Here is a link to the first part of my new 4-part Series. “The Velvet Lounge Hotel” – (Part 1 of 4)

Congratulations to everyone, and once again, thank you, Kimmi. 😘😊

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Good morning everybody!

Interesting event, at least in my life. I've just been signed by a literary agent who wants to represent Bear and Girl in non-English speaking markets. She believes it will appeal to a certain segment of the market.

Congratulations, and good luck! 😊

Quote by techgoddess

I will be doing my video review just as soon as my hands don’t look like lobster claws! A side effect of the antibiotic prescribed for my superbug is photosensitivity. I did not realize that sunscreen is not as effective in this situation. My hands and feet are both severely sunburn. 😩😵‍💫🥴 Fortunately the temps are nice enough today that I can take my brother to the pool while there is still shade this morning. I just can’t catch a break. The good news is that I think the antibiotic is working. But it’s a slow process. I’m not 100% better but I am definitely improving. I go back to the doc next Thursday before I head north to take my brother back to Michigan and visit my kids/grandkids.

I have some UV gloves arriving today so protect my hands while I’m outside. Never thought I’d need gloves in Florida. Hahaha!

TGIF all y’all.

Sorry to hear about the sunburn, Kat, though great to hear that the antibiotics are working. 😊

A Friday question: Here in the UK, we eat a lot of these (hot cross buns). Is that true of elsewhere in the world?

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Ooo sexy smut writers, a last minute entry by MisterStiffy! Now, I’ll have to wait until my judge wakes up and can read it before I post the winners. Will there be a shakeup in peaches? We’ll all have to wait and see. Two hours left if anyone else wants to enter!

Thank you for running this fun challenge, Kimmi. It is appreciated... 😘

I have been working on a (now) 4-part series called "The Velvet Lounge Hotel". It is set in 1987 and is a spin-off story from my last book, "The Three of Us". It is about Sarah, who has always suppressed the fact that she is very bisexual, going on her 4th, though 1st proper, date with Liz. She is an older, experienced, fendom bisexual lady who knows exactly how to push Sarah's buttons.

The first 3 parts are finished; the 4th part has a little way to go. I also have to thank expressomarkie for pointing me in the right direction to help me produce four AI covers. 😊

Hopefully, part one will be with the moderators soon.

I'd like to say thank you for the competition, Kimmi. Hopefully, things will get better soon for you, and I know you have encouraged me a few times. 😊

I am sending you a couple of long-distance kisses. 😘 😘

Quote by techgoddess

Well, 1 out of 3 contractors showed up so far today. Let's see if anyone else decides to show up. I may need one of those sprinkly donuts to soothe my savage inner beast. Why can't people just show up and do their job? Sighs...

I think it's a worldwide problem, Kat. We are waiting for a builder's start date to put a new roof on our garage and front conservatory. We have agreed on a price and paid the deposit, but tying down a start date... We've been waiting for over a month on that. 🙄

Hopefully hear this week!

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Yeah, but more to the point this is the first one I've seen resting on Kimmi's bum!

Maybe I'll have to check more often… 😜

That's a good point! 🙄😊

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Did anyone notice the pretty butterfly resting on my…

I did. It's a monarch butterfly, which I have seen loads of in mainland Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but I don't remember recording seeing one in the UK. 🙄😊

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

I expect there's a soft limit of 100 because nobody expected anyone to write more than 100 chapters in a series. I'll raise this with the tech team and see if they have any suggestions.

Did you get any answers from the tech team, WW?

Rain (which coincidentally the same title as the last story I submitted to LS).

You wait when I see him!

He told me it wasn’t going to rain today.

He bought me a porous umbrella.

And then, with a warm, loving smile,

He asked me to wear my new white summer dress.

Then reassured me it wouldn’t go transparent.

God, I love showing off my body, my naked breasts.

Next time I see him,

I will remind him why I love him so much!

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

Well, at least it's warm – around 11C (that's 52F for those of you who live in Mynamar – or America).

That quote gave me a midday chuckle. 🤣

Here, near the coast of Southern England, it is 9°C and not a cloud in the sky. It feels like spring is finally here. I am sitting in our orangery, sipping my skinny latte and typing away. The temperature inside is in the low twenties.

Not really a doughnut fan, but the Danish pastries look good. 😎

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

I expect there's a soft limit of 100 because nobody expected anyone to write more than 100 chapters in a series. I'll raise this with the tech team and see if they have any suggestions.

Thank you, WW. 😊 Maybe there is a workaround.

I have not yet raised a ticket for this.

However, I noticed my latest chapter, "The Three Of Us" - Chapter 30:– “Aftermath - Part 2” , in my Friends, Lovers or Rivals series does not show up on the Reorder Series List. This chapter is the 101st in the series.

My question: Is there a maximum number of chapters you can link in a Reorder Series List?

I'm rather jealous of the idea of going to the beach, Kat. We have at least another month's wait here in the South of England.

We just returned from a wet and windy cruise that turned more into a mystery cruise, as we only managed to dock at two scheduled ports. So, no Gibraltar, no Portugal and rather a lot of a soggy Spain and over-indulgence in the ship's food and drink.

I better just stick to a cup of tea and forgo those tempting cakes, James is offering. 🙄😳

I never promoted my most liked story before; it was a short 4-part series. It had over 200 likes! 😳😎

The cover and link: The Two M's - Part 1 Of 4

I have just finished my 5th novel here on LushStories. It is called "The Three of Us.

If you fancy reading a coming-of-age tale that is long, detailed, and a little different, why not give it a go? 😊

Here is the link to the first chapter: "The Three Of Us" - Chapter 1:- “Moving In”

I have just finished my 5th novel here on LushStories. It is called "The Three of Us.

If you fancy reading a coming-of-age tale that is long, detailed, and a little different, why not give it a go? 😊

Here is the link to the first chapter: "The Three Of Us" - Chapter 1:- “Moving In”

Quote by CarltonStJames

Just realised we've been talking about the top 100 so much but it's only showing the top 98 currently.

I found it strange too, I did point it out at the top of the thread that it was 98.

When I originally made this suggestion, I thought it was a simple one and that there would be many authors in favour of the suggestion. Not for the first time, I was wrong. 🙄🤣

However, being the practical man, I looked at it this way... If the All-Time Favourite list isn't extended (or purged). Then one day it will become irrelevant as the numbers will be so high it will become meaningless to new authors. Eventually, the list will be full of retired authors with numbers far higher than anyone here can count. 😳

Having said that. I do believe there have been some interesting points raised on this thread. I do hope we get to see some other site improvement suggestions raised. After all, there are loads of talented, creative people here. 😊

I want to congratulate the winners and say well-done to all those who took part. 😊

Quote by Jen

I don't really get the need to extend it. Like Susie said, it's a popular authors list, which some might use rather than the RR/EP section. It can get to be an obsession with some authors. It wasn't too far in the past we had one person spamming everyone and their granny to like and comment and the pressure got to be so much that she just started stealing stories from elsewhere to keep the content coming.

I think 100 is probably the limit I'd want to see.

I feel this is a fair point... yes, I have in the past been spammed for likes.

However, I like to feel that as the site grows, it could kept under review. 😊

Quote by Seeker4

So I would suggest that you may be describing yourself and the segment of Lush writers you are a part of, but you should not assume all writers are like that. Frankly, I barely ever look at my badges, let alone something like this.

With the greatest of respect, Seeker4, one look at my profile would tell you (with one exception) that I don't write "popular" stories. Until recently I never even wrote a story in any of the top 3 genres here. It was only when I wrote my 100th story that I ventured into one. I wrote that story for fun, and yes, likes. It was to prove I could do it (I also doubled my followers with one story, so maybe I should have done it sooner).

My motivation for asking these questions is through observations. If readers/authors (the customers) don't occasionally ask questions or make suggestions, then there is a danger that LushStories could rest on its laurels and not be the popular site it is today.

Making the top author list longer seems, to me, like a good idea and relatively easy to do. 😊

If you want a more radical suggestion, then base the Top Author List on words published (sorry, Kistin). Yes, I may be just stirring it a bit with that! 😜🤣

Quote by KimmiBeGood

It’s not info I care to see. Feels like pressure or something, so I don’t care for it on my profile, but fine if others would like to see it.

As a developer, I’d think if there’s a top 100 list, there’s probably the entire author list ranked already, but just the top 100 displayed. Programming would have to be calculating all authors to figure the top, so doesn’t seem like it would be too hard to display 250.

I completely agree with Kimmi. 😊

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

... and on pages that don't auto-load endless content, thus never allowing you to reach the site footer 🙄

It is downplayed at the moment, tucked away in the footer there. Perhaps there's a way to give it more prominence as a link from the trending stories in each genre or something? Can't see any obvious place to add it, but there might be a way somehow with a little content rejig, perhaps...

I believe once the authors know it is there, they will look for it. A bit of marketing (like this) would help.

However, as previously mentioned, I do feel the lists should be longer (especially the all-time one), as it is only really relevant to anyone who makes the list.

Quote by AvidlyCurious

Here https://www.lushstories.com/top/authors?duration=all

Thank you, AC. I believe a lot of members don't know it exists. 🙄

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Anything's possible but I don't know how much enthusiasm there'll be for extending it. I could ask.

Besides, keeping it at 100 gives those not on the list something to strive for and those on the list something to fight for 😃

(I'm currently only 75th so there's plenty of room for improvement)

Thank you for answering, WW. 😊

While there doesn't seem to be a huge rush to like my suggestion, which is disappointing. But I look at it this way...

If you are not already on the list, you have no idea where you are relative to other authors. Therefore, less incentive to publish more stories and climb up the list.

I do believe it is a good idea, and I expect it to be relatively simple to do, 😳🙄 though I am only guessing!

What are the chances of extending LushStory's most popular authors of all time listing from the current maximum of 98 authors to something much higher, say 500?

It strikes me that with so many budding and past authors here, maybe it is time to increase that number. 😳😊

Quote by Seeker4

Hm. Coffee and tea are made. And there's white hairs. Bear dropped in. Good morning.

No polar bear sightings where I am but it sure looks and feels polar. With my SS comp entry up, I am back to flailing about for a story that engages my interest. Something will bite eventually.

Well, I am meant to be writing the last chapter of my novel "The Three of Us" but just got waylaid by a hot cross bun and a cup of tea.

Seeker4, have some Dorset Apple Cake on me. It's our local cake recipe... and yes, it is as sweet as it looks. 🙄😀

Quote by utterchaos

Ah ha, there's a few of us Brits here 🤗 I'm very fortunate to have both Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral almost on my doorstep. Was particularly handy when I wanted edgy, gothic profile pics in the earlier social media days and feel cool hanging out in the crypt with my friends 😅

I always wanted to visit Rochester Castle, perhaps one day. 😊 Alas, Oliver Crowell visited the castle nearest to where I live; hence, there is very little of it left. 😳