Fifty Shades of Thanks

As most of you know, MotUII ended recently. *collective sigh* I got several emails and tweets after the last chapter posted, asking if I was okay. I have been pretty vocal about my love of this story.


When you click on the link to preorder Icy's "Fifty Shades of Grey," you will find this in the synopsis:

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

It also explains why people were checking on me.


...obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.


Yes, yes, and yes.


MotU was the first "big" ff story that I read. It took relentless pleading from Dangrdafne and Twilight Cupcake, as well as Biel's epic video (here), to convince me that I needed to read it. I'm sure DD and TC had NO idea I would become Fifty Shades of f*cked up obsessed. They also didn't know it would ruin me for other "big" stories. I feel like I'm cheating on Fifty ;)

Zazzle T-shirts

Out and proud in Seattle with Mama Cougar and Mrs. P.
On our way to Forks.

Custom koozie - a gift from TwiWeasel

50 at the card store 

Fifty on an apartment awning in NYC

Looking up in awe at THE Escala in Seattle

My hero. Jen from Twired got us INSIDE Escala.
Read about our adventure here.

My boss (aka kiTT) over at Tongue Twied let me pick the first
Ficward featured on our collab TwiPeople covers. No brainer ;)



My tumblr tribute (click to enlarge)

My contribution to the MotU one-year anniversary tribute
(click to enlarge)

Speaking of the one-year anniversary tribute, I may or may not have stressed out a little bit over the MotU Quiz Contest hosted by Twilight Cupcake. I may or may not be a little competitive ;) The contest is over, but if you want to take the quiz to see how well you know MotU, you can start at Day 1 on TC's blog by clicking here. You can also access the amazing graphic designs she did for the anniversary tribute on her Twi-Mobile blog by clicking here.


I am nowhere near the graphic designer that TC and so many others are, but it doesn't stop me from trying. As you can see from the anniversary graphic I did above, I love making twitter avis. When I first introduced myself to TwiKiwi in the comments at Twitarded, it was to tell her that I loved her blogger name, which at the time was I_heart_Fifty. Since then, I have watched her blossom into a blogger in her own right, and I have designed twitter avis, blog banners, etc., for her. With her blog being named TwiKiwi, a change to her blogger/twitter name was called for. It pained her so much that she had her followers give her suggestions on what she should change it to. The winner was TwiKiwi50...a shout out to both her loves :)

So when TK50 (yeah, we even have nicknames for nicknames - lol) emailed me and asked if I thought a thank you to Icy for MotU was in order, you know I was all over it like Fifty on Bella in the RRoP. When she asked me to make a blog badge (top of the post) and twitter avi for the event, I was more than happy to do so. We invite all of you to switch your twitter avis to this one and tweet Icy with your thanks.

Note: The image of Rob used in the avi is Icy's personal vision of Fifty, as mentioned on The Cold Shower here. Bleriana, who runs TCS, is a huge supporter of MotU/Fifty. You can find all sorts of Rob/Fifty goodness over there. The work of the legendary Melbie Toast and Rose Arcadia are often featured there too. Bleriana had conflicting special events to post about this week (Happy birthday, Steph!), so be sure and check out TCS on (Fifty) Friday for her thank-you post!

Another very, very, VERY cool part about this whole journey is being a part of a fandom that is beyond generous . . . to each other and to great causes. The Fandom Gives Back helps raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand in an effort to battle childhood cancer. We're talking nearly $150,000 raised in 2010 alone!! A big chunk was raised by fans bidding on a MotU outtake written by Icy and told from EPOV. You can check out all of the details about The Fandom Gives Back here. April's spotlight was Autism. May's spotlight is Cystic Fibrosis.

It is through last year's FGB fundraiser that I first "met" Squally and Hoot. They were also a part of the one-year anniversary tribute. Hoot designed a spectacular blog to host the tribute. (It is no longer a public site or I would provide you with the link.) As I told Squally and Hoot, I don't think of MotU without thinking of them. Many of you will also recognize Hoot's name from Icy's thank you's at the beginning of MotU updates.

So I contacted them because I knew they didn't have blogs and wanted to give them the opportunity to participate today. Now that I have rambled on way too long (shocker, I know!), I will hand it over to the girlz. Just a few more words. Just a few. LOL! I was blown away when they each sent me their contributions. I know you will be too.

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SQUALLY

Fifty Shades of Grey ~ by squally

Φ ∼ First chapter and there is a cold and Fifty Shades may be old and our heroine is quickly told “...I’m sorry. It took nine months to get this interview... go... I don’t want you to be late.”

The mini-disk she’s bound to hate.

Ι ∼ It quickly goes from bad to worse as clumsiness is her curse she’s nothing like the blondes that work. Perhaps he likes them or it’s a quirk, but who cares? He’s such a jerk. 

Φ ∼ Fuck he’s hot and young but then to say “... Have you had to sacrifice... Are you gay...” The way he acts as though it’s his game. The things he says as though to tame. His mannerisms and the way he looked. I know by now that I am hooked.

Τ ∼ Then at work. Who could it be? Oh gosh! Oh my! It is... Fifty. She tries to help as best she can but she’s hot and flustered over this man. Fifty Shades, the one, the same. Infatuated but who can blame?

Ψ ∼ Yesterday he gave his card now a photo shoot, this could be hard. To get the shots they do all they can. Set up, lighting at the Heathman. The way he looks, the inclination. When it’s over an invitation.

Σ ∼ ”Shit!” he says as he saves the day. He doesn’t do girlfriends and says he’s not gay. She’s breathing heavy but something’s amiss. The way he’s staring at her, yet will not kiss. A thousand questions he asked over tea. There’s longing, I know it, or perhaps that’s just me.

Η ∼ Heaving my chest as she walks away. I want them together but it won’t be today. Thank goodness for young girls who dial from booze. Commanding his speech and he just will not lose. “I’m coming to get you.” He comes, he saves her from the friend with the “look”. I’m beginning to see that he’s the king to her rook.

Α ∼ Awakened. Realisation that she spent the night. Fifty checking on her that she is alright. An orange juice left to quench her thirst. He slept with her – SLEPT in the bed and it was a first?

Δ ∼ Don’t even know, just what to say as he flies her to his place at the end of the day. A books worth of legal and an NDA. WTF is his secret. God! Red Room Of Pain!

Ε ∼ Ever the optimist as her virginity realised. He’ll fix it. He’ll solve her and have his way between her thighs. But he’s out of his depth, the rules are all gone as he passionately takes the breath of this swan.

Σ ∼ Sign? To control what to eat, when to sleep, how to dress? Her passion for him leads her to a mess. She must speak her mind before she can fade. His response, quiet politeness “Good point. Well made.” Now Fifty will own me the rest of the day.

It’s been a great ride reading this story, Icy. It won’t be forgotten of that I am certain.

Squally 2011

Note: I hope everyone caught that Squally used symbols before each stanza to spell out Fifty Shades :)

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HOOT

Dear Icy,

Here is a little present to thank you for giving us MOTU and to express my excitement and support for the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey as well as all of your other future publishing endeavors. I cannot wait to buy, read, and share, share, share. Oh -- and smile and cry and swoon...

(click to enlarge)

Many thanks also to Lisa, for posting this for me on her blog.

Love,
Hoot xxx

Note: Hoot, I am not worthy. You have mad skillz.

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Icy has given us so much of her time and energy. Now we finally have a way to repay her. Here is the link to preorder the first installment of the trilogy, "Fifty Shades of Grey," if you haven't already. The names may have changed from MotU for publishing purposes, but Fifty will always be Fifty and the love of his life will always be his biggest weakness...and his biggest strength.

Preorder here:
The Writer's Coffee Shop

Icy's Twitter Accounts

@snowqueensicedragon

@E_L_James

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I encourage you to visit the following people who have also put together posts for Icy:

100% Robert Pattinson (Biel)

Borderline Phenomenal

Cheaper Than Therapy

Dangrdafne Days of Delirium

Dirty Hot and Nerdy

Inspired by Lemons

Melbie Toast

Pattinson Post

RobzSinger

Rose Arcadia

The Cold Shower

Tongue Twied

Twilight Junkies Anonymous

Twi-Lin's Twi Thoughts

TwiKiwi

Twired

Twitarded

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Taking control.

Losing control.

Vanilla.

Lipstick boundaries.

Lost.

Found.

Faded jeans.

Bare feet.

Thank you, Icy, for breathing life into

Fifty . . . his Bella . . . and me.