Hi Bill, glad to join in, that's what it's all about, isn't it. I got here via Susan Clements, who invited me during the early stages after a correspondence about publishing experiments. Otherwise, I've been in communities for a long time, even started some, most recently Kaffe in Katmandu, and I came here originaly to find a publisher, as I've said in a recent interview marathon with our poet Lucien Senna that began here on this site & was most kindly transferred to nthWORD by our Ryan O'Connor. Later, I realized how much knowledge and skill was assembled here—for discussion and discourse—something I have more time to engage with when I'm not teaching like now, alas...so there you have it: company, publication, interview, discussion, contacts, friends even. Cheers from Berlin and enjoy RL!

Welcome Bill.

Hello Bill. Well, twitter-met! I helped a friend publish a book on William S. Burroughs. I learned about Red Lemonade over the intrawebs while looking at ways to promote and publish books similar to my friend's book...highly literate and a little kaddywumpus. I still have not recovered from when my elephant lamp did not switch on. While the site has a lot of great discussions, interactions and ideas I really enjoy watching what writers post. As you have already noted/tweeted, the editing and annotation tool is the core engine, it's exciting to see writers actively engaged with each other. I am a reader that wants to be a writer someday and it's rare to see me without a book in hand or nearby. I've joined the fray.

Hi Will, I didn't really know what to expect from RL until just before it launched. As an undergrad, I participated in writing workshops where not only the professors chimed in, but students also critiqued the work. Let me say, I left sweating every time my work went up on the chopping block. A great experience, but a bit of a double edged sword. The anxiety, mostly. Anyhow, as I've spent more time here I've really enjoyed engaging with writers (Marcus & Lucien for example). Feedback styles and commenting on work has been trial and error, but I've been figuring out it's about framing, for me at least. I think, generally, everyone here is excited about writing, reading and literature, which is great to have in the form of a community with people connecting from all over the world.

The Dastardly Richard Nash led me here when I heard via our mutual friend, the poet Kevin Young, that Richard was "onto the next biggest thing in publishing history." I know that Kevin tends to exaggerate, but I decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Nonetheless, I have been very pleased to have participated in RL from its inception. The transnational writing community is fantastic and people here really care about their craft. Feedback, like Ryan said, is crucial because writing is such a lonely venture.

I was on my way to the village fair when the sky turned dark as Gogol's top-coat. Fat storm clouds converged overhead and rolled against each other in a nasty helix of anti-matter. Slapping rain sent me loping for shelter. I came upon a "publishing house" (if such a term can be applied to the fantastic vista that confronted me therein), the proprietor of which was said to be a crazy prophet called Richard Nash. Having heard second-hand accounts of this man's unorthodox theories in the Literary Kicks community, I ventured in through an unguarded side door. A lady with Egyptian eye paint and a book for a hat, a man on a winged bicycle, a Camus-quoting German professor, and all sorts of other character greeting me most graciously! I fell into a slumber and when I woke up, it almost seemed like a dream. But YOU were there, Marcus! And you TOO, Lucien! And YOU, Richard, and YOU, and YOU . . .

I just read the article on PW and immediately joined RedLemonade. THis is awesome!

Bill, your take on RL is a piece of Flash Fiction on its own! Great visions emerged like from rubbing a brass lamp! Cheers from dreary Oxford. Lucien

Thanks, everybody, for your encouraging words.