Comment on Daphnesecretgarden's profile
Are you alive and well, Daphne?
Oh, yes ... I am alive and fairly well. Just keeping a low profile. Life has been crazy the past year and my creativity has been in hibernation. I took a bit of a sabbatical from everything ... trying to catch my breath and come up with some new things to write and draw.
I'm sad to hear that about your creativity, your storytelling is some of the best on the whole internet, and there are lots of people (myself included) who await the continuation of your works with baited breath.
Still, I understand that sometimes you have to take a breather, so take however long you need, but know that we'll all be thrilled when you come back.
Still, I understand that sometimes you have to take a breather, so take however long you need, but know that we'll all be thrilled when you come back.
Thank you, baby doll. 
I appreciate your patience and understanding. It's just that when I don't have much to say, I don't say much. 
It's weird how I've become so popular, in this peculiar little genre, I mean. I still get asked about stories I wrote ten years ago. And so many people follow me. I sometimes wonder how that all happened. I just liked writing and drawing because I couldn't find the stuff that I wanted. I hope that maybe somewhere out there someone has been inspired, if not by me but by some means, to take up the cause.
I appreciate your patience and understanding. It's just that when I don't have much to say, I don't say much. It's weird how I've become so popular, in this peculiar little genre, I mean. I still get asked about stories I wrote ten years ago. And so many people follow me. I sometimes wonder how that all happened. I just liked writing and drawing because I couldn't find the stuff that I wanted. I hope that maybe somewhere out there someone has been inspired, if not by me but by some means, to take up the cause.
*giggle* Thanks for the complement.
Speaking personally, I think its because you manage to tap into the emotional heart of what makes this odd little genre so appealing for us. Its not just creative or clever ideas and setups (though you do have those too, and some of them are just brilliant) but the feelings you're able to convey. All of your art (especially with the captions included) is brimming with emotion. And in your writing you make the characters seem very human. They aren't just "the brat" or "the bully", they're a real boy who happens to be a brat, a real girl who happens to be a bully, you have a real gift of breathing that sense of humanity into them, which both makes the protagonist more likeable, the narrative more interesting and also makes the emotions of the story more powerful. Reading your stories and browsing your art one can get a visceral feel for all the sensations that make this genre so strangely fascinating; the embarrassment, shock, shame, outraged boyish dignity, nervousness, confusion, impotent frustration and helplessness that the protagonists experience.
I also think you have a good skill at balancing the fantasy and reality aspects of your pictures and scenarios. It's hard to describe to be honest, but you seem to know when a given scenario needs to be kept grounded (like the adventures in girls clothing pic), when to exploit the fantasy angel (the belittling) , and sometimes you seem to be able to mix the two.
This may just be me, but often for me your stories and pictures have a kind of almost dream like quality while still keeping me immersed in the fact that for the protagonist they're all to real. (The Adventures of Princess Billy, the Marlene/Tully Christmas stories, and the big sister little brother paper doll pics are all examples off the top of my head) The result is that, for me at least while none of these have supernatural elements they still take on an almost fairytale feel that allows me to accept the more improbable stuff, while still retaining the emotional intimacy with the main character's ordeal.
Like I said I'm not sure I know how to explain it, but that's why those stories (and pics) are my favorites, they just hit all the right buttons for me somehow.
But back on topic my central point remains, for me at least your big talent is conveying the emotion of the situation. I think that's the reason you're so popular.
Speaking personally, I think its because you manage to tap into the emotional heart of what makes this odd little genre so appealing for us. Its not just creative or clever ideas and setups (though you do have those too, and some of them are just brilliant) but the feelings you're able to convey. All of your art (especially with the captions included) is brimming with emotion. And in your writing you make the characters seem very human. They aren't just "the brat" or "the bully", they're a real boy who happens to be a brat, a real girl who happens to be a bully, you have a real gift of breathing that sense of humanity into them, which both makes the protagonist more likeable, the narrative more interesting and also makes the emotions of the story more powerful. Reading your stories and browsing your art one can get a visceral feel for all the sensations that make this genre so strangely fascinating; the embarrassment, shock, shame, outraged boyish dignity, nervousness, confusion, impotent frustration and helplessness that the protagonists experience.
I also think you have a good skill at balancing the fantasy and reality aspects of your pictures and scenarios. It's hard to describe to be honest, but you seem to know when a given scenario needs to be kept grounded (like the adventures in girls clothing pic), when to exploit the fantasy angel (the belittling) , and sometimes you seem to be able to mix the two.
This may just be me, but often for me your stories and pictures have a kind of almost dream like quality while still keeping me immersed in the fact that for the protagonist they're all to real. (The Adventures of Princess Billy, the Marlene/Tully Christmas stories, and the big sister little brother paper doll pics are all examples off the top of my head) The result is that, for me at least while none of these have supernatural elements they still take on an almost fairytale feel that allows me to accept the more improbable stuff, while still retaining the emotional intimacy with the main character's ordeal.
Like I said I'm not sure I know how to explain it, but that's why those stories (and pics) are my favorites, they just hit all the right buttons for me somehow.
But back on topic my central point remains, for me at least your big talent is conveying the emotion of the situation. I think that's the reason you're so popular.
Oh Bailey, you are so sweet! 
You really know how to tug on my heartstrings, you know that? You know me very well, and my writing. You've echoed so many of the little things that I work so hard to convey. It's truly rewarding to hear. I mean, yes, I do try to do all those things you mention, mixing fantasy with reality; keeping things grounded in a real world with real people and real emotions; experimenting with emotion and motives and thoughts and dreams; and so on. And the fairy tale feeling you get ... it warms my heart to hear you say that; it's exactly what I try to do. My fairy tales, of course, are a bit dark and dangerous to our young protagonists' egos, but aren't all fairy tales dangerous?
Thank you again for writing such a beautiful note. It really does help my ego. I sometimes look at my body of work and think, what the heck? All that, and still I haven't said what I wanted to say, nor have I drawn what I wanted to draw? If I haven't done it by now, when -- if ever -- will I do it? <sigh>
I've not given up. I'll be back ... and soon, I hope. I kinda sorta probably know what I'm trying to do, but it's difficult getting it down on paper ... on the screen ... whatev.
Thanks again and keep in touch.
You really know how to tug on my heartstrings, you know that? You know me very well, and my writing. You've echoed so many of the little things that I work so hard to convey. It's truly rewarding to hear. I mean, yes, I do try to do all those things you mention, mixing fantasy with reality; keeping things grounded in a real world with real people and real emotions; experimenting with emotion and motives and thoughts and dreams; and so on. And the fairy tale feeling you get ... it warms my heart to hear you say that; it's exactly what I try to do. My fairy tales, of course, are a bit dark and dangerous to our young protagonists' egos, but aren't all fairy tales dangerous? Thank you again for writing such a beautiful note. It really does help my ego. I sometimes look at my body of work and think, what the heck? All that, and still I haven't said what I wanted to say, nor have I drawn what I wanted to draw? If I haven't done it by now, when -- if ever -- will I do it? <sigh>
I've not given up. I'll be back ... and soon, I hope. I kinda sorta probably know what I'm trying to do, but it's difficult getting it down on paper ... on the screen ... whatev.
Thanks again and keep in touch.
I will