CHASING TABOO :: A FXXKED UP LOVE STORY :: AN ONLINE NOVEL BY LINDSAY PENN

Yes, that’s right. That means there have been two updates since the 7 month hiatus. Not one, oh no, but two.

Considering how many breaks I’ve had to take, my new philosophy is, if the inspiration and the time is there, then write. For the love of God, write!

Hope to see all of your comments soon. They make all of this worth it.

Chapter 15

(Sorry there wasn’t an email this time. My internet is down at home, where the mailing list is, so I had to do this at work.)

In the words of the immortal Lee Jung Hyun… I’m back! 

Chasing Taboo is making its comeback with Chapter 14, and get ready – the very first sentence reveals a shocking twist.

You, me, and Chasing Taboo have been through a lot together. From file corruptions, hard drive crashes, to long unexpected sabbaticals, but we are still trudging onward. Thank you all for your continued enthusiasm. For a while there, I didn’t think I would ever get back into this story, but your stubborn and unyielding support has inspired me so much. I can’t believe that I’m still spotted at cons, still sent fan mail, and after all this time, I can’t believe so many of you are returning and commenting, anxious for another update. Do you realize I haven’t updated in 7 months? And yet you all still come back and check! Unbelievable! I hope I don’t let you down. I don’t deserve you guys!

Get ready, because I fully plan on returning to my old rhythm (before we start shooting my film next month). This chapter is a nice calm before the storm, but prepare for a real shock when chapter 15 comes around! Also, I have rewritten the outline for the rest of the story (the one that got eated ) so there shouldn’t be another slump in updates. Not ever again!

Word to the wise: It’s been 7 months (sowwie) and you guys may not remember what happened in this story anymore. If I were you, I’d go back and reread the beginning to get caught up, if you have the time. If not, should I write a chapters 1-13 synopsis? If that’s what you guys would like, let me know.)

(Note, I had to reassemble the mailing list… again… so if you no longer want updates, let me know. This time I’ll delete you from the backup as well)

So my sister and I got an apartment. Wee! That means there’s going to be a lot of, well, moving. Computer switching, software installing, all the while trying to stay afloat at work and in school. CT has been moved to a low priority.

The new chapter has been reworked a few times, and I’d say it’s 2/3 done. The outline for the new story has been tightened and completed, and I’m excited to see what you all think of the new story.

Thanks for your patience!

So it occurred to me today that you all can’t read my mind, so from your perspective, it may look like I’ve pretty much abandoned CT. I swear, that’s not the case.

I was starting to feel like CT has ‘lost its way,’ so I’ve been spending the bulk of my free time re-reading the original Chasing Taboo fan fiction story. It’s been so long since the original version, that my sister and I agreed that the new one may be headed in a direction that somewhat loses the charm of the original.

The upcoming chapter is (or I should say was) done, but it contained a big turn in the plot that may have been too early. I’m in the middle of book 2 of the fanfic at the moment and I don’t want to post my new chapter without the best elements of the original story fresh in my mind.

Also, some of you may remember that I’m a film major, and I’ve been working on some of the best self-contained moments of CT and adapting them into screenplay format. At the moment, I’m planning on shooting at least three scenes and using them to edit a faux trailer for the book. Wish me luck! I hope this works out.

Thanks for sticking with me. I’m not quitting until this thing is done!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Sorry for the update delay. The upcoming chapter is about halfway done… expect a twist!

I have a new Twitter account, so if I were you I would stop following my current one and click on the new link in my signature.

I hope you all are having an epic holiday. I know I am! I got a fantastic webcam, so I may be posting my blogs in video form from now on.

(Dude… TVXQ beat Christmas as a trending topic this morning! Merry Christmas, indeed!)

Chapter 13 is up. Sorry for delay… but lately I’ve been, uh, living a fxxked up love story of my own. Don’t really feel like recapping the details, but let’s just say the Ebonics is about to get a hell of a lot more convincing. Enjoy!

Fundraising time! Since I know you are all dying to send me money.

There’s lots of stuff that I want to do, but as you well know, it takes money to make money, and I has none. (To be specific, I want to invest in more promotion efforts for Chasing Taboo and I also want to fly to northern California to visit my best friend and record my album.) That said, as some of you may already know, I make all of my own jewelry, and I thought it may be fun to offer this fundraising package!

For the itty bitty price of $45 (about €40 including intl shipping), you can have the following:

- A custom necklace and matching earrings — whatever color and style you request!

- A signed glossy 8×10 Chasing Taboo picture!

- A mention in the liner notes of my first CD! (Real name or screen name, your choice!)

- Free shipping in the United States — but international orders are available!

Here are some examples of the kind of jewelry I make so you know what you can request. I can do white or silver lettering.

After making your purchase, email me with:

- Your full name

- Requests for your necklace (color, words, maybe a picture of the shirt you want it to match)

- Your shipping address

Thank you so much! Email me if you have any questions!

Also, if you missed my appearance on Glass of Win (or you just want to keep it for the memories), you can download it here.

Lindsay Penn (that’s me! ) on web radio show GLASS OF WIN TONIGHT!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/glassofwin

Pacific Time: 6PM
Mountain Time: 7PM
Central Time: 8PM
Eastern Time: 9PM

To call in and ask a question, call this number: (347) 327-9056

Hope to hear from you guys!!

Linz's Vain Cell Phone Self-Portraits, October 2009

So, yeah… about those every-other-week updates… *awkward apologetic half smile.*

When I wrote the original Chasing Taboo, I never made any promises regarding when the next update was going to come. They just sort of showed up–sometimes it took a couple days, sometimes a couple weeks. When approaching the new story, I wanted to be more professional and guarantee specific update times, but I’ve learned that this doesn’t work for me. I’m really sorry!

From now on all I can say is that I’ll update when I can.  This morning, I woke up in a bad mood knowing I was going to have to haul ass to tighten the new chapter in time for tonight, and Chasing Taboo shouldn’t make me feel like this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seriously considered throwing my arms in the air and announcing that I can’t to this — but why give up when I can make this one simple change? In a world where so many deadlines can’t be controlled, I can’t let a deadline I made up control my life, so from now on, just stay on top of your inbox and every once and a while a nice little email will show up telling you that Olivia is up to no good once again.

On a happier note, I made a Chasing Taboo radio commercial for my audio class and I got an A+!

Chasing Taboo Radio Commercial | Mp3 | 756KB

Another happy note! I will be appearing on the Glass of Win Variety Show this Wednesday night! Please make sure to call in and bother me with questions!

I apologize for the vain self portraits at the top of this page, but I looked hot yesterday for no one and by God someone had to see me! I was totally stoked because I was going to make my debut as a vocalist at UTA, but alas, the show got rained out and it was cancelled. (Me and my friends ending up getting Korean BBQ instead. We took pictures, I’ll post them as soon as I can.) Did you guys know I sing? If not, check out my MySpace.

Linzer Dinzer’s Music MySpace

Oh, yeah, and I’m also a Twitter freak, in case you didn’t know.

Linzer Dinzer’s Twitter

Sorry about this whole update fuckery. I know I’ve really bitten off more than I can chew in my life, but I have trouble believing that I can’t make it work somehow. I know I’m on a brutal fitness routine (at the gym an hour and a half five days a week), I’m eating 1300 calories day, I’m working on an EP as a vocalist, I’m taking 12 credit hours, I help take care of a four year old, and I write Chasing Taboo–but is that really so much? My mother gave me a speech this morning about how I need to have some fun in my life and that I’m far too project oriented, something about how I don’t smile enough. But I feel like I’m not doing enough! Yes, I work out — but I’m not in perfect shape yet. Yes, I write music — but I still don’t have a CD. Yes, I write a book — but it’s clearly not done. There are so many girls in this world who are younger than me who have all of those things under their belt–is it so wrong that I want so badly to be one of them?

Alright. Rant over.

In closing: Please check out my music MySpace, my appearance on Glass of Win, the Chasing Taboo radio commercial, and follow me on Twitter. I’ll update ASAP! Thanks!

The next update of Chasing Taboo is going to be next week. We’re doing every other week now because of my school schedule. Sorry, and thanks for understanding!