FAQs

What’s a “serial”?

In this case, a serial is a story published in parts over time.  When you look at the title of each post, you can see which part it is you are reading, i.e. “Chapter 2.1, Chapter 2.2, etc…”

So how much does it cost to read your story?

Nothing.  Not a cent, not a dime, not a dollar.  This is a FREE online serial available for you to read.

When did you start writing Kliff’s Edge?

This series began as a school project for a class focusing on publishing and distribution. I brainstormed for a week before hand, but the actual writing commenced July 22, 2013. The first post went live on July 24, 2013. The basic concept for the series came to me when trying to brainstorm an atypical protagonist. Once May wandered into my head, everything else just followed. The first story for Kliff’s Edge, When Dog’s Won’t Dig, was inspired by the true story of a dog who made news when he kept evading dog catchers.

Is Illise Montoya your real name?

It’s my pseudonym. I’d like to say I was being clever and making a play off of Inigo Montoya, the swashbuckling hero from The Princess Bride, but…that would be a lie. Isn’t it funnier this way, though?

How can I navigate your site?

On the top of the site, you’ll see a tab that says “Table of Contents.”  Clicking this will take you to the table of contents, which links all the stories and their story chapters. Clicking on one of those links will list posts in that category. BEWARE–doing this lists the posts in descending order, meaning newest posts are first. I haven’t figured out how to turn off full post display for category lists, but when I do I’ll let you know.

Additionally, at the bottom of every post is a link to the previous or next post so that you can continue reading at a part-by-part basis.

I’m confused! The New Readers page says “Current Story Arc” but isn’t this all just one big story?

Not necessarily. Kliff’s Edge is going to be a series of stand alone stories. Some of them will be long, some short. The New Readers page lists only the latest novel-length story, but the Table of Contents page will list all stories, short and long.

Since you’re posting your story online for free, I can do what I want with it?

Not necessarily. Under Creative Commons, you are free to copy, distribute, and transmit my work–but you have to attribute it to me, Illise Montoya.  To do this properly, you must have my name somewhere clearly on the work, along with an easy to locate link to this website using the url: https://kliffsedge.wordpress.com  You aren’t allowed to change my work, do any derivative works based on my story (i.e. fan fiction), take credit for my work, or use my story for commercial purposes without my EXPRESSED permission.  If you see someone else doing this, please let me know.  Use the contact form on this website if you have any specific questions.

For more information, you can also go here.

What is “genderqueer?”

Genderqueer is a term that refers to, and is used by, those who identify as a gender other than the cisgenders (aka boy or girl.) Genderqueer do not look to their genitals for answers as to their gender identity. Biologically their sex may be one thing, but their gender identity may be another. There’s lots of different “kinds” of genderqueer, and some prefer to be called trigender, but really, it depends on the person. In May’s case, she chooses not to fully conform to either of the typical gender roles, and her masculine and feminine qualities are in constant flux. Unlike some genderqueer, she does not mind being called a “he” or a “she” if only because she recognizes that the English language is a gender binary language, and she is not satisfied with the alternative pronouns her community have tried to get society to use over the years (though if pressed, she will sign her name with “Mx.” instead of “Mr.” or “Mrs.”)

It should be understood that like transexuals, identifying as genderqueer does not have to apply to sexuality. A person could be genderqueer but like only men or women, or they could be bisexual, asexual, or pansexual.

Wait. You say May is ‘genderqueer’ but you call her a ‘she!’ What gives?

As mentioned above, the English language is gender binary, meaning there is no widely accepted trigender pronoun for me to use. Of course, the genderqueer community have attempted to put forth alternative pronouns, but society has largely rejected them. A few examples are thon, zir, sie, co, hir, and ey. There has also been use of the singular form of they, their, and them. The problem with using these is that it makes it harder for those outside of the community to understand what it is I’m trying to say, and other readers may simply be turned off by the flow and unfamiliar word usage. So I had to choose: write a body of work that puts into practice what some in the genderqueer community have been trying to get society to accept for years, or choose a narrative approach that more readers can appreciate and understand?

In the end, I decided to do the latter. I don’t write for politics, and while social issues can make for compelling stories, my primary goal is to entertain. I just so happen to like writing for those who tend to feel left out of mainstream works. That doesn’t mean I want cisgender readers to feel alienated and confused. I’d like to think I write stories for everyone.

When do you update?

Every other Saturday…unless something happens that makes it otherwise.  Give me a break, you’re getting this for free!

How can I know when you update?

So that you don’t waste your Sunday visiting my site every five minutes to see if I finally posted the next installment, you can do two things:  First, you can subscribe to my RSS feed, which offers email subscription.  Second, you can follow my Twitter account.  A note about the latter option–My twitter is 1/2 writing related, 1/2 goofy nonsense.  If you’d rather not deal with my tweeting about how much I love Team Fortress 2 or why I can’t stand crying babies in a movie theater, then maybe you should just stick with option 1…

Hey!  I want a better reason for why you didn’t update on time!  Your last twitter update just says, “I suck.”

And you can find one on my creator blog–”Prepare to Die”–along with chapter previews, artwork, story notes, and general musings related in some way or other to my writing.  PtD tends to be a little more focused on just talking about writing, unlike my Twitter account.

Dude, why does your story suck so much?

Why are you such an ass? But to answer your maligned question, the reason my story isn’t best seller material is because I post first draft (sometimes even rough draft) work. I only really have a chance to look over my writing once before an update is due, so even if I had beta readers (which I don’t) or an editor (which I really don’t), there still wouldn’t be enough time between each update to get stuff “perfect.”

I’m working a shift job, I’m a full time student, and I’m writing two other stories. Believe me, I will make mistakes.

In the table of contents, I’ll note which chapters have been edited and to what degree. If you want to see those nasty grammar problems and typos vanish, just politely point it out to me.  When writing like this, mistakes are bound to happen, and that can include continuity errors.  Try and find delight in seeing the creative process happen before you, there’s no real use in jeering at the inevitable.

So are you going to publish Kliff’s Edge in book format?

I’m not sure. Of my writing projects, this one is the youngest and I started it because of a school project. If I get more into it and find an audience who likes it, then I’ll consider releasing an e-book. After that, if demand justifies the cost, then I’ll make a print book available.