#TimeTravelAuthors 15: Cost of time travel?

Honestly, not much. Financially, you may need to burn a coin. As a mental cost, you need to be careful not to cause a paradox (not because you might succeed, but because time could kill you to prevent it). Thus you may want a plan first.

The reason it's uncommon isn't cost but lack of devices and lack of access to sixth dimensional energy to power them.

#TimeTravelAuthors 13: How realistic?

The idea that a girl has a particular issue with her roommate, and it's related to how someone is feuding with said roommate, that doesn't feel totally implausible.

The fact that the feud is due to someone's ability to time travel, and that the issue is a status of quantum uncertainty, that's not very realistic.

Though the idea of time travel being a fold using the sixth dimension, I hope that's at least plausible, if not realistic.

#TimeTravelAuthors 11: Love time travel tropes?

I'm a fan of Time Loops, to the point where I compiled a website of their use in visual media: https://web.ncf.ca/cz159/TLoops.html

Also a fan of characters meeting themselves, time masters, clever mental time travel, LGBT ("time travel lesbians") and screwing with destiny.

Bonus: The essence of "Quantum Leap", that time itself doesn't change but that individual lives can be made better, is huge in my writing.

#TimeTravelAuthors 9: Goals for 2026?

That's a question. I've kinda stopped setting them, since my life derailed about two years ago, and I have no guarantee it won't happen again.

I really would like to finish "Time Untied", and I have mentally caught myself back up to where I was in 2023, so it's again plausible. The reposting of "Time & Tied" to AO3 is added incentive.

Then there's a BUNCH of reading to catch up on. We'll see what happens.

#TimeTravelAuthors 7: name?

*
“Your name is actually Sherlock? For real?”

“For real,” Sherlock asserted. “Why? You expecting a more African-American name?”

“Oh. I, uh...”

Sherlock’s hands moved to his hips. “Might I also point out that my stated interest in mysteries is related to my family in general, not merely my name in specific? Moreover, the famous fictional detective could have been black.”

Carrie frowned. “What?”

#TimeTravelAuthors 5: Projects?

Main one is "Time Untied", the sequel to "Time & Tied". It's been a WIP since 2017 and is now over 300k words with the final climax approaching. T&T is currently reposting to AO3.

Epsilon's "Angel Pasta" serial featuring the lesbian duo of Angel and Patty in 1963 France was put on hiatus after 8 episodes in 2024. It will return.

"Last Magical Girl" has been on hiatus since 2010. It MAY return. Annual XMath parodies continue. There's always something.

#TimeTravelAuthors 3: "Deal"

*
“There will be a blast rendering you unconscious. I want that data recorded by the chip. Particularly if the blast kills you, so that I know how for it to not do that again.”

Carrie did a double take at the cavalier way Heather had presented that. “What, for your next guinea pig?”

“No, for after we go back to save your life, idiot. I do not want to have to deal with all this again with someone else,” Heather said irritably.

Touche.

#TimeTravelAuthors Jan 1: Intro

First, Carrie meets the person trying to kill her. Later, he encounters her for the first time. Also, one of the assassination attempts succeeds in killing Carrie, meaning... does he actually go back to the start of the book then? Well, he might, since someone else will go back and save Carrie...

Having a day job isn't the only reason this thing has taken me almost ten years to work out.

#TimeTravelAuthors 31: Author's choice

The movies seem to be catering to time travel films this month? Or maybe they're just into trilogies. Image attached.

At any rate, temporal stories are still on AO3 and RRL, thanks for another year of listening to me ramble on about Carrie Waterson, and all the best to you for 2026.

#TimeTravelAuthors 29: Cliches?

Not certain I know the cliches. Characters do meet themselves, and "Fighting Future Self" was a thing in T&T. Predetermination is addressed. Mental time travel has become a thing, along with dimensional time. And Carrie is all about sticking it to fate.

Also, time traveling lesbians, if that counts. (Is there enough of that out there for it to be cliche?)

#TimeTravelAuthors 27: Gift?

(Found only two mentions of the word. Both involve flirtation. I choose the innuendo.)
*
"Your cup size came up,” Peaches chirped. “So I’d know what to get you for your birthday.”

“Whoa, no, I did NOT, you know, rise to that bait,” Chartreuse said.

“Meaning that’s something you gotta tell me yourself, Carrie. Band size too.”

Carrie rubbed her fingers over her eyes. “Let’s just go downstairs.”

“Gift card it is then,” Peaches concluded.

#TimeTravelAuthors 25: Midnight?

Nothing specific happens at midnight. Carrie and Peaches occasionally end up talking in the common room late at night when they can't sleep, which probably occurred at midnight at least once.

#TimeTravelAuthors 23: Nostalgia?

Not really. Time leaps are weeks at best (usually more like minutes) and most characters are trying to get away from their pasts, not remember them.

That said, there's a whole section where I pull in the original "Time & Tied" characters to interact with some of the "Time Untied" cast. My own nostalgia, if you will.

#TimeTravelAuthors 21: Nice character?

Hilariously, I must give this to Chartreuse. She gives up her own time to help others, including her family and Carrie. She even brings Peaches deeper into the group despite knowing the repercussions.

MC Carrie legit has Naughty Peaches on one shoulder and Nice Chartreuse on the other, one trying to save Carrie at all costs, the other trying to help the world by saving Carrie. My lesbian love triangle. >.<

#TimeTravelAuthors 19: Naughty character?

Peaches. In all senses of the word, given she's not only an incorrigible flirt but also prone to sidetracking Carrie (and the main time travel plot) through no real fault of her own.

Both girls freely admit they're bad for each other, but they just can't stay away. Sidebar, I'm going with the same definition as the others on the tag, 'naughty' doesn't mean 'evil'.

#TimeTravelAuthors 17: room?
*

She could no longer be heard. The room was becoming transparent, and even if she reached Carrie, she couldn’t possibly stop her roommate from doing this new thing that might kill her, no WOULD kill her, it was all but inevitable since Jenny was already gone...

Her heartbeat returned. The room snapped back into full colour.

Jenny took in a sharp breath, realizing then that Sherlock had knocked the bottle out of Carrie’s hands, and onto the floor.

#TimeTravelAuthors 15: How far back they travel?

In the original they made a trip to 1955, which is between 60 & 70 years back (given that the present is vague 2010s).

In the sequel, they haven't jumped more than a couple weeks back, maximum. With one exception for Carrie, which was again kept vague as she was trying to get away for a while.

#TimeTravelAuthors 13: far?

*
“Look, what IS the reason you came here all the way from out in BC anyway?”

Peaches looked away, resting her palms on the floor. “World’s biggest bilingual University. I’m fluent in French. Made sense.”

Carrie stared. It didn’t seem like Peaches was lying. “Okay. But that’s not the only reason.”

Peaches shrugged. “It’s a good enough answer for everyone who’s asked so far.”

“Fine. Not good enough for me. Spill, blondie. I’m worried about you.”

#TimeTravelAuthors 11: Things under wraps?

I feel like knowledge of time travel is almost required to be a secret for these sorts of stories. So yes, anyone who knows of Carrie's powers or the pocket watch keeps it secret. Antagonist also keeps his motivations hidden.

There is another person with abilities, who doesn't share that information widely. And Heather doesn't broadcast her goals, mostly because she doesn't want to be laughed at.

#TimeTravelAuthors 9: A time someone failed

In at least one timeline, Carrie has failed (to be a good person and/or even survive). Granted, my canon is to overwrite timelines.

If we want something in this timeline, the characters failed to track down a particular redhead. They failed to prevent a time singularity. And Carrie/Chartreuse/Peaches have failed to resolve their love triangle satisfactorily. Lots of failing.