New release: Spider-Girl, issue #20

The Chameleon has finally been caught; Betty's mission is at an end. Unfortunately for her, growing feelings for Barbara mean that leaving this dimension may not be as easy as she had hoped....

Issue #20: Legends of the Dark Knight

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The Chameleon's locked up. Betty's done what she came to do. So what could delay her? What could possibly keep her in Gotham? Perhaps the love of a good woman... or a man who looks like a woman...? There's still a few twists in this tale yet.

Every single plot line from this arc (that I could think of... I certainly hope I didn't miss any) is wrapped up in this issue, which does mean there's a fair bit of exposition, but also plenty of sexy stuff too. If you really want to immerse yourself in the entire arc, I'd recommend re-reading everything (yep, everything - from issue #14) and I'm pretty sure you'll start to see the connections. It was, believe it or not, pretty much all planned.

Issue #20 marks the end of the road for Betty Brant's 'crossover' into another dimension, and the end of this arc. It's also time for me to pause in the tale of Spider-Girl, but that doesn't mean the series is done - far from it, I hope. For now though, I expect I'll be working on something else for a while. What will that be? I'm not entirely sure myself. Things are cookin'. We'll see what comes to the boil first.

I'm afraid of course that does mean, you won't be getting served up 13-20K words a week of new material! I'll still be around though, so if you want to get in touch, leave a comment or drop me an email.

There may be a couple of posts exploring this arc, by the way; I found the process of writing this quite fascinating, as well as taxing, exciting and trying at times. So if you're interested, I'll waffle at some point.

Remember if you haven't read all the issues of this arc yet everything's available, both at Maskingwriter (membership required) and now via steekr (just click and get the issues). If you enjoy, please do leave a comment below, and click on an ad for me.

Update on 20

... so work came down "like an anvil" this week, as they say, so hard that I'm actually going to be in work this weekend, probably both days, probably most of each day. Don't cry for me, I don't mind doing it, but it means I won't have time to edit 20 (and haven't had much time this week, either).

So right now, don't expect 20 to be out this weekend. Sorry 'bout that. I will get it out as soon as I can.

As I've said before, the post-issue-20 future of the series (and my writing) is a little unclear. I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. I do have a variety of arcs, plotlines etc that I want to pursue with Betty. I also have ideas for non-SG stuff, including some unfinished M2F masking stories that I might go back to, or entirely new ideas.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have. While I know nearly all of you will just be thinking "I don't care, just write more stuff" it does influence my thinking if people really, really want to see 'X' or 'Y'.

Issue 20... is done!

About five minutes ago. Maybe not even that.

Right now - before editing, which could expand or contract this figure - 20,735 words, which I can barely believe, especially considering as far as I can tell, 13K of those words were written in the last week.

See what you can accomplish when the muse is with ya??

I've got a mix of feelings right now. It's been a big issue, but it's been a much bigger arc - I've been writing it for six or so months. Writing the last few scenes was kinda emotional. Don't worry though folks, I've left it on a suitable cliffhanger...!

All will be revealed... this weekend. Barring accident, injury, etc. Editing that many words will take some time, too!

New release: Spider-Girl, issue #19

The noose is finally closing in around the Chameleon; having set up a date with Bruce Wayne as 'Vicki Vale' he is about to discover that Vicki never existed. Meanwhile, Catwoman is out for revenge, and seeking Batgirl's help...

Issue #19: No Man's Land

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After last issue's rather giant plot twist... we come to a climax! The Chameleon cornered! Batman, Batgirl and Betty - none of whom are who they seem - team up together! There's a chase! A confrontation! A big old fight! This one, as they say, has got it all!!

To be honest I've thought for a while that this issue wasn't that good - but as I re-read and edited it today with fresh eyes, it read pretty well to me. Everything comes to a head this time out... but this ain't the ending, oh no, and the epilogue is a doozy. (Well, so far anyway.)

Remember if you haven't read all the issues of this arc yet everything's available, both at Maskingwriter (membership required) and now via steekr (just click and get the issues). If you enjoy, please do leave a comment below, and click on an ad for me.

Issue 20 - barring accidents - should finish off Crossover with a bang in about a week.

Houston, we have a very big issue

So I just looked and issue 20's over 16K words now, which is getting a little crazy... I'm in the last third, maybe the last quarter. Suffice to say there's some fun scenes in there which might, in some ways, be 'too much' - but I won't get to write this stuff again anytime soon, so what the heck.

I've actually moved two scenes from 20 across and into the end of 19, which means I have more of 19 to edit. That's about half-done. No promises but it might get released later today. Just have to get out of the writing groove on 20, really!

Er, 12K and rising

Looks like issue 20's turning into a bit of a big finale, with two of the many 'Bs' getting together at last. It's fun to write, and hence is progressing quick.

I wanted to post some reference that I was working with, but I just realised it'd give away a fairly major plot point, so I'll leave it for another time...!

19 will, I think it's safe to say, definitely debut this weekend. Which means it probably won't...!

Moving right along

As of right now (checks) issue 20 is 8,705 words long, and I haven't really gotten to the meat of it yet. As those of you who've read 18 will know by now, certain characters "have some 'splainin to do"... 19 mostly deals with the resolution of the main plotline, but 20 is where the soapy stuff is.

Which hopefully you'll like....

Anyway I still think I'll probably release 19 this weekend, even though I don't think 20 will be finished, the majority of it should be done. So look out for it.

If you've been thinking of ideas for where Spider-Girl as a series should go next, then now's the time to say. I have multiple storylines stacked up but if you have a brilliant idea, you never know, it might get incorporated.

Thanks for the clicks!

Hey all, just a quick note to say thank you if you've clicked on an ad over the last few months. I'm going to get my second payment from Google in about six weeks I expect (of $100).

In case you have any illusions that I'm 'rolling in clover' by the way, I'm not. Partially because of the incredibly weak dollar (great going to the US, crap when you're being paid in dollars) and partially to date, all that ad clicking = $200. So yeah, I won't be giving up the day job just yet!

However, it's more of a symbolic payment for me than anything else, and I really appreciate it on those terms. Please feel free to keep clicking, and I'll keep writing....

New way to get issues: steekR

I've been wondering for a while if there was a way I could share issues with everyone without making you sign up for the Maskingwriter Yahoo! Group.

While I think if you're interested in mask fiction you totally should sign up for Maskingwriter, especially as you get to read a whole load of other stories from other authors, I also realise there may be people out there who don't want to sign up for it - or frankly, just want to get the new issues now now goddammit now and can't be bothered to login to Yahoo! Groups to get it. (I myself would probably be one of those people, if I was you.)

So anyway, I think I may have found a solution. On the right hand bar under 'Latest Writing' there's now a link to a file sharing (and storage) service called steekR. Click here and you'll see a folder with all of the latest issues from the Crossover arc of Spider-Girl. Or should.

If you like this as an option of getting issues, let me know in comments, and I'll throw up a bunch of other stuff in there. Some of it might not even be Spider-Girl related... wink wink.

New release: Spider-Girl, issue #18

Her powers having returned, Betty is anxious to finish what she came to this dimension for: to find the Chameleon and put a stop to him, forever. The master of disguise has some plans of his own, however....

Issue #18: Two-Faced

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Alright, strictly speaking it's been more than a week, but it's still the weekend where I am - so don't complain!! The plot takes more twists and turns this issue with the Chameleon discovering he's going to have to work a lot harder to get what he wants, Betty pretty much realising the same thing and... well... I won't tell you any more, you should just read it. Hope you like.

SPOILER WARNING: There is a massive, massive plot development in the very last scene of this issue... indeed, the very last word. If I was you, I'd restrain yourself and read all the way through to come to it naturally. You'll enjoy it more that way, honest.

What I would ask, however, is that when you're talking about the issue in comments below, please don't explicitly mention that particular twist... it'll spoil it for those who haven't read it yet.

Although I'll happily receive emails saying "That was a surprise" or "I always expected that" in equal measure...!