul Snowflake douche bag who would read about why I had to stop freebies, see that my dog has a tumour I can't get checked out because I can barely afford groceries, and STILL try to find an illegal, free version of the story. Seriously. That's pretty shitty. And that is in no way directed at those of you who wouldn't do such a thing but, sadly, a large number of readers have tried.
I've given about all I can for free at this point, folks. My options are either get paid or stop writing.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed the serial. If you want to keep reading, you know how. If you don't, I still thank you for spending this much time with the story.
And for those who are curious about what they're missing during the rest of Part Three:
Thank you.