WinStuart

Wayne: If thIs story had been written on parchment, it would be forever stained by tears of joy. Thank you for bringing it to life and sharing it with others

Carlos: What a joy your story has been for me. I dropped out of reading somewhere in early "Summer" quite a while ago. A few weeks ago, I came across a chapter in "Autumn" and stopped reading. I went back to the very beginning of "Summer" and have been reading steadily through the whole saga. A total treat not to have to hang on from week to week waiting for the next chapter. Kinda like feasting on rich food with no guilt and no weight gain. Youv've developed a strong character in CJ- very real, very complex and often an unexpected surprise. And what a wonderful set of so many other characters-the dads and the rest of the Elite Eight, their cousins, childen and friends. It's hard to keep so many people moving forward realistically. The locations are lots of fun, the streets of G town and DC, Chicago, New York and Dade County. Lastly it's so enjoyable so see CJ become so politically agile. He's sure to be a mover and shaker with a moral backbone. A rare breed indeed. Congratulations on reaching this milestone. WinStuart

Thanks for writing this story. It has a nice feeling of reality and bring back some fond memories. The first encounter is so exciting and scary.

Who knew? When I started reading this story, I was confused by the storylines mash up. Now I understand and am totally engrossed. I'm also glad that the readers don't have to wait a week between chapters. Having almost two chapters a day is a terrific treat. Thanks. Can't wait to see the next chapter!

Mr. James: Like 'circumnavigation', we find ourselves back in Australia. This is a very intriguing story. It reveals two worlds of which I have little prior experience: living the reclusive life of a rock star and fabricating nuclear devices. Thanks for writing another cliffhanger.

Jacob: Thanks for dedicating so much writing time to this storyline of the four in the saga. Josh certainly has developed a knack for finding just the right song for each occasion. Thanks for the YouTube link to "That's My Job". Blending your story with hearing the lyrics actually sung created a powerful experience.

Of the four stories in the Jacob series, this one has taken center stage. It's exciting because we know how it ends but have no idea what happens between now and then. The other stories have created a solid background for this one and, of course, still have a life of their own. I look forward to the progress of all four, and especially this one. Thanks.

Thank you for getting back to Joey's story. I've come across other stories of boys kidnapped for re-programming and they are all brutal. Earlier this morning I thought of how long Joey was being tortured and hoped you would soon write of his release. The four stories are all moving forward. Jacob's seems to be ahead of all the others time wise. Alex's story seems to lag behind Jacob's. Joey's and the governor's seem to be in the same timeframe with each other and probably behind Jacob's. You are juggling so many stories and details; and are doing it well. I'm glad you are going to tell us about releasing the other boys and give us details of what's found in their "treatment center". Hopefully, the video evidence will cause public outrage and support of laws banning such abusive treatment. Thanks.

The wait for the final chapter is over. You are to be well congratulated. I'm glad Trevor and crew were able to keep up with the eye of the hurricane. Getting navigation and artificial daylight from the Herkybird were a great aids their survival. Clearing the reef, riding the surge, turning the boat to face into the oncoming hurricane's rear wall and loosely lashing to the trees were brilliant tactics. This chapter did have some disappointments. The "fortuitous" proximity to a powerful back hoe was more fantasy than reality. Hearing that things were not going well for the the exposed cartels lacked the specific gory details written in earlier chapters. The final arrival of the Atlantis, completing the circumnavigation, dismasted, with patched bullet holes deserved more hoopla and media attention. All in all, Circumnavigation has been a story I've lived with for the last two years. I've cringed, smiled, laughed and worried week in and week out. Thank you, CJ and your editorial friends.

Thanks, Jacob for another chapter. One almost one per day! I'm glad that the boys came out to talk with their mother and to prove that Daniel Sr. wasn't imposing himself between the boys and their mother. Knowing you as an author, I expect that Martha will try something very crazy and public to harm her family--- possibly at the inauguration. If Elizabeth has learned anything, she should not allow herself to be enlisted in another with Martha. But thinking correctly is not one of Elizabeth's strong point. Same goes for Martha. When Rich and Daniel started their meeting with the elected Lt. Governor, I thought they were meeting with the incoming Attorney General. Especially when the man was laying out the law, or in this case, the party's plan. I get it now. But the new Attorney General is still to be appointed. Will this link us back to the original thread of the saga and to Jacob's grandfather's recommendation of the El Paso DA, Mr. Anderson to be the Texas Attorney General?

I don't know how you keep the various elements of the Jacob Saga alive and progressing. Each has a pacing of it's own. Jacob is the core but there have been no new chapters in a while. Alex is the anti-character and his incarceration in Julie has been an eye opening. Josh and Daniel Sr.'s story reaches way beyond El Paso. It's taken on the a gay youth issue for the whole state. In all the stories, the mother are the wild cards. Several have started out as reasonable loving mothers only to turn into shrews when their sons come out. Some have been incredibly hateful and just amazingly evil. I have never know women like that and am seeing something entirely new. And yes, I do want you to keep the Bernice and Eric''s relationship in the limelight. I think Bernice's father as a priest could provide some interesting twists to their story. Perhaps he could find himself in a situation where he has to balance his human values against Church doctrine to save the live of Eric or Bernice? You are an amazing writer. However, your stories lack close proofing in your speed to keep us readers satisfied.

AAAArrggghhh! Another Tuesday trapped in the elevator!!!!!!! When will the torture and suspense end?

I've been checking for the next chapter daily. As I read the comments of others waiting with me, I picture myself stuck in an elevator with many people I've never seen because there is no light and the power is out. Having nothing better to do as we wait, we talk about the ride so far and our anxious hope that the elevator will soon be fixed. Unspoken is the fact that all of us are in a small box suspended many feet above the ground. We have faith that we will safely have a happy ending, yet we share a fear that we can't prevent a fatal ending. It's been a long wait. Most of us are getting cranky, not to mention smelly. I think we hear some distant voices. We all hope they are the voices of our rescuers. Suddenly a voice calls out, saying, " Hey, is there any bod.........." (bang.....then nothing but darkness).........

CJ: Here is it the 110th of December and we are all living in a time warp chewing our nails. There is a crippled yacht, dismasted, trailing sails and rigging, holed by gun fire, taking on water and sheltering a crew of four. Not just at sea but lying in the path of a major hurricane. The only vessels near-by are in peril themselves and are themselves a peril to the four crew members. The last time I read of Trevor in such hopeless conditions he was barely surviving in the southern Indian Ocean. At least this time there are friendlies monitoring the craft's whereabouts although totally unable to help. The communication gear including the EPIRB is safely stowed in the galley microwave. There are lifejackets and inflatable life rafts aboard. The water in the bilges and the dragging sails will dampen the wave effects and maybe keep the craft upright. Maybe the crew will survive in what's left of Atlantis. It's a terrific 154th chapter to a great saga. I find it hard to wait for the final chapter but I'm confident it will be a great one. Thanks. Well done.

Definitely an exquisite cliff hangers. It's so hard to believe that Trevor actually made it back to Florida in one piece. It seems he may not stay in one piece for long. it is my fondest hope that not only are the police more than prepared for a raid at the real wedding but also that an armed drone has been circling over the cottage containing Bridget and "Jefe". And yes, what is it about the doll? Thanks for the chapter CJ. Looking forward to the last three in very late December 2012.

We are all getting a bit testy waiting for the safe return of Trevor and Shane, and for the slow, painful demise of Bridget. Speaking of Bridget, early on in this chapter she described herself, "I freely admit to being no angel, though I am to a large degree utterly misunderstood, as well as being wrongly accused of some things. So you see, I am very much a victim of awkward circumstance." Those words just jumped out at me! Was this Bridget speaking or was it CJ speaking of himself? Can't you hear CJ say, "I freely admit to being no angel, though I am to a large degree utterly misunderstood, as well as being wrongly accused of some things." Such as accussed of cliffhanging and the liberal adjustment of the calendar. So the truth has finally emerged in the author's subconscious. Aha! Thanks for getting us all around the world and back to the Americas.

CJ: Thanks for the latest chapter. I too figured Julie was Trevor's friend. It's difficult to learn that many of his friends were the enemy. It seems everybody has their price! Tahiti certainly has changed since I first read about it in Mutiny on the Bounty, but the mountains, beaches and reefs still look inviting. I hope your European travels are going well and that you are safely home two weeks from now. I'm very much looking forward to your Christmas gift of the next chapter.

CJ: It's great to have the story moving ahead again. Benji has been doing some deep thinking and posits some plausible clues. Meanwhile, I remain relatively clueless. The ominous line of "Trevor and Shane----and time is something that they thought they has plenty of" puts a deep rumbling sound in the background like a thunderstorm just over the horizon. I'm looking forward to their deception plan. And what about the Trevor eternal junker. Why is that still important? What will Joel discover in the next six weeks as he attempts to repair it? Don't know if anybody's noticed it, but CJ has given us something that only Pope Gregory XIII did in 1582_messed with the world's calendar. With the addition of December 38th and 45th, CJ has extended 2012 by two weeks. Gregory lopped off 10 days. Maybe our government can use the extra time to avoid the financial cliff. We had no idea of CJ's true powers. WinStuart

CJ Thanks for getting the boys safely launched out into the Pacific. I sense the aid they provided to the 11 year old swimmer may foreshadow aid they may need to receive themselves. Just guessing. And about your chapter counting and calendar usage: Dec 24th, Dec 31st, Dec 38th, and Dec 45th. American can be very provincial in their worldview. There are many calendars is use all over the world that count the days very differently than we do. Thank for broadening our perspective. And perhaps you can point us toward the system you are employing? Written: 13 Actuary 3023.

The forum is taking on a life of its own. It's almost more interesting than the story itself. Almost but not really. CJ: Don't stop writing now! What wonderful creativity my fellow readers have! There have been and remain so many theories and alternative story lines that it would be fun to chart out the possible scenarios into a huge chart. Most scenarios would converge on Bridget's demise and then quickly diverge to many types of gruesome endings - long and painful ones. Whether there are 5 or 25 more chapters to go, I'm committed to stay the course and read every chapter CJ is willing to write and post. Thanks, CJ!

Wow. Very tricky stuff. The novel might be called "Switched" instead of "Circumnavigation". The true identities of the two boats have been in doubt since the beginning of the the story. Very handy that Greg Fowler was aboard the decoy boat. His input and activities have certainly contributed to the survival of both boats. If the good guys were uncertain of Brigid's survival, there is no longer any doubt. She's clearly out to sink both boats. Thanks for a great chapter, CJ.

CJ: Well done. I agree with the other posts that the pace is definitely stepping up. The cinematic close of the chapter is wonderful: a glorious picture of the two crafts racing on a broad reach and the music forecasting the dangers ahead. Now to change the subject: How can you possibly praise Bridget for not ordering the demise of both boats while they we still close to shore? As you wrote, "BTW, if not for Bridget, both boats would have been blasted to bits leaving Cairns." Delaying an execution is not the same as saving them!!!! Bridget is pure evil. Thanks for posting a chapter this Tuesday. Nicely done.

CJ: A great and lovingly long chapter. The Australian travelogue continues. Never knew about the Cairns Lagoon-beautiful and very creative. I like Rickbgoh's comment "It was a great chapter and it's a wonderful tale. I'm so glad I discovered it and your writing." What a treat to discover this story when there are just a few more chapters to go. I, too, very much like your writing. Well, this was an idyllic and scenic chapter (except for Gray's lurking presence). Now it's time to grab all those loose ends and knit them into long awaited explanations. We are all expecting spectacular and bloody deaths for Gray and Bridget. Certainly you have the creative spunk to exceed our expectations! Thanks.

CJ: I agree with Stanollie, "Trev's trip across the Indian Ocean is one of the most harrowing things I have read, certainly out-Mobys Dick." I've never read a more gripping description of drowning than Trevor's torture at the pirate's hands. And the same for his recovery, returning to his boat, and being left adrift with almost nothing to aid his survival. I shivered while reading his days on the South Indian Ocean. I share cc00nz conflictedness (if that's a word). I too desire both a shorter and a longer story. It doesn't make sense except that I want to see Trevor and Shane safe at the end of the story; and I want to keep in touch with their lives as they prosper in their charter business, possibly in another story. Thanks.

CJ: Thanks for the latest chapter. It's a funny thing about names. I find I often have a pre-set liking or disliking for a person based on nothing more than their name. It isn't fair, but it just happens. I used to really like girls named Bridget, even before I met them. Now the name is a definite turn-off. Wonder how that happened. Your entreaty and threat regarding receiving feedback was upsetting. It's a shame when one writes for a black hole. Is there anyone out there? Can anybody hear me? Is anybody reading this? One possible reason for feedback torpor is the length and complexity of the story. There have been doldrums and times I sensed we were just drifting. It's hard to stay awake and pay attention during those times. At this point in the story, there is impending action everywhere, including having the worst guest possible attending the star-crossed lover's wedding. Can't wait to see how all the threads come together. Thanks, CJ!