Andrew Q Gordon

Wayne, should we older and wiser folk seek to have our own discussion if the youngins don't appreciate our wit?

Finally? Two month is not unreasonable - I think I took 4 or 5 months You clean up well - nice. Andy

Good new, bad news, good news: Yeah that's what this post will bring. Good news: Chapter 6 is done, just need to go over the edits one last time and then get it read to post. Be up today - contingent on no more baby melt downs like last night - ugh! Bad news: Chapter 6 does not include the verdict - sorry didn't have the focus to put that in. So I sent it off without the verdict - sorry gang. Good news: While dealing with baby melt down last night - i.e. when I set her down and she'd sleep for 20 minutes - I finished 95% of Chapter 7 - which ends the trial - yes there is a verdict - no I don't have a hung jury - promise. So that should be off and out and I won't wait two weeks to post it. Once it's done and edited and approved, I'll post it. Promise. Then all that's left is an epilogue which as I mentioned before will be from Jason's perspective. Okay, baby to work. Andy

Welcome Russell T - there seems to be an influx of South African members - woo hoo!!! Not sure who gets the credit, but welcome and enjoy. Andy

Too funny - nicely done. It deserves more than one 'like', but they won't let me do more.

Thanks to Jian, I'm about 2300 words into the next chapter - not the next one to be posted but the next one to write. I really hope to be able to finish this soon, but it's slow. The only time I get to write is when I'm tired LOL - not the best recipe for getting this done the way I want it. Anyway, I am working on this and it will be done soon - I hope Andy

Chapter 6 is with Nephy - but as you may or may not know she's had internet issues and now computer issues- not hers, but her sons so her time is limited and I don't think it's fair to press this right now. Also - and here I expect a few slings and arrows - Chapter 6 does NOT include the verdict, sorry, I was struggling enough to find the time to get the closing down, if I had to do the verdict too, it would take me too long. BUT I am working on that too. So, what's left is 6, 7 and an epilogue. That will tie up everything - i.e. it will be a few weeks or so after the verdict and will shift from Martin's POV back to Jason's as it will complete Jason and Peter's story - for now. So I'm sorry if this disappoints folks, but geez, who knew this dad thing so gonna be so rough? J/K, it's not so bad, just soaks up most of my free time. Andy

Vic, I suspect that was tongue in cheek, because from what little I know of Dom - he is NOT holding out because folks don't love him enough. But since we are tossing out theories, here's mine - he's working on something so killer good, that distractions such as posting and answering fan posts would cause him to lose his muse. So in essence he's waiting until he's got the 'goods' then he'll make his triumphant return. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

HC, I'm going to say this with full knowledge you will neither confirm nor deny, but when I stopped reading - for baby related reasons, not story content ones, I had this sinking feeling that Charlie's not long for this world. That because of something Derek's done, something really bad is going to happen to Charlie. Now I hope not, but that is the foreshadowing you left me with. Maybe that will change as I read the remaining chapters and catch up, but there is a real sense of dread on my part as I keep reading. Andy

What? You couldn't manage to raise both? What kinda slacker are you? I bet if you weren't on here all the time asking questions you could do both, now couldn't you? : P

Not sure if I'm late or not but happy birthday if I'm on time and happy belated birthday if I'm not.

Is, 'When in doubt, bring up chocolate,' Wayne's Motto?

Are you blaming me Michael?

How does something so little and so small and so young - she's only 3 weeks old - get so angry and so mad so fast?

Sidd, Hmm as someone who has a rather high rep and who has gotten mostly positive reviews I have this sneaking feeling you might have been referring to me among others. I for one have thick skin so if you feel the need to be critical, go for it. You'll probably be right in most cases, and I'll end up agreeing with you. Here's my thing on reviews - I don't leave negative reviews in the forum or as a review - almost never. I might leave a comment here or there about things that confused me, but if there is a real issue with something, I do it by PM. And here's why. Neither me, nor you, nor anyone else on here that I am aware of is a professional editor. Quite honestly, I've gotten comments from folks about this or that which are completely contrary to what writing professionals say - but the reviewer/commenter states their position with complete conviction. Unless you are a writing professional your opinion is just that, your opinion. You might be right, you might be wrong, but if you really want to help the author do it by PM and then you and the author can hash it out away from the public eye. Dann and I disagree on this point a bit -though I understand why he does what he does and I respect that - but if you don't like something, don't read it and don't 'like' it and don't praise it. If no one is reading something, maybe the author will get a clue and ask for help. If not, well they'll be posting but no one will be reading. At the end of the day, telling them in public their stuff stinks only serves to embarrass them and likely they'll leave and never learn from the community. Doing it in private will likely be more helpful. One last point and I'll shut up. Some times there are stories that 'break the rules' or are not polished or need work, but they are still entertaining to read. The plot is original, the characters have depth, despite the flaws, etc. In those cases, there will likely be a lot of positive reviews and maybe not a lot of negative ones. No one is saying this story should be published, but they are telling the author they like what they posted. Andy

More than minutes but less than months. I've written a lot of the closing, but I keep tweaking it, then I have to send it to Nephy for her to see if I've been too Lawyerish or not, then to Anyta. So not this week for sure. But I'm hoping it won't be 'weeks' let alone a month. Sorry, as I've said, it's hard to focus on writing when I have some free time. But I'm going to go back and take a stab at finishing Chapter Six today. Sigh, I need more time. LOL

Thanks again, and I've responded to your PM

Well thank you for the review and who knew you could leave reviews in different colors?? I'm a hold over from the 'old' new system where you couldn't. As for Peter, the hope was that you were mad at him, but didn't hate him, not sure if that is even possible but that was how I tried to write him. It was also from Jason's POV so his feelings shaped the story as well. Too short? I've been told this is too long by a factor of three if I want to get published. But I hear what you're saying. I posted something on the writer's forum about doing a serial story - which would almost be an on going soap opera type story, but I'm not sure that's me. I can this, I don't see me ever doing their senior year as a story. I don't know there is enough conflict/tension/plot for that. I've thought about a spin off with either Blake or Ethan that would cover J & P's senior year, and I sequel that would be 5 years or so out from Peter's perspective but both are just thoughts at the moment, I've too much else to get done. If I could quit my job and write full time, I say yeah, it'll be done soon, but alas that is not in the cards. Thanks for the review and the kind words. Andy

A good defense lawyer will try not to tip his hand while still getting the answers he needs to make his closing. And while it's obviously crazy to us - we know Jordan did it, consider if you knew nothing about the case and didn't come to the trial predisposed to dislike Jordan. Would it seem so crazy then? I had the defense theory in mind the whole trial so that part was easy to write. Believe it or not the Prosecutor's closing is harder for, because of all that he needs to get across. tay tuned, the end is coming.

The surprise isn't so much a surprise it's who's delivering it. Their theory is - Jordan didn't do it, and they've somehow convinced a co-defendant to testify against the government. We'll see how that works for them won't we?

Haha, glad I got Dan's character across. In some ways this story is harder to follow because I am not giving you ALL the testimony and ALL the arguments and ALL the stages. But I think I'm getting the major points across so I'm glad you think it is easy to read.

Peter has always been a strong person, flawed perhaps, but certainly has a strength to his character. I think all his friends were proud of him for not letting the 'hired' gun of the person who tried to kill him get under his skin

Haha, I suppose that idea would be rather fun to try to write, but uff, the implications and complications would be tough to get right - stick with me and I'll get this done soon - promise.

You don't think we've seen the end of Barrington yet? What ever gave you that Idea As for my spare time, I'd have a lot more if family and friends stopped coming over to see the little darling during her sleep time. Ya think they'd want to see her awake, but they always seem to come by to visit when she's asleep which is my time - short as it is. Sigh, lost the whole day today because of that. Oh well, at least they bring gifts. Thanks Dave - and Go Red Birds

Glad to hear you found this on Nifty. I hope you'll keep supporting Nifty even while you read things here as well. Nifty serves a good purpose for the Gay Community as a place where people can go and feel they are not alone so I don't want to take anything from it. As for finding your own Jason, I am sure he exists, just don't give up.