Heart of the Tree by Graeme

[Graeme]

Thanks, Steve!

 

Falls Creek Lessons is a special story for me. I learnt to ski at Falls Creek so a lot of Greg's experiences (apart from meeting Dan) are ones I went through personally. The experiment with the links was one that, overall, I think worked, but it's not a technique I'm rushing out to repeat. Paul is a good example of a character that took on his own life as the story developed. His character is NOT what what I had originally intended when the story was started.

 

Oh, and Garret and Kelly are two of my favourite characters

[acassimaty]

Chapter 31 is out!

 

Gah! Only one more chapter to go.

[Graeme]

Normally, the next chapter (the final chapter of the story) would be appearing at AwesomeDude in the next 48 hours. Because Codey was a good friend of mine, and also contributed the poem that's in the story, the final chapter will also be appearing at Codey's World. Chapter 32 is dedicated to the memory of Codey.

[Ieshwar]

Oh great! I started the story a few hours ago and the last chap is online!

 

I have read the whole first part in one sitting. It's really awesome! I love it. What can say more? Matt is really cool and strangely, I like Mark a lot! :wacko: Pat was great too as well as the rest. Rhys... I have some reserves about him. He's cool but I think we haven't seen compete him, esp after the last two chap!

 

Ieshwar

[Graeme]

The last chapter isn't online yet, but it will be soon. It supposed to go online Saturday morning, USA time (I just can't remember which timezone....)

 

Thanks, Ieshwar! You'll see more of who Rhys is in part two (and three and four).

[acassimaty]

It's up now guys!

 

The Last Chapter of Heart of the Tree

[wildone]

Graeme,

 

I seriously bow to you for giving us this great story.

 

Stop here if you haven't read the final chapter, spoilers are definitely to follow.

 

It has been a great read as everyone in the story grew over the span of time. Unfortunately, every story must come to an end, and I think you choose the right time and the right way in ending it. .

 

Honestly this chapter tugged on a lot of different emotions. The things that really stuck out to me were the great way everyone built the anticipation of the buck night for the guys. After reading what went on at the Nacho Nirvana, everything seemed pretty subdued, but that wasn't the end of things .

 

I also was getting a little po'd with Councilor John Young and Cindy. It seemed that even the protesters had realized they had lost the battle, but those two continued to try to ruin things. Thank goodness for all their close, and not so close friends and family in making sure everything worked out.

 

The scene with Mia and Mark going to the cemetery really tugged the heart strings as I may have forgotten how much Aunt Cynthia meant to this story. After all she was the first to really give her blessing and maybe made others examine their beliefs and feelings.

 

On the same note, your after word was exceptional. Your dedication is definitely a nice way to remember Codey and he will be remembered as long as people are able to read this great story.

 

I had to actually stop reading for a bit, as I was chuckling and thinking of the possibilities of Rhys becoming a lawyer. Heaven forbid . Especially if he decides to become a defense lawyer in Mourton. Poor Mr. Dresdan.

 

Two last things that come to mind are how lucky both boys were in gaining each others families. I think that Vince will be the best damn "Bastard Landlord" he can be . And lastly, the final closing scene with Bobby visiting the tree to say goodbye and running into Mama was the icing on the cake. Her analogy to the birds eventually having to leave on their own was very fitting.

 

Once again, thank you very much for this excellent story. You should be proud of the accomplished work.

 

Steve

 

Hopefully this wasn't too long of a post. I could have kept going.

[Centaur]

I've read Chapter 32 - and finished the story - and so I want to say THANK YOU to Graeme for such a wonderful story!!!

 

I truly enjoyed the entire story from Chapter 1 to 32. You really outdid yourself this time Graeme! We were all on pins and needles until the end to see how things were tidied up, and you did a great job with all the loose ends!

 

There were some truly fun characters in there (such as Shane, Rhys, and Mia) that made me laugh, yell, or just shake my head. But the true enjoyment were the characters of Vince and Matt who had me smiling all the way through - all the way until the end.

 

Congratulations on a job well done. I hope you will write again soon - although I know you deserve a break! You are very talented, and I enjoyed Heart of the Tree thoroughly.

 

If anyone hasn't read this story - READ IT NOW. It is well worth the ride from beginning to end. But like a great rollercoaster you want to GET RIGHT BACK ON AND RIDE AGAIN. This story is worth a reread - no doubt about it.

 

Kudos Graeme!

 

ENCORE ENCORE!

 

My best,

 

George

[Graeme]

Thanks, Steve. I really appreciate what you've written.

 

I've only got one comment to make -- if you go back to where the motivation for Cr. John Young is given, you'll notice that he may not be as guilty as you first assume. Have a look at what his niece told him

[wildone]

Thanks, Steve. I really appreciate what you've written.

 

I've only got one comment to make -- if you go back to where the motivation for Cr. John Young is given, you'll notice that he may not be as guilty as you first assume. Have a look at what his niece told him

 

True enough, I know exactly what your refering too. But I guess it goes that blood is thicker than water. Cindy should be ashamed of herself for using her uncle to get her revenge, but on the other hand Mr. Young seems to be the type of person who would have caused trouble anyways, even without Cindy's influence.

 

But I'm not going to argue with you, far from it . Just letting you know how their actions made me feel as I read them.

 

Steve

[Tim the Traveller]

Graeme,

 

I started reading it late, at the end of the second part (If I remember right).

 

It was one of the best stories I've come across, And I'm glad I found it. I think one of the things that made it so enthralling for me, Was the fact that you told a beautiful story involving life on a farm. It may not be the same kind of farm as a Wisconsin dairy farm, But yeah, The point gets across. Some of us(Like Vince and his dad, Matt and his parents) Love farming, And to give it up would just be horrific. I like setting my own hours and doing what i want to do everyday(of course after daily chores are done)

 

 

Graeme, Thank you for grabbing my attention again! I loved it totally, And I'm pretty sure that it will be fresh in my mind for quite some time to come.

[Graeme]

Thanks, Tim!

 

I have a brother-in-law who is a farmer, and he has that same passion. He has another job, because farm income isn't always reliable, but that job isn't what he enjoys. Several snippets from the story are based on either things that have happened when I've visited him, or stories I've heard him tell about things that have occurred.

 

Cheers!

 

Graeme

[C James]

Spoiler alert!!! :nuke:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just finished HoTT, and I LOVED it!! Graeme, this is another great novel, and one I must confess that I like even better than Falls Creek Lessons, which had been my favorite.

 

You artfully mixed nail-biting, cliffhanging suspense (having the central character in peril of being hacked limb from limb for virtually the whole novel) with humor and warmth, skillfully in every respect.

 

The final chapters were superb, a fitting end to a great story. I had to say I found it a great mix of hilarious (the bucks party, etc) and heartwarming (the visit to Aunt Cynthia's grave). I also loved the way you handled the Vince and Matt "first time"; that "homework book" was just perfectly done!

 

Paul's being tasked to flirt with Susie was hilarious, as was his asking if he could bring her to his room for the night.

 

It was well done how you solved the issue of the farms, and also the honeymoon location! I especially liked Rhy's nosyness.

 

I have been re-reading HoTT from the beginning (I got about halfway thropugh before my laptop starterd to act up on my trip) but didn't quite make it before the lure of the final chapters grew too strong. I will finish my re-read, as I find the story reads even better at once than serially (That's a hint for all here; read it again, it's even better the second time )

 

Thank you Graeme!!!

[Graeme]

Thank you, CJ!

 

I had a lot of fun while writing the story, though some parts were tough.

 

I have been re-reading HoTT from the beginning (I got about halfway thropugh before my laptop starterd to act up on my trip) but didn't quite make it before the lure of the final chapters grew too strong. I will finish my re-read, as I find the story reads even better at once than serially (That's a hint for all here; read it again, it's even better the second time )

The story was written to be read through in one shot, and that's the way I intend to always write. I will confess that a couple of people found the last chapter a bit of an anti-climax and at one point I considered releasing the last two chapters at the same time because I was concerned about the same thing. They are certainly read best together, because between them they close off all the major items in the story. The political one is settled in chapter 31, with the emotional ones in chapter 32. As a result, there was less tension in the last chapter than in the previous one, but the ending is the one I had always intended for the story. All, that is, except for the suggestion about a future career for Rhys. That one was a surprise to me, too, when it appeared

 

Thanks again. Now I supposed I had better get back to my next novel, which has been on hold for a few weeks while I've relaxed....

[C James]

Thank you, CJ!

 

I had a lot of fun while writing the story, though some parts were tough.

 

 

The story was written to be read through in one shot, and that's the way I intend to always write. I will confess that a couple of people found the last chapter a bit of an anti-climax and at one point I considered releasing the last two chapters at the same time because I was concerned about the same thing. They are certainly read best together, because between them they close off all the major items in the story. The political one is settled in chapter 31, with the emotional ones in chapter 32. As a result, there was less tension in the last chapter than in the previous one, but the ending is the one I had always intended for the story. All, that is, except for the suggestion about a future career for Rhys. That one was a surprise to me, too, when it appeared

 

Thanks again. Now I supposed I had better get back to my next novel, which has been on hold for a few weeks while I've relaxed....

 

I've very much enjoyed my re-read of HoTT!

 

Of course, I will point out that you've left us all wondering if Rhys becomes a lawyer.

 

I think it would be only fair to say that this is either a lead-in for a sequel, or a cliffhanger ending. What does Rhys do?

Rhys, BTW, was one of, and perhaps the most, favorite characters in this story, to me at least. Shane, I think, is the most unique I've seen in a long, long time, and very likable. I'd rate him as second to Rhys amongst my favorites.. Vince and Matt are about tied in my rankings, I like them both a lot, in different ways. Aunt Cynthia, though, is right up there too. Said another way, you created a fantastic cast here, Graeme! I loved it!

 

One thing I had a slight degree of troublee with, early in the story, was the ease with which many accepted the legend of The Tree. However, I got to thinking about that. In the town in which I grew up, there was a local legend about a Hobo's ghost that inhabited an isolated thicket near the rail tracks. It was supposedly malevolent and would sometimes kill intruders. No one would go in there at night, except on a dare. Pretty much everyone (in the high school I was on) accepted the legend as fact, in spite of the fact that no one could ever recall who, exactly, had been harmed by said malevolent spirit. So, yes, I have seen a case where many members of a community believe in a local supernatural legend.

 

Thanks again, Graeme, for this wonderful story.

[wildone]

Congratulations Graeme!!

 

 

To be selected as the Best Non GA Story in 2007 is a great achievement that you should be extremely proud of.

 

If you consider all the boards out there, with all the stories, it is a statement to what a great story "Heart of The Tree" is.

 

Be proud of yourself, you deserve it.

 

Steve

[Ieshwar]

Congrats!!!

 

HoTT definitely deserves this award! Such a fine and cool story.

 

Take care,

Ieshwar

[C James]

Congratulations Graeme!! Well deserved, and a very fine story!

 

 

[shadowgod]

Congratulations Graeme!! Well deserved, and a very fine story!

 

 

 

Congratulations Graeme

[Graeme]

Thanks, everyone!

 

I suppose this means I'd better get back to work on my next couple of novels.... :mace:

[TalonRider]

Congratulations Graeme!! Well deserved, and a very fine story!

 

 

Congratulation Graeme on a well deserved win.

 

Jan