1. front page updated
2. autobiography updated
3. author page updated
4. three quotes added to the random display in the right sidebar
5. chronological archives removed

In preparation for an upcoming attempt to gain agent representation, I’ve focused the website almost entirely on Warlock’s Wake. I felt the old design was too cluttered, with too many links and features to distract away from what really matters.  All of the old content is still in place.  The blog formerly known as “Random Headtrips” can still be accessed by clicking the “Shannon’s Journal” link in the righthand sidebar.  All other legacy shannonthomas.org content must ne accessed by the links found on the ARCHIVES page (linked at the yop of this page above the main header graphic.)  That page contains links by date or by category.  If you want a click overview of what’s new, I’ve left the NEWEST 50 page in the main menu as well, beside the ARCHIVES link.

I’m testing a plugin that’s supposed to send an update to twitter and put the entire post on Facebook.  The plugin will also post to myspace, but it’s a pain in the ass to make it work.  I was looking for an excuse to completely write off that site anyway.  Here goes:  testing, testing, 1,2,3!

Update:  Face book is working well, but twitter isn’t workng at all.  What a bummer.

I’ve finally migrated the content from Hereticsquest.com to this site.  I had to take a day of vacation to do it, but it’s finally done, with the following caveats:

• I haven’t had (and probably won’t have) time to thoroughly check every post and every comment, but I think I’ve successfully migrated all of them.
• Graphics are still pulled from HereticsQuest.com URLs, but I’ll change that in bits and pieces as I go.
• HereticsQuest.Com will remain online for viewing purposes, but it’s otherwise shutdown.  Registrations are closed, and while existing members may still login, all posts are closed for comments.
• If a site member has accounts here and at HereticsQuest.com, I attempted to credit their migrated comments to the account they have here.  If they only had an account on HereticsQuest.Com, I attempted to migrate their account to this site.  I’m going to assume I was successful until someone tells me differently.
• All of the migrated content has been properly categorized.  Some posts that pertained only to the old site development were deleted.
• The sidebars have been modified to contain minimal content while viewing articles categorized as Heretic’s Quest content.

These tasks remain:

• Change the color scheme to be more reminiscent of HereticsQuest.com
• Change the rotating header images to focus on the migrated content.
• Update the theme’s software to the latest version.
• Changeover my webhost so I can dump 1and1.com on their incompetent asses.

This list means that colors and graphics will be changing.  During the webhost changeover, the site may be  unavailable for a day or two while the new DNS records propagate.  Please be patient; the transition is nearly complete.

In other site news:

• I added a captcha verification to the contact form because I’m tired of the incessant email spam that comes from that form.  You won’t see or be required to use the verification if you’re registered and logged into the site.
• I also updated to the lates version of WordPress and updated all active plugins that had new code available.
• I removed the content slider because I think I can find one I like better, and for now I want as much focus as possible on Heretic’s Quest.

• Upgraded to Atahualpa theme 3.3.3.
• Uploaded summer images to header folder
• Altered color scheme to reflect summer theme
• added images and descriptions to the content slider
• added login widget to the right sidebar
• removed the “meta” widget from  the right sidebar
• updated favicon to custom icon
• added code to index.php to incorporate the content slider starting on line 4

<div align=”center”>
<?php if ( is_front_page() ) { ?>
<?php include (ABSPATH . ‘/wp-content/plugins/dynamic-content-gallery-plugin/dynamic-gallery.php’); ?>
<?php } ?>
</div>

removed titles on the pages by adding a conditional to index.php

<?php if ( !is_page() ) { ?>
<?php bfa_post_headline(); // Post Headline: To edit the output, see functions/bfa_post_parts.php ?>
<?php } ?>

Some big changes are coming to this site, as soon as I can get time to make it all happen.  Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:

1. Yet another theme change.  I thougt I was happy with this one, but it WILL NOT display a “featured article slider window” that I really, REALLY want to use.  I want it bad enough to abandon the hours of work I have in this theme’s customization.
2. Once the new theme is online, customized, and working well, I’m going to shut down hereticsquest.com and migrate all content to this site.  I haven’t decided how I’m going to build it into exiesting site structure, and I have mixed emotions about it, but I think it needs done.  WordPress is simple to use, but there’s still a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved with these websites that visitors never see, especially when one considers all of the extra plugins I use.  Consolidation will cut my work in half, which will give me more time to write, research agents, research self publication, and make this site better.
3. I have a few changes planned for the sidebar navigation options.  I want to see if I can set it up so that the front page only displays a “top level” menu of very broad topics, and then when a visitor clicks on a topic, another sidebar section displays the subcategories.  It will require some experimentation, but I think I can make it work.  The question is whether it’s worth the time and work that may be required.
4. I have a new short story and a ne poem to post soon, and I have a long list of new content I want to write.  It includes humor, info on camping gear, a book review, an i-phone accessory review, recipies, and more.

It’s been awhile since we had a site update. Like anything else, documentation always seems to drop on the list of priorities as soon as the work load picks up.

Frequent visitors to the site may have noticed that many of the sidebar sections have gone away, and we’ve consolidated the list of categories. The reader quotes listed on the front page have been transformed into a random quote block in the left sidebar. Shannon decided that the page layout had become too bloated with extra features that distracted away from the main goals of this website. New visitors were assaulted with so much information and so many choices that they didn’t know where to start. The new look is more compact, easier to navigate, and (in our opinion) more professional.

If we can work out a few bugs, we’ll soon incorporate a sliding window that features articles and content. We have the functionality in place, but for some reason the slider prevents the right sidebar from displaying. Shannon is so committed to having this slider that we may change themes just to ensure we can use the slider.

We may also add a new page to the line of links at the top of the page. It will contain Shannon’s hand-picked favorite content, and the sidebars will be expanded to include many of the sections we’ve cut out of the main page.

He’s also trying to find a few minutes to make a new, less formal,  “welcome to the  site” video.  The old one referred to the site map page, which we’re going to replace with a simple list of site features.

We also removed the page that was going to host Cybernetic Nexus. After a realistic appraisal of his schedule, Shannon realized that he doesn’t have time to moderate a forum. It’s a dream that must wait for another time.

We’ve updated the biography article to include events since the last update, and we added a handful of links to our list of colleagues.

• We added three new widgets to the side bars: a poll, a count of current visitors, and site statistics.
• The site map was updated to include the new plugins.
• We modified the theme’s core code to remove titles in the page headings.

Continue reading Site News: 01.14.09 (code) »»

A few very minor tweaks remain on the list, but for all intents and purposes, the new theme is functional and ready.  We’ve accomplished a lot today:

• If you’re reading this, you’ve figured out that we moved the site news to an individual posting method and linked them via a graphic on the home page.  We did this for two reasons.  1) Who wants to read news first thing?  It’s boring, and we saw no reason to continue dedicating home page real estate to news when it could be placed elsewhere and made easily accessible to anyone who actually cares.  2) Writing the news as individual articles will ensure the updates appear in the RSS feeds and Feedburner email notifications.
• We finished tweaking the appearance and functionality of the posts and comments.
• We added a content archive page to the top row.  We named it “The basement” and updated the site map to include it.
• We applied a theme update which removed the hack we used to place a Random Headtrip link with the page links.  We’ll rehack it at a later date.
• We updated the Focus On: Communication article to include new site features and posted it on the home page.
• New features include: Feedburner email subscriptions, the ability to email content to friends, an improved social bookmarking function, and a print function.

• The Site Map page still needs some work, but it’s partially updated to reflect the new theme and layout.
• We’re still experimenting with the FeedBurner email subscriptions.  The link has been removed for the time being.
• We’re also experimenting with new methods of posting site news.  We may replace the full text with a hyperlinked icon that leads to a listing of individual posts.

As you can see, the new theme is live! We still have a lot of work to do, so please be patient, and please let us know if you see anything that doesn’t look right. Aside from the obvious layout and color changes, we’ve shifted existing features around and added new ones:

• A link to the blog used to be with the page links at the top of the page. Until we learn how to add that into this new theme, the blog link can be accessed only on the Topic menu located in the left side bar.
• We’re not sure it’s working properly, but we’re trying to provide email subscription service via Feedburner.
• The “Reader’s Praise” page was assimilated into the “Reader Feedback” Topic.
• The rotating header images (reminiscent of RandomHeadtrips.com) are now a part of this site.
• The galleries can now use a very cool display option called Pic Lens, provided by Cool Iris.
• The Cybernetic Nexus Writers’ Forum has space on this site and will be functional soon.
• We have video in the left sidebar. It’s a funny little clip right now, but will soon be a video greeting from Shannon.
• We’ve added an “About” section for Shannon, a Calendar, and Top Commentator functions to the left side bar, but the “Random Post” feature went away.
• We exchanged the Heretic’s Quest slide show in the right side bar for a random image function that allowed us to hyperlink the graphic to the site.
• We added a “Forum Activity” feature to the right side bar, but the Google Chat Feature went away.
• We’ve introduced some programming that will make the side bar content change, based on the page you’re viewing. The video and “About” section in the left bar are only visible on the home page. On the forum page, the entire left bar disappears, and the content of the right bar changes a lot.

• We streamlined the login/logout/register function on the sidebar.
• You may have noticed the “Cybernetic Nexus” link in the top navigation bar. A couple of years ago, Shannon hosted a writers’ forum for awhile, but it died off after he no longer had time to moderate it. We’re hoping to bring it back to life very soon.
• If all goes according to plan, we hope to implement the new theme this weekend. errors and aggravaions will undoubtedly occur since we weren’t able to test all functions on the test site. Please bear with us while we redecorate!

• We haven’t had much time to work on it, but the new theme is coming along. We’ve tested most of the existing features and a few new ones. The color scheme is established, but we still need to work on custom graphics for the header. Spacing needs tweaked as well. Once it’s running, we should be able to change the theme easily for specific holidays or seasons. The current blue color scheme is for winter.
• We’re also considering options for expanding the categories on this site to better reflect the diversity we had on randomheadtrips.com. It’s still just a thought, but new categories may be appearing and disappearing over the next few days until we establish a set that suits us.
• There’s a problem with “The Newest 50″ page. Individual post titles aren’t displaying. This will be corrected soon when we implement the new theme.
• We’re experimenting with a forum/message board plugin that may be easier to use and integrate that BBPress. This has no direct bearing on Shannonthomas.org, but it is very important work for hereticsquest.com.

December had a few notable events, despite the holiday madness.

Continue reading December 08 News Archive »»

November was a slow month for the site.

11.14.08

It’s been nearly a month since any significant content has been added to the site. Shannon has been very busy with other projects and hobbies, and he’s spent a lot of time on the Xbox since Dead Space, Fable 2, and Fallout 3 were all released within a week of each other.

Focus On: Communication

This week we focus on the various methods of interaction and communication that are available to site visitors. A number of options exist. Some are more obvious than others.  We’re particularly excited about a few ne features, which we’ve marked with double exclamation points (!!)

Comments: All of Shannon’s posts have a comment form at the bottom where you can drop him a little note. If it’s a blog entry, he’ll probably reply to your comment. He doesn’t like to reply  to comments left in his other categories because he doesn’t want to distract from reader comments. However, he may email you with a heartfelt thanks.

Subscribe to RSS Feeds: In the upper right corner of the site  you’ll see two links for Post and Comments RSS Feeds. These are automatic update services that create a shortcut link in your web browser’s “link toolbar.” When you click on it, a drop-down menu appears and shows the newest entries or comments. It’s a great way to see if new content has been posted without even visiting the site.

!! Subscribe to Email Updates: Also in the upper right corner you’ll see a “by Email” link.  If you select this, you will have the option of inputting an email address.  Afterwards, you’ll receive one email a day IF We’ve posted new content on the site.  If we don’t post anything new, you won’t get an email.  If we post 1000 articles, you’ll get only one email.  We’re excited by this feature.  It’s provided by Feedburner, and we expect it will prove the best way to keep updated

Send an Email to Shannon: You’ll find a contact form in the right sidebar, where you can type a message to Shannon. Once you submit it, Shannon will get it in his email. He does his very best to reply within 48 hours, but it may be longer, especially if he has out-of-town plans during a weekend.

Subscribe to  Email Notifications for Specific Posts : At the very bottom of every post, below the comment box, you’ll find a little check box with the label “Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.” If you check this box, you’ll get an email any time someone posts a comment. It’s a great way to know when/if Shannon has responded to a blog comment, or what others are saying about the same article. Best of all, it works even if you aren’t a registered user, assuming you entered a valid email in the appropriate field.

!! Email a Story  to a Friend: If you find an article, story, poem, photo, or other content that you would like to share with a friend, you should click on the “EMAIL THIS POST” link located on top of every title of every post.  It will bring up a page where you can type your friend’s email address and send the post out to him or her.  We think this feature, more than anything else, has great potential to spread the word about the site… if currrent visitors will use it.

Print a Post: To the left of the EMAIL THIS POST link , you’ll find a link to print content.  Shannon has provided this as a convenience to users, but please be aware that copyright laws apply.  You may print content for your own use, but it’s illegal to sell the content or present it as your own work.  We log the timestamp and IP address of anyone who prints from the site, in case legal action becomes neccessary in specific cases.

Ratings: Five little stars wait at the bottom of every post. If you move your mouse over them, they fill with color, and if you click your mouse, it rates the article with the number of stars you’ve chosen. This is a fast and anonymous way to let Shannon know what you think about a particular piece.

Bookmarking: A row of icons waits at the bottom of every page and post.  These icons represent various social bookmarking sites, and we encourage visitors to book mark our content as often as possible.  It helps draw new visitors.  If you use a service that isn’t listed here, please email us and we’ll do our best to add it to the links.

Focus on: Fiction

The Fiction Topic on this site contains three subtopics: Fantasy/Sci-fi/Horror, Contemporary, and Erotica. Each section contains multiple examples of Shannon’s work in those genres.

If you like to visit other worlds, the Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror topic is for you. While Shannon’s most ambitious fantasy work has its own section, this area contains

• a ghost story about a voodoo woman and a cursed plantation
• two excerpts from a thrilling sci-fi novella entitled “Shadow Infraction”

If you prefer more realistic fiction in current real-world settings, then you need to pull up a chair and browse through the Contemporary topics. You will find stories about

• a man who loses his marbles at work
• a man who finds squatters have invaded his family’s camp
• a man and woman who love each other but just can’t keep it together
• a glimpse into the mind of a US Army Ranger on patrol

The Erotica section is not for the faint of heart! You must register on the site to get the required password to view these stories because Shannon doesn’t want minors stumbling across them accidentally. Current stories include

• a “vanilla” story about a man and woman in a movie theater.
• two explorations of bondage and domination.

10.17.08

• A short video clip of ZZ Top has been added to their review. A gallery will be added soon.
• A new Avatar system has been implemented. Please see the “New Avatar System” post for more details.

10.16.08

No new posts today, but the “10 Tunes for Writing” have been changed to ten new tunes.

10.14.08

Video functionality has finally been added to the website. Please check out the trial post and stay tuned for more video. It’s coming, just as soon as we can render it in flash format and upload it to the server.

10.12.08

Older news for October has been moved to the News Archive.

10.06.08

We’ve added a number of features to the site today but much of it is on the back-end where visitors won’t see it. They’re tools to help administer the site. However, you may notice

• we’ve added a little… incentive… to upload an avatar for the site.
• the new chat badge in the right side bar. We’re still figuring it how it works, but in the very near future, if it says Shannon is available, you will be able to click on it and chat with him!
• the “Most Viewed” and “Highest Rated” sections in the right side bar. These go hand-in-hand with the view counts and rating system that are now enabled on all content. If you read something, please give it an honest rating. It’s totally anonymous, and it will ensure that Shannon posts more of the kinds of writing you want to see.

10.05.08

• Avatars have been activated for registered visitors. If you would like to have an avatar on this site, you will need to create an account at gravatar.com, using the email address you provided when you registered on this site. Once the account is created, upload the avatar you want (no more than 80×80 pixels, and no X-rated avatars.) The service is a little flaky, unfortunately. You may need to wait up to five minutes for your avatar to appear in the comments on this site. Alternate avatar services are being investigated, but this is the best option we’ve discovered thus far.

10.03.08

• A new article has been posted. It’s the first in a (hopefully) ongoing series of articles which focus on Shannon’s understanding of the writing process. The “On Writing” nonfiction topic is finally populated and available for public perusal.

10.02.08

• Icons have been added to the site’s primary topics.
• We’ve added a “brain storm” to the right side bar. It’s redundant, since the topics are already listed in the left side bar, but it was so cool that we had to add it, at least for awhile.
• A new gallery entitled “summer adventures” has been added to the “Adventures” Album.
• The music player has been extended to display the artist and name of the song as it plays.

10.01.08

• September news bulletins have been archived.
• The “Recently Edited” section has been removed in favor of an expanded “Recent Additions” section.
• The side bars have been rearranged a little bit
• Links to other websites have been added

September was a slow month until the final week, and then all sorts of changes and additions came out almost all at once.

Continue reading September 08 News Archive »»

August started out strong, but dwindled as Shannon’s attention and time were diverted to other projects.

Continue reading August 08 News Archive »»

July brought more galleries and a new look to the site.

Continue reading July 08 News Archive »»

June was an awesome month for the website. The galleries were completely revamped, with many news pictures added. A new short story was also added.

Continue reading June 08 News Archive »»

May kicked off with a bang, but then Shannon got busy at work, and progress fizzled out.

Continue reading May 08 News Archive »»