E2

30
Dec
2019
Progress Report – Third Quarter 2019 and Fourth Quarter 2019

Progress Report – Third Quarter 2019 and Fourth Quarter 2019

Progress Report – Third and Fourth Quarter 2019

How excellent were the third quarter 2019 and the fourth quarter 2019 for Star Trek fan fiction?

Posted Works

Barking up the Muse Tree | Janet Gershen-Siegel | jespah | Quill | Third Quarter 2019

First of all, on Wattpad, I posted Reflections Down a Corridor. I also posted Entanglements and The Three of Us. So currently I am not posting anywhere else. So as you can see, this report is kind of sparse.

Milestones

See the Stats page for individual read and review counts.

WIP Corner

Nothing! Everything is basically ready. So I’m probably never going to complete These Are the Destinations. And Paradox depends on a co-writer for me to write it. So that is hit or miss. Plus, I will be the first person to admit, it feels … weird.

So what that also means is that this blog may very well be coming to its logical conclusion. After all, once the last of the E2 stories shows up in Wattpad, unless I put something on Ad Astra, then there will be no news. So that’s pretty wacky, eh?

But then there’s the Barnstorming series. Perhaps that one will see the light of day on Ad Astra?

I Hate this New Editor with a Passion

So seriously, it’s awful. I never, ever asked for this. It’s like writing for two-year-olds. So if I could go back, I would be a lot happier. Do you hear that, WordPress? Your new editor SUCKS! Yeah, I really and truly mean that.

Prep Work

Once again, nothing! So unless something changes rather drastically, I am done. And as I said above, yeah. It is kind of strange. So be it.

This Month’s Productivity Killers

Work, but that is something which anyone should expect. Because I am done with writing Star Trek fan fiction anyway, the truth is, it kind of does not matter any more.

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Posted by jespah in Barnstorming, Fan fiction, In Between Days series, Interphases series, 0 comments
28
Mar
2019
Progress Report – First Quarter 2019

Progress Report – First Quarter 2019

Progress Report – First Quarter 2019

How terrific was the first quarter 2019 for Star Trek fan fiction?

Posted Works

Barking up the Muse Tree | Janet Gershen-Siegel | jespah | Quill | First Quarter 2019
First Quarter 2019

First of all, on the G & T Show forums, I did not post anything. So this is because there is nothing there anymore! And on Fanfiction.net, I posted Overtime and finished writing fan fiction on that site. Soooo, yay? Finally, on Wattpad, I posted Overtime and then swung into Reflections Down a Corridor.

Milestones

So the main milestones are the amazing stats which Reversal continues to pile up. Currently, it has over an astounding 133,000 reads! The only one that comes close is Together, with more than 75,000. See the Stats page for individual read and review counts.

WIP Corner

Nothing! Everything is basically done. I’m probably never going to complete These Are the Destinations. And Paradox depends on a co-writer to get written. So that is hit or miss. Plus, I will be the first person to admit, it feels … weird.

So what that also means is that this blog may very well be coming to its logical conclusion. After all, once the last of the E2 stories shows up in Wattpad, unless I put something on Ad Astra, then there will be no news. Wacky, eh?

I Hate this New Editor with a Passion

So seriously, it’s awful. I never, ever asked for this. It’s like writing for two-year-olds. So if I could go back, I would be a lot happier. Do you hear that, WordPress? Your new editor SUCKS! Yeah, I really and truly mean that.

Prep Work

Once again, nothing! Except for putting the last few books for the E2 stories into Wattpad’s draft system, there is absolutely nothing for me to do. But that’s a good thing, too, as I am mega busy these days.

This Month’s Productivity Killers

Work, but that is something which anyone should expect. Because I am done with writing Star Trek fan fiction anyway, the truth is, it kind of does not matter anymore.

In addition, do you like this page? Tweet it!
Finally, you can find me on . But not for long. It’s going away.
Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Progress, 0 comments
20
Jun
2017

Portrait of a Character – Tracey Carter

Portrait of a Character – Tracey Carter

Origins

Tracey Carter was originally created out of some petulance on my part. Because I was posting on a site requiring beta reading before posting, I got tired of that. I didn’t want to do that as it was fan fiction. Furthermore, I was seeing suggestions of changing some of the fundamentals of Reversal. With so much dependent upon that story, imperfect as it is, I wasn’t interested in subsequent ‘fixes’ which I felt would gut the plot. However, I was curious about the beta reading process and reeled of Smells with two brand-new characters in order to see what it was all about. Hence my reasoning was to offer up two characters I didn’t really care about in the hopes that I wouldn’t be offended by any suggestions and would potentially learn something.

And then I mostly forgot about that story, but revisited it when I began writing the E2 stories as I needed names and I needed relationships. Tracey and Osh fit the bill rather nicely.

Portrayal

Tracey Carter

Rachel McAdams as Tracey Carter (image is provided for educational purposes only)

Tracey Carter is played by actress Rachel McAdams.

I am particularly thrilled that she plays a linchpin character in The Time Traveler’s Wife, a story which relates her to the Wells series.

Personality

A bit silly and kind of boy-crazy, Tracey quite literally embraces the generational nature of the NX-01. Even though Maryam scolds her and reminds her that she (Tracey) is no longer a teenager, Tracey acts that way anyway. She sets her sights on Oscar and they hook up, which eventually turns into more. During the first kick back in time, she gives birth to the first child on board, Amanda, who she and Osh call Almendra.

Relationships

Tracey’s only known relationship is with Oscar Tiburón. Even after the third version of the Enterprise makes it through, Trace and Osh still get together. Much like Meredith and Rex, Susie and Mario, and Lili and Malcolm (although not Lili and Jay or Lili and José), their relationship carries through to the prime timeline.

Mirror Universe

Mirror Tracey Carter

Mirror Tracey Carter

There are no impediments to Tracey existing in the Mirror Universe.  And as an engineer, she would potentially have more opportunities than many other women. Would she still end up with Oscar? It’s hard to say. A decent-looking and somewhat intelligent MACO would be able to support a wife and family, but at the same time he could potentially be of interest to Empress Hoshi. And Hoshi’s jealousy could cost Tracey her job or even her life.

Quote

“His uni patch says O. Tiburón. Oliver? Otto? Orson? Omar?”

Upshot

While the creation of this character was imperfectly executed, her subsequent reuse and redemption made her more valuable. Even though this character isn’t exactly a star, she’s a useful part of the ensemble.

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, In Between Days series, Interphases series, Portrait, 0 comments
09
Jun
2017

Review – If I Could Do it All Over Again

Review – If I Could Do it All Over Again

Review – If I Could Do it All Over Again

Background

If I Could Do it All Over Again was written in response to a prompt of the same name. And of course the concept was, if you could have an instant replay, would you take it? Furthermore, how would it work?

Barking up the Muse Tree | jespah | Janet Gershen-Siegel | Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere | If I Could Do it All Over Again

However, I eventually realized that the story did fit in with my own personal canon, but I could alter it. How could I make it fit?

Plot

Captain Jonathan Archer mourns his Ikaaran bride from the first E2 kick back in time – Ebrona – before he meets Esilia. Because the relationship between Lili and José was already established in Together, I had to follow that. However, I wanted to use the E2 time frame as a vehicle for exploring a possible relationship between Lili and Jay. Furthermore, I wanted Malcolm to have someone, because I had always hated how that went down in canon.

Since I wanted these other relationships to work out, I had to do something different. Hence I created two kicks back in time. Most noteworthy, because the short story established an early death for the Ikaaran species, I had to determine a manner in which to get that convincingly onto the page.

So some of my inspiration came from the old TOS episode, The Mark of Gideon. In that story, an overpopulated world use’s Captain Kirk’s recovery from Vegan choriomeningitis as a means of obtaining germs to deliberately sicken and kill off a part of their population. It’s implied that they don’t believe in birth control. Hence, I gave a similar purpose to the Ikaarans, except they would send their youth out for farming stints in order to obtain more food and then return to marry. However, their bodies would have almost an effective kill switch, and they would die young because of genetic manipulation.

As a result, Ebrona (and eventually Esilia) dies young. And this story, which is about that event, is instead read by Archer during the second kick back in time, as he goes over old logs.

Story Postings

Rating

The story is Rated K.

Upshot

I loved being able to use this story in a rather unexpected and different fashion but still get what I needed out of it.

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Interphases series, Review, 0 comments
02
May
2017

Review – Free

Review – Free

Free is yet another drabble.

Barking up the Muse Tree | jespah | Janet Gershen-Siegel | Interphases | Free

Interphases

Background

For a story where the title is the inspiring word, I decided to go with a rather serendipitous find. I have always loved the meaning of names. And I admit I have used names’ meanings in order to further my own writing agendas. The story is started and a name is chosen, and then I look at the meaning. Hence if the meaning helps me out, I will follow it. But if it does not, I am all right with that.

Plot

The human name Charles means ‘free man’ (in fact, when Lili and Doug marry in A Kind of Blue, and she has to reveal the meaning of her name, she says ‘free woman’, as her true first name is Charlotte).  Because the idea proved irresistible, I decided to go with T’Pol and Tripp talking about how to name their as-yet unborn child.

As I wrote this drabble, I was already working on Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. Hence this very short story was folded into that much larger one.

For sharp-eyed readers, the three-book E2 series, Reflections Down a Corridor, Entanglements, and The Three of Us allows for one set of circumstances to unfold. In Everybody, another set of circumstances arises. While some situations work out as almost an instant replay, others differ.

Hence for this particular scene, the storyline allows for a scene missing from the original trilogy. In the original trilogy, there is no naming scene. But I wanted there to be a reason why they chose the name Lorian.

Story Postings

Rating

The story is Rated K.

Upshot

Like a lot of drabbles, this one suffers from being too short. However, I was able to convert it rather neatly into a scene in Everybody Knows this is Nowhere.

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Interphases series, Review, 0 comments
25
Apr
2017

Review – Fear

Review – Fear

Fear is one of the most important motivators for any person.

Barking up the Muse Tree | jespah | Janet Gershen-Siegel | Interphases | Fear

Interphases

Background

Furthermore, in this very short story,  I used this rather particular and unpleasant motivation in order to get two rather disparate people to connect.

Plot

During the E2 timeline and more specifically during the events of The Three of Us, Lili is required to take a shuttle flight test.  Actually, everyone has to do it. While the pretense (on paper, as it were) for this is a need for the characters to cross-train and understand more about the overall workings of the ship, my true motivation was to get Lili alone for a moment and then get her and Jay alone in order to have the Imvari capture them.

As a result, this little scene is absolutely necessary. Travis tests Lili on how to fly a shuttle. And she fails the test. Hence the scene accomplishes its task. But I wanted more, so I ended up making it also about Lili’s fears. Furthermore, I was able to make it about Travis and him missing his family. This also gave me something I was able to use later in Everybody Knows this is Nowhere.  It can be kind of funny how some small, seemingly throwaway scenes can help out a writer at a later date, eh?

Story Postings

Rating

The story is Rated K.

Upshot

I liked this little scene so much, it became a part of the far bigger book. Lili’s fear is directly used to showcase a certain level of vulnerability. Travis shows the fear his mother had and, by extension, his fear that he will never see her again. For both of them, this powerful (and powerfully negative) motivator rules the scene.

Love may make the world go ’round, but we all share fear.

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Posted by jespah in Interphases series, Review, 0 comments
22
Jan
2016

Portrait of a Character – Lorian Tucker

Portrait of a Character – Lorian Tucker

Origins

This canon character has to be a part of any E2 timeline.

Portrayal

Portrait of a Character – Lorian Tucker

David Andrews as Lorian Tucker

As in canon, Lorian is played by actor David Andrews.

Personality

As in canon, Lorian is dutiful to a fault, and works hard to assure that the prime timeline’s Enterprise can get through and complete its mission in the Delphic Expanse.

Relationships

Jill Lattimer

Lorian marries the daughter of Mario Lattimer and Susie Money. Their daughter is Jolene Tucker. Their grandchildren are Stephanie and Steven Hodgkins. Their great-grandson is Jay Hodgkins.

Hanna Rosen

Because Vulcan hybrids live longer than humans, Lorian is widowed and remarries. He and Hanna (the daughter of Joshua Rosen and Karin Bernstein) do not have children. It is her second marriage, too.

Mirror Universe

By definition, Lorian cannot exist in the Mirror Universe.

Quote

“We were hoping to reveal some of these in a more private manner. There were some men who never wed, and died young. You were one. So were Daniel Chang, Christian Harris, Jay Hayes, Brooks Haynem and Malcolm Reed.”

Upshot

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Interphases series, Portrait, 0 comments
19
Jan
2016

Review – Promise

Review – Promise

Promise works as, like a lot of other stories, a play on words. For that is because it means both vow and potential. It covers a meaningful moment during a kick back in time.

Background

I was asked several times, “When are you going to show Travis and Julie?” Well, here they are.

Plot

Taking place wholly within The Three of Us and the E2 timeline, the story covers the very beginning of their relationship.

Barking up the Muse Tree | jespah | Janet Gershen-Siegel | The Three of Us | Promise

The Three of Us

So Travis is ready to ask the lovely MACO out. But Julie is skeptical. She knows that being asked out is practically a marriage proposal in that generational ship. An with so many limitations, she wonders if she is compromising. Is she settling?

Well, she is, and so is he. But that is the nature of that particular beast. The timeline does not permit the picking up of too many passengers.

However, Travis is not only very good-looking, he’s also sweet.

Story Postings

Rating

The story has a K rating.

Upshot

I’m not so sure that I fully captured Julie’s reticence as well as I had liked. Travis is basically the happiest canon character on the ship, and I wanted Julie to share in his enthusiasm and optimism. But I also wanted her, at the start, to be cautious. However, I wanted her abundance of caution to spring from doubts as to who would be the best possible mate for her. They do not come from the characters’ differing races.

I do hope that fans liked what I wrote. I always hope that, but I particularly do here, as the story was written in order to satisfy an ongoing request.

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Interphases series, Review, 0 comments
01
Jan
2016

Portrait of a Character – Charles IV (Charlie) Tucker

Portrait of a Character – Charles IV (Charlie) Tucker

Charlie Tucker lives his whole life in the Delphic Expanse. Except in the MU. There, he founds a dynasty.

Origins

Since, in canon, Tripp Tucker has somewhat odd experiences with offspring and, in the prime timeline and prime universe, dies childless, a lot of people like to give him offspring. As a result, I gave him both a prime universe and a Mirror Universe version of Charles IV, although they are not counterparts.

In the prime universe, Charlie is a part of the first kick back in time during the E2 timeline, and his mother is T’Pol.  He has a twin named T’Les Elizabeth (other fan fiction writers have used that name). In the MU, Charlie’s mother is Beth Cutler, and his sister, Betsy, is younger and is not his twin.

Portrayal

Noel Fisher as Charles IV (Charlie) Tucker

Noel Fisher as Charles IV (Charlie) Tucker

As a teenager, Charlie is played by actor Noel Fisher. So as an adult, in keeping with the canon portrayal of Charles Tucker III, he is played by Connor Trinneer.

I like the teen’s look. He seems to be a reasonable mix of Tripp and T’Pol for the E2 storyline, and a mix of Tucker and Cutler for the MU storyline.

Personality

Both fellows are pretty easy-going, although the interphased Charlie ends up as the captain of the Enterprise after Jonathan Archer‘s death.

Relationships

Rachel Shapiro

In the first kick back in time, Charlie marries Ethan‘s daughter with the Ikaaran,  Bithara. Their daughter is Daphne Tucker, and their granddaughters  are T’Mir Ryan and also Yoshiko Tucker. Their great-grandsons are Aidan and Steven Khan (sons of Yoshiko).

Takara Masterson Sato

In the MU timeline, with few options, Charlie and Takara end up being thrown together, and they also end up becoming the grandparents of the heir to the Terran Empire, Charles VI, AKA The Emperor Charles I.

Theme Music

In the Mirror, Charlie’s theme song is Warren Zevon’s Trouble Waiting to Happen.

Mirror Universe

Charlie exists in the Mirror Universe in the prime timeline, and in the prime universe in the E2 timeline (first kick back in time only). However, the two men are not counterparts to each other.

Quote

“Captain, we didn’t make this. And neither did you. Or, rather, the other version of you. But it happened all the same. We did not think you would believe us. So we put together the notes that Charlotte has just sent you. Please, please, just open them and read them. And you will see that we are sincere.”

Upshot

So for a guy who isn’t supposed to exist at all, I like that Charlie gets some screen time. But I doubt I’ll write him much more unless it’s in the MU.

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Hall of Mirrors, In Between Days series, Interphases series, Portrait, 0 comments
09
Oct
2015

Review – Supply and Demand

A Look at Supply and Demand

Supply and Demand adds a dark underbelly to the E2 timeline.

Background

I wanted to cover a small and rather distasteful piece of The Three of Us that I gave hints of but never actually got a chance to show ‘on screen’. Hence Sandra takes center stage.

Plot

Barking Up The Muse Tree | jespah | Janet Gershen-Siegel | Leighton Meester | Sandra Sloane | Supply and Demand

Sandra Sloane (image of Leighton Meester is for educational purposes only)

During the E2 timeline, because the male to female ratio had a skew that was so heavily in favor of about two to three men per every woman (the ratio is canon), I decided that someone would take advantage of the situation and, to put it euphemistically, put out for some privileges. Enter Sandra and her business.

Because of the skewed ratio, and because she is alternately bored and depressed (and is overly horny and aggressive due to her poorly treated depression), Sandra hits upon an idea that, to her, is irresistible. She will supply sex, yes, and to anyone in the lower level crew who shows an interest. However, there is just one catch: it’ll cost ya.

As for the senior staff (which I sometimes write Chef and Shelby Pike the Botanist as being, sometimes not), she does not want anyone telling them a thing. And, for several months, no one does. The business, such as it is, flourishes.

Story Postings

Rating

The story has a T – MA rating.

Upshot

I really love the idea of someone taking advantage of the horribly skewed ratio, and doing something particularly nasty with it. The Sandra Sloane character works particularly well for this. In addition, she taunts Chef and makes him really pay for wanting to spend time with her.

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Posted by jespah in Fan fiction, Interphases series, Review, 0 comments