Anywhere but Boring - Part 7 - The Finale
Added 2024-09-21 09:48:21 +0000 UTCIt's the series finale of Anywhere but Boring!
All finales should be at least double-sized, in my opinion. And, um, Dylan's is probably more like 10x the size with 10,000 words and 24 images.
(Part 1 was only 1,000 words with 6 images 😂)
Basically, I went a little crazy with this story. But I was having too much fun exploring Dylan's character and the relationships.
I'm really incredibly eager to hear your thoughts.
Need to catch up? Here's a link to PART 1 through PART 6. And I'll probably post an omnibus version in the future.
EDIT: A few of you asked, so I added a ZIP file for easy download! 💖
Comments
Thank you so, so much, Claire! More stories like this one are in the planning for sure - and I'm nearly done with expanding AbB into a novel. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2025-04-24 16:53:01 +0000 UTCI can’t believe how much i connected with this particular story. Especially the final chapter. I must have reread it a half a dozen times. More stories like this one! ❤️
Claire
2025-04-21 15:35:22 +0000 UTCThank you so, so much, Holly! I can't wait for you to read the expanded version which is now novel length. This new version has even more of Dylan and Daisy's relationship, which I really loved writing. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2025-04-12 16:25:35 +0000 UTCOh wow, I love everything about this short story, Emory! Now I’m crying at 8:00am on a Wednesday and I have to go to work, but I can only think about this. Wonderful and beautiful! 💖
Holly Beightol
2025-04-09 14:49:27 +0000 UTCThank you very much, Kris! 💕That means a lot to me.
Emory Ahlberg
2024-10-12 22:32:57 +0000 UTCThank you so much, CK! I really appreciate your kind words. Yes, I really appreciate this new format, as well. There will certainly be more like this in the future. 💕
Emory Ahlberg
2024-10-12 22:26:46 +0000 UTCSuch a beautiful short story! It will be reread again sometime soon.
Kris Greg
2024-10-12 21:59:25 +0000 UTCLovely and positive ending.....very rare on here hehe x
stacy C
2024-10-08 22:34:00 +0000 UTCAnd Summer and Shunfen were allowed time-out on the town...like Jill was, although they spent it at Eldermount (Ahl-Berg in the old Norse tongue) Ranch outside Emory, Texas.
Female-Bosmer-Always
2024-09-28 15:24:09 +0000 UTCI'm not going to be very original, with all the great comments above, so, just congratulations for this great story and the amazing images! 👏👏👏 And just let me tell you one thing, I think you've got it right with this new story format, like a 'Graphic Novel'... short? I've compiled it in a word and it's about 100 pages long. 😍 Good job Emory!
ckarya
2024-09-27 19:01:25 +0000 UTCIt’ll be like guest star appearances on Scooby Doo: “Emmy award winning actress Dylan Kirkham! What are you doing in Old Man Jenkins’ cornfield?!”
Jade Diaz
2024-09-27 06:09:22 +0000 UTCNo one would complain if such a thing existed. Actually the Clinic 12 monthly staff newsletter probably would be compiled by Gina and approved by Angela. Can you imagine the articles? Omg what a fun idea.
Jade Diaz
2024-09-27 06:07:12 +0000 UTCThank you, Bella!!! I had a LOT of fun with the outfits - especially the wedding gowns! 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:55:13 +0000 UTCThank you so much, Ella! 💕
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:54:42 +0000 UTCThanks, Singular! I'm glad those final lines resonated with you like they did with me. It's funny, when I started, I thought I was just telling Dylan's story. But the deeper I got, the more I realized I was excavating parts of myself too. There's something universal about that struggle to be authentic. And you're so right about it being rewarding. I've noticed that in my own life - the more I lean into being my true self, the lighter I feel. It's like all that energy I was using to maintain the masks is now free for other things. Maybe that's where that youthful glow comes from! Though in Hollywood, it's hard to tell what's authenticity and what's just really good botox. 😉
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:54:16 +0000 UTCI'm touched by your words, Gemma! Writing Dylan's journey was an emotional rollercoaster for me too. I found myself tearing up at 3 AM, hunched over my keyboard 😂. I'm glad the real-world references resonated with you. I wanted to ground the story in a reality we all recognize, to show that these struggles and victories happen in our world, to people we might know or admire. I'm so glad you liked the art! I spent a lot of hours on them, as well. I really love many of them 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:51:54 +0000 UTCThank you so much, Becca! This was so challenging and rewarding to write. The bar scene was one of those moments that just emerged as I was writing - sometimes characters surprise you! Regarding a sequel... Yeah, now I'm not so sure. I feel as though Dylan's personal journey has reached a satisfying conclusion. I'm thinking perhaps she can show up in other stories, though!
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:49:02 +0000 UTCThank you so much, Tim! I'm so touched by your words. I poured a lot of my own experiences and emotions into her character, even though our paths are quite different. I wanted to capture that feeling of being lost and then found, of discovering yourself in the most unexpected places. It's funny, when I started writing this, I thought I knew exactly where it was going. But Dylan had other ideas. She took on a life of her own, surprising me at every turn. It was fun!
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:46:38 +0000 UTCOh, wow! Thank you, Robert! That conversation between Dylan and her father was challenging. I really wanted to capture the complexity of their relationship and the weight of the moment without veering into melodrama. Hopefully I succeeded! And, yes, I'll admit that I've grown incredibly fond of Dylan throughout the writing process. Her journey from confusion to self-discovery really resonated with me, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way! That happy ending I honestly debated it for a while. Life doesn't always wrap up so neatly, but sometimes... sometimes it does. And I felt like Dylan had been through enough. She deserved her moment in the sun. We all do.
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:44:45 +0000 UTCThanks, Bos. Unfortunately, I don't think they have a "Trapped on an Island Montly" magazine. 😉
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:42:31 +0000 UTCThanks so much, Jade! I'm honestly sooo happy by the response. Writing this was a wild ride - I kept thinking I'd bitten off way more than I could chew. But Dylan's story just wouldn't let me go. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:35:11 +0000 UTCWow, thank you, Jerome! You know, while I was writing this, I often found myself imagining it as a series on HBO or Netflix. I can almost picture those quiet moments of Dylan staring in the mirror, trying to reconcile her new appearance with her sense of self. Or the tension in the bar scene, where her old world collides violently with her new reality. And, wow, the potential for the Hollywood scenes! The glitz, the glamour, all juxtaposed against Dylan's inner turmoil... I think it could be pretty powerful on screen. Wish I had an agent like Dylan! LOL
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:33:29 +0000 UTCThanks so much, Bobbie!! I actually debated including more personal moments like the cafe scene or meeting the parents. In the end, I chose to focus on the public-facing images to highlight the contrast between Dylan's internal journey and her external persona. But you're absolutely right - those intimate moments are where the real heart of the story lies. I can picture Dylan fidgeting nervously in that booth, or the look on her mom's face when she sees her daughter for the first time. Maybe I'll make some for fun!
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:31:33 +0000 UTCThank you, Omaga! I had sooo much fun writing that bar fight scene! I wanted to show that Dylan's journey wasn't just about embracing her femininity, but also about integrating all parts of herself. Those hours she spent working out and training didn't disappear just because she'd realized she was really a trans woman. 😉
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-27 02:30:17 +0000 UTCThank you, Jenny! Dylan was definitely a neutronium-shell egg, but we got there in the end. 😂
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-24 01:36:32 +0000 UTCThank you, Maggie! And I cried quite a few times while writing!
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-24 01:19:21 +0000 UTCThank you so much, Travis! 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-24 01:06:09 +0000 UTCThank you so much, Tamsyn! 💕 As may be obvious, Dylan's story gripped me. Each part became longer as I peeled back the layers. It was so much fun - and also (like for Dylan) a bit cathartic, too. Also thank you on the art! I'm quite proud of how they came out. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-24 00:32:21 +0000 UTCThank you, Alyson! 💖 And thank you! I have transferred the people who live in my head into my computer - where they shall remain until I release them! Mwahahaha.
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-24 00:25:38 +0000 UTCEdited, Jade...and thank you.
Female-Bosmer-Always
2024-09-23 19:00:29 +0000 UTCWonderful finale! Also the outfits 😍
Bella Lime
2024-09-23 14:09:48 +0000 UTC“He?” 🤨
Jade Diaz
2024-09-23 13:22:48 +0000 UTCSuch a beautiful story! Love it! ❤️
Ella Cherry
2024-09-22 13:04:22 +0000 UTCExcellent!! Those last lines are absolute truth! Find yourself without any masks and play that part. Being true to ones own self is the hardest most rewarding role of all. It might also take 10 years off your face.
SingularCurve
2024-09-22 08:18:24 +0000 UTCThank you so much, Wes! At least I knew better than to cut to black in the middle of a sentence and leave you wondering what in the hell just happened. 🤣
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-22 04:18:51 +0000 UTCEmory, this was finale was an absolute masterpiece, both in writing and artwork. Honestly, the whole series has been, but the last few chapters and the finale are the crème de la crème. In other words, this finale is not the finale of the Sopranos. ;)
Wes Adams
2024-09-22 04:03:07 +0000 UTCThank you Emory for your mammoth, late night dedication to completing and writing this most beautiful story. It is incredible that you created both amazing insightful story of self realisation, self acceptance and growth as well as a such sweet love story. The referencing and interweaving ‘real life known figures and situations adds such wealth of reality to this story. I can only imagine the amount of tears shed by so many of your readers as well as nods of recognition experienced arising from the many triggering realisations Dylan/Lily came to in relation to het life and true sense of self. As usual your brilliant, realistic art work brings utter joy all together. In particular Lily looked so beautiful accepting her Emmy. Thank you Emory.
Gemma
2024-09-22 01:29:44 +0000 UTCBeautiful ending to a beautiful story. I loved the little side trip to the bar—totally unexpected moment of awesome. And I also loved that Dylan did get to be a huge action star in the end. My sole complaint is that it all got wrapped up so nicely that I’m not sure what you’d do with a sequel!
Becca Royal-Gordon
2024-09-21 20:24:08 +0000 UTCThank you, CK! There's now a ZIP for you. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-21 19:39:03 +0000 UTCA beautiful, meaningful and riveting story, Emory. I hesitate to say this, given how many amazing works you've created for this site, but in my humble opinion this is your best piece yet. Your artwork keeps on reaching new peaks while your talent as an author is so clearly evident in Dylan's story.
Tim
2024-09-21 15:32:51 +0000 UTCWonderful Emory, just wonderful. That conversation between Dylan and her father was so sensitively nuanced and in many ways the fulcrum of the entire story. Superb writing. And the art. Some of the best you’ve ever produced. The amount of care you’ve taken with Dylan especially suggests to me that you’ve developed a really soft spot for her as I think we all have. A warm and satisfying story with a happy ending. I loved it from start to finish. Well done and thank you! xxx
Robertlouis
2024-09-21 15:05:41 +0000 UTCAbsolutely lovely, I love "the densest egg finally cracks" stories, and this one is top tier :)
Jenny S
2024-09-21 14:49:07 +0000 UTCCall me blown away. I guess she never did envision becoming a cover girl for Maxim. I do wonder however, what magazine your other characters will pose for muse Emory, not to mention my own Xuniverse characters?
Female-Bosmer-Always
2024-09-21 14:42:40 +0000 UTCOMFG, just finished reading... lost count how many times I cried during reading... ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
Maggie Heels
2024-09-21 14:20:49 +0000 UTCHoly shit Emory. What an incredible story. You’re so talented, not just at art but writing too. Blown away.
Jade Diaz
2024-09-21 14:01:26 +0000 UTCA brilliant story with equally brilliant artwork. One of the most emotive, funny and gripping stories I can remember. I would love this to be turned into an actual TV series...!
Jerome B
2024-09-21 11:48:35 +0000 UTCThat was stunning Emory, thank you. ❤ I found myself wanting images of them both in the cafe and meeting Mum and Dad rather than the movie shots but stunning nonetheless. ❤
Bobbie
2024-09-21 11:23:34 +0000 UTCWoo hoo, go Dylan, teach that pr*ck a lesson not to mess with women cause sometimes said women might knock you on your ass 🤣. Great final part to an incredible story full of great highs and emotional lows 👏🫶🏻❤️
Omagathief
2024-09-21 11:04:24 +0000 UTCThat was amazing.
Travis
2024-09-21 11:01:59 +0000 UTCI adored this from start to finish. A warm fluffy hug of a story. And the images are breathtaking, some of them literally photorealistic, I'm in awe.
Tamsyn Lawrence
2024-09-21 10:32:14 +0000 UTCOf course, it must be very late over there, rest and sleep well, because you deserve it, 72 pages wow! 🤯 And as I told you in the previous episode, the quality of the images are amazing! 🤩
ckarya
2024-09-21 10:07:15 +0000 UTCYES that fucking slapped also yes emory you have reached a terrifying new level of realism congratulations ❤️
Alyson Greaves
2024-09-21 10:06:56 +0000 UTCFor sure - but, unfortunately, I have to sleep now! 😴 My brain is wiped.
Emory Ahlberg
2024-09-21 10:00:54 +0000 UTCEm, could you make a .zip? it's a lot of images to download one by one.
ckarya
2024-09-21 09:55:07 +0000 UTC
