For the holiday weekend

First, an announcement - theer will be only one update next week, on Wednesday. I have some work to catch up on.

So, here's a quartet of tales, starting with one appropriate for what I believe is called Black Friday in the US retail trade - Trouble in Store.

Next, we go back to St Blazius School for Girls with Crime School 3.

Thirdly, the elder statesman of our group has some more tales to tell in Elder Cats.

Finally, but not least, Mordaca tells us of what happens When Notorious Reputations Clash.

KP

The season to give thanks

Much as I may deride some aspects of American society from time to time, there is one thing I do admire many of you for - you don't start talking about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over with.

So, with that in mind, may I wish everyone reading this in the US a happy holiday week - and here's three tales to get you in the mood.

Firstly, the people in a house that is targeted for a home invasion start to question if it is wise to be Living Next Door To Alice - and probably giving thanks when their ordeal is over.

Secondly, the WABAC Machine has kicked into life again with another Seventies Bound tale - and the three women here are giving thanks nothing worse happened to them.

Finally, and just for the holiday season, Madame X follows up on the discoveries made during The Audit by visiting her US offices, with Dominique in tow. As a result, several women for differing reasons have A Reason To Give Thanks.

Short update on Friday.

KP

Maidens, Maidens Everywhere...

So, here we are again - and to compensate for the single upload this week, how about two Multiple Maidens tales with embedded links to photos - would that be acceptable?

The first, Le Bal Masque, is a tale of strange robberies in a small town with a hidden connection.

The second, The Perfect Housemate, actually came from a challenge to link a set of photos to illustrate the caption "The Cable Guy said he would just be a minute..." See what you think of it.

Also, Mordaca offers a tale of A Real Fictional Ordeal.

Finally, a promise - next week, a Madame X Seasonal tale.

KP

Update on Thursday

I'm working on the Madame X Thanksgiving tale, and it's taking longer than I thought, so no update until Thursday.

Apologies to all.

Keeping my promises

Here, bright and shiny new, is the restoration of Bad Deal to the collection of Mordaca's stories. Howpfully this will not happen again...

Similarly, I've added to the Multiple Maidens collection a short story called A Friend In Need, that has sat there for far too long.

Finally, a new Reflections tale from The Bank Manager's Wife.

We also have the last of the WABAC Machine polls before the grand face off - make sure you cast your vote.

KP

How you can help me

I've added chapter 5 of The Salesman Comes to the site, but if anyoen wnats to write a chapter let me know ASAP - I want to start wrapping up this story soon.

Also new today is a story called Audit, which acts as a kinda sorta prologue to the Thanksgiving/Madame X story I have planned.

Finally, a short tale of The Ties of Friendship.

UPDATE: When I checked the page for the China Doll Gang story "China Dolls", I saw it was, shall we say, not right. I've changed the link to one which will bring up a Word document that looks better. I've also taken down the Mordaca story "Bad Deal", as that file has been corrupted, and will restore that on Friday.

KP

Remember, Remember

the fifth of November - no tale this year for Bonfire Night, but if you want to see how I marked the occasion last year then click here.

Apologies for only one update this week, but as always I'll make it a slightly larger one.

First, from the pen of Mordaca a tale of times past in The Black Wolf's Land Excuse.

Secondly, we catch up with George Simpson as he visits a family with two daughters that really are Hippie Chix.

Next up, in the Contributions section a tale from JennyGagged of Becky The Detective.

Finally, join us in the tale of The Worm That Turned.

KP

October business...

So, October has come and gone, and how did people use the site? Let’s look at the figures…

We had a total of 776 visitors on 1,894 occasions, looking at a total of 11,258 separate page views. Of these, 707 were new visitors – welcome to you. You came from 41 countries, from South Africa to Japan, from Canada to the Falkland Islands, with the most visitors coming from the USA, Britain and Germany. It amazes me that people from so many different cultures and places want to read at least one thing posted here.

Now, about 41% linked directly to the site, 38% from links elsewhere and the rest from searches. Most referring links were either on some Yahoo groups, my Flickr page or my Deviantart page – and if you haven’t visited either of those to see some samples of my art collection, pay them a visit. The really surprising thing was the number who linked in from a post I made on a Dreambook – again, if you are one of those than welcome.

As for the searches – here are some samples of the search terms that somehow, inexplicably led to here:-

Undercover policewoman bound gagged captured
Saw her mother bound and gagged
“kinckered bottom”
“smelly rag or cloth” “out cold”
duct taped to wall tickle

and so on and so on...

Now, the pages visited. Once again they covered the entirety of the site, but the ten most popular stories are, in no particular order:-

Navy Wives (Again, thanks to Jim from Michigan for allowing me to post that one)
Surprise Surprise
Wrap up Warm
The Rare Stamp
Changeling
Trick or Treat
DoubleCross
NightWatch
The Search
Shadow Dancing
A Debt Repaid and A War Started (One of Mordaca’s finest)

Obviously, the more recently posted stories lost out a little bit, but if I told you stories such as Wiccan Woes and Guests For The Weekend were still under there, you will see why I am continually surprised at what is popular.

So what is coming this month? More of the same, I hope. As Thanksgiving is approaching, I think one or two themed stories may appear, and there is the small matter of what the hell George Simpson is up to with that watch to sort out.

As it is November, you may also notice a small addition to the front page. That will stay there until after the 11th, and I hope it is self explanatory.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have a conversation planned with a certain lady named Dominique…

KP