Al_Steiner

I pulled the stick out

No charge for this post, though it contains many many Intemp chapters. All of them through Book VIII, as a matter of fact. I decided to re-think my previous views on both epub files and releasing the entirity of the novels to my Patrons when they are complete. Please find the latest updated edited editions of all the Intemp Books from 1-8 in both PDF and epub. I take no responsibility if the formatting of the epubs is fucked up. I do not have the patience to read through one of those documents and correct formatting errors that result from writing in Word, converting to PDF, purging through a filter to remove personal info, and then converting all of that to epub. Spare me the suggestions. I'm not going to do it. I'll publish in epub from here on out, and release Book IX when I'm done with the final edit, but that is where my responsibility ends. Hope you enjoy and thanks for sticking with me all these years.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 24, Life Goes On

Well, I did it again. I underestimated at the beginning of Book IX how much story was left to tell. There is still another book's worth from this point on and I reached a natural stopping point, so this is the final chapter of Book IX. I will begin Book X without pausing for any kind of break other than to do final edit and publication of the entire book. So, here it is. I think I wrapped up all the dangling threads for now. Thank you all for supporting me through another one and, hopefully, hanging in there for one more. Let me know, as always, what you think.

LIVING IN SIN - Chapter 7, Somebody's Watching Me

The next chapter of LIS. Things start to heat up in more ways than one. No charge for LIS chapters.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 23, What A Lucky Man He Was

The next chapter in the saga. A little look inside the recording studio while Intemperance works on their next release. A little check-in with the Ramirez family at home on a Thursday night. And, last but not least, Owen and Tif decide to define their relationship. As always, let me know how I'm doing. This was a fun one to write.

LIVING IN SIN - Chapter 6, The Memory Remains

No charge for this as it is not an Intemperance chapter. It is, however, the next chapter in the Living In Sin saga. Let me know how I'm going.

Intemperance series illustrations

No charge since this is not a chapter. Please, for the love of God, if you don't like my illustrations, just don't open the post. I love any and all discussion about my work, but looking at my illustrations just to tell me that they don't look like what you expected or that you don't really like any illustrations of my work (or to accuse me of not spending my valuable time writing more story) is not cool and is not helpful. And I have a perfect AI program now. There are NO mistakes in any of these illustrations. Anything that appears to be a mistake is actually deliberately inserted for symbolic reasons. The trick is to interpret my meaning. And, sorry, all illustrations in this batch are SFW.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 22, Monday Monday

We've moved a little down the line since the last chapter, but this one takes place in the course of a single Monday in September. Let me know how I'm doing, like always.

LIVING IN SIN - Chapter 5, Butter Me Up

No charge for this as it is not an Intemp chapter or one of the other new stories. The continuation of the Scott and Maggie and the cast of suburban MILFs in Gardenville, California. Let me know what you think. I'm having a lot of fun with this story. It's kind of a modern day version of my early short story called "The Mommies". I think my writing skills have improved since then.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 21, Strange Days Indeed

Here is the latest in the Intemperance saga. The Ramirez family goes on a sky-trip with the Kingsleys, showing an interesting blend of cultures. And Owen moves a few steps down his new path thanks to a kind benefactor working behind the scenes. As always, let me know how I'm doing. And sorry, nobody is going to convince me to put Caydee up on stage or in the studio while she's a child. I do like the viral video of her singing to the crows though. I will try to work that into her story.

Explaining my increased productivity.

No charge for this post as it is not an Intemp chapter.

Everyone has noticed my increased production this last month or so and I would like to give an explanation for it at this point. It’s a combination of several things. The first is maybe boring if you’re not interested in the mechanics of how a writer puts down a narrative such as what I’ve been building with the Intemp stories.

About two months ago I decided to fundamentally change the way I wrote. Before, I would write a big chunk out until I got fatigued with the process and then stop. The next time I picked up the story to write again, I would waste an hour or more going over what I had written in the previous section, analyzing, editing, changing things around, nitpicking little details, sometimes going down a research rabbit hole over a minor detail. This was bogging me down. Many times, by the time I got done micromanaging myself and got to the part where I start writing again, I didn’t have the energy for it. I would not add to the story at all, or I would only add a little. This was not productive.

And so, I adapted a completely new way of doing thing. Now, I sit down, I write a chunk out until I’m done, and then, the next time I sit down, even though every little part of my writer persona wants to go over what I wrote the session before, I simply don’t. I review the last few paragraphs of what I wrote before and then get right back into the story. I don’t pause for any complicated research. I just write. Once the entire chapter is done, I then go over the entire thing and make my corrections, edits, and do my research at that point.

This has increased my productivity incredibly and makes me ask why I didn’t start doing this years ago. I actually feel like a dolt for the way I used to do things.

That’s one aspect of my increased production. Another is my discovery of THC infused beverages. I won’t lie. These things are very conducive to creativity. I quit drinking alcohol one year ago because it was starting to get a little out of hand. I struggled a bit to keep writing without a drink sitting next to me but managed to plow forward, but it was hard. And then the ads on social media got me to try something new. My Nowadays 5mg drinks or my Vivana 10mg cans provide just enough of a little buzz to put me in gear but they don’t annihilate me. It's not Brain Ripper, just a little pleasant buzz. Judge me if you will. The shit’s legal where I live.

The biggest factor over the past month and a half, however, is that I’m currently on a medical leave of absence from work. It’s nothing serious. I don’t have cancer or heart failure or ALS or anything nasty, but I’m struggling with an orthopedic problem forged by thirty years of working EMS and as an RN. It might lead to my early retirement. Currently I’m 57 years old. I had planned to retire at 59 ½, when I can start drawing on my 401k and 403b that I’ve been contributing to all of my working life. I am prepared to retire early if needed (and, I think, secretly hoping that that will be my path).

In any case, that means I have nothing else to do but write. The combination of my new writing technique, a little Nowadays mixed with ginger beer during my sessions, and all the time I could hope for means greatly increased production. Enough that I’ve got time to work on other things between Intemp chapters. I can now put out an entire chapter in 24 hours. So, I went back in my archives and started working up past things. You’ve all seen these efforts as the first chapters of Cognate Air, The Way Things Are, The Agricultural Rush, and Living In Sin. I will keep up with these projects in the background and shoot for the goal of at least six Intemp chapters per month if that’s okay with those of you funding it. Maybe more. I will not charge for the LIS chapters. If I decide to continue with any of the other stories, I will post my intention and ask if you all mind funding that as well.

In any case, that’s where my life sits right now. I’m reasonably healthy, just gimpy, and in full blown beast mode with my writing. As my Patrons, I wanted all of you to know this.

LIVING IN SIN - Chapter 4, Railed Into Enlightenment

Here is the next chapter of Living In Sin. No charge. This one is on me. Let me know what you think. Again, it's an old school Al Steiner plot with the experienced Al Steiner laying it down. It's a fun diversion for me between chapters of Intemp.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 20, Compound Interest

Continuing to move along at my overdrive pace. Here's the next phase of the tale. Everything gets weird if you find yourself in the Kingsley orbit, but it's also beneficial. As always, let me know how I'm doing.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 19, Gimme Shelter

The next chapter of my primary saga. The dust settles after the Judge Olson debacle, or it mostly settles. A few loose ends need tidying up. And of course, there is lots of Kingsley absurdity to plow through just living life. And we get a little update and Massa and Meghan as well. Let me know how I'm doing, like always.

Living in Sin - Chapters 1-3

No charge for this one. This is a classic Al Steiner style story that I resurrected from the archives of my cloud storage. I wrote Chapter 1 and the first scene of Chapter 2 about ten years ago or so (maybe longer). I just now updated what I originally wrote to modern times, finished the second chapter, and then pounded out the third, bringing the reader fully into what kind of story it is. It's your basic "everyone gets laid" erotic story, but with my flair and backstory skills to back it up. You will know these people and why they're fucking before anyone fucks here. And I think it's a good story. Takes place in Heritage, California in the Intemp universe, though no Intemp characters appear (not yet, anyway). I've posted it to Chapter 3 over at SOL and will update new chapters here when I complete them. This is very much a secondary project, as Intemp is still where most of my effort and writing time is lodged. Let me know if you like it.

AGRICULTURAL RUSH STORY - A Greenies/A Perfect World prequel. Chapter 1

Again, no charge for this one. I'm continuing to share unfinished opening chapters from my past that I would like feedback on as a possible next story following Intemperance IX but before starting the next gen Intemp stories. This one is Gathius Stoner's distant ancestor, the one who left Earth for Mars, thus ensuring his descendants would not be Homebodies. Chapter one shows his motivation for taking a job with Agricorp. Let me know what you think.

A CORRECT DESTINY

No charge for this post even though it's an entire novel and a follow up short story. This is the original story of Meghan and Ken and Jo and how they came to be. It was originally written in 2006 (I think) and it's reformatted here for publication that I never did. You can enjoy Cognate Air without reading these, but if you want the backstory, here it is. The short story "A Lesson Regarding Humanity", which is a brief follow-up with the characters after the end of the original novel, is pasted onto the end of the novel text. Only one file.

COGNATE AIR - Chapter 1

No charge for this as it is not an Intemp chapter. This is another story I started and did not continue with. It is a sequel to my stories A Correct Destiny and A Lesson Regarding Humanity. I am writing it as a standalone novel (if I continue it) that can be read and enjoyed by those who have not read the original books. This is a universe that is distinct from all of my other universes. Let me know if you like this one.

THE WAY THINGS ARE - Chapter 1, untitled currently

Okay, nobody freak out please. First of all, there is no charge for this post. It is a novel chapter, but not an Intemperance chapter. I am not abandoning or slowing down on Intemp. I am committed to bring it to a close and to eventually continue with stories from the next generation. But I also realize I'm going to need to take a break from the Intemp universe for at least one novel when it's done. I'm exploring what novel I want to pick up next. All of these I will be posting are things I started at some point as ideas, but never followed up on for whatever reason. I'm not promising to adhere to a vote of which one I should continue when Intemp is done, but I'd love to hear reader input, so please let me know if the opening chapters grab you or not.

This is the first. It's called The Way Things Are and it's my serious take on how the world would work if the paranoids and conspiracy theorists were actually right.

The Way Things Are
Dark Conspiracy Thriller | Plausible Paranoia | Quietly Terrifying

John Cargill works for the Bureau of Commerce Regulation—a perfectly forgettable federal agency. Or so people think. In reality, he’s part of the quiet machinery that keeps the illusion of democracy running and the public distracted just enough to prevent questions.

In Chapter One, a doctor is discredited for discovering too much about vaccine biochemistry, a new agent joins the team, and a religious couple investigating Near Death Experiences stumbles into a synthetic narrative the Agency has been curating for decades.

It’s not dystopian. It’s not sci-fi. It’s just... how things work.

And yes—there will be black helicopters in future chapters. They’re real. They’re silent. And they don’t need pilots anymore.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 18, Going Off the Rails

Once again, I let words pour out of me and spent all day writing the next chapter. The Judge Olson situation intensifies and the Kingsley's have to deal with an invasion of Nerdlys into their already chaotic home. Let me know how you like it.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 17, Any Given Sunday

A longer chapter than most, but I assume no one will mind that. I'm still going full steam ahead, spending most of my non-work time writing because I really want to get this story out. Here's where things start to come to a head (get it? Head?). As always, let me know how I'm doing. The Olsen vs Barb scene in the previous chapter was a result of reader suggestions. I like to hear your ideas even if I don't use them.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 16, Communication Breakdown

I was able to plow ahead and get another chapter out, including a scene that was requested and delivered: Barb vs Judge Olson. Let me know how I did. I was shooting for epic. Also, a nice development with Caydee and Pa-Ho, if you're enjoying that little subplot.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 15, Give Us Dirty Laundry

You have spoken to me loud and clear. I will keep going at the pace I'm going for as long as my brain lets me and I will post the chapters when finished. Here is the latest. I thought about calling it "Fallout" but decided on the Don Henley reference instead. We get a scene from Sharon Archer's POV to open up the chapter, someplace I don't believe I've been before. Let me know how I did with Mrs. Nerdly and the rest of the chapter, which also features a good helping of Kelvin Nerdly.

Am I moving too fast now?

I was just looking over the last few chapters and realized that I've already posted five this month (May of 2025) and I'm already about halfway through the sixth. Six in a month would be a new record for me, and I might even get to seven at this pace. Is that too much for anyone? I know you're all paying a dollar a chapter per month and that adds up when I'm in this kind of a run. What's the popular opinion? Should I hold the next to chapters in reserve until June to spread it out a bit or keep posting them as I complete them like I always have? No charge for this post, by the way, as it is not a chapter.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 14, The Book of Promiscuous

Another chapter that poured out of me. This one was strange. I started out writing the first scene, which is the immediate aftermath of the Judge Olson discovery, and it just kept going. I have learned to follow such impulses and I did so here. I really like this chapter and it ends with a cool plot twist. Let me know what you think, like always. I had a lot of fun writing this one as I haven't dipped into Nerdly's head recently and it's still a cool place.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 13, Damage Control

The burst of energy continues. I spent the entire day writing, taking breaks only for eating and sleep here and there, and managed to write an entire chapter in twenty-four hours. This is a very Kingsley chapter and delves deep into the spiritual life of us all. Let me know how I'm doing.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 12, The Celebration of Independence

Here's the next chapter and we're creeping closer and closer. Chase decides to come up for the family fishing trip and meets her biological grandmother and aunt. She also finds a little romance in her life. Most of the chapter is from Chase's POV as we have not heard from her in a while. I hope you like it. Let me know how I'm doing.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 11, The Best Intentions

My overdrive for writing this story continues. Here is the latest. Laura's mom and sister visit SLO and Kingsley Manor to see how their wayward daughter really lives. They get an eyeful... and an earful. As always, let me know who I'm doing.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 10, Brain Damage

Moving a little further along in the story. It's now official that Jake and Laura are back together. Not everyone, however, is happy to hear that. As always, let me know how I'm doing. There are no grilling scenes in this chapter, so maybe we can talk about the actual story. We're getting close to the end game now.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 9, Open Arms

My productivity and drive to work on this story continues. I feel like I HAVE to get the tale out. I've been working quite a bit on my days off and even making notes on my phone while I'm at work and there's nothing going on. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Once again, I had a lot of fun with this and it moves the story a little further on down the line.

INTEMPERANCE IX - Chapter 8, Caught in a Landslide

My muse continues to be musical and I'm just going with it. Here's the next chapter. Barb Macready makes her big league debut and Greg's new love interest comes for a meet and greet. As always, let me know how I'm doing. Help me shape the final novel of the main series.