Word reader Stormy recently put me onto a site called Pages Unbound. It’s a website that’s been set up specifically to showcase online serial fiction and to act as a directory for people to find quality serials on the Web. The site lists its mission statement as:

Pages Unbound primarily exists for two eminently complementary reasons:

* To help online authors find an audience.
* To help readers find literature on the internet.

Sound simple enough?

Of course, fulfilling those purposes may also bring about other desirable side effects, including

* Allowing more people to make a living as independent writers.
* Fostering a love of literature in people who primarily read blogs and webcomics.
* Encouraging more people to take up the quill keyboard and start writing.

It always gives me a warm feeling inside when I find things like this. People helping to promote each other’s work, especially when it’s done as slickly and professionally as this, is a wonderful thing to see. Go and check out the site and see what else is there - there really is some quality stuff listed in their directory.

You can find the listing for my online serial, A ‘Verse Full of Scum, by clicking here - click on the Stories tab and it’s right there. If you can’t see it straight away, put “verse” in the Search box. If you would be kind enough to leave a review I’m sure you’d get some good karma for your trouble.

Thanks for the heads up, Stormy.

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I got this email from my sister-in-law, Bogna.

Speaking of amusing signs, here’s one we saw in Bombala, on the way between Lake’s Entrance and Broulee. They have a war memorial swimming pool in town, which is in itself quite amusing. I imagine that the council decided they couldn’t afford both a swimming pool AND a war memorial, and someone came up with the ingenious idea of combining the two. There are a number of signs outside the entrance to the pool. The one on the left says “Lest we forget” and then explains that the swimming pool is a tribute to those who served in defence of their country. Obviously it is intended to be a respectful monument and should be treated as such. But take a look at the sign on the right - I have provided a close-up. Classic.

Here’s the photo:

Now, I can’t help but follow one line of thought when I see something like this: Just how many times did this happen that they needed to put up a sign? Is Bombala famous for its diarrhoea-inducing qualities? Or do people in that neck of the woods have some strange old folk custom where they think swimming is a the panacea for digestive ailments? Perhaps it’s best not to know.

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Every once in a while readers send me emails. Usually they’re things like, “You’re going to burn in Hell!” The more polite ones are like that anyway. However, every once in a while I get a nice email from someone entering more into the whole spirit of things.

A while ago I posted a piece about the Washington Post Neologism Contest. You can read the original post here. Word reader Susan Higgins, from Yarmouth, ME (which is somewhere in America, I presume), sent me this email today:

In keeping in the spirit of the annual Washington Post neologism contest, where you can only change one letter to create a new word or phrase, a few friends of mine and I put together a few words and phrases for the holidays we thought you might enjoy:

Mustletoe: the act of wrenching onesself away from an unwanted kisser under the hanging white berries.

Stocking Stiffers: cheap presents of relatively large size that make Christmas stockings look abundantly full.

Black Holy: The place where the tape and scissors magically disappear into when wrapping Christmas presents.

Jingle Bills: the sound of the credit card companies calling on your telephone after the holidays.

Thanks Susan and friends.

So keep those emails coming, even the damnation assurances from religious fundamentalists; I actually find those ones among the funniest. I’m always happy to share your thoughts and words here, and you can leave comments on any post as well.