TSG, Christmas letter, & overandoverandunder

[rthstewart]

So, someone out there rec'd TSG Part 1 in her Christmas letter to overandoverandunder who is an evolutionary biologist and she particularly enjoyed the hot Eagle sex (diving death spirals) and cursing hummingbirds.  I have no idea who the two of you are -- anonymity being anonymous, and further have no idea if you ever come over here.  But if you do, thank you with all my heart.  

I started The Stone Gryphon story cycle for so very many reasons -- a celebration of this creation, a celebration of a multi-cultural vision, and wondering what it would be like if the sexually prolific holly trees in my neighbor's yard really could walk and talk.  More than that, I was wondering, if you grew up in a place were there were sexually prolific holly trees, lived in that place for years and years, and became an adult there, what would happen when you came back to a place that was so very different?

I get flack for this vision -- see above regarding indiscriminate holly trees and hot raptor sex -- and the assumption that such exposures probably change how one views such things as an adult.  I also get incredible support from those who are looking for something different, and I am deeply grateful for every word of support I receive.  To you, overandoverandunder and your Christmas letter correspondent, the commentary like that which you provided, and the story you told behind the review, are precious and the highest sort of compliment I could ever receive.  Feedback and reviews are not why I started this, and are not really why I keep writing.  But, readers like you provide me with a tangible voice in the lonely wilderness of authorship.  I realize that yes, there are people out there who share the vision or some part of it, and who are taking the journey with me. 

P.S: And that bit about the rare, delicate fish?  Maybe the coelacanth?  We are also pretty fond of the megamouth shark and that strange octopus off Indonesia that can mimic sea snakes, cuttlefish, and flounders.
PPS: You made me cry, but in a good, aw shucks, thanks ever so much sort of way.