Sometime in the early years after 2000 during some very trying times in my relationship with my wife I began surfing the Internet looking for something – an outlet perhaps. I began a search for “women underwater” as that has always interested me. I found several websites including some that hosted pictures and clips and others that hosted stories. I also discovered a company called *Aquafantasies* with its pictures and clips and a corresponding forum where others shared my interests.
On the forum I found that like-minded people were allowed to share stories, both real and imagined, of encounters in and underwater. I have always had a fascination with the idea of women being underwater and drowning, especially if it was dramatically portrayed in film and on television (but not in real life). I remember when *Cabin by the Lake* first came out on TV. I was interested and yet embarrassed at my… fascination for the plot.
I always enjoyed reading so perhaps it was only natural that after awhile I would turn to writing. I remember a couple of stories I wrote: one in grade school and another in high school. It was only a matter of putting my thoughts together in a manner that flowed well for the reader. But when I found the preview pictures on *Aquafantasies* I began to add text to them, making written stories that had already been put into a 10-15 minute clip. I enjoyed the process and began writing other stories.
I joined that particular forum (whose current incarnation is Aquafans.org) and was given permission to write and post stories around 2003. I discovered to my delight that I’d found my outlet. I enjoyed writing and others enjoyed reading my work. But I was still feeling rather lonely in real life and I longed for a female companion, especially one who loved being in the water as much as I did. And thus, *Shelly* was born…
I made her independent and gave her a confidence I still find lacking in myself at times. I also gave her an interest in sex underwater and erotic drowning (but not dying) based on stories I had read on the forum of certain personalities and on chats I had with certain individuals. Looking back I sometimes wonder if writing about her met a need in my life at that point.
I’m not sure how far I was into the series before I began thinking how I might bring my SHELLY STORIES to a close. I guess I always pictured her as having a certain ending and that my relationship with her in story form would someday come to an end. Maybe I outgrew her or maybe I just felt like her time had come and gone. I realize how popular she was (and apparently still is) and I suppose someday I could possibly *resurrect her*, so to speak. But for now I look back on her fondly, especially since she was one character who I poured my heart and soul into…