Wow! Where to start? Guess I'll start with Trixie, since that's what brought me here!
I received my first copies of 'Secret of the Mansion' and 'Red Trailer Mystery' for my 12th birthday in 1975. I was instantly in love! Not just with Jim, but with the whole story idea. I identified so well with Trixie. I hated the indoor chores. I had pesky older brothers and a younger sister who seemed to be perpetually six (okay, so she's only 3 years younger than me, but being the baby, she acted six most of the time!). I was an eternal tomboy, and the boy I really liked had red hair! Because I was so young, we were 'special friends' for a long time!
Slowly, my collection grew to include the first 17 books, books that I now know to be called 'The Uglies.' I didn't care what they looked like, I just knew that what was inside was more wonderful than any other book I'd ever read! I couldn't put them down! That caused more than one argument (mom: "Time to set the table." me: "I'll be there in a minute" mom: "It's been ten minutes. You really need to set the table!" me: "Let me finish this chapter! I'll be right there!" mom: "Your Father just pulled in the driveway! Set this table NOW!" me: "Coming!"). Pretty soon, my mom got so intrigued, wondering why I couldn't put those books down, and while I was in school, she began reading them. Funny thing, she couldn't put them down either!
As boys became more important, I shelved my books, but they remained in constant view, in a place of honor on the bookshelf above my bed. I took a cue from Jim and glanced fondly at them for many years! When I got married and left my home, they were packed away and stored in my parents' attic. I was but a baby, at 20 years old, when my three stepchildren would come to visit on the weekends. The oldest, my then 13-year-old stepdaughter, was really into reading. She would go to sleep reading and pick up the book as soon as she woke up, devouring entire novels in a weekend. I found a way to connect to her! On my next trip home, I pulled my books out of storage and presented them to her. She was hooked!
Somewhere in the various moves and stages of life, I lost touch with my books again. When I was browsing through a bookstore one day, in search of something interesting to read to my then 6 year old daughter, I stumbled on the newly re-issued copies of the Trixie series. As I held the boxed set of the first three in my hands, sweet, happy memories flooded my brain. My daughter fell in love with the books, too! Two of my Trixie traits, impatience and impulsiveness, drove me to look for the rest of the series online. I became a woman obsessed! I discovered so many books! We've completed most of the set, the only ones lacking are the last five. Two of those we've checked out and read from our local library. We weren't impressed! Even my daughter, now 8, picks out the inconsistencies, making corrections as we go!
Out of curiosity in May of 2005, I entered the name "Trixie Belden" in a Google search. WOW! I was overwhelmed by what I saw! There were other people, lots of other people, who loved her as much as I did! Not only that, they were continuing the stories! My eyes hurt from reading so much, but I couldn't stop! My favorite place to visit, by far, was Jixemitri.
In the course of reading and re-reading the stories, both canon and fanfic, the voices that seem to plague fanfic writers everywhere invaded my head. At first, I thought I was crazy. Dan kept coming to me, begging to be heard! Well, who am I to turn away that gorgeous dream of a man?! In March of 2006, I put pen to paper for the first time since high school and allowed the words to flow. 300,000 plus words later, I've decided (and have been encouraged) to share Dan's vision with the rest of the world!
After writing all those stories, I had no place to go! I'd been lurking at Jix for a while, so on October 30, I de-lurked and joined! I've never felt more at home than I do when I'm visiting Jix!
Right now, I have one universe, "Island Beginnings." It is a traditional universe with traditional pairings, but we may take a while to get there! Remember, patience is a virtue! I'll post stories as soon as I get them satisfactorily edited. So, come on in! Dip your toes into the warm waters of Galveston Bay and relax with "Island Beginnings."
Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't give a HUGE thanks to Diane (Lorindol) for encouraging me to do this in the first place and for showing Honey's BWG spirit of Generosity in hosting me until I figure out how to do this on my own! BIG HUGS, Lorindol!
