I recognize that you all have been very, very busy with the many twists and turns of life....but where have you been? are there going to be future chapters of this story? I was loving it, and then y'all disappeared! Update???
Life can throw unexpected curveballs, but I appreciate your dedication to keeping the serialization on track. The extra features like the tour and recipes add a delightful touch to the story. Looking forward to the upcoming chapters and the "extras"!
Sent a note (tweet) to the threesome behind this fun experiment and received a reply from E. Jean:
“YES! Jonel! Mary's got big plans for....and can't wait to return to Backstory Serial! It will happen soon. Meanwhile, we can give you a refund if you like.”
What happened? I haven't seen a next installment in months. I paid for this subscription so are you going to finish this book or do I cancel and get a refund. I understand that juggling life and work can get complicated but this is beyond reasonable. There hasn't even been an update since September. Please tell us what's going on.
Thanks for letting us know. Life and writing are generally good at those curve balls. Glad you are all feeling better-- and we can enjoy the confection of your periodical work. PS serialized writing is a fantastic challenge. And writing is always rewriting. 🙏
I've ALWAYS liked the look of those kind of streets. Morning in Calabresi. I love the photographers 'eye'. Catching the beauty of the sun's rays streaming down from the heavens upon the cobblestoned streets of Calabresi and other similar destinations.
Please, can someone who has the skill set and a little time (perhaps someone retired?) contact Substack and explain the situation here with the goal of getting pro-rated refunds for folks who paid $60 for an annual sub or -- worse yet -- $250 for a founding member sub. Second goal would be to get this Substack shut down so no more people get cheated out of their money. I recall seeing one sub on this site mention she was just about to start chemo because her cancer had recurred and a few other subs mentioning really sad circumstances. I shed tears reading several entries on here. It pains and angers me that Mary has treated everyone -- but especially certain people who extremely vulnerable and/or probably more in need of money than usual -- as she has.
I have the skill set and under other circumstances, I'd gladly make the time to handle this. But, unfortunately, someone very close to me is having major surgery very soon and I am already getting swamped and will be even more swamped soon and probably for some time.
Anyone who is a subscriber to her other Substack *should* be posting there and asking her how she can continue to take people's money on this Substack after 2.5 months of not posting a book installment. That alone is bad enough, but to not even get on this site and let people know what's up adds insult to injury. (But what is she going to say? It's obvious what's up -- brings to mind the saying about a duck. If it looks like a duck....) I am not a paying member here (as I figured this would happen given her track record on the other Substack, and the last minute cancellations -- with no explanations or apology to people, some of whom no doubt made special travel arrangements -- of the Nerd Avengers tour of several cities.) BUT I really feel bad for you paying members, whose trusting natures have been taken advantage of by someone (actually three people, as Jen and E Jean are complicit at this late stage *if* they are sharing in a portion of Mary's unearned gains from paying subs over the last few months) who goes on and on about traits such as kindness and goodness, etc. She has treated her paid subscribers here VERY poorly.
Btw, I liked Mary and felt sorry for her when she first came on the scene. I can no longer say that based upon what I've seen. Very disappointing.
All three of these women have lost credibility in my eyes.
It would take less than a minute for one of them to post that for what ever reason, the book isn’t happening. And then instructions on how to cancel and get a refund for those that paid in advance.
You're right it would only take a minute -- and all three women have been posting/writing/interviewing away for months. So, it's obvious the reason they don't spend a minute doing as you say is that they know they have done zip work on this Substack for months, BUT are ok with keeping the monthly subs' money flowing in and are OK with cheating the annual subs by not refunding their money on a pro-rated basis. Imagine someone who signed up for an annual sub right before the postings stopped. They've been cheated out of $60. Worst yet, they've been cheated by people who are not wanting for their next meal. If someone was hungry and stole from me to feed themselves and/or their family, I'd understand that -- it's still not right, but it's understandable. For Mary -- who was worth at least a couple of million *before* bringing in at least a few million when her first book came out and who bought a $7 million luxury pad in NYC just a year or two ago (that news was in the Wall Street Journal ) to essentially cheat people out of money is so, so wrong.
It's also so, so hypocrisy since she goes on and on about her relatives on her Trump side valuing money above all and being willing to cheat for it. Her actions are here fall into the same category -- the scale just is not as big.
Did you have success? If so, good for you! But if enough time has passed since folks paid $60 for an annual sub, they prob won't have success with their cc co. No need for the preface "I hate to say it" -- her behavior is, indeed, very "Trumpian" or "Trumpy."
It's been over 2 months; assuming this project has been abandoned. Hope creators are OK. Wishing everyone involved on this list good health, a great Thanksgiving and holiday season, and good things in store for the new year. Over and out.
Any thing new posted yet?
The 6-month anniversary of the last brief book ditty is approaching...3/10. So, what do you think: Will a new excerpt appear before the 6-month mark?
Here's what the Sept 10 posting along with the except said: "This week we’re be back to our regular posting schedule of 2 to 3 installments per week."
*excerpt*
I recognize that you all have been very, very busy with the many twists and turns of life....but where have you been? are there going to be future chapters of this story? I was loving it, and then y'all disappeared! Update???
Life can throw unexpected curveballs, but I appreciate your dedication to keeping the serialization on track. The extra features like the tour and recipes add a delightful touch to the story. Looking forward to the upcoming chapters and the "extras"!
Yes, I received a full refund.
Hi Cary, I sent an email to this address: backstoryserial@substack.com.
Have you heard a reply.
Sent a note (tweet) to the threesome behind this fun experiment and received a reply from E. Jean:
“YES! Jonel! Mary's got big plans for....and can't wait to return to Backstory Serial! It will happen soon. Meanwhile, we can give you a refund if you like.”
When will it happen? My definition of “soon” is markedly less than 56 days.
Well, in deep-sea sponge time, two months would qualify as "soon." (They can live thousands of years.) Appropriate animal choice, no?
BS
Thanks for update
Just an FYI, I contacted the publisher of Backstory Serial and got a refund so I encourage others to do likewise.
That's good news - but who did you contact, exactly? I can't find a way to contact anyone!
What happened? I haven't seen a next installment in months. I paid for this subscription so are you going to finish this book or do I cancel and get a refund. I understand that juggling life and work can get complicated but this is beyond reasonable. There hasn't even been an update since September. Please tell us what's going on.
Dec 9, 2023 - still nothing from publisher. Consider this comment updated documentation.
Thanks for letting us know. Life and writing are generally good at those curve balls. Glad you are all feeling better-- and we can enjoy the confection of your periodical work. PS serialized writing is a fantastic challenge. And writing is always rewriting. 🙏
I've ALWAYS liked the look of those kind of streets. Morning in Calabresi. I love the photographers 'eye'. Catching the beauty of the sun's rays streaming down from the heavens upon the cobblestoned streets of Calabresi and other similar destinations.
Please, can someone who has the skill set and a little time (perhaps someone retired?) contact Substack and explain the situation here with the goal of getting pro-rated refunds for folks who paid $60 for an annual sub or -- worse yet -- $250 for a founding member sub. Second goal would be to get this Substack shut down so no more people get cheated out of their money. I recall seeing one sub on this site mention she was just about to start chemo because her cancer had recurred and a few other subs mentioning really sad circumstances. I shed tears reading several entries on here. It pains and angers me that Mary has treated everyone -- but especially certain people who extremely vulnerable and/or probably more in need of money than usual -- as she has.
I have the skill set and under other circumstances, I'd gladly make the time to handle this. But, unfortunately, someone very close to me is having major surgery very soon and I am already getting swamped and will be even more swamped soon and probably for some time.
Thanks!
Anyone who is a subscriber to her other Substack *should* be posting there and asking her how she can continue to take people's money on this Substack after 2.5 months of not posting a book installment. That alone is bad enough, but to not even get on this site and let people know what's up adds insult to injury. (But what is she going to say? It's obvious what's up -- brings to mind the saying about a duck. If it looks like a duck....) I am not a paying member here (as I figured this would happen given her track record on the other Substack, and the last minute cancellations -- with no explanations or apology to people, some of whom no doubt made special travel arrangements -- of the Nerd Avengers tour of several cities.) BUT I really feel bad for you paying members, whose trusting natures have been taken advantage of by someone (actually three people, as Jen and E Jean are complicit at this late stage *if* they are sharing in a portion of Mary's unearned gains from paying subs over the last few months) who goes on and on about traits such as kindness and goodness, etc. She has treated her paid subscribers here VERY poorly.
Btw, I liked Mary and felt sorry for her when she first came on the scene. I can no longer say that based upon what I've seen. Very disappointing.
Is anyone brave enough to post on Mary’s SubStack asking what happened to the serial?
Ah, I meant to post my comment as a response to yours. I thought I had, but it appears as a new comment.
Thanks. I read your comment.
All three of these women have lost credibility in my eyes.
It would take less than a minute for one of them to post that for what ever reason, the book isn’t happening. And then instructions on how to cancel and get a refund for those that paid in advance.
You're right it would only take a minute -- and all three women have been posting/writing/interviewing away for months. So, it's obvious the reason they don't spend a minute doing as you say is that they know they have done zip work on this Substack for months, BUT are ok with keeping the monthly subs' money flowing in and are OK with cheating the annual subs by not refunding their money on a pro-rated basis. Imagine someone who signed up for an annual sub right before the postings stopped. They've been cheated out of $60. Worst yet, they've been cheated by people who are not wanting for their next meal. If someone was hungry and stole from me to feed themselves and/or their family, I'd understand that -- it's still not right, but it's understandable. For Mary -- who was worth at least a couple of million *before* bringing in at least a few million when her first book came out and who bought a $7 million luxury pad in NYC just a year or two ago (that news was in the Wall Street Journal ) to essentially cheat people out of money is so, so wrong.
It's also so, so hypocrisy since she goes on and on about her relatives on her Trump side valuing money above all and being willing to cheat for it. Her actions are here fall into the same category -- the scale just is not as big.
*hypocritical (typo)
I had to go thru my credit card company. I hate to say it but not delivering what was paid for seems a Trumpy thing to do
Did you have success? If so, good for you! But if enough time has passed since folks paid $60 for an annual sub, they prob won't have success with their cc co. No need for the preface "I hate to say it" -- her behavior is, indeed, very "Trumpian" or "Trumpy."
September was the last installment. Where is the rest of it? Paying subscribers want to know.
It's been over 2 months; assuming this project has been abandoned. Hope creators are OK. Wishing everyone involved on this list good health, a great Thanksgiving and holiday season, and good things in store for the new year. Over and out.