I want to take a quick minute to thank each and every one of the people who take the time to reach out to help us in providing hosting for online authors. It all started with a little 'ad laced' free forum and in 2004 became a service and community. I started doing what I'm doing simply because I appreciated the work being put in by so many people that I worked really hard to find, mainly because they made my life better. I wanted to share my appreciation to the people who put so much of themselves out into the public for no gain outside of the knowledge that 'the work you put in has the potential to enrich the life of another'. To me, that was so selfless and worth celebrating and supporting. So with the help of a friend who didn't survive long enough to see what his gentle shove ultimately accomplished in the long haul (Thank you August, you are still missed every day!), we actively sought out authors posting mainly on free services whose work clearly deserved a forever home. Along the way, I've gotten to work with some amazing talents, amazing souls each, and once in a while, someone we reach out to reaches back. That's what Ted Louis did for us.

As stated previously in our community, Fort Family Hosting had been made an incredible offer to attempt to boost the financial support at a time when it was most needed. One of the most influential authors of our time IMHO with one of the longest running single story lines ever posted. I have been a fan of his https://tedlouis.com and the community he built there for a VERY long time so when he announced his retirement, stating the service would remain up until his hosting expired, we held our breath and asked him if he would consider allowing us to give it the ability to continue on, hosting until we can no longer provide it. Not only did he floor us by agreeing, but he made an incredible offer to reward those who also helped to support this work. A free autographed copy of one of the books from the 'Joel' series for as long as there were some left in the box he had found in his home to anyone donating $10 or more. Well, because of the outpouring of support, that supply got exhausted, clearing a corner in his home and putting an amazing keepsake on many shelves of the people who helped make it all possible.

So, the free book offer is officially over and I want to say to each and every person that plays a part in helping make it possible to find some of the best amateur literature out there by ensuring it always has a home online. From the people who write the stories, to the people who read them, and every effort in between to make that possible, thank you for your continued support. Ted's work here is thankfully not going anywhere, along with the other thousands of stories hosted throughout the many sites in our community, and that is thanks largely to you because of your support.

To Ted Louis, my friend thank you for many years of memories, for your willingness to share it all with the world, and for your recent choice to pay it forward even more. May your retirement be all that you hoped it would be, and if it isn't, you point at the guy preventing it from happening and we'll go beat him up for you! LOL!

That said, please keep an eye out at https://fortfamilyforums.com for news and updates from the entire network of sites that Ted's site is now a part of. If you enjoy reading, please consider helping us keep the service online with a donation to go toward the hosting costs. That can be done by using the form on the right side of the page at https://dsshosting.net (which is also us) and if you are interested in helping to carry this service further into the future, please reach out to us through that same site.

Our story is way more amazing when you consider what stories are behind it being a reality ;)

After another long wait, it’s time for updates once again. To start things off, we have an updated version of Christmas on the Mountain as well as Volume two of the Dear Manufacturers series as well as a Societal Commentary titled Backpacks For Orphans by The Story Lover. Next, we have Ch 36-38 of Emerald City Boys and Ch 47 of Mayfield Magic by DouglasDD. Finishing things off, we have a short story titled The Intern from Zarek A Dragon as well as Ch 19-20 of Voyagers: SS Robert Heinlein by The Voyagers Authors. Check back soon for more updates.

I am your favorite, right? Don't answer that. I might not want to know. Anyway.... It's a new chapter of Living in a Small Town. With so much of my offline time taken up by death lately, I thought a new chapter of a story about living would be just what I need to get on with my own life. Enjoy.

Hugs,

Boudreaux

Dear Readers,

This week's Story Redux is  The Virgin And The Leprechaun by The Story Lover.

Happy Reading,

TSL

Dear Readers,

While this is not a good time to be asking for money, unfortunately, we have several domain fees coming due, and finances are extremely tight. Our sites run on your donations and, unfortunately, mainly out of our own pockets. Due to the higher costs of everything our pockets are in not so great shape as wel. We are also determined to keep our sites ad-free and free of Premium Levels! However, we can only continue to do this with your help. So please click on the Donate button or this link and give what you can. Any donation, big or small, will be greatly appreciated and go a long way to keep the work of these amazing authours reachable.

TSL for the Fort Family Admins.

Hi Everyone!

No this isn't a question requiring input for IMAGINE Magazine (Thanks every one of you for those though!) It's poking a stick in the bush to see what comes out. LOL!

So, we have 9 issues under our belt with actual content since restarting. I was really worried that they were going to get really stale without Comsie really fast but, people have been giving feedback and it is both depressing and gratifying at the same time. Sure we are missing the heart and soul of what IMAGINE used to be but we've been able to to take the magic he gave us and use it as a reserve to keep creating content. I made the decision to keep doing a reflection article to previous issues every month and added one that was intentionally only Comsie's voice. It's been a lot of work but, for so many, it was worth the effort.

On my end, it's been getting a little easier but, it's been so difficult. Not so much in the creation of articles but in attempting to create something that he'd enjoy. That has always been my 'litmus test'. Anytime I created something new or tossed a "Story Brat" story at him, I'd be excited to see what he thought. Now it's still what I aim for knowing the feedback isn't going to come from him. That is what has been the hardest thing to deal with in all of this. I thought that part would eventually get easier but, every single issue reopens that wound just enough to make it hurt all over again. But with TurtleBoy, MykeD., The Story Lover, Night Auditor, MrM, ACFan, The EggMan, R. Eric, Justin, Jules Porter, and every single one of you interacting in the GA, the Shack forums, and on Discord, the hurt of missing someone I have considered a brother for decades now is followed with a smile knowing that he would be so overjoyed that we loved him and his work so much that we are willing to keep it going. His sites and stories are safe for as long as we can safe guard them. So why post now?

Because we need voices. We need more of the people who loved him and his work to add a little of what they see in their online community to the living tribute that he built for us and we keep up for him. Right now, I must look like some kind of psychopath who loves to torture himself when the reality of it is, I simply don't want to let it go. I always loved being the guy behind the curtain for him and now that he has left and taken the curtain with him, I want more of his family to feel welcomed to be involved. I do need help and want to ask you all for it. (...help with... um... I meant with the magazine, stop laughing! LOL!)

Have you written a story you'd like to share? Have you read a really good story you want us all to be aware of? Know of a teen pop artist Comsie would have loved or did love that needs support or should be more popular than they are? Want to do a review of a special story or stories, maybe even review one from the Comet himself? There are so many unique ways that everyone could be involved, probably in ways we haven't even thought of yet. So I want to at least once invite the GA Community, Fort Family Community, and members of Comicality's Shack Outback a spot to show off a little Shack love :) I'll continue to put the work in but just like any other community, a dancing monkey eventually gets old and can't dance anymore. Normally not without his dance becoming something that becomes dull to watch for too long. I get sick of listening to "Me" why wouldn't you? LOL!

To protect IMAGINE Magazine for Comicality and those who still need it, I want to ask for the help of the people who loved and appreciated the man and all he did for us. For additions that are one offs or monthly, for ideas, for something new... anything to help keep IMAGINE "our" tribute to Comicality.

The pay is horrible, it always has been but the rewards have always been lasting! C'mon out and play with us ;) Reply in person in chat or email jeff@imagine-magazine.org and let's toss around some ideas... Cool?

::HUGZ::

Dear Readers,

Unfortunately, it's that time of year again for us to lose an hour of sleep for no good reason!

So don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour before you go to bed.

Sleep Well,

TSL

Dear Readers,

Our author, Snowblind, needs an editor for some new stories. If you can help, please email him at Snowblind.

Happy Reading,

TSL

Dear Readers,

I found one of Pyro's missing stories, and I have posted it.

Happy Reading,

TSL

Dear Readers,

While I have lost contact with the author of Love and Wars Among the Stars, I did come across two misfiled chapters. These are all the chapters that I have been able to find.

Take Care,

TSL