FUTURE GIRL:
Yep, the entirety of my new BTTF story, "The Family Way," is finally uploaded and waiting for the curious eyes and the critical remarks to be hailed down upon it. I know this one -- gosh, my first new BTTF novel in a full year, excluding my collab with Mary Jean over the summer -- won't be everyone's cup of tea. Doc is only in it a tiny bit (though his parents play a larger role). It's also got more human drama then action/adventure, which seems to be some new trend of mine as of late. However, my next few planned stories will be hopping back a bit with the present dates -- late 80's and early 90's -- and involve more action-y stuff.

Now, if I only had a time machine of my own to give me more time to write.... (I started temping full time last week in an office. Fun and joy.)

Anyway, read and review. Please. Writers can't create in a vacumme, after all.

-Kristen


WILD GUNMAN:
Ah yes, the story! I'm off! *hops in DeLorean*


DAVE1982:
Just finished reading it. I thought it was very good. I thought the interactions between Jules and Verne were excellent and well done, much more sophisticated then your previous stories (nothing against them of course).

I did find it a bit 'gossipy' at times, especially when Emily was talking, but I think that's just me.

Seriously, you did a superb job on this one. Keep up the good work!
-Dave

FUTURE GIRL:
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave1982:Just finished reading it. I thought it was very good. I thought the interactions between Jules and Verne were excellent and well done, much more sophisticated then your previous stories (nothing against them of course).I did find it a bit 'gossipy' at times, especially when Emily was talking, but I think that's just me.Seriously, you did a superb job on this one. Keep up the good work!-Dave

Thanks. Gee, I hope there's improvement over my earlier works.... If I'm not getting better at writing over the years, then I'm scared because that is something that should (hopefully) happen. Glad I seemed to have succeeded with this though, me being nitpicky, I still feel there's always room for improvement.
-Kristen

FUTURE ANGEL:
I've been anxiously awaiting it, and it was wonderful. Another great story.

FUTURE GUY:
It's too bad tat I'm not going to read this very soon, cause I'm reading Kristen's stories in order and I'm only on the 4th one now. Very good stuff though.

SCFARRIS:
Kristen,
Another great story by you. Keep up the good work when you can. I enjoy any and all fac fiction based on this wonderful series. And I truly enjoy the diversty there can be based by how a person interupts little details in a movie. One person sees it one way and another sees it in a totally different light. But it takes a talented author to accept those differences and then write a cross-over with MJH in the same genre and then not lose the ideas or events that happened afterwards. Both of you wonderful ladies keep up the good work.

PUTYOURMINDTOIT:
Kristen,

Amazing story! I agree with what was said earlier about your writing becoming better and better! Reading stories by both you and MJH are very enriching experiences, because as the characters learn important life lessons, I find that I too learn along with them! You're truly wise beyond your years and I think that you have amazing writing talent and you should seriously consider sending some of your work to some publishers. And if you're worried about the legalities connected to BTTF stories, then I'm sure any stories on any other topic you create will be just as good and excellent enough to be published IMHO.

FUTURE GIRL:

Originally posted by PutYourMindToIt:
You're truly wise beyond your years and I think that you have amazing writing talent and you should seriously consider sending some of your work to some publishers. And if you're worried about the legalities connected to BTTF stories, then I'm sure any stories on any other topic you create will be just as good and excellent enough to be published IMHO.

Thanks for the words! I am actually in the process and have been since last May of pitching a finished novel, the first of a young adult (YA) series, to publishers and agents. (That's sort of the area and audiance I'm aiming to write for -- YA. Even joined the SCBWI last summer and paid the hefty membership fee for the privledge.) It's all original work of mine, something I've been doing on and off since the concept first came to me in 1993! It's a hard sell, though, since the concept is different and unique and not like the other stuff that's being published out there for teens in series books. (Gee, imagine that, there being no one willing to take a chance on something that I know would be successful and fill a niche!) So, yes, I've just gotten rejection letters so far that begin with "Dear Author." I rejoiced when I got one with my name in the heading several weeks ago! Progress!

However, getting a book published in today's marketplace with zilcho experience (fan fiction, unfortunately, is looked upon with some scorn and not taken seriously, to the point I dare not mention it in my query letters) is hard. I could quote you tons of now-successful writers who had years of pink slips in the mail before achieving a foot in the door. Hey, even Bob G and Bob Z shopped BTTF around for about 4 years before it hit the movie theaters! I am being purposely tightlipped about my series and the first and second (currently-in-progress) books of it, but the series does involve a subject I just love to death: time travel.

Anyway, this also sort of explains why it takes me longer to write new BTTF stories now. I'm spending a lot more time on my original stuff and trying to have that go somewhere before the year 2005... I hope.

-Kristen

SCFARRIS:
Kristen,
Just wanted to add a little note wishing you luck with your original ideas. I know I may be too old to ready YA novels, but I might be interested to read them since you said they concern a topic that I would imagine is kinda close to all of us here.
Ripper

FUTURE GIRL
Originally posted by Ripper:
Kristen,Just wanted to add a little note wishing you luck with your original ideas. I know I may be too old to ready YA novels, but I might be interested to read them since you said they concern a topic that I would imagine is kinda close to all of us here.

Really? You're reading my BTTF stories, and that's basically how I write in those YA books. I write the way I write, not trying to dumb down or edit myself to a specific age group. I only realized I'd be good with YA writing because I like using teens as my main characters and the types of plots I like to write seem to fit best there.

Anyway. Back to the subject, as this as skewed off slightly.... Anyone else read the story? Some critics and more detailed comments, please! What was liked? What was disliked? Why? What was done well? And what could be improved? Etc. (Can you tell I'll be a high school English teacher in a couple years? )

-Kristen

CHRISTINA
Hey Kristen,
I'm not completely finished with the story, so I haven't posted my comments yet (it's been a very busy week with papers and stuff). But, I will say this: reading that part where Marty wakes up and reads what was written on his notes concerning the journal (I don't wanna give anything away to anyone who hasn't read it yet) gave me goosebumps. It was soooo dramatic and kinda eerie. Very well done, me like so far.
Christina

SCFARRIS:
Kristen,
I'm not sure if it was the way it came across to me or not. But the way you had it written when Jules kept fainting I was beginning to think it was because of a accidental alteration of history. I really enjoyed how it kept me hanging on. It was so enthralling that I actually sat down and read the whole thing in less than 2 hours.
Ripper

GIGGLES:
Boy, you have lousy timing (no offense). You posted the story just as I left for Wisconsin to visit my boyfriend. But now I'm home and I can read it! YAY!!!

FUTURE GIRL:
Originally posted by giggles:Boy, you have lousy timing (no offense). You posted the story just as I left for Wisconsin to visit my boyfriend. But now I'm home and I can read it! YAY!!!

And, silly me, I thought people might like me more that I posted it around the beginning of spring break, rather than during midterms or finals (for those who are students)....

I'd actually been wondering if you'd seen the story yet, giggles, since you are usually so quick to respond to 'em. Glad to know you were just on vacation!

-Kristen

GIGGLES:
Now that I have read it, I can give my report:
Fan. Tas. TIC!!!!!

I loved the interactions between Jules and Verne and how Jules finally got through his thick skull what Verne was trying to say. And I loved what happened at the end, it was truely a great Christmas present.

And now I can go to bed!

Before I do, however, I'm just gonna point out how greatly amused I am that Wisconsin was mentioned and that's where I spent a week. LOL

Originally posted by Future Girl:
I'd actually been wondering if you'd seen the story yet, giggles, since you are usually so quick to respond to 'em. Glad to know you were just on vacation!

Wow, that's kinda cool, actually, that you wondered where I was.

My three favourite fics by Kristen Sheley are A Pair of Docs, When Worlds Collide (co-written with Mary Jean Holmes), and No Place Like Home - because I love her take on alternate realities.

This is a good fic, too, though. I enjoyed reading about how Marty and Doc's kids get to see their ancestors, and then end up gaining some relatives. As she doesn't subscribe to the "updating memories" theory, I can imagine how hard it'd be for the kids to deal with. It's very well-written!