Over the years I've found the FFML an interesting, educational,
and sometimes stimulating place to be.  Many fine stories came down
the pike, many more were promising but not quite there.  A ton were
simply a waste of bandwidth.
	In any case, I've found myself reading fewer and fewer stories
as most were of series I had no knowledge of or were so depressingly
written they could be considered lethal weapons to a person's muse.
Frankly, the stories and discussions simply are no longer that much
of an interest to me and the volume of mail I have to sort through
just to find something interesting to read has become daunting.  

	There are a couple of reasons I'm taking my leave - or more
accurately putting myself on permanent VACATION.  The first is that
I simply don't have the time to dig through all the spam, noise, and
unfamiliar stories to search for the elusive few that are actually
interesting to read.
	Another reason is the fact that in over two years I've gotten
less than a dozen postings of public C&C for anything I've written.  
To be sure, I've gotten my share of private C&C and I've been grateful
for whatever was sent to me.  However, I've always thought that what 
is done in public sparks interest in a story among potential readers.  
People read a C&C or review of something posted here and make their 
decision whether or not to read the story themselves.  More often, 
public C&C often leads to interesting discussions relating to writing, 
Japanese culture, or the motivations of characters.  The last thing 
posted public about anything I'd done was a couple of blinding reviews 
of my appearance at Anime Iowa six months ago.  (Public humiliation 
followed by private apologies, you see.)
	I've found my local FTF writer's groups far more productive.  
They feature experienced, published writers who know their way around
the English language and the business of writing.  More importantly
to me, it's like meeting every week with a group of friends to discuss 
our current writing projects and get serious C&C on chapters under 
development.

	Anyway, for now, I'm outta here.  I'll stay subscribed only to 
occasionally post new chapters of NNH as some people have indicated they 
prefer getting them here rather than my web site.  But I'll at least
avoid tons of 'occupant' and junk mail in the process.
*****************************************************************

G.L. Sandborn  
	Keeper of Uncle Fester
	Guardian of 12 Foxes
	Ersatz Cardinal Richelieu

Home on the range at:   sandborn@microlink.net
                        sandborn@burnsmcd.com

All my stories can be found at: 
		 http://www.microlink.net/~sandborn/ 

*****************************************************************