“At risk” - gay story websites and others

[raven1]

Thanks again Paul!  I appreciate the link to the new website.  I checked it out and added it to my bookmarks.  

[Hero]

This thread seems to list all the sites dedicated to gay fiction, but there is one small site not included where you can download a handful of quite good ebooks for free: The Gay Fiction Library 

 

[raven1]

1 hour ago, Hero said:

This thread seems to list all the sites dedicated to gay fiction, but there is one small site not included where you can download a handful of quite good ebooks for free: The Gay Fiction Library 

 

Thanks for the addition, Hero.

[Bill W]

The threat is not just that various administrators will be able to keep their site up and running, but with the current situation in the US of banning books on LGBTQ+ topics, I wonder how long before they come after websites with LGBTQ+ information and stories on them? 

If authors are smart and wish to make certain their material doesn't get lost when one of those sites go down, other than a more stable Gay Authors, they'd be wise to post on multiple sites.  Hopefully they won't all disappear.  

[chris191070]

24 minutes ago, Bill W said:

The threat is not just that various administrators will be able to keep their site up and running, but with the current situation in the US of banning books on LGBTQ+ topics, I wonder how long before they come after websites with LGBTQ+ information and stories on them? 

If authors are smart and wish to make certain their material doesn't get lost when one of those sites go down, other than a more stable Gay Authors, they'd be wise to post on multiple sites.  Hopefully they won't all disappear.  

I can't comment because it would probably end up political and then I'd get told off 🤷 

[Bill W]

8 minutes ago, chris191070 said:

I can't comment because it would probably end up political and then I'd get told off 🤷 

Yes, that's why I kept my comment non-specific about who might be involved. 

[wildone]

Currently banning of books is a polarizing topic. Although mentioned here, if any other comments want to be made about banning books, open a topic in the Pit please

[ReaderPaul]

On 6/27/2023 at 3:05 AM, Bill W said:

     If authors are smart and wish to make certain their material doesn't get lost when one of those sites go down, other than a more stable Gay Authors, they'd be wise to post on multiple sites.  Hopefully they won't all disappear.  

@Bill W, you are correct on this.  Not only do more sites mean more possibilities for a story remaining on the web, but more sites mean more potential readers.   I only know of three sites which I KNOW have succession plans -- two of which are GA  and  Storylover dot us.  Probably there are more -- but I do not know for sure.

[Backwoods Boy]

On this topic, @Bill W, @Geron Kees, @Ajbt2001 - as the three of you have likely noted, Tickie Stories hasn't been updated since August 18.  Any knowledge about that?  I'm more concerned about the owner than the site itself, though I do wonder if it's one without a succession plan.

[Ticklishboy30]

1 hour ago, Backwoods Boy said:

On this topic, @Bill W, @Geron Kees, @Ajbt2001 - as the three of you have likely noted, Tickie Stories hasn't been updated since August 18.  Any knowledge about that?  I'm more concerned about the owner than the site itself, though I do wonder if it's one without a succession plan.

Thanks for the mention, @Backwoods Boy. I have noticed that, and have emailed Chuck to see if he got the twelfth chapter of Soulmates, but haven't gotten a response yet. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Ajbt2001

[chris191070]

3 hours ago, Backwoods Boy said:

On this topic, @Bill W, @Geron Kees, @Ajbt2001 - as the three of you have likely noted, Tickie Stories hasn't been updated since August 18.  Any knowledge about that?  I'm more concerned about the owner than the site itself, though I do wonder if it's one without a succession plan.

Yeah, I'd noticed it hadn't been updated and was getting worried about the owner.

[Bill W]

6 hours ago, Backwoods Boy said:

On this topic, @Bill W, @Geron Kees, @Ajbt2001 - as the three of you have likely noted, Tickie Stories hasn't been updated since August 18.  Any knowledge about that?  I'm more concerned about the owner than the site itself, though I do wonder if it's one without a succession plan.

I haven't heard back from Chuck either, and I've kept sending him chapters, and so far I haven't received a notice that his mailbox is full.  I'll send him another note inquiring about his circumstances. 

[Geron Kees]

8 hours ago, Backwoods Boy said:

On this topic, @Bill W, @Geron Kees, @Ajbt2001 - as the three of you have likely noted, Tickie Stories hasn't been updated since August 18.  Any knowledge about that?  I'm more concerned about the owner than the site itself, though I do wonder if it's one without a succession plan.

I have been to the site and seen that it has not been updated since August 18th. There is no news there. Nor have I received any email updates in a while. And, lastly, Chuck has not replied to my emails, either.

I have just been hoping it's something simple.

[chris191070]

I've emailed Hankster this morning, to see if he has heard anything from Chuck. Will let you know what he says.

[chris191070]

I have received the following email from Hankster this morning.

 

Dear Chris:

I almost didn’t get to see your letter because it went to my spam folder.

I am sad to inform you that Chuck passed away a couple of weeks ago. He had lung cancer. I got the news from a fellow author who was his best friend. Unfortunately, his friend has no knowledge of how to make the announcement on the website. Unless, someone comes forward, “tickiestorypages.us” has died along with Chuck.

I have begun to submit my stories to “niftystories.com”. They are totally disorganized, and once posted, I can’t find my stories ever again. But I know people are reading them, because I’ve gotten a few “fan” letters. You might want to check nifty out for yourself.

Best regards, Hank

[chris191070]

On 3/19/2023 at 3:21 PM, Mancunian said:

There is a further message on the home page that states the site will disappear in 115 days.

TedLouis.com was rescued by Storylover.us 

[Backwoods Boy]

1 hour ago, chris191070 said:

I have received the following email from Hankster this morning.

 

Dear Chris:

I almost didn’t get to see your letter because it went to my spam folder.

I am sad to inform you that Chuck passed away a couple of weeks ago. He had lung cancer. I got the news from a fellow author who was his best friend. Unfortunately, his friend has no knowledge of how to make the announcement on the website. Unless, someone comes forward, “tickiestorypages.us” has died along with Chuck.

I have begun to submit my stories to “niftystories.com”. They are totally disorganized, and once posted, I can’t find my stories ever again. But I know people are reading them, because I’ve gotten a few “fan” letters. You might want to check nifty out for yourself.

Best regards, Hank

Thanks for following up on this, Chris.  Chuck invited me to the site thee years ago, and was a pleasure to work with.  I'm very sad to hear that he has passed - and also that he apparently had no succession plan.

I suspect Hankster is referring to good old "nifty.org".  The specific domain he lists is unused and "for sale".

[chris191070]

Just now, Backwoods Boy said:

Thanks for following up on this, Chris.  Chuck invited me to the site thee years ago, and was a pleasure to work with.  I'm very sad to hear that he has passed - and also that he apparently had no succession plan.

I suspect Hankster is referring to good old "nifty.org".  The specific domain he lists is unused and "for sale".

Hankster has GA membership, but is struggling to post stories.

He needs some help to set up his account properly, if anyone can help him.

[Mancunian]

1 minute ago, chris191070 said:

Hankster has GA membership, but is struggling to post stories.

He needs some help to set up his account properly, if anyone can help him.

I'm happy to help any fellow member, if I can help I will.

[Backwoods Boy]

1 minute ago, Mancunian said:

I'm happy to help any fellow member, if I can help I will.

@chris191070 Likewise.

[Bill W]

2 hours ago, chris191070 said:

I have received the following email from Hankster this morning.

 

Dear Chris:

I almost didn’t get to see your letter because it went to my spam folder.

I am sad to inform you that Chuck passed away a couple of weeks ago. He had lung cancer. I got the news from a fellow author who was his best friend. Unfortunately, his friend has no knowledge of how to make the announcement on the website. Unless, someone comes forward, “tickiestorypages.us” has died along with Chuck.

I have begun to submit my stories to “niftystories.com”. They are totally disorganized, and once posted, I can’t find my stories ever again. But I know people are reading them, because I’ve gotten a few “fan” letters. You might want to check nifty out for yourself.

Best regards, Hank

Chris, I was afraid of that.  It's too bad that Chuck didn't arrange for someone to take over the site after him and operate it in his memory.  Chuck will be deeply missed, but at least he is no longer suffering.  

[ReaderPaul]

I have emailed "Pee Jay", the TickieStories webmaster, to see if the late Chuck had a succession plan.  If I find out anything, I will post what I can here.

@Mancunian -- @chris191070 -- @Backwoods Boy -- @Bill W  -- @Geron Kees -- @Ajbt2001 -- @raven1 -- @Zombie -- @Dhpiet77

[Geron Kees]

14 hours ago, chris191070 said:

I have received the following email from Hankster this morning.

 

Dear Chris:

I almost didn’t get to see your letter because it went to my spam folder.

I am sad to inform you that Chuck passed away a couple of weeks ago. He had lung cancer. I got the news from a fellow author who was his best friend. Unfortunately, his friend has no knowledge of how to make the announcement on the website. Unless, someone comes forward, “tickiestorypages.us” has died along with Chuck.

I have begun to submit my stories to “niftystories.com”. They are totally disorganized, and once posted, I can’t find my stories ever again. But I know people are reading them, because I’ve gotten a few “fan” letters. You might want to check nifty out for yourself.

Best regards, Hank

I am very saddened to hear that Chuck has left us. My last mail from him was on August 6th. I had no idea he had health problems.

If no one has access to the site's back end, there is little to be done. What a crying shame.

So long, Chuck. Best of luck in your travels.

[ReaderPaul]

16 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

     I am very saddened to hear that Chuck has left us.   My last mail from him was on August 6th.   I had no idea he had health problems.
     If no one has access to the site's back end, there is little to be done.  What a crying shame.
     So long, Chuck.  Best of luck in your travels.

Someone could have access to the website's back end, and not have access to the financials to keep the site up and running.  If only one person has control of the financials to pay for the web access, the site could still go down.  I see this as a potential downfall for many sites, eventually.

Thankfully, sites like GA have backup plans in place.  However, I am guessing many smaller sites do not have such.

[chris191070]

4 hours ago, Geron Kees said:

I am very saddened to hear that Chuck has left us. My last mail from him was on August 6th. I had no idea he had health problems.

If no one has access to the site's back end, there is little to be done. What a crying shame.

So long, Chuck. Best of luck in your travels.

I have emailed StoryLover to see if they can help as they have helped rescue a few story sites recently.