My dad doesn't read, and has never read, as far as I know, my stories. And since I stopped working, he's stopped thinking he has any reason to be proud of me. But recently he sent me some press releases about himself that his firm put out. (He was just elected president of the National Bar Association Business Law Section, among other big deal high mucky muck things he does.) And it gave me an idea. I thought I'd send him a few of my reviews culled from fanfiction.net. Here's what I sent him:

Dear Dad,

Thanks for sending me your recent press releases. They gave me an idea: I thought you might be interested in reading some of the review comments I've received for my fiction. My stories are all set in a world similar to ours in some ways, quite different in others. Technology is at about 1980 level, but there are no firearms or powered vehicles. My characters are ninja spies and assassins.

These are just a few comments from many I've received.

If you're interested in reading any of the stories, they are all online at http://www.fanfiction.net/~nezuko

Boxes
* Your writing style is so amazing, I can't get enough of it. This is another wonderful story... you always manage to get into the minds and hearts of the characters.

* I ... found this scrumptious piece of fiction waiting and I'm so happy! Love it! Your narrative style has improved so, so much and I'm absolutely blown away. You've always been a good writer, but now I truly think you're a great one. The utter dysfunctionality (which, apparently, isn't a word) of your little family is beautifully shown in a completely understandable way. Considering none of your readers are likely ninjas dealing with death-defying situations on a daily basis themselves, I think this is quite an accomplishment. ... I look forward to whatever you write in the future.

* Wow. This is so beautiful... Every little detail is perfect. The pain is so tense you can almost touch it, but it's still so loving. Great, great job! I've read it twice now and I'll defenitely put it among my favs!

* You always write with such an interesting perspective on what it means to be a ninja, and the slipperiness of information. What is a lie? Genma didn't lie outright, per se, just simply toned down the severity of his condition for his lover's sake. But that doesn't mean Raidou had no reason to be angry—out of fear and love for Genma—that he found out the truth from the news. And that's an irony all its own. ;_;

Very beautiful and poetic. The image of Raidou's familiar scar being comforting to Genma is particularly moving. I love how you address the issue of shinobi life while showing how Genma and Raidou try to make things work the best they can. Awesome.

Bringing Back the Living
*Augh, so powerful each and every time. You have an amazing grasp on human emotions and behaviour, wonderful job.

Five Fives
* How pretty! I love the way these are written,detailed enough to see the situation but not overflowing on unnecessary things. You vary between humor and drama, striking a very good balance between the two. I can't wait for the 5th installment!

*I really can't choose my favorite; the first made me gasp out loud, the second made me wince, the third made me bite my lip, the fourth made my eyes water, and the fifth made my stomach clench. So utterly perfect...you've got me at a loss for words, here.


Five Words Left Unsaid
*The first time I read this, I went to review, and couldn't find anything to say. Nor the second time, either. It's taken a third reading to actually gather my thoughts into some semblance of coherency, and I'm still just over the brink of gaping at my screen and wondering how on earth I can ever write you anything that will measure up to this.

The phrasing and the word choices are gorgeous, but the images and the emotions are even more so. Hayate's thoughts in the last two points especially make my heart clench and my eyes grow hot. His description of his team as poetry is an especially powerful image, since he's at the brink of death and yet all his thoughts are still for others...

Thank you so very, very much, both for writing this and for writing him. I'm still in awe.

*This piece really touches my heart. It was melancholic and somewhat bittersweet. Truly beautiful ending and wonderful writing all in all.

*There will always be a sense of regret as I read this fic. It's beautiful and bitter-sweet

*That was really beautiful writing...really beautiful. The emotions were conveyed so well that I felt like I could almost experience them too.Great job; I loved it

Habits
*That was so fantastic! Most people don't bother to think about the everyday, mundane things and small fights that don't really damage a relationship.

*I loved the details you put into their relationship, both about the mundane things (sanitary napkins while shopping? whoa!) and the important things. The way you describe how they care for each other was well-written and not overly too sappy, just like a routine should be.

Fantastic job, I enjoyed reading it very much.

*I love the... I don't know how to put it.. point of view of this fic? It's not really based on action. The tense, I guess? It makes for awesome reading, and it's so interesting!! I love the part about the two varioants of when they would do if the wound turned out to be/not to be serious! Great job!

Homecoming
*I am really enjoying this story. I love how full and rich your characterizations are.

Imaginary Food
*I love your writing and your writing style and the way you so lovingly tear my heart out and spoon feed it to me.

* I absolutely adore your characterizations and your writing; I could almost feel Genma's hunger and his exhaustion and his grief, and the hard punch of Ryouji's death was paired beautifully with Genma waking up to Raidou being there. Your portrayal of their friendship is absolutely incredible and so much love and thanks for giving the world another truly awesome story to read!

Morning After
*Very human and painfully real.

*It never ceases to amaze me how much thought and detail you put into [your characters].

Puzzle Pieces
*so wonderful and sad! It's adorable and funny in spots, and simply fantastic. I love these little slices of life you do, and I love the concept of this one.

Red Maple Leaves
*the subtlety in this piece was... gripping. So much is untold but alluded to in the little things

* I loved the imagery here, of leaves and autumn (it's a beautiful autumn right now) and of you slid smoothly into Kakashi's injury. The line where we realize that leaves are blood was so powerful and so beautiful! And Kakashi's dialogue when poisoned...wow. Excellent job creating the atomosphere!

* This is so beautiful... and gives off the aura of autumn so well. I love your work!

* You always amaze me with your imagery and wonderful character relationships. This was an incredible short story, as all the writing you do is, but I particularily enjoyed this "slice of ninja life" moment. Simply can't say enough good things about it. Great job!

* Heartbreakingly, chillingly beautiful - no puns intended at all. The mood is perfectly portrayed.

* I don't know how you can come up with such bone deep imagery - the maple leaves and the drops of blood and how comforting that is, somehow, when it all just mixes together. The end was just haunting - though I love the image of Iruka asking for refuge when he is so blatently *is* refuge for so many people!

Scarred vs. Not Scarred
*This was a really neat story! it is an interesting take on friendship and relationships. I really enjoyed it!

* t's such a lovely little glimpse of shinobi life - that training and playing can become the same thing, probably started out as the same thing, and how physical disfigurement is so commonplace that it's the NOTABLE scars that are the real dividing issue, I love how it's only the ones that leave an imprint that are classed by these men as actual scars.

My favourite line (this reading, at least) was probably "Iruka did his best to make his presence minimal. He felt like he was witnessing a family fight; like he was someplace he shouldn't be." Because it's such a telling little moment, of each rank being a family, in this world where families (like everything else) can't promise to be permanent.

* I thought this was wonderfully done! You've throughly captured the personalities of each of the characters through the way they interacted with each other. I particularly liked the whole Genma-Raido-Hayate dynamic. And your Kakashi? *drool*. As usual, you've outdone yourself! I hope you eventually do decide to continue with this story, you're characters are hard to leave behind

* I absolutley adore all your stories. I love how you write about characters with a small role, because there is so much room for imagination. I enjoy reading about their everyday life...drinking, playing tag...wearing high heels. :) It's so cool how you show the relationship between the characters. I love the romance and the friendship between the couples. It's just too cute. You're an amazing writer. And you know people. The psychology of each character is great. And that they are mostly oneshots, but they can be interconnectable...like just segments out of their lives. I hope you will write more!

* oh my goodness, this was just so lovely and endearing! It was funny, sexy, well written and such a pleasure! It should definitely stay the way it is. Leave the rest up to the imagination rather than dishing it all out. The air of mystery it leaves is just PERFECT. Fantastic job, as always!

* Great job on the multiple dialogs with all who were there, and making sure none dropped out of the picture. That's not easy to do.

* Loved all the little undercurrents and the natural flow of easy comraderie.

See No Evil
* This is terribly heartwrenching, I love how in such a short text you're able to delve inside of Genma and show exactly what he's experiencing.

* It's beutiful, in story and writing. Absolutly satasfying.

Shinobi Waiting
* Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I loved the developement. The transition points were good and the style was comtemplative, soothing and on-edge all at once! It was great!

* Heart-wrenchingly warm

* wonderful like all your stories and thoughtful and thought-provoking:

* "He stirred his coffee with it, licked it clean, then twirled it restlessly some more..." — I am so very much in love with how you can show so much with such little gestures. Or maybe it's more that I'm always so thrilled at how many layers you imply in the actions of your characters for eager minds like ours to scurry about and see in your imagery however much we want.

I love the quiet sort of tension in this fic, quiet like the parallel between the civilians and the shinobi i the hospital, you know?

* I'm going to go cry now. That was beautiful. Subtle, and amazing. A job well done.

* Awesome story-telling. Really riveting.

* Lovely story as always. Beautiful air of cool God's eye detatchment that allows a wide enough view to see every intimate detail. I only wish i had the patience to let everything unfold at its own pace the way you seem to. Measured, rounded and heartwrenchingly sweet.

Slaughter of the Innocents
* I came across this by chance and it just made my heart ache. Such powerful words, but so simple , and written with such cool detachment. Absolutely beautiful.

Slug Trails
* You have talent in every single domain, ranging from total angst, drama and tragedy to the utter hilarious!! This was so funny, well written, as usual, and had me smiling like a goof the entire time. I love the lighness of this little piece, the humour, the wit, and your portayal of the characters.

*Good grief, what possessed you to write this, woman?!?! It is hilariously abstract and the dialogue was very well scripted haha. Very 20-something males, as it should be (and Raidou is still young enough!). I loved the slug's indignance. Very funny!

Snow Cones and Holding Hands
* I found this delightfully cute, and I love your style of writing!

* You know I'm never going to be able to eat snow cones again without thinking of bloody hand wounds, Nezuko. Very nicely done! *laughs*

* Very well written and with a surpricingly good plot, considering you just made it up along the way. I would love to have your imagination.

* once again, I find myself reading a story of yours, seriously I keep looking you up to find out whether you have posted something new. Guess I just love the way you write.

This fic was good as well. I like the care you take in describing actions, conversations and depict a situations. You really go into the psyche of your characters.

Temptations
* was pleasantly surprised by your great writing skills and how taken in I was by this short story. The subtle humor and the way in which Hayate tries to keep himself from indulging in temptation was just conveyed really well. And then the kiss at the end, aww it was so sweet!

* The lead-up is terrific. We learn so much about Hayate through his temptations and what he learns from them, and at times I wanted to laugh and at times I just wanted to hug him and tell him it'd be okay. It's good to see he got through it all. And now I want to kick Yuugao for being a temptation—I get this image of her all vamping it up, which isn't it at all!—and at the same time it's so very sweet. And sexy.

Unbreakable Bond
* Although there is no dialogue, the characters, their personailities and feelings really came across vividly. It's a touching story that's kind of sad and melancholic, but carries a hopeful and dignified note about it...er, I'm not sure how to explain it, but suffice to say, I've enjoyed reading it.

* an absolutly beautiful and inspiring peice of fiction! As usual, you have stunned me with your awesome writing talent!