Okay babies. If you want me to friend you so you can read personal posts, tell me here.

Due to the nasty divorce I'm being dragged through, I've closed up all of my stories. Just about everything is now locked down.

If you want to be included in personal posts, just leave a comment.

I am published under the name abigail_roux. If you're looking for a story, it may have been published. Click here to see which stories have been published as original fiction and are available to buy.

An update on the Brady family: Everyone is doing well. Both boys who were admitted to the hospital due to problems with smoke inhalation are home and Terrence (the dad) said his daughter is expected to come home before Christmas. The doctors are really hopeful for a speedy recovery for her because she is so young and her skin is healing really well which should allow for minimal scaring. Terrence was excited about getting back to work and getting things back to normal. Also, everyone was more than grateful for our (that AT&T workplace) help.

My aunt's work group collected $200 for them and also delivered 'an enormous amount of clothing, toys, and household items'.

That's an entire building of AT&T workers. But to this point, WE have collected $624.42 in gift cards, Paypal donations, and checks. And I haven't checked my mail today and I know I'm expecting several more cards. How fucking awesome is that? (The odd number is due to conversion rates *g*)

As far as physical donations, I have gone through my closet, Natalie's toys, and Nathan's closet to gather some clothing, shoes, and coats. I took several of Natalie's presents which are unopened and intend to send them as well. I cleared off our desktop computer, which is admittedly about 5 years old, and I plan to donate it. Several locals are bringing children's clothing, and I hope to get all of this to them before Christmas.

Available January 21st:



By the close of 1882, the inhabitants of the American West had earned their reputation as untamed and dangerous. The line between heroes and villains is narrow and indistinct. The concept that a man may only kill if backed into a corner is antiquated. Lives are worth less than horses. Treasures are worth killing for. And the law is written in the blood of those who came before. The only men staving off total chaos are the few who take the letter of the law at its word and risk their lives to uphold it. But in the West, the rules aren't always played according to Hoyle.

US Marshals Eli Flynn and William Henry Washington are escorting two prisoners to New Orleans for trial when they discover there’s more to the infamous shootist Dusty Rose and the enigmatic man known only as Cage than merely being outlaws. When forces beyond the marshals’ control converge on the paddlewheeler they have hired to take them downriver, they must choose between two dangers: playing by the rules at any cost or trusting the very men they are meant to bring to justice.


This is the published version of Downriver. I added over 33,000 words to the original version.

I know I'm overly emotional lately, and probably for good reason. But I'm getting more and more Christmas cards from all of you, some with notes to me and Natalie, some with gift cards or checks for the Brady family. And I can say for the first time in a very long time I've been moved to tears by genuine kindness. Thank you all for your generosity. And thank you all for being my friends.

I haven't been able to send out cards, but please know I'm thinking of all of you this year.

I'm starting to get gift cards in the mail for the Brady family and I'm so excited to be able to put things together for them. We've also got some coats, clothes, and shoes for both parents, a desktop computer for the family, two TV's, a DVD player, and some unopened toys for Christmas presents for the boys.

The little girl is still in the hospital and I haven't heard anything else about her status.

I have created a Paypal account for those overseas who want to donate. It is abiroux@gmail.com. Even $1 or pound or whatever happens to be your currency will make a huge difference to them. Thank you to everyone who has given something. If you missed the card, it's here. I'll be signing names and cities/states/countries to it, just to let these people know how far-reaching this was.

( This is the card I'm sending to the Brady family, along with all the donations people have been sending. )

An update on the Brady family, the victims of the house fire. Their little girl is still recovering in the hospital and everyone else is doing fine health wise.

Their sizes:

Mother: size 4-6, medium tops, size 8 shoes

Father: size 28-30, medium shirts, size 11 shoes

Boys: 3T, 4T, 5T, shoes, 8, 9, 10

Girl: 4-6 months, shoes 6mo

Coats, socks, and undergarments are needed. And of course, gift cards will be most welcome to help them buy items they need most. They're not asking for toys, but right here at Christmas we all know they need them for those four boys and that baby girl. Santa will find them even if their house is gone!

I got a card for them that I plan to sign everyone's name and city/country to; I will post a picture of it soon.

Yesterday my aunt told me about a family in the area that had a house fire. They have five children, the youngest is a 4 month old girl in the burn unit. The other four are boys, ages 2-5. They lost everything. I'm trying to gather items and donations for them for Christmas and I'd like your help.

They need everything. If you have old children's clothing, boys sizes 2T to 5T, or toys your children no longer play with, please consider donating it. I will even be willing to travel a reasonable distance to pick things up so you won't have to spend money on shipping. Especially good and easy to send would be gift cards; I'm telling people Wal-Mart since they can buy an array of things from food to clothing to Christmas gifts for their kids.

I want to help these people, but I need help to do it right. Please share this link if you're willing. If you send something, please send it to my address:

Amanda Roudabush
2670 Willard Rd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
USA

Let me know, either by comment or e-mail, that you've sent something so it won't be lost in the shuffle. And include a name so I can sign it to the card I intend to include, letting them know how many people cared about them and wanted to help.

An original version of Downriver has been accepted by Dreamspinner Press. I will be taking it down by the end of the week, so if you would like to save a copy of the original RPS version, please do so now!

This movie looks all kinds of awesome. As does the cast.

[edit] I want an icon of Sean Bean on a yacht with a rocket launcher.....