Comment from Ellen Frank Bayer

Excellent

great story, loved the description of the Amtrak train and the clothes everyone was wearing. The emerald green dress sounds like something out of Wicked and reminds me of the song Popular. very memorable character descriptions too.

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2024

---

reply by the author on 02-Nov-2024

Aww, thanks very much, Ellen. It was so nice to see you on Thursday.

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

Ha ha -- pulled into the Jane Babies gravitational pull after apparently misreading the dress fiasco and all the drama it caused. It sounds like you handled yourself okay otherwise.

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2024

---

reply by the author on 02-Nov-2024

Thanks, Bill. This was fun to write, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

How kind of you to befriend the obnoxious Jane Babies. And we always run into that occasional emotionally draining person that God placed in our lives to grow in patience. Thanks for adding to this book!

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 31-Oct-2024

Thanks, Iyenochka.

Rachelle had offered me a chance to tell her what I would wear to the FanStory party and, thus, be included in that chapter. Unfortunately, at the time, I was dealing with things like the electricity in half my apartment being out for two days, so I never got to send it, nor to be a "party guest." So I decided to write my chapter from the perspective of someone who was only there for the tail end of the party, and knew nothing of Jane Babies' behavior. I tried to use that ignorance to humorous effect.

I appreciate your kind words about the chapter I came up with.

Comment from Robert Zimmerman

Excellent

Hello, Michelle.
I don't care much for mass transportation either. I enjoyed your comments about the convention. I'm particularly pleased you called out my gold sequin cummerbund and snazzy black Tuxedo. I typically wear shorts and tee shirts all year long. I dressed for the convention. I particularly liked your commentary about Rachel and Jane. I'm sure they have not gotten along in a long time. Really well written.
Robert.

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

How could I not? How does one miss a gold-sequined cummerbund? By the way, my standard attire is jeans and tee shirts in the summer, and jeans and sweatshirts in the winter. Had I chosen to dress like that for the convention, I'm sure Rachelle would have had me kicked out of the convention, the hotel and, probably, Atlantic City.

I'm glad you enjoyed my story.

reply by Robert Zimmerman on 30-Oct-2024

You're welcome.

Comment from Amelie Johns

Excellent

This was a very amusing read Michele. I'm too new here to know the characters but I am getting to know people through the reading of these pieces. Although I imagine some of it is fiction but there has to be elements of truth. Very funny especially the bit about the snaaaaccckkkks. A convention sounds like a fun idea but I'm sure there would be a lot of drama were all of us characters in here to meet up in person. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

Thank you so much for your very kind comments, Amelie.

The premise of Rachelle and Gretchen's story--the convention and their breakdown in Amish country--were totally fictitious, but they used what they know about fellow FanStorians to flesh out the character descriptions. Others who were mentioned in the story took their own storylines and ran with them in their own chapters.

Although asked, I didn't have the chance to provide a description of what I would wear to such a convention, which is why I wasn't included in the story. That's why I wrote my own chapter from the POV of someone who had missed the festivities and didn't know all the drama that had occurred en route.

Comment from Jim Wile

Excellent

Good one, Michele. I was amused by the approach you took to side with Jane Babies. I did a similar thing in my chapter. All in good fun, of course.

I liked your line, "salt and paprika." Very clever.

This was such a fun opportunity to add to a very enjoyable and clever story.

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

Thanks, Jim. Rachelle had offered me the chance to tell her what I would wear to such an event, which would have made me a character in the story. However, various things, such as the power going out in half my apartment for two days, kept me from complying. Since I was, therefore, not written into the party, I chose to write my story from the perspective of one who had missed most of the event and been unaware of all the Jane Babies drama.

I'd started thinking up stray story ideas in the middle of the night. That's when I came up which the "salt and paprika" line, which is the only one a made sure to jot down, so I wouldn't forget it when I actually sat down to write the story.

Comment from patcelaw

Excellent

This was very well written, and I enjoyed listening to it. It moves along very well when it is read aloud. I wish you the very best with all of your writing and I am glad you got to go to the convention for the fan story writers. Patricia.

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

Thanks, Patricia. This was a lot of fun to write, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

This is hilarious Michele, I loved your sense of humour here as you called Rachelle out for her seemingly spiteful behaviour only to find out you might have been wrong all along. I loved your descriptions and I felt I was there with you. I am so glad you joined in the fun here, this is an entertaining and enjoyable read, love Dolly x x x

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

Thanks, Dolly. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I've read Rachelle's and Gretchen's versions of the story, and most of the ones submitted by other members, and the descriptions are so vivid that I have to keep reminding myself that there really wasn't either a FanStory International Convention or a preceding party.

Comment from jim vecchio

Excellent

Can't wait to see what happens next. What could befriending Jane Babies lead up to? And was Rachelle really trying to embarrass Jane? Hope your hubby was behaving.

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

Considering that I put myself in a bad place in the story, I'm a little afraid to see what happens next. And I don't even want to know what my husband was doing while I was away for the weekend. Of course you know the old saying: "When the cat's away, the mouse with the stomach virus will play."

Comment from LJbutterfly

Excellent

I enjoyed reading your version of the FanStory Convention. You took a creative approach different from all others. In her book, Rachelle ended her chapter with uninvited Jane stepping out of a service elevator, crashing Rachelle and Gretchen's party, while maliciously wearing the same dress as Rachell.

I enjoyed the spice you added to this story by providing another point of view. Now you will be stuck with the lovely Jane Babies.

 Comment Written 29-Oct-2024

---

reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024

I'm so glaaaaaaaad you liked thiiiiiiiiiiiiis!

As, in real life, problems such as a two-day power outage in half my apartment kept me from sending Rachelle a description of what I'd wear to a FanStory party (and, thus, from being included in the party chapter), I chose to write my version from the POV of someone who had missed much of the event, and was unaware of all of the Jane Babies drama. I'm glad I didn't have to write a second chapter, as it probably would have ended with my cutting my ears off just to avoid hearing her voice.