What lies beneath

[knotme]

After the delectable Yankee, I'm ready for anything Dan chooses to dish up. If this is another tragedy, not over before it starts, then Martin is headed for hell. In that case, infrequent updates would be all I can take.

 

I wonder if TZ's day job forces him to suppress his dark side? All the better for us

 

The prolog being confined to the present, I can only imagine how Martin allowed a web of lies to imprison him, but fear of such a prison--actually the fear of hurting my partner--has kept me out of serious relationships all my adult life. The teaser hints at redemption. Will Martin, succeed, fail, or not even try? What can I learn from his story?

[TheZot]

After the delectable Yankee, I'm ready for anything Dan chooses to dish up. If this is another tragedy, not over before it starts, then Martin is headed for hell. In that case, infrequent updates would be all I can take.

Martin's already in hell. The first few chapters I get to sketch out exactly how bad. Mmmm, what fun! Or, y'know, not.

 

I wonder if TZ's day job forces him to suppress his dark side? All the better for us

Heh. I'm just your average freelance computer geek, and I can get all shouty with the people I work with if I have to. None of this gets drawn from work, alas.

 

The prolog being confined to the present, I can only imagine how Martin allowed a web of lies to imprison him, but fear of such a prison--actually the fear of hurting my partner--has kept me out of serious relationships all my adult life. The teaser hints at redemption. Will Martin, succeed, fail, or not even try? What can I learn from his story?

Martin does ultimately end up OK. Not storybook happy (hey, when we start he's obviously married, and we meet his kids in the first chapter, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to realize there's gonna be some bitter in with the sweet) but that's fine. I like happy endings and all, but sometimes they won't fly, and I think it's pretty clear from the prologue that this is one of those times. (I do write happy ending stories, honest!)

 

Dunno what there is to learn from the story. Guess we'll see as we go along.

 

-Dan

[Lucy Kemnitzer]

Honestly, one of my least favorite situations is the married guy. Casual stories I will simply skip if there's a married guy in the first paragraphs. But, alas, you've already won me over with "Yankee" and I feel like I am constitutionally compelled to read the whole thing.

 

I suppose it would be fair for me to get all analytical about why I'm not fond of that situation, but I don't think I have anything to say about it.

 

Here, the situation is icky, and Martin seems like a kind of a jerk, but the writing is as always very attractive.

[Conner]

Now this is a story that needs to be told.

 

Beautifully written, Dan. The emotions, the imagery...just delightful to read, dark or not.

 

If need be, though, I'll remind you that you used the word redemption.

 

Hugs,

Conner

[TheZot]

Y'know, you worry me some days, Connor -- looking forward to an unhappy story and all.

 

And don't worry, Lucy. It works out OK, and next time you're outside don't forget to wave to the OMCL... Seriously, I understand your reluctance to read stories with married guys in them. In most cases the guys behave in ways I find distasteful, or it doesn't work out in ways that are even remotely realistic, or something. Plus there's the guaranteed pain woven in.

 

This story's not going on Nifty, for whatever that's worth; it's staying here on GA. (And yes, I've learned the ancient art of the semicolon! Fear my mighty punctuating power! Bwahahahaha! Ahem. Nevermind...) It's one of those "have to write" stories rather than "want to write" stories. I'm OK if nobody ever reads it, in ways I wasn't with Yankee. If people do then that's cool. I'd leave it on the hard drive here, but publishing it adds that one extra little push that puts it over into catharsis, so...

 

-Dan

[Conner]

I say, "Sock it to me, Cartharsis!"

 

I don't go around looking for sad stories. When a gay man ends up married to a woman, the ending is often not too positive, especially if there are children. This is reality. Been there, done that. So, yeah, this is a story that needs to be told - particularly for members from my generation. In my day, there was no talk about sexual orientation; there were no "gay" rights or support groups. There were queers and fairies and they were perverts, pure and simple.

 

Do gay men still end up married these days? I think so. It depends a lot on your environment. It's a whole lot better than it was and I'm sorry to say that I didn't contribute to that. The power of fear and denial are momnumental.

 

Conner

[TheZot]

Well, we'll see how it goes for Martin. The toughest part so far is to keep everyone's behaviour realistic without turning anyone into a villain. (Which is one of the cliches I hate in these sorts of stories -- the wife goes from reasonable to utter ogre, and while I know that happens more often than one might like, it's a cheap out for an author, and lets you dodge dealing with some of the more uncomfortable bits)

 

I probably ought to talk less about the story and write more. I think I shall, since I'm unfortunately inspired this morning.

 

-Dan