This week's update is chapter 13 of Hostage by Moms Dark Secret!

Just a reminder to everyone that if you leave a story comment, don't forget to leave your email as well - otherwise I won't have a way to get a hold of you if you win the manga raffle! (Right now I'm trying to track down this month's winner. If I can't find her, I'll hold a second raffle!)

I was lucky enough this week to re-discover a manga trading website I'd stumbled upon a couple years ago: www.mangatude.com. It's a great way to clear out the older volumes of your collection and read titles you otherwise might not spend the money on. And considering it's always nice to save a bit of money these days, it's just a good way to get new titles for cheap!

Oh, I've been working on getting more of the older stories formatted into ebooks as well - so The Apartment and Rites of Spring will be taken down in the next week or two for editing! Just fyi!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 26 of Stolen Away!

This past week in Arizona was a lovely break from routine - *plus* I was able to meet up with Twisted Hilarity! It was the first time we were able to meet face-to-face, which was wonderful! Nothing like being able to talk to a fellow fangirl and writer! She also gave me some great ideas for a panel I might be doing at Yaoi Con! I'll let you all know once it gets approved!

And don't forget about the Skype chat on Sat. Sept. 4th at 3pm pacific time (5pm central / 6pm eastern). The chat room is 'YaoiFix'. If you need more help or info, just contact me by email, or Jet (aka bklevy) over in the forum (she's one of our lovely moderators)!

Til then!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 26 of Husbands for Peace by Twisted Hilarity!

I'm taking another break from the cold San Francisco nights to hop over to Arizona for a visit! It's a nice change of pace, and a nice break after working so much to get the ebooks out. If you haven't yet, you can view the shop here!

Also, there'll be another chat on Sat. Sept. 4th at 3pm pacific time (5pm central / 6pm eastern)

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 3 of The Break-Up Expert in the Vignettes archive!

This was a crazy busy week, but it's totally been worth it because I am very proud to announce that the first YF ebooks have been published!! It was (as usual) way more complicated than I anticipated, but with some help from my kick-ass editors - and Rachel M. to help me with the formatting - there's now not one but three ebooks available at the new shop on Lulu! Check it out here!

I'm so excited to finally be able to offer new, shiny electronic versions of some of my favorite early fics from the site! And for those of you who would prefer paperbacks, I may be looking into printing some (possibly in time for Yaoi Con), but I need to know how many people would be interested, so send me a reply with which title interests you: Captive, X Marks the Spot, or Stray. (These are the only titles available right now, but more will be coming!)

And I just wanted to send a big thank you to you all - it's your support that makes all the wonderful man-smut possible! I wish I could send you all a big bishi-sized hug! Hehe.

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is the final chapter of The Boys of Dorm D! Plus an extra Epilogue!

Wow, I can't believe this is end of Dorm D! This is one of the very first stories to ever be posted on the site, so it's very special to me. It's sad to see it end, but I'm also excited to have more time for some of the other stories now. For those of you wondering if I'll ever return to these characters, I am planning a spin-off/ sequel in the future - though I don't know when that will be. If you'd like details on which characters it will involve, feel free to drop a line in the forum and I'll give you more info!

Speaking of the forum, I have just posted the name of the winner from July's manga raffle under 'News'! There's also info on the next online chat, story discussions, etc.

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 12 of Hostage by Moms Dark Secret! Hope you like!

If you haven't reviewed any stories yet for July, be sure to leave one so you can be entered into July's manga raffle! But if you miss it, there's always next month!

It's hard to believe it's already going to be August! It definitely doesn't feel like it, given the cool San Fransicso weather! But there is one sign of the season - farmers markets everywhere! Actually, I'm guessing these happen year-round here, but there's definitely more summer-like fruits at the stalls right now, making for some tasty eats! Of course, my favorite way to get my fruit servings is the frozen way - smoothies or sorbet! Haha. I can get both at my local market and have been addicted to 'Scream' sorbet. If any of you live near the bay area (and I know some of you do!), check them out! Hmm, maybe they'll give me free stuff for plugging them...?! I can only hope!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~<

This week's update is chapter 42 of Star-Crossed! Enjoy!

First, it was great to chat today with everyone on Skype! We had a good crowd and it was fun as always! It was especially nice to have both our wonderful guest authors, Twisted Hilarity and Moms Dark Secret, stop by! Can't wait til next time!

Second, thank you to everyone who sent in a reply to last week's survey! It's wonderful to know so many of you are interested in the ebooks (or paperbacks! which I will try to do eventually - promise!). After tallying all the votes, it looks like .PDFs are the overwhelming preference for ebook format! With that decided, there's only a few other small things to take care before launching the first books! I'm guessing the first ones will be out at the start of August. I'm so thrilled to finally be able to present the re-edited versions of several stories as ebooks!

Thanks again for everyone's help! Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 25 of Husbands for Peace! Enjoy!

This weekend I'm visiting some friends in sunny (and very, very hot!) Arizona. It's been a nice change from the chilly San Francisco nights - even if it's the other extreme! Haha. But even while I'm here I've been working on getting the first installment of ebooks out. First, I need to decide on a platform. though. So I need everyone's input! :) And just as an extra thanks, I'll be holding a separate raffle for a special package of yaoific goodies at end of the week for everyone who replies. ^_~

How do you like your ebooks?

1) I like pdfs and usually read ebooks on my computer

2) I only read on my kindle and iPad.

3) Actually, I prefer paperbacks!

Thanks guys! Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 2 of The Break-Up Expert! I love writing this one!

After sorting through a bit of red tape, I was finally able to sign up to audit a class at UC Berkeley for the summer! The topic is basically monstrous and wonderous folklore over the ages, so it looks to be pretty fun. And it just might be helpful with a future story I have in mind that involves a demon/monster! I can't wait to start up some new stories, but first I've got to finish up some older ones - like Dorm D, which is almost done! In the meantime, let me know what you think of the new vignettes!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 25 of Stolen Away! Hope you like!

Last week's Pride parade in San Fran was so much fun! People were dressed in every get-up imaginable! Guys in bondage gear, g-strings, leather, and even guys wearing horse masks and pulling carts! No idea what that group was for...! There were even a few supportive churches, which was very cool, and health clinics, libraries, stores, etc. There were also totally random groups, like one that was leading goats around for a company that used the animals as a 'lawn care' service to clip your grass! But the best part was just the playful randomness and sense of community. I'm thinking that next year, Yaoifix might have to have a group walk in the parade!

As for site news, we'll be having another scheduled online chat Sat. the 10th at 3pm pacific time (5pm central/ 6pm eastern). Looking forward to catching up with you all! Also, since June ended this week, I'll be posting the winner of June's manga drawing tomorrow in the forum!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is chapter 11 of Hostage by Moms Dark Secret! Hope you like!

This weekend is San Francisco's Pride parade!! I'm so excited that my first gay pride parade will be this one! Things supposedly get pretty crazy! I'm hoping to see lots of buff, half-naked (or *all* naked!) bishis strutting around! I'll let you all know next week how it was!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

I figured since several stories have been (or will be) wrapping up, that I'd spice things up a bit with a short vignette. So this week's update is ch.1 of the entirely new story, The Break-Up Expert! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's reactions on this one!

I'm back in Chicago this week for a short time and I'm adoring the hot weather! Even the thunderstorms are so nostalgic for me, since it's been about 5 years since I've actually enjoyed a good ol' windy, warm, pouring rain with brilliant thunder and lightening! It might sound a bit strange, but I've always loved it! And all the time I was in Japan, everyone thought I was totally crazy to love 'bad' weather. Thunderstorms are only second to earthquakes and tsunamis on the scale of fears among the Japanese.

And speaking of Japan, I found a fantastic video recently from Japanese Tv, all about playing swordsman in Osaka! It's hilarious! The link's in the forum under 'Random Japan'!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is ch.24 of Husbands for Peace by Twisted Hilarity! Enjoy!

Don't forget that we'll be having a live chat tomorrow (Sunday the 13th) on Skype, so hop on to chat with other readers! You don't need a microphone or a webcam - just download Skype and let Jet (bklevy[at]syr.edu) know your username so she can add you to the chat! It happens at 3pm Pacific (5pm Central/6pm Eastern).

It's odd that you can have culture shock just from moving across the country. You expect it when living in other countries, but I'm finding California very different in its own way! It's so much easier to find organic and healthy food, of course. And there's so many festivals and local markets. One just opened today only a few blocks from my apartment. There weren't too many vendors there yet, but I still was able to get organic cherries, info on yarn-spinning classes, and tasted the *best* non-dairy pistacio sorbet! I think the health kick is also starting to rub off on my cat. He's suddenly developed a taste for yogurt, of all things! Haha.

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is Dorm D ch.37! There's only one more chapter left after this one! It'll be sad to see it come to a close, but I just might have a sequel planned with one of the characters, and I've definitely got some all-new fics waiting to be posted very soon! Also, for those of you who might have missed the last online chat, there'll be another on Sunday June 13th. Hope to see you there!

Now that I finally have a permanent residence and I'm a bit more settled in the States, I keep thinking that I'm totally over my reverse culture shock - until some little thing happens to remind me. Sometimes it's things you'd expect, like still being shocked to see someone put there shoes up on furniture inside the house. But sometimes it's just something little, like the way people read their books. In Japan, you get a simple paper book cover whenever you buy a book, and usually the books are in standard, small, commuter-friendly sizes. In the States, however, everyone on the train or bus just pulls out these odd-sized (to me) books and everyone can see exactly what they're reading. I feel so intrusive when I glance at the titles and, likewise, I feel very obtrusive when I'm the one holding a large book with the cover showing for all to see! It's such a small thing, but for some reason, I just can't shake it! Funny how weird things like that stay with you.

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is Ch.10 of Hostage by MomsDarkSecret! Hope you like!

Don't forget, you only have the weekend left to enter into the May manga raffle! So drop a comment or two on this or other chapters along with your email address (so I can contact you if you win)! Remember, the more you review, the better your chances of winning!

In celebration of the fact that Hinako Takanaga was announced as DMP's guest at this year's upcoming YaoiCon, I planned to review a couple of my favorite manga by her - only to realize some of them were missing! After checking my collection (which I only recently unpacked), I discovered over a dozen titles missing! Apparently my last box of manga that I shipped from Japan (of my favorites!) went astray! I'm hoping it will somehow find it's way back to me, but I suppose after a cross-continent and then cross-country move, some losses must be expected. T_T

Anyhow, enjoy the long weekend everyone!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is the final chapter of The Disciplinarian! Hope you like!

It's getting toward the end of the month, so don't forget to drop a comment about this or other chapters to enter into the May manga raffle!

Guess what today is? It's my birthday! Woot! Tomorrow I'm going to celebrate by going to high tea at a ritzy hotel in the city and finally wearing one of my gothic-loli dresses out on the town! Evidently, high tea is a very San Francisco thing to do. Who knew? I figured SF pastimes would involve less pomp and more nakedness! Haha. I can't wait! Have a great weekend everyone!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

PS Thank you to everyone who stopped by the live chat today! It was so much fun!

Hi! This week's update is Star-Crossed, Ch.41! Hope you like!

I'm so excited! This is the first chapter of Book Two of Star-Crossed! You'll notice a slightly different look to the story homepage now, but it should still be easy to navigate. Also, I recently added new reviews in the forum of all the current volumes of the Raised By Wolves series by W.A.Hoffman. Hoffman is amazing so I hope the reviews will convince many of you to run out and get the books! I'd love to hear from anyone who's read other gay-themed pirate books as well! If you have recommendations, drop a line over in the forum!

Also, don't forget that there's a special live chat with both Twisted Hilarity and MomsDarkSecret on May 22nd! The chat is under the title 'Yaoifix' on Skype. If you need help getting on Skype or want to be added to the chat, email our friendly moderator, Jet: at bklevy[at]syr.edu

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

Hi! This week's update is Husbands for Peace, Ch.23! Enjoy!

Lots of news this week! First, you can now buy various Yaoifix at our new shop! (Link: http://www.cafepress.com/yaoifix)

I can create tons of different items (what's up now is just to get started!) so if there's something you'd like to see, just drop me an email with your request! Second, on May 22nd (my birthday!) we're having a special live chat on Skype with both Twisted Hilarity and MomsDarkSecret! Skype is super simple to set up if you don't have it already, and it's free! The chat is under 'Yaoifix'. If you have questions, our friendly moderator, Jet, can help guide you! Just email her at bklevy[at]syr.edu

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

This week's update is The Disciplinarian, Ch.9! This was supposed to be the final chapter of this fic, but as usual it did not want to end! So there will be one more to come - hopefully soon! In the meantime, you can find Ch.9 in the Vignettes archive.

This week I downloaded a couple movies, hoping to find some good gay-themed flicks. I watched something older (Maurice from 1987) and something newer (Shelter 2007) and posted reviews for them both in the forum - along with the winner of the April manga raffle! Thanks again to everyone who reviewed and don't forget to drop some reviews during May to be entered into the next raffle! (Please leave your email along with your review so I can contact you if you win!)

I've also done a lot of organizing this week around the new apartment and now that I have an aching back from unloading boxes, I'm going to use the excuse to go to Japantown again and check out the public bath at a spa there! I'm hoping it'll be pretty traditional (with the exception that they'll still accept you with tattoos!). We'll see!

Til next week!
Rin ^_~

Hi all!
This week's update is Hostage Ch.9, by MomsDarkSecret -- PLUS a new illustration of Eldin and Soren by Jamie Batrez! I'm so excited to finally have art for this wonderful story!

Yay for spring! I got to celebrate the season by going to San Francisco Japantown's Cherry Blossom Festival! It was held for four days, but I could only make one, which was ok because it was the day of the parade. My favorite part of the day, though, was visiting New People! It's kind of like a pop Japan mini-mall squeezed into one building. (I'm guessing a lot of you already know about it, but I'll give a little rundown just in case!) It has a cafe, a movie theater, an art gallery, and two floors of shops! The third floor (ahem - the best!) has a tabi shoe store and the only US branches of Baby the Stars Shine Bright and Black Peace Now! It was all a bit crowded because there were vendors inside selling goods for the fest, but still so much fun!

Til next week,
Rin

This week's update is Stolen Away, Ch24! Hope you like!

Whew! I'm worn out! This week was another round of moving stuff into the new pad, but thankfully the hubby finally arrived, which made it all worth the while! Although the weather has been cool in the Bay area, the flowers have been out in spades! I'm amazed at the sheer volume and variety. Wisteria, sakura, roses, and so many I don't even know the names of! I can tell some habits from Japan have remained in my life when I start taking tons of pictures of food or flowers! I also get that wistful feeling of 'mono no aware' while thinking about how short a time everything will be in bloom - but I guess that's what makes it so special!

Til next week,
Rin