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My journey in fandom began with a story about Wesley Crusher when I was thirteen. I didn’t know what fandom was, really, and had never read any other fan fiction since this was during a time when fan fiction existed only in fanzines and on listservs. I didn’t have access to any of that in the late 1980s.
I posted fan fiction online for the first time around May 20, 2008. It was a retreat, of sorts, from my life and career as I was stressing myself out in a way that was both mentally and physically dangerous. Finding a spot in fandom saved me, in a way, and it became a place of solace and comfort.
On May 20, 2023, my word count for this site flipped over five million words with the posting of Where Angels Fear to Tread. It was surreal and I did sort of manage it in a way that the story was in the Stargate fandom because it’s always going to be my home.
I can’t say fandom has always been a comfort because there are some real motherfuckers out there and they treat strangers on the internet very unkindly. Still, I’ve always been able reorient, steady my little boat, and shelter my little spot for my own mental health.
One thing that helped with this was creating boundaries and policing them without exception. Fandom can be a lovely place to find friends and entertainment as long as you take the utmost care with yourself and others.
Do no harm, but take no shit.
We’re gearing up for the fifth year of the Quantum Bang and it’s going to be our biggest year, yet! Posts for this year will begin on June 1st. I wrote a series set in 9-1-1 as I’m utterly in love with Eddie Diaz and I accept no judgment. Sign ups for 2024 will begin on August 1, 2023.
On June 1st we’ll also open up Rough Trade sign ups for July! I’m going to concentrate on one story for this challenge this year to give myself a little breathing room. It’s the next part in the Nature Provides series and it’s called When I See You Again. Here’s a sneak peek at the banner art:
I’m working story for the Big Moxie Q2 featuring Tony DiNozzo and Ian Edgerton called Entrapment — I’m pretty pleased with it as well. It’ll be posted in June at some point.
-KM
I am beyond thankful to have found your fan fiction and the tribe of writers and friends you have collected over the years. Your stories are a both an inspiration and a source of comfort for me and I am so very pleased for you to have reached such an amazing milestone!
What Shelly said. Thank you for the worlds, words and teaching me how to stand my ground.
Outstanding achievement, M’Lady. I remember being in awe when you reached one million words, now I bow before a writing goddess. Over the years your stories have brought me tears and laughter, inspiration and (brief) despair. You’ve introduced me to fandoms I wouldn’t have read otherwise and a lot of TV shows I haven’t watched. I have friends all over the world because of being one of your minions. Seriously, M’Lady, my life is better with you and your words in it. Here’s to the next million. Hugs, Hxx
I’ve been reading fanfiction for just over 10 years now, but when I found your site and fell down the rabbit hole of the worlds you create from these fandoms it was like discovering the wonders of fanfic all over again. You have reset the bar on what I expect in the stories I read. Thank you for sticking around despite the trolls and haters, because if/when you stop it will be a loss to all of us who look forward to your next foray into these fandoms we love.
Love what you write!
I didnt watch SGA, NCIS, 911 – Even then I follow your stories. I like them that much:)
I only found you a few years ago bit you feed my soul with your works, I eagerly await the next morsels!
Congratulations and good luck
Congratulations on this milestone, and a thousand times thank you for sharing your talent with us readers. You have given me so many safe places to retreat to when real life has been just too much, and I can live in your worlds. I have listened to so many of your podcasts, not for the writing advice, but for the life advise. You are a blessing in in this world.
I’m grateful for you and happily read everything you post
I’m so glad you picked up fanfiction! Your stories are always entertaining and so well written. I can’t wait to deep dive into your 9-1-1 series too!
I have been with you since the beginning. My fur baby was named Sebastian after J/R’s son. Thank you for the enjoyment you have shared with all of us.
In the current day, with the internet and media the way it is, the concept of Fandom and fanfiction seem un-escapeable and easy to seek out. It brought a fond smile to my face to learn about your Wesley Crusher story; for me it was lying in my bed with a tape cassette recorder in the mid-90s, narrating the return of John Smith to the New World. Writing never became my skill, but I am an avid reader in a plethora of fandoms. As an adult, fandom engagement can be complicated by a lot of factors- mental health, neurodivergence, stress, sex, long-distance friendships, time management, real-world social and political realities, trauma. You reminded me that maybe so many of us are drawn together not only because of complex purposes and easy access to digital discourse, but because there is a simple spark within us that dreams: “what if?”
So, congratulations on your milestone. Thank you for sharing your writing, which has brought me many tears and joy through re-reads over the years. Thank you for inspiring creators to dream, and supporting platforms to share with respectful boundaries. I’m counting down the days to Quantum Bang release with gleeful anticipation. May Fandom continue to bring you solace and comfort, as well as a great deal of joy as you continue to ask; “but what if?” Blessed be.
I enjoy your stories and appreciate you sharing them with us out here in the void.
I originally came to your site for your
hp stories, which
i still love–including the dverger spinoffs and the Hobbit crossovers. But I’ve become a fan of your 9-1-1 world. Those stories have driven me to try watching the series; that leaves me puzzled, because your rendering of that world is so much more humanly profound and interesting than the original. In any case, I’m eternally grateful that you found fan fiction, and hope you keep thriving . I have no disposable income at the moment, but plan to donate as soon as I sell my house.
Oh please take of yourself first. Your kind words are more than enough.
I so enjoy your stories and am grateful you grace us with you genius. I’ve discovered fanfiction about 8 years ago and you are my favorite author. Congratulations on your huge accomplishment. I’m so looking forward to your next stories.
Congratulations and thank you! Forever grateful you decided to share your passion with us!
Thank you for those five million words. I’m so glad I found you early in my fanfiction deep dive. It has been entertaining, heartbreaking, full of laughter, joy, makes you think, realizing that canon isn’t everything and wishing some of what is written is canon becausethe characters jump out of the page.
The sneak peaks for upcoming works is always a joy. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Congratulations and thank you very much for your five million words. They are often solace when times are bleak and make me laugh and cry in equal parts. It’s a joy to come here to this site and enjoy all these fantastic and varied stories in fandoms I love and even some I have no clue about.
The sneak peeks are awesome and I am looking forward to both. Thank you for sharing those and all your other stories with us.
Your stories are my go to when life gets to be too much and I need to escape. I have a lot of your older stories on my kindle and I never get tired of reading them. From reading your newer stories, you got me hooked on 911. I get my knee replaced a little over 2 weeks from now and I plan to binge watch 911.
Congrats on reaching your goals, and thank you for sharing your work with us! It’s an honor being a Minion. 🙂
Congratulations on your accomplishments and thank you for sharing your hard work and amazing new takes on worlds we already loved and now love even more with your help. Many years ago, I had a friend who was huge fan of Stargate and she introduced me to your writing. I never really got into that fandom because I knew it would be a deep-dive that I already had with Buffy and HP, but I’ve been a huge fan of your writing and your take on fandom since then. Fandom can be wonderful or it can be vicious and I’m happy to have found my way to your lovely tribe of fun and craziness that feels like home. Even if I’m usually lurking in the corner just reading. Thanks for everything you do for fandom and keep taking care of yourself as well.
Also, the banners for the new stories are gorgeous and I look forward to see what you’ve written now.
Thank you for everything you write. I’m unsure now how long I’ve been reading you stories, other than it being many years but I’m always grateful when I see something new. I’ve followed you into lots of new fandoms and never been disappointed.
Congratulations on 5 million words, and again, thank you for sharing with us.
Wow, that‘s so awesome. I found you through your Harry Potter fanfictions, and I am absolutely in love with your writing style. You managed to make me read stories of fandoms where I haven’t even seen the series (911 for example), but I just could not get enough from your writing. And you manage to write so well that it doesn’t even matter that I don’t know all the characters and their backstories.
So, thank you very much, for writing and sharing your stories with us and for creating forums were great stories can be shared and read.
You bring so much happiness to us. I’m always thankful and excited to see a new post. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done and did.
I found you through a convoluted path of searching for NCIS/Tony D stories after he left the show. Jilly James Site lead me the the Wild Hare Project – and the Feeding Frenzy which lead me to your personal site. You then got me addicted to 911 which I have only seen a part of once. Then I moved onto Stargate Atlantis… I adore your writing and am happy that you have established your boundaries and still writing. Losing you would leave a huge hole in my escapism. I reread everything and love your stories.
Thanks for giving other writers great challenges and a place to write freely. You rock!!!!
Just a quick question – do you have any other options set up for donations apart from paypal? It’s not that popular this part of Europe and tbh I don’t really know how to use it, but I would like to contribute 🙂
I’m sorry. It’s all I currently have. Thank you for reading!
I cane across your work several years ago, as I am an avid HP fanfiction reader.l especially Harry/Hermione. Your world building is phenomenal! I have fallen in love with the Dverger and much prefer them over the goblins. The crossovers with LOTR and Sentinal are so amazing. Never saw the Sentinal series; however, I do so enjoy your work. You have come a long way and only gotten better. I look forward to more when you have the inclination. Thank you so very much.
You are to be congratulated, that is a truly significant achievement. I’m glad your writing has benefited your mental health, as it has certainly benefited mine. Many times when I’ve felt stressed or down, I’l reread one of your awesome stories, and it makes me feel so much better. Thank you for all your amazing writing.
Congratulations on 15 years!!! I just hit 25 in December and it’s WILD to think about how far fandom has come in the time we’ve all been here watching it. I’m so grateful to have stumbled into your corner of fandom as you convinced me to start writing again by just being so happy to put words out *for yourself*. It made me remember why I started writing, and reminded me I could write for fun and be damned if it was what current trends were looking for. I’m excited for what’s to come for you, and for me! Here’s to more years!
WOW! Five million words!!!!
I have loved your work…
Wait, 15 years… hmm have I been reading fanfiction for that long? No I have not. I have been reading fanfiction for 17 years… my how time does fly.
Anyway, I have loved your work from the first story I read. I still love your work, I read most of your stories over and over again
Changed my gif it was the first fanfiction I read. Can you guess it? Not related to my handle.
I’ve been a “bookaholic” my entire life and have been reading online fanfiction since back in the days of Highlander and Forever Knight. You are without a doubt one the the best writers I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Your world-building, plotting, and turn-of-phrase are fantastic.
I don’t comment often because I can rarely think of something to say besides, “Yeah, what she said!” Like several others have mentioned, I rejoiced when you hit a million and just kept going. I can’t even count how many times I’ve re-read your stories.
Anyone who has been involved in fandom for long has, unfortunately, seen the bad side. From the original implosion of The Sentinel fandom through the always present sense of entitlement and general bitchy behavior. I have watched with awe as you have encouraged so many other writers by providing safe environments like Rough Trade.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful stories and for everything else you do.
Congrats on 15 years and 5 million words – and the knowledge, insight and safe spaces you bring to fandom.
Congratulations, Keira. I am so happy I found your stories. They have given me hours of entertainment, frequently in fandoms for content I’ve never actually consumed before! (It never seems to matter, you’re so accomplished at detailing the relevant world)
Thank you so very much for all you do, both in writing yourself and in assisting, promoting & creating safe spaces for other writers, with things like RT & QB, to name only two.
Congratulations on a remarkable milestone. I found your fics years ago with the Ties That Bind Series and have followed you into HP and 9-1-1 fandoms (I adore Eddie Diaz also).
Your worldbuilding is off the charts and I often think that what you have is better than what I have seen on the screen many times. I honestly have so much love for the way you write your characters, often fleshing hem out more than what I see ont he screen.
Again, congratulations on an amazing milestone!
I don’t remember when I first found fan fiction, I think it was around 2010. I do know that it was an escape for me from real life which was at the time, and still is, a constant source of heartbreak and stress. I appreciate every fanfic author out there for their contributions and hard work.
You and Jilly James are two of my favorite authors. I cheer every notification and feel an immediate wave of happiness and anticipation. Thank you! For your hard work, your talent and the gift of your stories! I love everyone of them and escape within them for hours at a time.❤️
Congratulations on over 5mil words written!!! Your hard work is inspiring and I admire your firmness in upholding your boundaries. Thank you for sharing with us!
What an accomplishment! Congratulations on all of your hard work and masterful storytelling. As many have mentioned, you have introduced me to other fandoms that I never have watched on any media platform, but I love how you weave the characters together and create more depth to them than canon allows. I came to your site through Jilly’s and found a place that is that comfort after a hard day of people and the outside world. You create that safe zone where I can just lose myself and not think about all the crap that comes along with daily living in this world. You also showed me how to find your boundaries and I absolutely respect the hell out of you. I respect your talent, your stories, and how you don’t take shit from anyone. Its inspiring. Congratulations and cheers to the future!
I come back to your work all the time, you’re my comfort author and seeing that you hit 5mil words is incredible! Congratulations! I love your works and can’t wait to read(and reread) your future posts too. You’ve inspired me with the form boundaries around fandom, you’re absolutely right that there are some real motherfuckers out there and I’ve also started enforcing the, “No unsolicited concrit.” And “if you can’t be nice, fuck off” boundaries. They are world changing. Thank you for laying the foundations.
Been with you for a significant part of those 15 years. You have provided me with an enormous amount of pleasure. Your adventures, your drama, your comedy, your porn, all of it has been so MUCH fun. Thank you.
Five Million Words. That is absolutely amazing to me. I’m pretty sure I’ve read almost every word. Your worlds enrich my life to an amazing degree. I’m doubly glad that it was an SGA story that tipped you over. I adore the way you write John and Rodney in all their glorious permutations. You are amazingly gifted and I am blessed to be here. There are stories of yours that I visit regularly and every time they have a profound effect on me.
Thank you for sharing your words and your safe spaces so that you could introduce all these other lovely authors. You, are a National Treasure.
Congratulations on the words and the stories and everything you share so generously. So grateful for all the lovelies. And love the previews and the banners. Thank you!
This post made me tear up. You’re a huge reason that I’ve found new fandoms, and a number of your stories are my go-to comfort fics. The fact that you’ve helped to create such amazing spaces for authors to stretch their writing skills and play… what a way to give back and help shape a new group of creative minds. So many thanks to you for all you do.
Not to mention HOLY SHIT your upcoming projects, dude. It never ceases to amazing me where and how you get so many amazing ideas to play with. Thank you so much for sharing! xxx
Thank you for your hard work. I have spent many happy hours in your worlds. Huggles for you and carrots for your plot bunnies.
Congratulations on your accomplishment. I think I’ve read all of your stories on your site multiple times. You are definitely my go to author when I need to escape and go to a happy place. I have read stories in fandoms that I’ve never seen a single episode on. The sneak peaks that you have provided in your QB and upcoming RT are intriguing.
Thak you for sharing your gift and your awesome world building and writing.
Mil felicitaciones, encontrar tu sitio fue una de las mejores cosas que me paso en este apasionante mundo del fanfic, tus historias están plagadas de magia y tus personajes nos enamoran en historia tras historia. Tu obra es uno de las mas apasionantes lecturas que podemos encontrar. Éxitos mil y que sigas cosechando logros.
Gracias. Me alegro de que hayas encontrado alegría y consuelo en mi trabajo.
(I hope that made sense. I used Google translate!)
Congratulations on 15 years and 5 million words! That’s such an incredible milestone! Finding your little corner of fandom has been such a gift and honestly changed my relationship with fanfiction over the last 5 years. This pocket of peace you maintain is so appreciated by so many.
Congratulations on this amazing milestone!
I usually don’t post anything. I am the epitome of a lurker and I have been one since 2008… I found your site because of a fucking plagiarizer and I have to say I have NEVER been so happy as the day I found you! Your words have brought me solace in a time of personal upheaval and change is never the easiest thing for me. I too have found that the stargate fandom is my home. I still remember seeing the original movie in theaters and thinking that this world would change my life and it certainly did. When I found your stories it was like coming home!
Thank you for your wonderful creations. They have been loved and devoured, over and over again. 😀
Congratulations on your achievement! I’ve loved every min. Of the last 15 years with you!
Just wanted to say Thanks! Your writing gives me a great place to escape and enjoy some peacefulness! It’s more appreciated than I have words to express. Congrats on a huge milestone! Here’s to many more!
Thank you for everything you’ve written for us. Your stories have been an escape and a comfort and a joy reason to laugh when it feels hard to. Not to mention the projects you started that encourage other writers. They all mean more to us than you’ll ever know. I look forward to whatever you write next
Congratulations, and thank you for taking me and many others on such a wonderfully well written ride for many years. I look forward to whatever you chose to gift us in the future, and hope that you continue to reap joy and contentment from your writing. Thank You!
Thank you for finding your muse and having the courage to post all the 5 million words that have gotten me through the last year of medical problems and pain. You are an inspiration to all of us in fandom.
Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful writing! I am so glad to you were able to create a good space. Your writing has wonderful depth and characters, and I am in awe of all of the other things you have mastered (like your beautiful websites and pictures) as well.
Congratulations on not just the amazing number of words, but the incredible way you use them to create fascinating worlds and complex characters.
I have spent many hours travelling the stars and experiencing a tremendous range of emotions with your characters whilst bedbound. Your work has helped make my life not just liveable, but enjoyable and kept me (mostly!) sane.
I look forward to the new work, especially Entrapment, because Tony DiNozzo snuck into my heart and refuses to leave!
Hi Keira, I’d like to say congratulations and thank you. I found you early in my fanfiction journey and have to say your stories have had a significant impact on my life. They’ve given joy and comfort to me in many circumstances and allowed me to discover things about myself I never realised (including kink… Dinozzo/Rampart are Canon in my head now btw) as well as taught me to be open to different perspectives. I also admire the community you have created and I mean who wouldn’t!
I look forward to your writing for years to come. Congrats again.
I remember your old site, and being allowed to become a minion to see the sooper seekrit stuff. My fandom of choice is HP, and the stories you’ve told, the worlds you have created over the years have picked me up when the shit has hit the fan. It’s at a point that when I read someone else’s stuff and they use ‘goblin’ I’m all “THAT’S A SLUR, GODDAMMIT! IT’S DVERGER!!”. Then I remember I’m not reading you, lol.
Seriously though, thank you for all of your words. I sent you something, hope it helps. Mwah!
Your words and your corner of the internet are a safe place to visit. You greet us with old favourites that we happily re-read for the umpteenth time or give us new gems to explore, either through your own work or the welcoming spaces you provide for other creators. Thank you.
This is amazing. Your body of work is amazing. Congratulations on 5 million words! I have never felt anything but joy when visiting your site. P.s. thank you for sticking it out all these years in spite of the assholes.
Congratulations on fifteen years and five million words. Just want say thank you so much for sharing your stories.
I came to site looking for HP fanfics, and have stayed because of your stories and style of writing. They have carried me through some really crazy shite in life.
PS. Thank you for introducing me to the Stargate and 9-1-1 fandoms. I absolutely adore your version of John/Rodney and Eddie/Buck.
Congratulations. I’ve been around for over a decade of it all and it’s been a delight. Thank you so much for letting us tag along on this journey of yours.
The title of the 9-1-1 one reminds of “See you again” by whiz kalifa.
Anyway, what I wanted to say was that I’m glad that you can find the good in fandom since nowadays it’s not regarded as a matter of course.
I’ll be eagerly waiting for the Tony/Ian one.
Congrats on the Word Count!
I titled my fic after that song. I’m going to put the video in my project file 😉
Congrats on this milestone & thank you for the years of entertainment!
Congratulations on 5 million words! It’s an astonishing accomplishment and we’re so lucky that you share with us! Thank you!
I think I came across your writing around 2009/10.
Hooked ever since!
Thanks.
Congratulations, on 5 million words and 15 years. That’s phenomenal. You have incepted me into so many fandoms. Thank you. I also wanted to say your current site edit is beautiful.
Thank you! I like the new art, too.
All I can say is Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I truly appreciate every word, in every story. I could go on forever, but just….Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I’ve been reading fanfiction since the early 2000s. I found you through your Ties That Bind series and I’ve been hooked ever since! Your stories are a comfort for me and I’ve read just about everything you’ve written, sometimes multiple times. I reread my favorite stories once a year. Thank you so very much for sharing these words with us! Congratulations on 5 million words!
I remember celebrating your first million words, finding your site has brought sheer joy to my life and even now with illness, your writing thrills me and cheers me up every time I read it.
Thank you for sharing your gift on line.