Musing about Second Life's Premium account and Basic account changes

I do not normally write about Second Life prices here. However we do utilize Second Life at times to obtain digital photography and videography for our projects, to network, for my involvement with the Trotsdale Library, various writing contests, and even some of our books (not all as the porting was an experiment to test the market in SL books) being available inside Second Life.

I am somewhat disappointed in Second Life right now.

I (Teresa Garcia as Amehana Ishtari/Arashi) have 42 groups current. Over the years there have been times I have had to pare out groups that I would have preferred to keep in order to make room for groups that I needed for administration duties for communities or for storefronts in sims that require vendor groups instead of renting out parcels that can be set to one's store group. Between Meditation/Shrine groups, the Library group, various Pony/Furry communities, storefronts, and artist/book/networking communities, my store group for Arashiryuu Productions / THG StarDragon Publishing, and a couple family/friend groups I only have space for a few shopping groups that I use to get discounts on set pieces from manufacturers I like to follow. Now the basic accounts are dropping the number of group slots available and increasing the amount it costs to go premium.

I use a basic account due to my income. Although the premium account has 70 slots I did not see a need to pay monthly for something that I wasn't certain I could always cover out of my personal expenses plus that I pay monthly for inworld rent for the store and covering the library's rent (that is my responsibility now as Zepdek has had personal issues to attend, meaning his financial contribution had to drop).

I heard about the changes first through CrimMip, a fellow admin for Nisa/Dreaming Twilight (the group whose land I normally use when obtaining Second Life originating visuals for projects). I heard about it next from Bixyl Shuftan through their blog article. There is a bit of a conversation ongoing now in the SL Newer's discord chat. Some that I have talked to see no problems with the amount of group slots, feeling they are coming no where near their cap. Others, like myself, are frustrated because they are and do not wish to switch to premium to increase their groups slots, already putting quite a bit of money into the platform through virtual land rent, market purchases, and tipping performers.

I can understand increasing prices for premium accounts. They did decrease (temporarily) land prices for those that buy land. However they lowered the amount of group slots and ofline IMs for basic accounts, a feature that theoretically costs no money. They do have to pay their developers and admins. It does put people like me in a strange spot though. Porting my clothing goods and furniture items over to an alt account is not possible due to licensing agreements of used components. Transferring stores to another account would not work due to still having to keep the same groups to rez the vendors from my main account (and then I'd end up missing payments due to notices going to another email). Asking admin duties to transfer to an alt would not work as well either due to my main account already being an established and known name, the other account not being as well known since my main alt is a prize dispersal for library based contests, who started out as an "I'm overwhelmed and want to enjoy and explore inworld but want to focus on a handful of people right now" account.

So, now I weigh and decide. Basic has dropped seven slots. If I need to jiggle groups for any other needs that arise admin group wise for communities and networking I will have to drop seven, which would include those I currently need. I also wonder how well this move will work for them. Honestly I am glad I do not work for SL or have to figure out good financial moves for their company. They have such a large user base and not many are going to be happy with price increases, especially with the fluctuation of the $L and if the monthly stipend for inworld spending that goes with a premium does not increase.

How will this impact THG StarDragon Publishing's sponsoring of the Trotsdale and Intersim Library Network? At this time I do not know. I continue paying the library's rent. I need to set aside some funds for a prize for the next contest. I need to decide whether it will be writing, art, or if I should shake things up and ask people to make reading videos or tracks. Tonight at 5 PM Pacific Illya Leonov has his music hour followed by his story hour. This week he plays chapter 10 of Past Sins, an MLP fanfic. Sundays I normally (unless ill or too inundated) read or stream, now at 5 PM Pacific and sometimes followed by other readers. How will it impact the Library, or my own store group and meditation group? With a decrease in group slots for the basic account I can guess that fewer peoplewill be getting notices of the inworld events, and overall the world will get smaller for Second Life users as they will have fewer options available to them. The work around of a Subscribomatic to send messages has the pitfall of it's owner only being able to use it to send announcements for one group, meaning that if they have to have work arounds for several groups they may end up with several of the free alternate accounts and have to switch between them for what should be a simple thing... advertising.

SL Blogpost: Land Price Reductions, New Premium Perks, and Pricing Changes
Bixyl Shuftan's article: http://slnewser.blogspot.com/2019/05/linden-lab-raising-price-of-premium.html
Second Life Forum Discussion Thread: https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/437783-what-are-your-opinions-on-the-new-land-price-reductions-new-premium-perks-and-pricing-changes

Limerick Contest Winner

This apparently did not post when I thought it had, though the article did appear in the SL Newser when I expected Bixyl to release it.

The Limerick contest went well and I am pleased that there were so many submissions. Each participant will receive 25L dispersed from my alt Kirsty (Hanaarashi Resident). The winner will receive an extra dispersal of 1500L as the prize pot was increased over the term of the contest by donations sent to the prize pool.

=Limerick Contest Participants=
Max (Fluffyquokka)
NightTrotter
Flutters (Derpyhoofesy)
Bixyl Shuftan
Zayfod
Rainbowdashsw

=Winner=
NightTrotter

The submissions will all be read on Amehana's stream for the library Sunday during the 6 PM Pacific Story Hour. It will also be available on Youtube starting March 24 at 11AM.

Library stream #2: http://us2.ishout.net:8403/
Youtube video: https://youtu.be/9valPiX4PXQ

I have not yet chosen the next writing or art contest for the library. Illya Leonov (Morgan Freepony) is currently running his own costume contest for the library for the Thursday music/story sessions. His contest spans 21 sessions in the library, more on the Newser at (http://slnewser.blogspot.com/2019/03/announcement-library-costume-contest.html) , or the forum thread (http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/70/past-sins-fanfiction-costume-contest).

~Amehana Arashi/Teresa Garcia

Early Spring Library Limerick Contest

This time in the usual Valentine slot of events we are looking for limericks here in the library. All submissions will be recorded for the video archive and to play over the library stream. This writing contest originates in Second Life so prize funds are disbursed in the currency of that. Forum submissions if made should be made on the Intersim Library forum, linked below in Submission Location.

Early Spring Library Limerick Contest
Open: Now
Deadline Midnight SLT Mar 18, 2019

=Suggested theme: "Anything"=
Although this is the time I usually look for Valentine-ish, friendshippy, and Irish sorts of stuff there is no theme this year. Let your imagination soar. Send in your best limericks of any sort as long as it is PG-13 or lower in rating. Best one takes the prize!

=How Do We Limerick?=
According to wikipedia:
A limerick is a form of verse, usually humorous and frequently rude, in five-line, predominantly anapestic[1] meter with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA, in which the first, second and fifth line rhyme, while the third and fourth lines are shorter and share a different rhyme.[2] The following example is a limerick of unknown origin:

The limerick packs laughs anatomical
Into space that is quite economical.
But the good ones I've seen
So seldom are clean
And the clean ones so seldom are comical.[3]

Do your best! It's ok if it doesn't quiiiite fit the usual meter.

=Prize=
Staring Prize 1000$L. This may increase if donations are sent into the prizebank.
Each entrant will also receive 25$L for their trouble, one payment per entrant. In the future this may go up, but for now it is a minimum of this.

All submissions will be archived with the Trotsdale Library and Intersim Library Network. Text will be read and recorded for video and sound archive. Images will be incorporated into video archival as well. Winners will be announced late March. If no one enters then the prize money in the prize pool will roll over to the next contest. 

Prize money will be disbursed from Hanaarashi Resident, an alt controlled by Amehana Ishtari (Arashi).

Donations to the prize pool can be sent to Hanaarashi Resident or sent via one of the prizepool book piles. 

Merchandise or service prize donations please message Amehana Ishtari with a notecard stating what your donation will be and what you would like to see it go out as prize for.

=Submitting=
There are several ways to enter:
* Use the forum archival thread and post your entry below the first message. Paste your writing into the full reply box, or if an art piece you can upload and link to it, or attach to the post.
* Place your entry into a notecard and drop it into one of the listed drop boxes. For other contests: if you are submitting visual art for the contest inworld you will need to upload the image and then place this in a notecard if presenting via SL or into your forum post. You can also present both together if you note that you are doing an illustrated writing piece. If you can't afford to upload to SL then upload to your host of choice and paste the link into the card or into for forum submission. Use the enclosed template(s) to help make sure that your entry is well marked after renaming to include your legacy name.

* Each entrant can send in up to three (3) limericks.

---

Template:
PLEASE RENAME THIS CARD BEFORE SUBMITTING.

Card name: (Your Legacy Name): Limerick 2019 Entry

Please ensure your entry is set as transfer, mod, and copy (full perms).

Display Name:
Legacy Name:
Preferred Pen Name:
Title:

=Written Works=
Put your limerick(s) below here:

---

=Submission Locations=
Last time there were boxes out in 6 communities but most were not used. In order to simplify for pickup there will be fewer inworld locations this time in addition to forum entries. You do not have to put your submission in them all, these are provided for convenience. Please do not send directly to Amehana.
forum: intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/69/early-spring-limerick-contest-2019
Inworld:
1. Trotsdale: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trotsdale/22/156/25
2. Nisa/Ibexia maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ontario/211/11/63
3. Luskwood: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lusk/216/169/62
4. Neighberry: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Neighberry/47/76/22
5. Neighberry #2:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Neighberry/130/84/23
2
~Amehana Ishtari (Arashi), Trotsdale Library Curator
Library Forum: intersimlibrary.freeforums.net
Library Website: intersimlibraryresources.weebly.com
Youtube Channel archival: www.youtube.com/Amehana

Contest Sponsor: THG StarDragon Publishing

Read more: http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/69/early-spring-limerick-contest-2019#ixzz5dElX8eCl

Spring Writing Contest

In order to collect the prize you'd need to create a Second Life account, which is free. You can then convert the prize money and withdraw it, or you can use it within the world.

Spring Writing Contest

Any writing is welcome for this contest, whether it's a story, limerick, tanka, essay... write the way that you are most comfortable. Any length is eligible, just please don't give me an entire novel (novel = 80,000 words).

---
Prompt: It is a beautiful spring day. You're having a picnic. Suddenly this big crystal egg lands in the potato salad! What happens next?

Submissions due: May 30, 2016, midnight.

Starting Prize: 1629$L
Upped to: 12029$L (around 40$US)
Number of Prizes: 1

Due to how FEW entries past contests got there will only be one prize. Runners up might be chosen at judge discretion depending on how many entries are received. In that event then additional but non monetary prizes will be arranged. If anyone wishes to donate an item for a possible prize then please IM me, and as usual $L prize donations can be sent to the bank via the tip jars at collection points. Hanaarashi Resident (Kirsty Makay) is the account being used to hold the prize money until distribution.

Submission/Collection Points:
􀀀
􀀁

Rules:
1. Proper spelling and grammar is nice, take the time to proof read. Poorly spelled entries won't be turned away, but those with good spelling/grammar may sit higher in the ranks.

2. Notecard naming: your legacy name (not display name): Spring Writing Contest 2016

3. On the notecard put
-1) What you consider your submission to be (haiku, story, essay etc.)
-2) Title of your work (if you're naming it)
-3) Name you wish to be announced under if different from your legacy name
-4) Genre (if applicable)
-5) Your work.

4. For readability please make sure there is an empty line between each paragraph and/or heading.

5. Make sure your piece uses the writing prompt suggested.

6. You can submit more than one entry, but each entry has the same chance as any other.

Polls and Contests

My own writing in Selkies' Skins book two and my Patreon writing have been progressing rather decently. A.J. Garcia still intends to write her novel but is having difficulties with time. I am experimenting more with recording live events, so at some point when I am more confident I will plan one for the publishing company. There is also a writing contest going through the Trotsdale Library in Second Life, for more info you may read here.

I am also experimenting with polls to give Patrons and visitors a chance to tell me what they'd like to see more of in the coming month regarding my mythical creatures poems. If asked I'd consider including deities as well. If you'd like to check out my Patreon please click here to visit that and get access to various goodies.

Mother's Day Tanka and a Naming Contest

Happy Mother's Day! Have a Tanka and a contest!

There will be a post later about the current book waiting for paperback release.

Birthday giveaway, 15 winners possible

A fellow author and  mutual friend of Marantha D. Jenelle and myself, Georgina Hannan, is having a birthday. In honor of this she is holding a giveaway with up to 15 winners! Enter and you could win one of these fabulous books shown below.

To enter go to http://tinyurl.com/p3ht46x and follow the instructions.

What the winner of the last drawing has to say about Call of the Kami

I thought that I would share what John Krauss ("Ginny's First Day at School" and "Ginny and Her Friends") had to say about the audio version of "Call of the Kami." He also had a few words to say about "Dragon Shaman Book One: Taming the Blowing Wind."
Amazon Review

He left this note on my Facebook profile after I shared his review on my wall.

John Krauss I was actully writing while listening to "Call of the kami the audio version." the kami must of helped with my writing. ^.-

What a lovely compliment. I am glad that it was such a pleasure to listen to. I am very glad that you enjoyed your prize from the drawing.

Guest Post: Dan O'Brien and "The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow"

Dan O'Brien returns to us yet again to tell us a bit more about himself and to share a bit of his book The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow.

---

Welcome to the fifth day of The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow blog tour. It will run until August 17th and will feature excerpts and new author interviews each day. But first, here is the obligatory blurb about the novel to settle you into this strange world:

A plague has covered the land, a single word on the lips of the frightened masses: the Widow. Washing a wave of terror over the countryside and then disappearing like a thief in the night, the Widow holds a kingdom in the palm of her hand. The eyes of Chaos have settled on Prima Terra and heroes must rise. Xeno Lobo, enigmatic and cryptic, hunts the Widow, seeking an object taken from him years before. Will he be able to stem the tide of violence and horror that sweeps the land?

A few questions for the author:

Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

I make as many decisions as possible. There are always some elements of your life that are out of your control. It is those select few options that appear to be out of reach, but are in fact just scary and push you out of your comfort zone. Those are the choices that you desperately need to make. Too often we do what we think we should do, and miss out on what we love to do. 

Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

A fantasy novella: The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow. A rip-roaring adventure that doesn't stop moving until you read the last line. 

Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

I like to think that everyone will enjoy my books, but the reality is that reading is highly subjective. Readers who enjoy fantasy, especially the sword-and-sorcery variety, will not be disappointed. 

Here be an excerpt for your enjoyment:

The guest quarters were fit for royalty.  The bed was a construction of pure mastery.  The four corners were pillars of ivory that strangled their way into one another. At the top was a grand canopy of linens. The sheets were sewn of the finest silks and were plentiful in the wake of the extreme cold that had gripped the lands. Xeno lay surrounded in the sheets, his body writhing in a nightmare. His arms flailed and his head shook from side to side.  Muttering, it was the incoherent rambling of sleep.  The remainder of room was darkness, except the dwindling flame at the side of the bed encased within the iron-cased lamp. The cold winds manipulated the fire like a dancer as the warrior slept.  The door to the chambers opened slightly.  Shadows of the hall merged with that of the room. The figure that accompanied the shadow slithered, as if without form.  Xeno remained undisturbed.  His mind was still trapped in whatever nightmarish world gripped it. As the shadow neared, the gaunt, featureless face of an imp moved close to the bed. Its wicked fingers gripped a ragged, curved blade.  Xeno mumbled in his sleep as the creature crept close. Its pale, sickly features curved into a grin of malevolence as it hovered above Xeno. Drawing the thin edge above its head, the imp prepared to plunge the blade into the slumbering warrior’s chest.  The moon shone behind the listless clouds that drifted by lazily. As the imp brought the blade above its head, the metal glinted in the moonlight and flashed across Xeno’s face, waking him in an instant. The imp screeched and slammed the blade down. It was too late. Xeno rolled and drew his blade from the table at the bedside.  “What in the name of Exodus?” roared Xeno as he brandished the blade. The imp thrashed about the bed linens, spitting and growling like the feral creature of the night that it was. The creature stopped upon hearing Xeno’s voice and cocked its head to the side. Its eyes glazed as it watched the warrior standing there.  “Kill––the––warrior Xeno,” gargled the beast as it leapt from the bed. Approaching Xeno, it slashed at the air with its savage edge. It moved like a beast upon four legs as it rushed toward the warrior.  Xeno swung his blade from the ground into the air with a deep arc, tearing the creature in two as it leapt. It squealed as it crashed back into the bed and convulsed momentarily, until it moved no more.  The blood pooled on the sheets.  Xeno sighed and moved toward the bed.  The half-light of the moon provided the only visibility; the torch had long since burned down to embers. Moments passed and Xeno felt the pressure of the solitude and silence of the massive castle and the halls that lined it.  The door burst open, revealing light from deeper within the recesses of the edifice. Hooded, shadowed figures emerged, their motions hurried and confused.  Xeno strapped his sheath along his back once again and pulled the straps tight, the leather groaning as it gripped against his back and along his chest. He pulled his cloak and wool shirt from the side table as Verifal approached, flanked by Gaition and three faceless guardians of Me’lein.  “Master Xeno, what happened?” queried the sleepy king as he surveyed the room.  The imp lay in blood.  Xeno sat in light of the moon.  He smirked and placed the blades into their hidden sheaths around his waist. He sighed at king. “That is a question I hoped you would answer,” replied Xeno as he pushed past Verifal and into the hallway just outside his room.  The corridor stretched far into the darkness. People had gathered because of the commotion. They ambled about like cattle in a pasture, waiting for a command, a reason.  “What are you saying?” began the king.  “I’m not saying anything,” interrupted Xeno as he leaned back into the room and glared at Gaition as he passed. The attendant lowered his head as he met the hateful gaze of the traveling warrior.  Xeno made his way across the room to the opposite end, his head peering out the stone window, looking to the darkened forest below. Shaking his head, he watched as the guards crossed paths and circled around the corner once again. “How many guards are posted along the outer wall?”  “Seven. Two at the gates and five roaming along the wall,” replied Uthen.  “And inside the castle?”  “At least ten or twelve more depending on the hour of the night,” replied Uthen once again as he leaned against the wall.  “What are you driving at, Master Warrior?” queried Verifal suspiciously. His regal robes were pulled tight around his frame, combating the biting cold of the night.  “Unless you are in the practice of keeping forest imps within the castle walls,” began Xeno. Turning with an accusing finger, he continued. “If that is not the case, then an imp with about as much intelligence as a stone wall managed to sneak past almost twenty guards and into my room without even the slightest bit of notice.”  “Are you saying that someone let it in?” queried Uthen trying to follow Xeno’s train of logic.  Xeno shrugged and looked from the king to Uthen, to the cowering Gaition. “It knew my name. It spoke it before I put an end to its life,” finished Xeno with a sigh.  “It spoke your name? You must be mistaken,” burst out Gaition. It was the first time he had spoken since coming upon the scene.  “You doubt my word,” returned Xeno, his anger seething. It seemed to rise from his person.  “No, it is not that. It is merely….” stammered Gaition, backing away from the angst and venom in Xeno’s words. Uthen glowered at Gaition, and then looked to the astonishment on Verifal’s face.  Verifal could feel the mounting tension and stepped forward quickly. “This cannot be decided here tonight. We will convene in the morning and discuss this further. Let us leave it until then.”  “Will that be alright, Master Xeno?” queried Uthen, turning toward the hunter.  “Fine, in the morning I leave for the north. I leave these matters to your court.” Xeno turned away from the congregation and looked out the stone window, out into the darkness that held both secrets and truths.  Verifal motioned for the guards to leave and he followed them, flanked by Uthen and Gaition’s shrouded figure. Leaving Xeno to the solitude and soiled sheets, he would see no more sleep that night.

Bio: A psychologist, author, editor, philosopher, martial artist, and skeptic, he has published several novels and currently has many in print, including: The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, The Journey, The Ocean and the Hourglass, The Path of the Fallen, The Portent, and Cerulean Dreams. Follow him on Twitter (@AuthorDanOBrien) or visit his blog http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com. He recently started a consultation business. You can find more information about it here: http://www.amalgamconsulting.com/.

Bitten (US) 

End of the World Playlist (US)  

Cerulean Dreams (US) 

The Journey (US)  

The Path of the Fallen (US)  

The Twins of Devonshire (US)

Mondays with Mephistopheles: 9 am – Rhys (US) 

Publish Your Dreams (US)

The End of the World Playlist (UK) 

Bitten (UK) 

Cerulean Dreams (UK)

The Journey (UK) 

The Path of the Fallen (UK)

Mondays with Mephistopheles: 9 am – Rhys (UK)

Publish Your Dreams (UK)

Follow My Blog  

Follow Me On Twitter 

Like Me On Facebook  

All of his books are only 99 cents on Kindle right now!

Download The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow for free on Kindle from 8/13 until 8/17!

Would you like to win a Kindle Fire?

Visit http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com/ and follow the blog for a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

The result of the Divine Inspirations writing party

I, under my Second Life name Amehana Ishtari (Reikaz), have gotten into the SL Newser. Grease Coakes/John Krauss wrote an article on the event which Bixyl Shuftan wrote a very nice introduction for in the main stream of the SL news.

More books were talked about than mine, John's, and the anthology. I also mentioned Michelle Browne's The Stolen as well as others. It was a good turnout with good tunes, including some My Little Pony music. It would be nice to see something like this happen every few months over at the shrine...or even every month if possible. Perhaps small workshops could be managed.

Free Copy of "Call of the Kami" Drawing

 Who wants to win a free copy of the Audible Audiobook version of Call of the Kami? Or a free copy of the ebook? Or an autographed copy of the print book?

Rules:

1. You MUST agree to post a review on Amazon, on Audible, AND if you have a Goodreads account you must post a review there on the audiobook edition. Any criticism should be framed in a constructive manner. Your review should be your honest opinion. (Why? So that people can know your thoughts so that they can decide whether or not it is going to fall in their interests. Also, I will then know that you really did listen or read.)

2. You must be over 18. The poetry is all ages, but I'm not too sure of how legal it would be to open this to minors.*

3. You can only get one code for a free copy, sorry.

4. Both a comment here and sending me an email are necessary, since I have to have an email to send the instructions to.

5. I'll write down the names and emails, and randomly draw from the thinking hat live on Livestream. After the drawing I will also post that video on my Youtube Channel. I will update this post later with the link for the drawing event when I choose a day and time to do the drawing (there may or may not be children in the background...I've got two and their friends like to drop in often).

Deadline: September 1, 2013

How to enter: Comment on this post, and then email me with the subject "Call of the Kami audiobook contest." Please give your name, confirm the email address in the message, and state whether or not you would also be interested in being on a mailing list for THG StarDragon Publishing coupons and news. You don't have to join a mailing list, I just want to make sure that I don't accidentally spam anybody.

Prizes:

First Place: Audiobook edition

Second Place: Signed print edition

Third Place: Free edition of the ebook through Smashwords (you will receive a coupon code which you may pass on to ONE person if you already happen to have the ebook).

*If you're a minor, you can comment and let me know... I'll try to figure out something. OR you could ask your parent or guardian to sign up on your behalf.

I do have four other free copies of the audiobook that I have yet to decide what to do with.. I might use them for drawings on other venues, or I might decide to make additional prizes for this. I'm not positive yet.