Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Out with the old, in with the new: What to expect from TLS in 2014


The Old:
Three short years ago I logged onto Blogger and created a neon rainbow colored blog (that didn't last long) for twilight fanfiction recommendations. The color format quickly changed from neons to the well embraced black and yellow TLS theme. We formulated a poll to post each and every week that you logged on to vote and help us determine the fics of the week.


The New:
Fast forward to today and we are just shy of 1,000 followers, have a personalized theme and continue to pump out weekly features. We bring you story recs with our Staff Recommended Fic Features, New story recs through our TLS Nursery posts each month, One-shot recs with our monthly round up of the Lemon Drops, we offer a Flash Fic Friday feature every friday during the summer and we have added a feature that highlights published reads as well!

Just to reiterate... TLS doesn't plan on going anywhere. We love all of our followers and thank each and every one of you for hanging here with us... Seriously a big thanks to everyone that has logged on to vote on our polls from the beginning. The TLS facebook group started on December 17, 2010 with our first blog post on January 6, 2011... we've continued to evolve effortlessly since. I hope that all of you will stick around and read with us as we continue to rec the best of the best fics out there. 

We will still feature staff recommended stories, bring you Nursery recs, Lemon Drops and published reads... we just won't be posting polls any longer. From the beginning, we've done a poll every week and though it's been fun, it's created a lot of extra work. Blame me if you're upset about it. I ultimately made that call. We want to keep it fun, not make this a job ... so therefore I decided to take polls out of the equation all together.

We aim to take the work out of fic diving by only bringing you trusted recs that won't let you down... that's our goal for 2014. We don't want to let you down, so tell us how we're doing from time to time. Leave comments under the features, fill out the contact form on the blog or just rec a story that's rocking your world.

Thank you to the ladies that bring this blog to life each week: Kennedy Nicole Maddock, Ed Mazin, Kim Swanson, Michelle, Twilover SevenSix, Jaime Arkins, Nat McEvil, Six Dlbfive,  Obsmama and Surething302.

We hope that each of you have a safe and happy New Year's Eve and we will see you in 2014!

 

You didn't think we'd leave you without recs did you? Hold tight and listen up... here are three stories that TLS'ers are buzzing about:

Rochelle Allison rec'd this and it seems that everyone in TLS LOVES loves this one:
The Violet Hour by TheBlueWatch (amazing collab b/t VampsHaveLaws and SparrowNotes24)
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9910899/1/The-Violet-Hour
"As the days blurred by, his presence stirring up something inside of me, I couldn't decide who had affected me more. The storm. Or him." A story of finding passion when you least expect it.

Ed Mazin and Thimbles say to read this one:
With Ties by BelieveItOrNot
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9975704/1/With-Ties
When everything Bella hoped for in a future is no longer an option, she has to find a way to rise above. She learns that expectations are meaningless and that sometimes, a throw-away length of thread can hold more value than a diamond ring. A Light the Darkness Contest Entry. First Place Winner Public and Judges' Vote.

Nic and Kim Swanson say that this one is a must:
Vespers by spoons are for marmalade skies
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9793470/1/Vespers
A tragedy leaves Bella in a spiral of strange events. She's more confused than ever when a hot, magnetic lawyer offers a distraction from the tangled feelings she has for her oldest friend.

Stay tuned in 2014 for new features and the announcement of the 2013 TLS Fic of the YEAR!

39 comments:

  1. thankyou for everything, you all do an amazing job. cheers meg xx

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  2. Thank you for continuing! I was scared when I started to read this post that I would no longer have a rec source. The Lemonade Stand is where I get my new story fix. Thanks again!

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet words, Lemonangeljuice! Happy New Year :)

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  3. thank you for all you have been doing throughout the years! I still love it here! Happy New Year!

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  4. I'm so glad you guys are doing what you need to in order to stick around!

    Looking forward to 2014!

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    1. Thanks so much, we all enjoy it! Have a happy new year :)

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  5. Happy 2014! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the site. I would be lost without all of you!

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    1. Thanks so much, lilypad! We appreciate your kinds words :) Happy New Year!

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  6. Thank you guys!. I have read many stories you have recommended. I love the Lemonade Stand. I am really glad you are not leaving us. Happy New Year.

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    1. We're so glad to have you, Judy. Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words. Have a wonderful new year!

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  7. Thanks so much. I look forward to your recs and really appreciate everything you all do.

    Happy 2014!

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  8. So happy that you keep on going ! Love all the recs - Thanks :)

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  9. Great recs all of them! Really glad to hear from you guys. Aww man, the polls are closing! For me, that was the USP of this website. However, whatever suits you.

    Thanks
    aPantName

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  10. Thank you for Everything you ladies do! I hope you all had a Very happy new year! <3

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  11. Thanks so much for staying with us, Ladies. Now that many beloved blogs are disappearing it's so nice to know we still have you to count on.:)

    Happy New Year and I hope you gain even more followers this year. You truly are a God send.


    Mwah!
    ~Paula

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    1. Thank you so much, Pawwla... we hope that you have a Happy New Year!

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  12. I have been remiss to enjoy your site for so long without offering my thanks. For some time now, you have been my favorite way to find stories. I will admit that Meet the Poll was my most favorite feature, and I eagerly looked for the announcement in my inbox each week... but, I do understand that this must be much work and I would so much rather have The Lemonade Stand without Meet the Poll than none at all!

    Thank you for all of your labor; I am grateful for sharing in the fruits!

    ~Violet

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet words, Violet :) We hope that you have a wonderful New Year!

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  13. Glad to see you all will continue with the site; all your hard work is appreciated !
    I enjoy the rec's and reviews so much.
    Thank you,
    Leegee

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  14. Thanks so much for continuing to do what you do, and for always giving us something great to read! You have no idea how much what you do is really appreciated, even if we don't always say it. Thanks to all of you and a very Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, Lori! Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

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  15. I appreciate that you found a way to stay and continue to evolve. There are so many "pull outs" going on in and around the fandom that it's comforting to know some things will stick around and perhaps grow around the changes but still be here for readers such as myself who love the service and fun you provide us. So thanks for that. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. Thank you for being here. Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!
    Fran

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    1. Thanks so much, Fran. We appreciate your sweet words and hope you have a happy New Year!

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  16. You make a fantastic site, very admirable.
    I am sad to see the poll go, it was so much fun.
    Happy 3rd anniversary and Happy New Year!
    Thank you.

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  17. First of all, I want to say that I'm grateful that you've decided to keep the blog alive, it's definitely one of the best blogs in this fandom. I'm sad to see the poll go, as it was my favourite feature too. I loved that people could have the chance to vote for their favs fics. i understand that a weekly poll is a lot of work, but have you considered to transform it into a monthly poll instead? This way, we could still participate and have the 12 fics of the months but it would be less work for you (I think). It's just a suggestion. Anyway, thanks again for continuing with TLS and I'm looking forward to read all the posts and recs you give us this year. Have a happy new year!

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    1. Thanks so much, laurafic1107, we all appreciate your kind words. Sadly, after much deliberation, we decided that leaving polls in the past will be beneficial for the future of TLS but we appreciate your suggestions. Thanks so much for hanging out with us and Happy New Year :)

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  18. Happy New Year! Thank you for this amazing blog!

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  19. I hope you guys realize you are currently the only rec source online still going. Which I appreciate because I'm still obsessed! Happy new year. Looking forward to another year of Fanfiction.

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    1. Ah, thanks so much, Ginger! We hope you are enjoying your new year :)

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  20. I'll miss the pole, I got a lot of great reads from it but I appreciate it was a lot of work. Thanks for all the effort over the years and keep those recs coming.
    TwistStix

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    1. We will still bring you all the recs, we just won't put them on a poll :) Thanks for hanging with us, TwistStix and Happy New Year to you :)

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