I’m glad you’re enjoying this series, and that you think I got it right. : D

Thank you so much for your lovely, heartfelt comments. It’s nice to be able to share my view of Dark Shadows, especially since Willie is such a minor character and of no account to most fans.

I’m sorry that you have a boss who is anything like Barnabas; I don’t know you, but if you are being treated the way Willie is, then it’s not a good thing. At least I don’t think so. It’s okay in stories, but not in real life.

Take good care of yourself, okay?

Regards,

Sylvia

I’ve recently been introduced to the DS universe and so am unfamiliar with the cruel Barnabas, and even less so with Willie Loomis, but from the episodes I have snatched up I can tell that this Universe follows a strict code that stands true to it’s original dimensions. I adore fan writing that gives life to characters, and an ever spanning depth that readers become lost and uncertain in. This is a realism that I will admit is impossible to convey in words, even in a heart felt letter to a distant dear one. I think it’s because I’ve connected with Willie in your friend’s and your version so strongly, as I share a similar relationship with my boss in my work place, though not to the extreme, violent degrees of poor Mr. Loomis.

I chose to comment on this story, though all of them are well received, because I felt a dire burn of resentment for Gina Lee, and her persistence of Willie to leave Barnabas. I don’t have the same sort of hold to my work place as Loomis has to his, but I hold a fierce sense of loyalty and devotion, a thing that cannot be explained through words, only dismissed by a hot glare or a soft comment. It cannot be conveyed properly, or reasoned with, or understood, it just is and should be left alone. And reading them, there were many times I had to stop during these stories and consider my own choices in life.

But for all my strength and pride, I do wish I had a special someone as Mr. Loomis did, to pick me up and put me back together. And confront me with those questions I can’t bear to dwell on for too long, and bring my eyes to light when all I wish is for the dark. Reading everything about Gina, I know that she is a true gift and a spot on model of a woman, a wife, from that era. The detail in description brought me back to those days long ago when I myself was a child and favored my mothers pies, or her home cooking and those long hot days in the summer. The innocence that was gradually chiseled away as those years were, day by day.

The way each character was portrayed had me pounding my head on my desk, as I recognized each would remain faithful to their nature, for better or for worse. Or pitying one or another, not because a tender moment has passed, but I had considered some detail missed by another.

I eagerly look forward to the following chapters, and wish you look reclaiming these for us to view. It would be wonderful if DS had novel forms, but these chapters may be better than what ratings leashed dime novelists could convey.

My deepest appreciation,

David

P.s. Such rare gems such as Nik shall not be lost when those devoted such as you forge on with their immortal creations

You are very kind to write, and I wanted to thank you for your joy and enthusiasm about the Gina Lee series. It was a labor of love, and writing with NJ Nidiffer (Nik)was like writing with another part of my brain, rather than writing with another person. I don’t think I’ll ever find another writing partner like her.

But about Willie, yes, he’s amazing! He was so fun to torture and torment, and he still came up fighting. Gina Lee was Nik’s answer to the unmitigated abuse, because even as fun as it was to torture Willie, you can’t live like that and Willie wouldn’t have survived a minute longer if there wasn’t some light at the end of the tunnel. Trouble with this light was that Barn kept stepping in front of it to block it! He’s such an ass. : D

Yes, he’s an ass, but…he’s a tortured soul! I never could get into those stories where Barn suddenly became a nice guy to Willie, and everyone was friends. It didn’t make sense, unless you explained with the the Stockholm Syndrome (a term which hadn’t been invented yet) because everything Barn ever did was for his own personal gain. Like remember when Barn got Willie out of the mental institution? Hello? Why was Willie in there in the first place? Because Barn messed his mind up all to hell and back. But I digress…

But even Barn realized Gina’s value (allowing Willie to keep seeing her was as much for Barn’s gain as it was for Willie’s), in the end. And yes, thank you for the compliment about her being a good OC; because I agree, so many just go to romance, as if there were no other relationship to have in the world but a sexual one. We did consider it, Nik and I, and several people have written wondering when Gina and Willie were going to kiss and have more babies! They wanted it badly. It might seem logical for some characters to go there, but several phone conversations later, Nik and I decided to stay true to the character and there would be no kissing! At least, Gina does kiss Willie once, but it’s out of friendship and love, not passion.

Thank you again for reading and for commenting. It’s always nice when readers get it the way I get it.

Best Regards,

Sylvia Bond

Wow. I came across your site about two months ago (I had Googled “Dark Shadows Willie fanfiction”) and I’m so glad I did. This series is just wonderful! You and your friend wrote Willie and Barnabas so well, and Gina should be held up as a textbook case to all fanfic writers of the RIGHT way to create an OC: she’s totally real, three-dimensional, with good points and flawed, and most of all, she fits perfectly into the canon universe. She is exactly the kind of person who WOULD live in Collinsport, and she goes unnoticed by anyone except Willie.

These stories are so touching and so satisfying, I really love them! It’s so lovely to see Willie get love and appreciation and understanding from someone even while still living in the awful conditions of early DS. I also really like that you didn’t take the cliched obvious fanficcer’s route of a romance. The deep friendship between Willie and this older widow is very believable and very original. I’ve been “rationing” these stories out to myself, because even though there are a lot of them, it IS a finite series, and I want it to last!

I think this particular story is one of the best. I really like when you show the occasional flash of humanity in Barnabas, because it makes him more three-dimensional (not just one-note cruelty 100% of the time) and it fits more with the show Barnabas. Barnabas certainly was 95% cruel and selfish at the beginning, no question, but then there would be that hint of sadness and loneliness that made you not totally hate him. And I think the line “You’re the only one he doesn’t have to lie to” perfectly captures that relationship, the reason Barnabas needs Willie. He has to put on an act ALL the time, to EVERYONE he meets, so I think he relies emotionally on Willie more than he even realizes.

I also want to express my condolences and sadness at the loss of your friend. I can see from your stories and notes that she was a very dear and close friend - that is such a huge loss. She was a very, very talented writer, as are you. I am grateful that you chose to post these stories so that new readers such as myself could discover and enjoy her talent.

Thank you for writing this lovely series of stories!

These stories are so touching and so satisfying, I really love them! It’s so lovely to see Willie get love and appreciation and understanding from someone even while still living in the awful conditions of early DS. I also really like that you didn’t take the cliched obvious fanficcer’s route of a romance. The deep friendship between Willie and this older widow is very believable and very original. I’ve been “rationing” these stories out to myself, because even though there are a lot of them, it IS a finite series, and I want it to last!

I think this particular story is one of the best. I really like when you show the occasional flash of humanity in Barnabas, because it makes him more three-dimensional (not just one-note cruelty 100% of the time) and it fits more with the show Barnabas. Barnabas certainly was 95% cruel and selfish at the beginning, no question, but then there would be that hint of sadness and loneliness that made you not totally hate him. And I think the line “You’re the only one he doesn’t have to lie to” perfectly captures that relationship, the reason Barnabas needs Willie. He has to put on an act ALL the time, to EVERYONE he meets, so I think he relies emotionally on Willie more than he even realizes.

I also want to express my condolences and sadness at the loss of your friend. I can see from your stories and notes that she was a very dear and close friend - that is such a huge loss. She was a very, very talented writer, as are you. I am grateful that you chose to post these stories so that new readers such as myself could discover and enjoy her talent.

Thank you for writing this lovely series of stories!