Yes, time once again to begin ramping up for our annual auction! This will be our tenth (!!!) year of mobilizing the power of fandom to make donations to vital progressive causes.

It's been a difficult year -- most of us are worn down and scared. But there have been some things worth celebrating, too. SCOTUS might be selling us out, but lower courts are consistently ruling against the Trump administration, throwing up meaningful roadblocks to his agenda and vendettas. In both New York City and Seattle, committed on-the-ground organizing helped two progressive mayoral candidates to victory, opening up new possibilities for those cities and inspiring progressives around the world. And all across the US -- especially in those cities that faced targeted violence from the government -- people stepped up to take care of their neighbors: with courage, love, community spirit, and in some cases a good dash of silliness.

In other words: it's not over yet. Not even close. We can't fix it by ourselves, but we can show up to support others who are doing the work, and show up for one another at the same time.

"As I drift off, I try to imagine that world, somewhere in the future, with no Games, no Capitol. A place like the meadow in the song I sang to Rue as she died. Where Peeta's child could be safe."

This August marks the 15th anniversary of the release of Mockingjay, where at the end, our heroine who had been terrified of having children in the dangerous world she was raised in, reveals to us that she has two children of her own, indicating that after all of her grief, there was finally a world where her children could be safe.

This is the true heart of Toast Babies Week, a celebration of two children symbolic of a future where every child can be safe.

While originating as a fandom event, it didn't seem right to simply dream of this future. And so in conjunction with Toast Babies Week, we're also going to be promoting a charity fundraiser for the following children's charities:

Palestinian Children's Relief Fund: "Our mission is to provide medical and humanitarian relief collectively and individually to children throughout the Levant, regardless of their nationality or religion."

Save the Children: "We work in the United States and around the world to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave."

UNICEF: "UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential."

GLSEN: "GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together we can transform our nation's schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve."

Email proof of donation to fuhrgames74[at]gmail.com so we can track the amount of money raised for the event. While donating is its own reward, we also have gifts for the top three donors!

The top 3 donors will be getting the following:

The top donor will get the choice of a copy of the illustrated edition of Catching Fire OR the special collector's edition of Sunrise on the Reaping. AND an art commission from @cateluna that equals up to $50 based on her commission sheet.

The second and third-highest donors will get the choice of a copy of the illustrated edition of Catching Fire OR the special collector's edition of Sunrise on the Reaping.

***Top donors will be determined based on the amount donated in USD using a conversion tool if needed***

* When he releases her fingers he loops his thumbs in those damn suspenders. He meets her eyes, “It’s nice to meet you Miss Katniss.“

“Hey I’m new to town I’m just tellin the truth here. I could use a new friend.”

With the basket of ruined clothes at her hip she narrows her eyes. “I’m not very good at friends…I mean, just, I’m not exactly good with people.”

With a shrug he pulls his cap from his pocket and tugs it back over his wet hair. He grins at her and says, “Well I would say that works out great then. Because I happen to be great with people.”

With a quick tip of his hat he turns to leave, “Goodbye Miss Katniss.”

Rated M

It didn’t make sense, though. The Sith were intentionally cruel, and their lust for power blinded them. Peeta wanted none of those things. He only wanted her.

Had a few people in my DMs recently asking how they would go about diving back into an old project. I tend to work in spurs myself so i’m quite familiar with this, and today I’m sharing my process for this. Always start with emotional investment, then restructure things! If you skip the emotional investment, you likely won’t feel enough reason to go back into it.

Sometimes, you might take a break from working on a project, and sometimes that break may end up being longer than intended.

So how do you get back in the groove once you finally feel ready to pick it back up?

✨ Start with getting emotional

The best way to reconnect with an old project is to regain the emotional connection you had to it. There are a few key ways I do this myself, even with projects I’m currently working on

Remember your whys - why are you telling the story, what’s the message you want to deliver with the project?

Remember the character journeys - what do they need to learn, what are those beautiful flaws they will overcome through this story?

Listen to songs that remind you of the story - if you’ve made a musical playlist for your project, listening to it can be the quickest way to spark the emotion again.

✨ Reground yourself in the story

Once you’ve got yourself emotionally invested in the project again, it’s time to make sense of things and figure out where you left off. This part is all about gaining back the control over the project. Here are some ways I usually do this that you can use →

Re-read what you have written so far - potentially taking notes of changes you want to bring

Revisit your character sheets - are you still clear on exactly what it is their arc looks like?

Craft a fresh chapter treatment - break down the chapters you already have, and plan out the rest, how many will you have in total, and what’s the biggest point you’ll tackle in each of them? Will any need to change?

If you feel you need some help with this, I actually just came out with a bunch of writing templates that help you make sure your story is strong and sturdy!

Find The Writer's Toolboox through [the link here] or below! 🥰

The fact that Mark Cuban can do this is just further proof of how much capatalism is f*cking people over.

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban launched an online pharmacy Thursday that offers more than 100 generic drugs at an affordable price with a goal of being “radically transparent” in its price negotiations with drug companies. 

For example, the leukemia drug imatinib is priced at $47 a month on MCCPDC compared to the $9,657 retail price.

yes this is pretty unbelievable right now—but just look at the replies and reblogs of this post—look at all these people on twitter talking about their own experiences with it now too—this is actually real

and yes everyone is waiting for a catch, but remember it is a PRIVILEGE to think about not sharing this information out of spite for billionaires rather than needing this opportunity regardless of how long it lasts or if mark cuban is doing this for his own gain

To all my readers, thank you for your continuing support. Another chapter is ready and posted on AO3.

Like I always say in my updates, this chapter would be nothing without my beta extraordinaire, banner maker and dear friend @sunsetsrmydreams.

Here's a little snippet;

Instead of being greeted by the warm and inviting aroma of baked bread that always lingers even hours after the ovens have cooled, a pungent smell of stale alcohol wafts through the air. And if that isn’t enough to make my stomach lurch, it’s the sight of Agnes Mellark standing in my father’s bakery kitchen, arms crossed with hatred in her eyes that has never waned…not once.

“So…the rumours are true.”

~~~

#The Quiet Boy

#Everlark fan fiction

#Katniss Everdeen

#Peeta Mellark

#Chapter 14 preview

#Banner by sunsetsrmydreams

The Reaping from Mr Mellark’s POV.

My eyes find the girl - the woman - I had once hoped to marry in the crowd as her daughter’s name is called, only for her other daughter to volunteer in her place. Katniss Everdeen. I find the back of Peeta’s head in the crowd, blonde hair shining in the sun. I barely have time to take pity for him, watching the girl he’s so admired all his life stand up and accept her probable death. Because the boys are being called, and it’s Peeta Mellark. He steps forward, and for a second I see a tiny boy running home and telling me that he’s met the girl he wants to marry and she’s called Katniss. 

Happy Thursday!

Annie came just as Katniss was tucking the last of her clothes into the dresser, and Katniss’s melancholy and exhaustion lifted a little, seeing her old friend. Medical school classmates, they’d formed a deep bond sharing a crappy apartment near the hospital during residency. But like so many things in life, that bond had stretched thin when Annie moved to New South Wales four years earlier, following a man she’d fallen in love with, a man to whom she was now married.

The years melted away as Katniss embraced her friend. “I didn’t think I’d see you until Monday,” Katniss said, and Annie laughed.

The Panem Nightlocks: Character Line Up

Guys, the incredible @little-lynx has done it again. Look at these incredible sketches she has done for the Panem Nightlocks Series. I’m obsessed. And I guess this is the perfect time to share some exciting news…we are working on a commission together to do character illustrations for some of your favorite chapters in The Panem Nightlocks Series universe! Starting with The Bet, there will be 8 illustrations from 8 different chapters coming soon, then will be The Challenge and lastly The Tutor.