still waters run deep

pokes head up

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:27:09 GMT

Like some kind of groundhog predicting spring, I EMERGE! But hey, it's been less than a year since the last update, so there's that, at least.

2026. 2026! HOW?! I remember 1986 pretty well. And holy hell, it's been more than twenty years since my first post to fanfiction dot net on 20 Dec 2005. Let's not get into how long ago I made my first fanfic posts to Usenet newsgroups (alt.startrek.creative, I think). It does not bear contemplating.

Still not inspired, writing-wise. I was just thinking yesterday about the volume of writing I produced. How did I do it? I read back some of my stuff and I can't believe it's mine (not to toot my own horn or anything). How did I have the time to do it?

Hope to write again soon, if the goddamn world doesn't end…

comments

Proof of life

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 04:04:13 GMT

Well... hey there. Just a quick note to say I'm still alive and kicking.

You may have noticed* that I deleted the ol' Twitter account (still not calling it X). That Nazi fuck can kiss my shiny metal ass.** I briefly considered maybe making a fannish Blue Sky account, but I barely use my RL account, so I can't really see myself being more active on two account.

Getting back on topic, I'm more excited than I thought I would be for the MATB movie that'll be out in 10 days' time. I know I'm going to cry like a baby—I accept this fully—but, even though it's going to feel like my heart's being wrenched out through my nose, I can't not watch. I love Renée as Bridget and will stan her for life. At least it'll be on Peacock, so I can weep unabashedly without embarrassing myself in public. (I am still Team Mark 4 LYFE, though. There'd better be an owl in this movie.)

I haven't written a thing in eons. I'm not inclined to force myself to write something just to write it. I should, however, have a look at the WIPs to see if anything sparks the imagination, because lord knows, with the country on fire around me, I could use a goddamn distraction.

Until next year, probably, lol...

* Actually, probably not; no one seems to remember that Dreamwidth exists, which is sad because the ol' LJ days were pretty great...

** They say one grows more conservative as one grows older. I call bullshit.

comments

How is it 2024. How.

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 20:58:06 GMT

It's been a while, friends, and I'm sorry! The last few years have conspired to drain me of all creativity, and it's depressing as fuck. 2022 wasn't terrible (just busy, then surgery), but 2023 was a shitshow. Highlights (lowlights?): put weight back on thanks to recovering and not properly tracking what I was eating; my beloved black kitty died just after her 17th birthday on April 1st (who says the universe does not have a sense of humour?); I lost my job (and only just found another, starting very soon; private insurance, even with assistance from the state, is goddamn expensive—fuck this country, anyway).

I find social media exhausting these days. How do people stay active on Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, Twitter (never fucking calling it X), etc. etc.? And I'm still pissed as fuck at what Musk has done to what used to be a pretty great platform (not perfect, but what is?). I doubt that I'll ever go back and that makes me sad, because I met a lot of great folks there and now it feels like we're all scattered to the four winds. I'm not on any of the Fediverse social media platforms, nor am I on BlueSky, Threads, or any of the platforms that want to be the next Twitter. (Let me amend that: I'm not there under this persona, but as the real me.)

Anyway. Being too overwhelmed to keep up with it all leaves me feeling very disconnected. I've had a lot of really nice comments come in on old fics, and I feel guilty about not remembering to respond in gratitude. Same guilt when friends post new things and I forget to go back and read, then just forget altogether. (I don't think I can blame that on old age, but I'm going to anyway.)

Health-wise, I'm pretty well; slimmed back down almost to pre-surgery weight (just about 10 lbs to go). Wife is good. The other two cats are all right, though one needs a dental extraction and that will cost a small fortune to have done. But overall I do realize we're still very lucky to have our health, a place to live, some savings still, and food in the kitchen.

I have a few story ideas as well as works in progress that I don't even remember what I wrote. Keep your fingers crossed that I get my mojo back, at least a little bit. I'm gonna double check my settings to ensure I get notified by any comments here, because if we knew each other from Twitter, I want to know if you found this post.

Happy New Year! I wish all of you all the best.

comments

Fic: A Period of Adjustment

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:01:07 GMT

A Period of Adjustment

Words: 7,075

Rating: T / PG-13

Summary: Living on your own for years can make for a difficult adjustment after marriage.

Notes: Kind of a lot of them. See the linked story :)

Chapter 1: Adjusting to Her

Mark Darcy knew that his new life would take some getting used to.

Since leaving the dormitories in university, he had not lived with another human being for any appreciable amount of time. His first wife, Tamiko, had not moved in until they'd married, and was gone within a fortnight. His second wife, Camilla, had stayed in his home when she was in London, and he had stayed in hers when he was in The Hague, but the longest they'd cohabitated at a stretch was about three weeks, and even then, they were more like roommates than soulmates.

His third wife, Bridget… well, he knew things were going to be different from the start.

Story links: AO3 | FFnet

comments

Fic: As Luck Would Have It

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 19:08:29 GMT

As Luck Would Have It

Words: 9,252

Rating: T / PG-13

Summary: Getting stranded in a foreign country is the sort of thing that could happen to anyone.

Disclaimer: Only the words in this order are mine.

Notes: The beginning of this literally came to me in a dream. Can't believe it's taken me this long to finish it.

It was a nice sunset, at least.

That was Bridget's only consolation as she stood at the seashore. The sun dipped down closer and closer to the horizon, painting the sky with pinks, indigo blues, and purples that reflected on the ripples below. Stranded in this pretty little German town hundreds of miles from home with a paltry amount of cash, no purse, no means of transportation, no mobile phone, and no apparent functioning cashpoints for using the bank card that she had, she supposed it was in her nature to make the best of a terrible situation, and to take solace in the beauty of nature. She knew she would have to consider where she'd sleep that night; any hotel could probably take her bank card, but her cash reserves were not so great as to actually cover a charge.

She sighed, drawing a long sip from the coffee she'd purchased to keep warm, but almost choked on it, gasping as the sun had apparently started to rise again. "What on earth—how can that be?" she whispered.

A voice spoke, startling her: "Optical illusion."

Story links: AO3 | FFnet

comments

Year End Summary, 2020

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 22:49:57 GMT

It was not a productive year for fanfic. I think it's the first year since I started writing again in earnest (i.e. 2006, i.e. 14 years ago) that I did not post a BJD fic.

That's not to say I haven't been writing. There are three files in my WIP folder. One is in the subfolder "Post." I last touched it in Oct of 2020, and I can't remember now why I didn't post it. I think I was just not thrilled with the end. (Don't worry, I'm not going to pitch it. I'll work on it.)

( What I posted in 2020: ST: Picard: 1 )

Total word count: 24,401.
Last year's total to beat: 32,426.

Welp. I didn't beat last year's total, but I think we can all agree that 2020 was a dumpster fire, so I'm not self-flagellating too much.

comments

Well, it's been a minute

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 17:45:09 GMT

I can hardly believe it's been over a year (closer to two than one!) since I last posted a story link here. Sheeeeeeesh.

It's been a hell of a year-and-change, for more than the obvious reasons. I got laid off (I'm employed again now, thank heavens) and my younger brother died from lung cancer. My friend's husband of little over a year died unexpectedly too. Two funerals during COVID that weren't COVID-related. I suppose I'm grateful for that much.

I have three Bridget Jones fics in progress, but being so stressed out, my enthusiasm for writing was, perhaps understandably, at a low.

Back in May of 2019, I was digging through my hard drive, found then posted an older Star Trek: TNG story—and by "old" I mean "from 24 years ago"—that I'd written but apparently never shared publicly back in the day. You can find it on AO3 (and on FF.net, but formatting is better on AO3, so read it there).

[Being a TNG fan is probably helpful, but probably not totally necessary to read and enjoy. I focus on character stories, relationships, and motivations, not space battles and science fiction technobabble. (Not that there's anything wrong with those things!) And I have a tendency to explain some of the more esoteric things for those with a passing familiarity.]

One of the highlights of my year was Star Trek: Picard, and while I enjoyed it very much (seeing Data, Will, and Deanna again was like spending time with old friends), there was one very notable absence to me.

…so what do we do, kids, when canon doesn't serve what you want? You make it yourself. Hence the icon.

Title: Per Ardua Ad Astra (Latin for "through adversity to the stars")
Rating: M
Words: ~24K
Summary: Beverly Crusher emerges from a nine-month isolation to discover a lot has happened. (So many spoilers for ST:P season 1.)

As of this post, two chapters are up, two chapters and the epilogue remain.

When I'm done wrangling this, I'll revisit my Bridget fics. *brightly* Hopefully they're not utter crap!

Have no idea if anyone's even reading here anymore, but if your eyes are skimming over this, I hope you're well wherever you are in the world.

comments

Fic: Undercurrents

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:42:43 GMT

Undercurrents

Words: 14,828
Rating: M / R
Summary: No one knew of the secret history behind the public story.
Disclaimer: Isn't mine, oh hell no.
Notes: Alternate canon, BJD movie universe (i.e. with a November birthday).
This one is a little bit different in format. Some of the chapters and longer, some are shorter. Hopefully it works.

Read it here:

comments

Portraiture

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 23:12:54 GMT

One I'm actually pleased with. Via Twitter.

comments

Year End Summary, 2019

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:20:21 GMT

( What I posted in 2019, as of 22 Jan: Bridget Jones' Diary: 1 )
Total word count (1st Quarter): 32,426

Last year's total to beat: 13,143. Already better this year.

comments

Fic: Mark Darcy and the Overactive Imagination

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:10:30 GMT

Mark Darcy and the Overactive Imagination

Words: 10,781
Rating: M / R
Summary: Mark turns his attention to family, and to a neighbourhood mystery.
Disclaimer: So very much not mine, except for the words in this order.
Notes: This assumes a timeline in which Mabel gets to her know her dad as more than stories and old photos.

Link to chapter 1 (of 3) here:

AO3
Fanfiction dot net
Chapter 2 is also up!

comments

Year End Summary, 2018

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 18:52:02 GMT

Well…. there's not much to report here. I posted one (1) story in the 3rd quarter:

Missed Connections: A change in daily routine can have a much greater ripple effect than one might imagine. A/U. (Also on Fanfiction.net.) 13,143 words, M / R, posted 8 Sept 2018.

So the word count for what was posted was a grand total of 13,143.

Of course, I have written more, but haven't had the motivation to get it in shape to post. This year has been a decade, I swear.

A great big THANK YOU to all who have read and reviewed on AO3 and FF. I haven't always been able to reply to each comment but they sure as hell mean the world to me.

Hopefully 2019 will be better for creativity.

comments

Well, hello!

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 17:31:45 GMT

So... hi there! Life has been a bit mad lately. To sum it up, in brief: back in March, we packed up and moved across country to the east coast, where most of my family is (and to help with said family). In many ways we're still settling in; most of our stuff is still in boxes and yet to be dealt with. Yes, almost 6 months later.

I have still been writing off and on--in fact, I just posted a new story (below)! I have a few others in various states of done-ness. One I thought was done was... not :P Now I have to figure out how to conclude things.

Anyway. I would say to go to Twitter or Tumblr or whatever to get more updated info, but I haven't really been very active there, either. Twitter definitely gets the story links as soon as they are posted. :) Always amazes me that so many folks still read and review, so thank you.

Title: Missed Connections
Rating: M / R
Words (for 3 chapters): 13,143

Summary: A change in daily routine can have a much greater ripple effect than one might imagine. A/U.

Read it on Archive of Our Own or Fanfiction.net.

If you need something else to read, I can't recommend these two authors enough: eggsbenni221 and reindeerjumper. I'm v. behind on reading, but they never disappoint.

comments

Not sure if this even has any readers anymore, but...

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 04:45:56 GMT

I've posted a couple of polls on Twitter dot com:

So… I was thinking of porting older BJD stories into AO3. However, there are… a LOT from 2006 to now. How should I proceed? [Poll]
— sandra faith (@_sfaith) January 21, 2018

Also considering adding older Picard/Crusher Star Trek: TNG stories from ~ 1992-96. I don't think they're available anywhere else anymore. Would that be of interest? [Poll]
— sandra faith (@_sfaith) January 21, 2018

Feel free to RT if this is relevant to your interests.

comments

Happy new year! And a fic rec.

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 02:44:46 GMT

So apologies for the silence—it was a busy end-of-year, then a trip to visit my sister to surprise her (along with the rest of my sibs) for her birthday, which I was honestly more excited about than the holidays themselves.

Let me leave this rec here… I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I feel perfectly confident in reccing anything by my friend here.

Picture-Perfect Christmas by eggsbenni221

(((*****BRIDGET JONES'S BABY SPOILERS!*****))): the story behind the picture at the end of the closing credits for "Bridget Jones's Baby," because why not, and when was the last time you saw Mark smile like that? Primarily film universe, though the squiffy Christmas tree fiasco reference is book universe. (As always, typos are mine).

Another case of GMTA, I think, since my Christmas-related story was also about the photo. ☺️

comments

Fic: A New Tradition

Mon, 25 Dec 2017 05:05:39 GMT

A New Tradition

By S. Faith, © 2017
Words: 1792
Rating: T / PG-13
Summary: It's funny what becomes a holiday tradition, isn't it?
Disclaimer: Isn't mine.
Notes: Takes place the Christmas after the end of Bridget Jones's Baby.

"Bloody hell."

The mild curse and a sharp rustle of newspaper pulled her attention away from her mobile's screen. She glanced up at her husband—who continued to insist upon reading the printed page every day—to see annoyance and frustration playing upon his face. Curiously, he had been reading the arts and entertainment section.

More on Archive of Our Own and Fanfiction.net.

Happy holidays, y'all!

comments

Fic: The Long Way Home (M / R)

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 04:33:16 GMT

The Long Way Home

Words: 23,353 (four chapters in all; first two now posted)
Rating: M / R
Summary: Mark's idea of coping with a difficult situation is… not to cope with it.
Disclaimer: Not my characters.
Notes: This story assumes the timeline of the novels/books, particularly Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries, from which this takes some dialogue.

It had been like a dream. And apparently no more real as one.

He sighed, then let the drape he had pulled aside fall down. The sparkling pinpoints of light that comprised the San Francisco evening skyline was beautiful, but he needed sleep after the long day of travel he'd just had.

But first, some wine, something to eat.

…see the rest at either AO3 or FFNet.

comments

Guess what, darlings!

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 05:19:35 GMT

I wrote a thing! And it's finished! And I'm going to post it soon! *kermit flail*

Writing this year has been such a slog. Spending so much time stressed and worried (re: the current administration trying to kill us all). But I'm pleased to have finished it.

And dammit, I missed wishing Mr Grant and Mr Firth their happy birthdays.

comments

Year End Summary, 2017

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 22:10:30 GMT

( What I posted in 2017, as of 24 Dec: Bridget Jones' Diary: 3 )
Total word count (1st Quarter): 0
Total word count (2nd Quarter): 0
Total word count (3rd Quarter): 4,215
Total word count (4th Quarter): 25,145
…for a total of 29,360.
Last year's total to beat: 149,285. Noooot gonna make it.

comments

Fic: First Dance

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 21:55:22 GMT

AT LAST!

First Dance (and other scenes from a wedding)

By S. Faith, © 2016, 2017
Words: 4,215
Rating: M / R (for the f-word)
Summary: The wedding had been a long time coming, so Mark had to plan something a little extra special.
Disclaimer: Not mine, though how dearly I do wish it were.
Notes: Yeah, I started this last year, finished it earlier this year, then… forgot about it. Whoops!

Also on FF.net.

comments

Well, hey there.

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 01:56:55 GMT

Just a quick note, I'm still here, still writing, but am in the middle of moving house… so I'm going to be a bit quiet for a while.

xxxooo

comments

More fic: Santa, and Mr Darcy (not in the same stories)

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 05:31:33 GMT

Once again, I forgot to update here. Enjoy...

Title: Substitute Santa (T / PG-13; 2156 words)
Happy little Christmas fluff.
Read on: AO3 or FF dot net.

Title: Mr Darcy Returns (M / R; 18,600 (in four chapters and an epilogue)
The follow up to Mr Darcy's Bed (Feb. 2013), which you can read on AO3, Fanfiction dot net, or on Still Waters Run Deep (an independent site where I've kept fiction).
Read on: AO3, FF dot net, or Still Waters Run Deep.

comments

Fic dump 3: Rechristening

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 06:12:20 GMT

Fic: Rechristening (on AO3)
Words: 5,984
Rating: MA / NC-17
Summary: What happens at Jude's baby's christening stays at Jude's baby's christening. Except for a little something that turns up about nine months later. (Takes place during Bridget Jones's Baby, so, spoilers, obviously!)

comments

End of year fic dump 2!

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:54:11 GMT

...And a couple more fics to AO3...

Fic: Five Years, Two Months, Three Days
Or if you prefer Fanfiction dot com...
Words: 2,396
Rating: M/R
Summary: Some dates stand out as a milestone more than others. (Takes place after the events of Bridget Jones's Baby, so, spoilers, obviously!)
Fic: In Her Own Skin
Words: 3,331
Rating: Explicit (MA / NC-17)
Summary: When someone says they love you just as you are, it's a good idea to take them at their word.

Enjoy.

comments

End of year fic dump!

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 06:09:33 GMT

Just posted a couple of fics to AO3...

Drabble: Prompt: "YOU DID WHAT?"
Words: 601
Rating: Teen and up.
Fic: The Fantasy of Us
Words: 10537
Rating: Explicit
Summary: Now that William's born, everything's changed. (Takes place after the events of Bridget Jones's Baby, so, spoilers, obviously!)

Enjoy.

comments

still waters run deep

*pokes head up*

Proof of life

How is it 2024. How.

Fic: A Period of Adjustment

Fic: As Luck Would Have It

Year End Summary, 2020

Well, it's been a minute

Fic: Undercurrents

Portraiture

Year End Summary, 2019

Fic: Mark Darcy and the Overactive Imagination

Year End Summary, 2018

Well, hello!

Not sure if this even has any readers anymore, but...

Happy new year! And a fic rec.

Fic: A New Tradition

Fic: The Long Way Home (M / R)

Guess what, darlings!

Year End Summary, 2017

Fic: First Dance

Well, hey there.

More fic: Santa, and Mr Darcy (not in the same stories)

Fic dump 3: Rechristening

End of year fic dump 2!

End of year fic dump!

pokes head up